There’s a reason they call him King Richard.
Aside from being deemed the greatest Essendon player of all time, Reynolds had a rich history at the Brownlow Medal.
Here are some facts you may not have known:
- Reynolds is still the youngest ever player to win the Brownlow, winning his first medal aged 19 years and 91 days.
- He won his first medal after playing only 31 games, which was the second lowest number of games by a winner until 1959
- The 27 votes he received in 1937 was the highest amount received under the new 3-2-1 voting system which had been introduced in 1931. He held this record until 1940.
- His 1937 win came after only playing 15 games.
The 1934 Win:
Won with 19 votes, from 16 games in a season where Essendon finished third last on the ladder only winning 5 games for the season. It was only Reynolds second season of professional football. Reynolds would become the youngest ever player to win the Brownlow Medal when he defeated Fitzroy’s Haydn Bunton by one votes. Reynolds polled in eight of his 16 games.
The 1937 Win:
Reynolds would collect his second Brownlow Medal with another record performance. The King finished with 27 votes from just 15 games, defeating South Melbourne’s Herbie Matthews who collected 23 votes from 15 games. Reynolds polled votes in 11 games to be crowned the league’s Best and Fairest. He received the maximum three votes on five occasions, and two votes six times.
The 1938 Win:
A record third Brownlow Win would come in Reynold’s sixth year of football. This time the King would poll in nine games of his 17 games to defeat Hawthorn’s Stan Spinks by one vote. Although this would be Reynold’s would take out the top award, he would continue to feature among the top players at the Brownlow for the majority of his career.
Other years:
1933 – Equal 5th with 12 votes
1935 – Equal 5th with 13 votes
1936 – Equal 7th with 15 votes
1939 – 3rd with 19 votes
