For the 1900's player see Edward Cordner

DOB: 31 January 1919
Died: 4 March 1996

Debut: Round 10, 1941 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Grand Final 1946 against Essendon at MCG

From: University Blacks

Number: 28 (1941-1943), 23 (1946)

Honours:
Premiership Player - 1941
Best First Year Player - 1941
Victorian State player - 1946

Games: 52
Goals: 0
Career Statistics

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
32	0	2	64.00

The oldest of the 1940s era Cordners - son of John - saw his career restricted due to a medical career. He joined Melbourne from University Blacks and won a Premiership in his first year. He played 11 games in each of his three seasons, and it is often said that if a Brownlow Medal had been awarded in 1943 he would have won it.

He was a powerful, strong defender who had a booming kick and the Demons were worse for his absence when Cordner was forced to miss the 1944 and 1945 seasons due to his service as a doctor with the Royal Australian Navy. In 1942 he'd missed the first month of the season due to examinations to become a doctor.

In 1945 he coached the team from the Navy ship HMAS Vendetta. He returned in 1946 and played a full season - including the losing Grand Final - before returning to the amateurs with Old Melburnians, who he captained through 1948. In retiring from VFL football Cordner told the club he couldn't balance his duties at the Royal Children's Hospital with those of being a league footballer.

He later served on the MFC committee.

Cordner's son David played 52 games for Melbourne between 1982 and 1987.

In 1999 he was named in the Melbourne Grammar Team of the Century.

Year	Games	Goals	Brownlow
1941	11	0	6
1942	11	0	0
1943	11	0	0
1946	19	0	1

Lists
Family
Players who served during war

Notes
Some sources have him from University Blues.

Media
Argus - 24/04/1942
Australasian - 24/06/1944
Sporting Globe - 17/11/1945
Football Record R1 1947

Links
Australian Football profile
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
Wikipedia profile