Hall of Fame Players

Players

Frank Smith

1924–41
248 games — VFA Club record. Recorder Cup, now the Liston Trophy, 1928. Premiership, 1937. Team of the Century.

Bill Koop

1930–37
146 games. Recorder Cup, now the Liston Trophy, 1931. Premiership, 1937. Best and Fairest, 1930, 1931 and 1932. Team of the Century.

Norm “Bunny” Williams

1931–41
182 games. Premiership Captain, 1937.

Allan Thompson

1931–41
182 games. Premiership, 1937. Runners-up, 1936 and 1940.

Les White

1932–46
229 games and 361 goals. Recorder Cup, now the Liston Trophy, 1935. Premiership, 1937. Best and Fairest, 1935 and 1936. Team of the Century.

Bill Faul

1939–41 and 1949–52
66 games. Captain-Coach, 1939–41. Non-playing Coach, 1949–52. Premiership Coach, 1951. Best and Fairest, 1940 and 1941. Team of the Century.

Paddy Walsh

1947–54
158 games. Best and Fairest, 1948 and 1949. Captain, 1949–52. Captain-Coach, 1953–54. Premiership, 1951. VFA Representative, 1950–51. Team of the Century Captain. Life Member.

Bill Morrow

1947–57
167 games. Premiership, 1951. VFA Representative, 1951. Team of the Century.

Ray Harvey

1950–60
206 games and 328 goals. Premierships, 1951 and 1959. Best and Fairest, 1950, 1951, 1956 and 1957. Reserves Captain-Coach, 1960–61. Completed 19 seasons as a player or coach. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Barry Pearson

1955–68
180 games and 256 goals. Premierships, 1959 and 1966. Captain, 1961–62 and 1965. Leading Goalkicker, 1960, 1963, 1964 and 1966. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Graeme McMahon

1961–69
139 games. Premiership, 1966. Captain, 1967. Leading Goalkicker, 1961. VFA Representative, 1968. Team of the Century. Life Member. Essendon Football Club President, 1966–2003.

Dick Culpin

1965–75
155 games. Premierships, 1966, 1970 and 1973. The only VFA triple-premiership player in the Club’s history. Captain, 1974. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Maurie Bartlett

1966–73
77 games and 157 goals. Premierships, 1966 and 1970.

Rod Payne

1968–69 and 1971–76
125 games and 195 goals. Premiership, 1973. Best and Fairest, 1971. VFA Representative, 1975. Chairman of Selectors for the 1978 premiership. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Vin Crowe

1969–76
64 games. Premiership, 1970. J.J. Liston Trophy runner-up, 1971. Team of the Century.

Bryan Kenneally

1970–73
45 games. Premierships, 1970 and 1973. Melbourne premierships, 1960 and 1964.

Ken Emselle

1970–74
71 games. Premierships, 1970 and 1973. Best and Fairest, 1970 and 1973. Team of the Century. Life Member. Melbourne premiership, 1964.

Robert Anderson

1972–80
152 games. Premierships, 1973 and 1978. Best and Fairest, 1974 and 1980. Captain, 1978–80. VFA Representative, 1975 and 1980. Team of the Century. Life Member.

John Townsend

1973–76
67 games and 80 goals. Premiership, 1973. Best and Fairest, 1975 and 1976. Captain-Coach, 1975 and 1976. Team of the Century.

Kim Smith

1974 and 1976–82
136 games and 610 goals. Premiership, 1978. Eight-time Leading Goalkicker. Committee member, 2000–04. Played a key role in the Club’s return to Toorak Park in 2000. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Glenn Dickson

1975–86
115 games and 223 goals. Captain, 1983. Best and Fairest, 1981 and 1982. VFA Representative, 1979–82. Team of the Century.

Wayne Johnston

1975–78
69 games and 173 goals. Premiership, 1978. VFA Representative, 1978. Team of the Century. Carlton premierships, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1987. AFL Hall of Fame, 2018.

Ian McGuinness

1975–80
79 games. Premiership, 1978. VFA Representative, 1979–80. Team of the Century.

Ross Thornton

1976–79 and 1990
79 games and 80 goals. Premiership, 1978. Best and Fairest, 1979. Captain-Coach, 1990. Team of the Century.

Kerry Foley

1978–83
101 games. Premiership, 1978. VFA Representative, 1979–81. Team of the Century. Life Member.

Luke Soulos

1978–91
298 games: 154 Seniors and 144 Reserves. Premiership, 1987. Reserves premiership, 1991. VFA Reserves Todd Medal Best and Fairest, 1982. Life Member.

Michael Sinni

1991–94
69 games. The Club’s only J.J. Liston Medallist, 1993. Co-Captain, 1994. Team of the Century.

Adam Sleight

2003–17
227 games and 420 goals. Best and Fairest, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2011. Captain, 2011–13. Six-time Leading Goalkicker. Team of the Decade, 2010–19, Captain. Premierships, 2011 and 2017. Club Sponsor, 2018–26. Life Member.

Jack Matherson

2004–24
283 games: 224 Seniors and 59 Reserves. Premiership, 2011. Captain, 2013–14. Team of the Decade, 2010–19, Centre Half-Back. Reserves Coach, 2021–24. Life Member.

James Musster

2008–25
279 games: 235 Seniors and 44 Reserves/Under-19s. Captain, 2016–23. VAFA Division 3 Best and Fairest, 2011. VAFA Division 2 Best and Fairest, 2017. Premierships, 2011, 2017 and 2024. Team of the Decade, 2010–19, Vice-Captain. Life Member.

Tim Maya

2008–25
279 games: 220 Seniors and 59 Reserves/Under-19s. 222 goals. Premierships, 2011, 2017 and 2024. Team of the Decade, 2010–19. Life Member.