The Essendon Football Club will induct Reg Burgess into its Hall of Fame on Saturday 27th June.

Click here for tickets.

In a relatively short career spanning only seven seasons, Reg Burgess proved himself to be among the very best the Bombers have produced.

Burgess was a superb wingman and centreman. He was fast moving, high-marking and seldom beaten. His strengths were his ability to read the play, and his fine judgment. He positioned himself perfectly for marks and was just as sure on the ground.

Teammate John Birt described him as ‘brilliant’ and Lance Mann said he was ‘an excellent ball handler’.

Burgess came from Apsley in Victoria where he had played from 1949 and had been best and fairest in the Kowree-Naracoorte League in 1952.

Burgess made his Essendon debut in round two of the 1954 season against South Melbourne and stayed in the seniors for the remainder of that year. He was the club best and fairest winner in 1957, a year that the Bombers made the Grand Final and was best and fairest winner again in 1960. He was also runner-up in 1956.

Burgess’s ability was recognised when he was selected in the State side in 1957, 1958 and 1960 and earned All-Australian selection in 1958.

He won the most improved player award in 1955 and the best utility player award in 1959. He was selected on the wing in the 1957 Grand Final and in the centre in the 1959 Grand Final.

Burgess’s career ended at its height when at the age of just 26 he returned home to run the family farm. It was a premature end to career that had many more seasons to run.

Reg Burgess is ranked at number 13 in the Champions of Essendon.

Years Played: 1954-60


Games: 124


Goals: 9



Best and fairest 1957 and 1960, runner-up 1956

Most improved player 1955

Best utility player 1959

Essendon Team of the Century

Ranked 13 in Champions of Essendon

9 times Victorian representative

All-Australian 1958