Ernie "Sonny" Coward (27 January 1916 – 5 April 1985) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Coward was originally from West Perth and along with his teammate Wally Buttsworth had to spend the 1938 season on the sidelines while waiting for a clearance to Essendon. He soon established himself as a wingman in Dick Reynolds's strong Essendon side of the early 1940s and appeared in three consecutive Grand Finals from 1941 to 1943, with a premiership in 1942. The Western Australian was runner-up in the 1944 Essendon Best and Fairest count. A VFL representative in 1945, Coward played a total of 11 finals matches with Essendon during his career. Tasmanian club Scottsdale secured his services as captain-coach in 1949, after he had played three seasons at Maryborough. References Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing. 1916 births 1985 deaths Essendon Football Club players Essendon Football Club Premiership players Scottsdale Football Club players Scottsdale Football Club coaches West Perth Football Club players Australian rules footballers from Western Australia Maryborough Football Club players Place of birth missing One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players