Essendon Football Club has tonight honoured its past and present-day greats of the club at the 2012 Season Launch and Hall of Fame Induction at Peninsula Central Pier, Docklands.
Former champions Ron Evans and Howard Okey were inducted as Legends of the Essendon Football Club for their exceptional commitment and service to the club as both players and administrators.
In a career lasting over 40 years, Ron Evans was an outstanding player, decorated goal kicker, club leader, AFL Commissioner and AFL Commission Chairman.
Evans was a slightly built full-forward, but he was a deceptively strong mark with a fine instinct for goals. In 1959 during only his second season in league football, Evans was both the club’s and the league’s leading goal kicker. He is still the youngest man to win the league leading goalkicking award. Evans represented Victoria in 1959 and 1960 and was full-forward in the Bombers’ losing 1959 Grand Final team. Evans kicked 209 goals in his 64 games with Essendon.
Following a stint in West Perth from 1963, Evans returned to Melbourne and joined the Essendon Football Club committee in 1978. He became Essendon Chairman from 1988-1992 and proved to be a visionary when he managed the transition of the club from playing home games at Windy Hill to the MCG.
Evans was a member of the AFL Commission in 1993 and was appointed AFL Commission Chairman from 1998-2007. He received an Order of Australia for his contribution to Australian football as a player and administrator, for service to business and commerce and to the community through the support of a number of charities.
Evans passed away in March, 2007 at the age of 67.
Howard Okey’s career at the Essendon Football Club spanned four decades from 1928 to 1970.
As a player, Okey was an impressive half-forward and centreman who played 109 games for Essendon between 1928 and 1934. He was the club’s best and fairest winner in 1929 and gained state selection on three occasions.
Okey was one of Essendon’s most loyal servants and served on the committee for twenty-seven years from 1944 to 1970. He was Essendon Football Club Vice President for 12 years and was Chairman of selectors for a total of 15 years. Okey became a Life Member of the Victorian Football League in 1970.
Okey passed away in March, 1985 at the age of 79.
Following a stint in West Perth from 1963, Evans returned to Melbourne and joined the Essendon Football Club committee in 1978. He became Essendon Chairman from 1988-1992 and proved to be a visionary when he managed the transition of the club from playing home games at Windy Hill to the MCG.
Evans was a member of the AFL Commission in 1993 and was appointed AFL Commission Chairman from 1998-2007. He received an Order of Australia for his contribution to Australian football as a player and administrator, for service to business and commerce and to the community through the support of a number of charities.
Evans passed away in March, 2007 at the age of 67.
Howard Okey’s career at the Essendon Football Club spanned four decades from 1928 to 1970.
As a player, Okey was an impressive half-forward and centreman who played 109 games for Essendon between 1928 and 1934. He was the club’s best and fairest winner in 1929 and gained state selection on three occasions.
Okey was one of Essendon’s most loyal servants and served on the committee for twenty-seven years from 1944 to 1970. He was Essendon Football Club Vice President for 12 years and was Chairman of selectors for a total of 15 years. Okey became a Life Member of the Victorian Football League in 1970.
Okey passed away in March, 1985 at the age of 79.
The 2012 Season Launch and Hall of Fame Induction also saw the elevation of former players Jack Jones, Joe Misiti, Hugh Mitchell, Graham Moss and Paul Salmon as members of the club’s Hall of Fame.
For further information on the five inductees, please click here.
Current players Brent Stanton and David Hille, as well as recently retired Andrew Welsh were also recognised for their sustained contribution to the club, as the trio were presented with Life Membership.
