Wally May

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Wally May (11 September 1926 – 16 May 2011) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and later in the South Australian Football League SANFL.

Recruited locally, Wally 'Chooka' May was a ruckman /defender for Essendon in 94 VFL games between 1947 and 1952.

Considered hard-hitting and shrewd, May often saved his best form for when it mattered most, such as the 1949 and 1950 grand finals, both of which the Bombers won. Runner-up in Essendon's best and fairest award in 1951, May asked for a clearance two years later to Sturt, and when this was refused he stood out of football for a year until it was granted.

In four seasons with the Double Blues, May played a total of 54 league games, plus 2 for South Australia, winning his club's best and fairest award in 1955. The 1956 season saw him installed as captain-coach, but after a dismal season that produced just 3 wins and a draw from 18 games, he resigned, citing 'business reasons'. He decided to remain with the club as a player under his replacement as coach, Ed Tilley.

After retiring from sport, May remained in Adelaide and is remembered with affection and nostalgia by many South Australians for his impassioned 'special comments' during SANFL match telecasts.

May is remembered for his response to a particularly agonising piece of play that was in a game being directly televised. "Comment Wally May?" was asked by the match commentator. "No comment". "Fair comment."

Wally May died on Monday, 16 May 2011. He was 84.^[1]

References[]

External links[]

• Wally May at AustralianFootball.com