The late Dr Bruce Reid will be elevated to Legend in Essendon's prestigious Hall of Fame. (Photo: AFL Photos)

It’s hard to find someone who’s left a more revered legacy on the Essendon Football Club than the late Dr Bruce Reid.

When the devastating news came in late 2020 that Reid had succumbed to his two-year fight with Mesothelioma, the wave of grief which enveloped the Dons’ community showed how big of an impact the 75-year-old had imparted on the club.

The AFL’s longest-serving doctor was not only the best in his field, but on a deeper level, he became a confidant and friend to many over his 39-year career.

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A tribute to Dr Bruce Reid

Filmed as part of Essendon's upcoming 150 year documentary, past players and coaches share their thoughts on the longest-serving club doctor in AFL history, the late Dr Bruce Reid.

After a three-game stint with Hawthorn in 1966 and ’67, Reid graduated with a medical degree in 1968, returning to VFL clubland as a doctor for Richmond between 1976 and ’79.

His career in the red and black began in 1982, when three-time Richmond premiership player Kevin Sheedy was appointed as Essendon senior coach and lured Reid to Windy Hill to work as club doctor.

From there, the rest was history.

In his near four-decade tenure, Reid worked across seven V/AFL Grand Finals, seeing the Bombers claim four premierships. He was also the doctor for four Australian International Rules teams between 1987 and 2006 and three Victorian state teams over a 20-year period, and secretary of the AFL Medical Officers Association.

Reid became an endearing figure to many players and their families due to his professionalism, expertise, and sharp-witted nature.

Hall of Fame Legend: Dr Bruce Reid

A look through the lens at the journey of Essendon Hall of Fame Legend Dr Bruce Reid, who has been at the centre of the club since 1982.
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In 2009, his services to the game were recognised when the AFL awarded Reid an AFL Lifetime Achievement Award and crowned him the joint winner of the Jack Titus Medal.

Five years later in 2014, Reid was inducted into the Essendon Hall of Fame.

Reid’s elevation to Essendon Hall of Fame Legend will be celebrated at the club's Hall of Fame event on Thursday, February 24, with Neale Daniher, Dustin Fletcher and Gavin Wanganeen also being elevated to Legend status.

Want to be there for one of the Bombers' most special nights?

Click here for full details and to purchase your ticket for the prestigious Essendon Hall of Fame event, which will be proudly presented by Liberty Free-Thinking Loans.