DOB: 9 January 1927
Died: 30 November 2009
Debut: Round 5, 1945 against Geelong at Punt Road
Last Game: Round 19, 1952 against Collingwood at Victoria Park
From: Wesley College
Number: 16 (1945-1952)
Honours:
Premiership Player - 1948
Grand Final team - 1946
150 Heroes selection
Games: 126
Goals: 17
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 69 | 2 | 55 | 54.76 |
After just five games in his debut season, interrupted by Navy duty, the 6ft tall former captain of the Wesley College school side was voted Most Improved Player in 1946 and played in the Demons losing Grand Final side. He played as an amateur that year.
One of the best in the 1948 Grand Final Replay victory, Bickford was recruited as defender but became better known as a centreman with excellent disposal on his long kicks. The 1949 club annual report even described the centre combination of Bickford, Jackson and Dockett as one of the best the club had ever had.
Appointed vice-Captain in 1951 he held the role for two years before retiring during the 1953 pre-season.
Bickford's son Stephen later played for the Demons and served on the board. His father Edric played for Essendon in 1912 then with Carlton from 1920 to 1922, and his uncle Albert played for Melbourne between 1908 and 1909.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1945 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1946 | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| 1947 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 1948 | 23 | 2 | 6 |
| 1949 | 17 | 2 | 2 |
| 1950 | 18 | 3 | 5 |
| 1951 | 16 | 4 | 7 |
| 1952 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
Lists
Amateur players
Family
Players who served during war
Media
Herald - 15/03/1945
Argus - 06/07/1945
Age - 13/03/1953
melbournefc.com.au - 01/12/2009 (dead link)
Links
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile