Many players go on to have successful and long careers in the AFL, but a portion of players have their careers cut short. Some are star players who just didn't get a good crack to show what they have, or succumbed to the nasty history and role that injuries play in the game.

We take a look at 10 of the most notable names who had their promising careers end prematurely.

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6. John Coleman

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The namesake of the Coleman Medal, and one of the greatest Aussie rules footballers ever, John Coleman had his career cut short due to injury. But what a career it was.

In just 98 matches, Coleman kicked 537 goals, an average of almost 5.5 goals per game.

While in school, Coleman played under 18s at 12 years old.

Coleman trained with Essendon in 1946 but was considered too young to play senior footy. He would train with them again over the next few years and was finally selected to play Round 1 in 1949.

His debut was one for the record books. Coleman kicked 12 goals on debut,ย  a record unmatched to this day (and unlikely to ever be broken).

Alongside his proficient goal-kicking, he was only held goalless on one occasion and was known for his high-flying marking ability.

He would at times mark the ball with his feet on the shoulders of his opposition and in some cases, jumping cleanly over opponents.

In the eighth game of 1954, Coleman fell heavily and dislocated his knee, in what would be his final game. The week prior, he kicked his highest tally of goals with 14 majors.

Over the next two years, he failed to make a comeback despite surgery, and conceded in 1956. He retired at 25-years-old.

Coleman would go on to coach Essendon to two flags, and passed away suddenly in 1973, at age 44.

His achievements include:

  • 2ร— Essendon Premiership Player: (1949,ย 1950)
  • Essendon Best and Fairest: (1949)
  • 5ร— VFL Leading Goal-Kicker: (1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)
  • 6ร— Essendon Leading Goal-Kicker: 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954)
  • All-Australian: (1953)
  • 2ร— Essendon Premiership Coach: (1962,ย 1965)
  • Essendon Team of the Centuryย (Full-Forward)
  • AFL Team of the Centuryย 1996ย (Full-Forward)
  • Australian Football Hall of Fameย "Legend" (1996)