Essendon Football Club is mourning the sad death of former player Alan Noonan, who passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer, aged 63.

Noonan is regarded as one of Essendon’s greatest ever centre half forwards playing 182 games and kicking 420 goals in a career spanning 10 years from 1966 to 1976. Noonan was vice-captain in 1974 and 1975, played in Essendon’s losing Grand Final side in 1968 and was selected in the State side in 1967, 1968, 1972 and 1973.

John Birt, a former teammate and coach, said Noonan will be dearly missed.

“The Essendon family has lost one of its best ever footballers,” he said.

“I think when you look at his record you realise what a great player Alan Noonan was and considering the number of goals he kicked mainly playing as a centre half forward is truly remarkable.”

“He was equally as good on the ground as he was in the air and an extremely popular player among his peers.”

Determined to see his beloved Bombers one last time, Noonan received his dying wish when he visited the Essendon change rooms before the Round 1 match against the Western Bulldogs.

“It takes a very brave person to face up to the inevitable and he’s been facing up to this now for some months and he’s done it with an extreme amount of courage and bravery,” Birt said.

“It was something he really wanted to do and it was really brave going to the football in a wheelchair and he wasn’t afraid to show himself out there.”

Click here to view Alan Noonan's player profile

Essendon Football Club would like to send its best wishes and condolences to the Noonan Family during this time.

A funeral service will be held on Monday April 18 at 1.30pm at the Medway Golf Club, 7 Omar Street Maidstone, 3012, Victoria, Australia