Essendon Football Club wishes to extend its deepest condolences to the Charlton family, following the sad passing of Tony Charlton.

Charlton, 83, lost his courageous battle with bowel cancer earlier this morning.

The legendary broadcaster was a member of the Australian Football League Hall of Fame and a Life Member of the Essendon Football Club.

Charlton was at the forefront of radio and television broadcasting in Australia for over 60 years.

Chief executive officer Ian Robson said the loss of Charlton would be felt right throughout Australia.

“On behalf of the Essendon Football Club, I would like to express our great sadness at the passing of Tony Charlton,” Robson said.

“The Essendon family has lost one of its most loved members this morning, and our thoughts are with Tony’s wife Loris and his family.

“Not only was Tony one of the nation’s greatest ever sports broadcasters, he was a true gentleman in every sense of the word.

“He was an outstanding Australian. We are poorer for the passing of Tony,” he said.

Charlton’s distinguished career dates back to 1950 when he called football with the great Norman Banks.

In his first year, Charlton said he could not believe his luck that his career was coinciding with the most exciting player of the time, Essendon full-forward John Coleman.

“To call Coleman was the best experience for any broadcaster, given he was so spectacular. I called him when he kicked his 100th goal in 1950,” Charlton said recently.

The Club also wishes to extend its condolences to the family of former Essendon premiership player Brian Sampson, who passed away yesterday. Sampson played 100 games between 1959-1966 and was a member of the Club’s 1962 and 1965 premiership teams.