All current Essendon players attended the launch along with the stars of days gone by. Essendon chairman Graeme McMahon addressed the audience before chief executive Peter Jackson outlined the reasons the club decided to undertake the project.
“When designing these player facilities we knew we needed to restore a sense of our tradition and values,” Jackson said. “The idea of a mural first arose following a visit to the AIS in 1998 where there is a mural depicting some of Australia’s most famous track and field athletes in action.”
Each portrait on the wall is of a player who depicts a quality that this club holds dear. The players were chosen by Kevin Sheedy in association with Robert Shaw.
Roger Merrett (Aggression)
Terry Daniher (Passion)
Ian ‘Bluey’ Shelton (Strength)
James Hird (Inspiration)
Bill Hutchison (Soul)
Reg Burgess (Touch)
Mark Harvey (Warrior)
Michael Long (Vision)
Dick Reynolds (Brilliance)
Tim Watson (Versatility)
Norm McDonald (Speed)
John Coleman (Leadership)
Simon Madden (Courage)
Jack Clarke (Athleticism)
Ken Fraser (Loyalty)
Don McKenzie (Pride)
“These players aren’t necessarily the greatest players to have represented this club although some no doubt are. But they are players who represent a quality that we think is important. The qualities are a mix of football and athletic prowess and personal characteristics that when combined provide the team with the ‘Spirit to Win’,” Jackson said.
The mural was officially unveiled by the Essendon cheer squad.
