Seventy seasons ago, back when the 1950s were still in their infancy and wartime rationing was just beginning to ease, there was a group of young VFL footballers in red and blue, just starting out on a great adventure.

Norm Smith was in his second year as Melbourne coach, Denis Cordner was captain, and great red and blue achievements were still some way off in the future.

In 1953, there were eighteen players who made their senior debut for the Melbourne Football Club.

One small aberration exists, as is the way with football club lists; while Trevor Johnson is named, his senior debut was actually delayed until 1955, primarily due to National Service.

But then, he made up for lost time, playing in the premierships of 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1960.

Winner of the Best First Year Player award in 1955, Johnson was popularly known as ‘The Phantom’ for his unassuming nature, both on and off the field.

Seven others who made their senior debut in 1953 went on to play in Melbourne premierships, giving beautiful evidence of the 1950s and early 1960s as a golden era for the Demons.

Ken Melville went on to take out dual honours in 1953, winning both the Best and Fairest and the Best First Year Player award after playing seventeen games. It was said of him in review that:

Commencing on the wing and later finishing in the centre, this player, by his courage and tenacity, won almost every encounter with his respective opponent; one of our many amateur players, Ken, with his modest demeanour, is a real find, and a credit to the game.

Made vice captain in 1955, Melville played in the 1955 and 1956 premierships, before retiring to become a Presbyterian minister.

In 1973, he delivered the funeral service for Norm Smith, and was the only speaker on the day.

Another who played seventeen games on debut in 1953 was Peter Marquis, a chunky customer who hailed from Devonport.

Starting out at full back, he was immediately effective, and went on to make that position his own.

Marquis played 99 games for Melbourne, including the 1955, 1956 and 1957 premierships. In the middle of his triple run of flags – 1956 – it was noted that:

Peter at full back displayed the aggressive cleverness and purpose that place him high as one of the best full backs playing in the VFL today.

Upon hanging up his boots with the Demons after the 1958 Grand Final, Marquis returned to Tasmania and a successful run as captain of North Hobart, adding two more premierships to his tally.

Just behind Marquis and Melville, Don Williams played sixteen games in his debut season, in what would prove to be the start of his first stint with the Melbourne Football Club.

Between 1953 and 1959, then on return between 1964 and 1968, Williams played 205 games for the Demons, including premierships in 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959 and 1964.

The gap in his red and blue CV speaks volumes of the disharmony that existed at the time around the dashing half back flanker.

He headed to a fulfilling time at West Perth, then headed back east to Sale, before taking his rightful place for Melbourne’s twelfth VFL flag in 1964.

Way back in 1953, however, he was just starting out, part of a dedicated Melbourne family, and sharing the honours with Peter Marquis for an ‘Outstanding First-Year Service’ award.

Geoff Case was another who took the senior step for the first time in 1953, achieving a round dozen games, and starting to build a reputation for his run and kicking from the half back flank.

Originally from Melbourne High, he only turned 18 in September of 1953 – after the team had won just three games for the season – and must have occasionally doubted that he would end up playing in premierships in 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1960.

Curtailed on occasion by injury, as well as the demands of National Service, Case was nonetheless one of those named from early in his career for his ‘remarkable lift and enthusiastic drive’.

Retiring at the end of 1962, Case would go on in later years to serve the Melbourne Football Club as a director.

Despite playing just two senior games in 1953, Gerald ‘Terry’ Gleeson was on his way to 100 games and two premierships, registered in 1955 and 1956.

Known as a loyal and selfless team player, the combined forces of injury and competing ruck stocks meant that he missed out on being part of more premierships before his retirement at the end of the 1962 season.   

Frank ‘Bluey’ Adams was another to make his senior debut in 1953, totalling four games in this season.

His first senior game was against North Melbourne in Round 14.

Adams was wearing No. 41, some way removed from his latter-day No. 6, and enjoyed being part of one of Melbourne’s three wins in 1953, contributing a goal to the victory over North.

Another senior debutant – Ron Barassi – managed six games and no goals in this first season, appearing for the first time in Round Four, which was unfortunately a loss to Footscray.

In fact, his best experience in this debut season was a draw against Richmond. However, Barassi in his No. 31 was set for much brighter days, rounds and seasons ahead.

Both Adams and Barassi would go on to play in six premierships apiece – 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960 and 1964 – which is the most for any Melbourne player, and would forge their respective places as legends of the Melbourne Football Club and the game itself.

So, 1953 might never be seen as a glorious season, but it was an important one, and the start of bringing some wonderful careers to fruition.

It was with justification and a touch of fortune telling, therefore, that the club’s Annual Report recorded:

…it is comforting indeed to survey…new players of the calibre of Geoff. Case, Ron Barassi, Frank Adams, Trevor Johnson, all in the 19 years and under age group…This mention of a few of those first-year players who wore the Red and the Blue with distinction in 1953 shows that we are in a sound position.