Equity Trustees have been in possession of the Greg Stockdale trophy since his passing in 1949. Equity Trustees managed his estate and recently had a historian sort through material and came across the cup. Instead of sitting in Equity Trustees' museum they have loaned it to the Essendon Football Club Hall of Fame.
The trophy is not without historical significance. It was presented to Stockdale by the Essendon Operatic and Choral Society on 1923 to mark him topping the League's goalkicking that year. He kicked 68 goals for the season - a League record at the time.
Greg Stockdale played 106 games for Essendon and kicked 189 goals. He played from 1920-1928. He was a superbly versatile player who started as a half back before being swung to full forward in the 1922 preliminary final ending Jack Moriarty's career at Essendon. Only 5 feet 10 inches, he became a champion left footed forward.
In his first game at full forward he kicked five of the teams six goals and went on to head the League goalkicking list in 1923 with 68 goals which was a new league record. He was also the club's leading goal kicker in 1926 with 36 goals.
In 1923 - he booted 10 goals against St.Kilda and nine goals against Cartlon. He won the best and fairest in 1925 and was runner-up in 1927. Stockdale was selected in the state side in 1923, 1925, 1927 and 1928. He also won Essendon's most consistent player award in 1927 and in 1928 he was suspended for eight weeks on a striking charge.
