Football memorabilia auctioned at right time of the season

The lure of increasingly difficult to win premierships has resulted in AFL teams becoming ever more competitive and, as this season passes the halfway mark, 2013 is proving no different with the top sides knuckling down for a tight race to the finish.

At this time of the year knowing the interest it generates, Leski Auctions at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East invariably has some football memorabilia up for grabs.

However, from 5pm on Wednesday (within the two days allocated to the sporting and historic memorabilia auction) for the first time since the business was established the football items are so numerous that a whole session will be devoted to Australian Rules football.

Among the 313 lots on offer is the original rules of Australian football, comprising an interesting print with two medallions, and an extraordinary 1886-1891 photograph album/scrapbook of the St Kilda Football Club, compiled by its secretary Arthur Stooke (who also was the Victorian Football Association’s honorary treasurer).

Another intriguing item is the 1891 Football Souvenir produced at the end of the season in which Essendon were premiers.

Undoubtedly of great interest to Magpies supporters will be the 1936 Collingwood premiership medal won by James Crowe who played 21 games for Collingwood in 1936-37 after a career with Carlton from 1929-34.

Given the troubles currently facing the club, Melbourne supporters no doubt will heartened by several Weg caricature posters of their 1950s premierships.

Among the cricket memorabilia is former Australian Test captain Bill Woodfull’s baggy green along with three of his photographic albums of the 1934 England Ashes tour.