Australian Football

Widely acknowledged as the finest ruckman in the game for much of his career, Essendon's Simon Madden emphasised that status by winning virtually every honour football at the elite level has to offer, with the exception of the Brownlow Medal. After spending his early years operating out of a forward pocket Madden developed into a superb tap ruckman who was also extremely damaging around the ground.

Between 1974 and 1992 Madden played a club record 378 V/AFL games for the Bombers, kicking 575 goals which included club list topping tallies of 45 in 1980, 49 in 1982 and 42 in 1991. He won Essendon's premier individual award on four occasions, and was club captain in 1980-81. A recipient of the Norm Smith Medal for best afield in the 1985 Grand Final, Madden achieved All Australian selection three times, and was runner-up for the Brownlow in 1988. Given these achievements, there was no surprise when he was selected as first ruckman in Essendon's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'.

Madden maintained his involvement in football after his retirement as a player and later this involved taking the coaching reins at leading VAFA club St Bernard's Old Collegians. He joined Essendon's board of directors in 2014.

Author - John Devaney