Career
Manning, recruited from Daylesford as a half forward flanker, made his league debut in the 1985 VFL season. The 18-year-old appeared in 19 of a possible 22 games that year, but struggled in subsequent seasons with fitness problems. He played just twice in 1987 and after adding just one further game to his tally in 1988 was dropped from Street Kilda"s list mid-season.
He joined Essendon for the 1989 season but didn"t make his debut until round 18.
His second and third appearances for Essendon were a semi and preliminary final. He featured prominently in the semi final loss to Hawthorn, with 18 disposals and goal, as well as being struck by Peter Schwab, an action which cost the future Hawthorn coach a spot in a premiership team
In 1990 he became a regular fixture in the Essendon team and averaged 16 disposals a game.
