Under Club policy, coaches and administrators can be inducted the year following their completion of service. Players need to have been retired for three years before being considered for induction as a Legend of the Club.

“This Club places great importance on recognising the people that have made great contributions. Kevin has arguably made a greater contribution than any and it is only right that he be honoured in this way,” Essendon managing director, Peter Jackson, said today.

“I have spoken with Kevin and he would prefer an intimate function to be held in the Club’s Hall of Fame to celebrate the occasion. It will involve family, friends and the people that worked closely with him during his time as senior coach.

“The size of the event may be small but we think the significance is enormous given the names he will be joining as a Legend of the Essendon Football Club. We know how much this Club has meant to him and this award is about the Club recognising how much he has meant to it.”

The current 16 Legends of the Essendon Football Club are:

Bill Busbridge, John Coleman, Tom Fitzmaurice, Bill Hutchison, Dick Reynolds, Jack Clarke, Terry Daniher, Simon Madden, Tim Watson, Ken Fraser, Frank Reid, Albert Thurgood, Barry Davis, Bill Cookson, Alan Hird (Snr) and Alex McCracken.

Media arrangements will be advised in due course.