About Wally May
Lived 1926 – 2011 (aged 84). Wally May was an australian rules football player.
Wally May (11 September 1926 – 16 May 2011) was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League and the South Australian Football League, playing for the Essendon Football Club and Sturt Football Club respectively.
Predominantly playing as a defender and ruckman, May was an integral part of Essendon's 1949 and 1950 premiership victories, and compiled a total of ninety-four games for the club. His on-field efforts resulted in him finishing second in Essendon's 1951 best and fairest award behind teammate Norm McDonald. Following the 1952 season, May asked the club for a clearance to Sturt. When this was refused, he stepped away from football for a year until it was granted.
In his four seasons with the Sturt, May played a total of fifty-four league games, and represented South Australia twice in state representative football. After winning Sturt's best and fairest award in 1955, he was installed as captain-coach of the club for the 1956 season. However, following a poor season where Sturt produced just 3 wins and a draw from 18 games, May resigned, citing 'business reasons'. He decided to remain with the club as a player under his replacement coach, Ed Tilley.
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Important facts
People in Wally May's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Wally May's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Wally May?
Australian rules footballer and coach (1926-2011)
When was Wally May born?
Wally May was born on 11 September 1926.
When did Wally May die?
Wally May died on 16 May 2011.
What was Wally May's occupation?
Wally May was an australian rules football player.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wally May. https://biography.guide/wally-may/
MLA: "Wally May." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wally-may/.
Chicago: "Wally May." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wally-may/.
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