Few people have dedicated as much of their life to the Essendon Football Club as Wally Crichton. Crichton served the club continuously, sometimes in multiple roles, for an unbroken period of 34 years.

Crichton was wounded in the Great War and lost a leg. This ended any ambition of playing football but instead he became a successful and long-serving club administrator.

Wally Crichton joined the Essendon committee in 1926 and became the club’s vice-president in 1932, a position he held until 1940. He held a number of positions concurrently including Essendon delegate to the League from 1934 to 1959 and also served as Victorian state team manager.

He was appointed Essendon president 1941 and held the position until his death in 1959.

Crichton led the club during a period of change and great success. His presidency included the golden years of 1942 to 1951 when the club won four premierships and was runner up in another four.

As a mark of the esteem with which Wally Crichton is held, the Essendon Football Club’s best & fairest award was renamed the Crichton Medal in his honour. 

Committee 1926-1931

Vice-president 1932-1940

President 1941-1959 

VFL delegate 1934-1958