Dick Reynolds
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Personal Info | |
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Birth | June 20, 1915, |
Recruited from | Woodlands (Essendon League) |
Death | September 2, 2002, |
Playing Career¹ | |
Debut | Round 1, April 29, 1933, Essendon vs. Footscray, at Western Oval |
Team(s) | Essendon (1933-1951) 320 games, 442 goals |
Coaching Career¹ | |
Team(s) | Essendon (1939-1960) 415 games - 275 wins, 134 losses, 6 draws |
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season | |
Career Highlights | |
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Dick Reynolds (born June 20, 1915, died September 2, 2002) was an Australian rules football player and coach. He played for, captained and coached the Essendon Bombers in the VFL/AFL competition for nearly three decades. He played from 1933 until 1951, captain coaching the side from 1939 until 1950, and coaching after his retirement from 1951 until 1960. Revered by Essendon supporters, he was often referred to simply as King Richard.
[edit] Overview
The most notable highlights of Reynolds career include:
- Four time premiership captain-coach (1942, 1946, 1949, 1950)
- Three time Brownlow Medal winner (1934, 1937, 1938), the equal most of any player
- Seven time Essendon best-and-fairest (1934, 1936-1939, 1942, 1943), an equal club record
- 320 career games, a league record at the time of his retirement
- 442 goals scored, a club record at the time of his retirement
- Chosen as one of the twelve inaugural "legends of the game" by the AFL
- Chosen in the AFL team of the century
- Ranked as the greatest ever player for the club in the "Champions of Essendon"
Off the field, Reynolds was a shy and private man, noted for his humility about his footballing achievements. Only days before his death, after being given a standing ovation by the crowd at the "Champions of Essendon" announcement dinner, Reynolds was visibly moved and simply stated "I don't deserve any of this".
His legacy lives on with his grandson Joel Reynolds, recruited by the Essendon Football Club in the 2001 AFL Draft. He made his debut in Round 3, 2002 against Brisbane at the Gabba, with Dick himself watching from the stands.
A statue in his honour was erected in 2005 at the Parade of Champions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Preceded by Wilfred Smallhorn |
Brownlow Medallist 1934 |
Succeeded by Haydn Bunton |
Preceded by Paddy Walsh |
Essendon Best and Fairest winner 1934 |
Succeeded by Keith Forbes |
Preceded by Keith Forbes |
Essendon Best and Fairest winner 1936-1939 |
Succeeded by Hugh Torney |
Preceded by Dinny Ryan |
Brownlow Medallist 1937-1938 |
Succeeded by Marcus Whelan |
Preceded by Jack Baggott |
Essendon Football Club Coach 1939-1960 |
Succeeded by Harry Hunter |
Preceded by Wally Buttsworth |
Essendon Best and Fairest winner 1942-1943 |
Succeeded by Percy Bushby |
Categories: Australian rules footballers | Articles lacking sources from June 2006 | All articles lacking sources | 1915 births | 2002 deaths | Australian Football Hall of Fame | Brownlow Medal winners | Essendon Bombers players | Champions of Essendon | People from Melbourne | Essendon Football Club coaches