During the 1959 season, Edwards convinced Hawthorn coach Jack Hale to adopt circuit training for the entire team.
[2] Edwards won the Hawthorn best and fairest award in 1960 and represented Victoria at interstate football in the same season.
The following year he was voted best on ground in Hawthorn's first premiership win, against Footscray in the 1961 VFL Grand Final.
[3] He retired as a player and put his energies into a chain of health clubs in Melbourne and pioneered the concept of aerobic fitness in Australia.
[4] He was awarded life membership of the Hawthorn Football Club in 1970 and named in their team of the century in 2001.