Epis has been a popular and colourful figure at Essendon since he arrived at Windy Hill from Boulder, Western Australia in 1958.
The teenage Epis honed his football skills while at boarding school in New Norcia outside Perth under the guidance of the Marist Brothers, many of whom were Victorian and encouraged their young charges to play Australian rules.
Epis needed no encouragement, he was a natural. After three years he returned to Boulder and played for local club Mines Rovers winning the under 15s best and fairest. In 1955 while still only 17 years of age Epis won the Goldfields National Football League’s best and fairest award, the Fletcher Medal, and a premiership medal that same year. But bigger things beckoned.
Essendon had heard about the young champion from a local bank manager in Boulder and sight unseen the club invited Epis to Windy Hill to train. While Epis showed that he was good enough the West Australian Football League judged that he’d been lured by the Bombers in breach of the rules and banned Epis for three years. Epis was livid. He stood out for two years and returned to Essendon telling the WAFL that he was heading back. ‘In the end they gave up‘ he later recalled.
But it wasn’t just the WAFL that stood in his way. His father tried to convince him to stay home with the bribe of a new car but Epis had made up his mind. ‘To go to the VFL was a dream come true. It was an adventure, the chance to do something’ he later recalled.
Epis made his debut in round 3 1958 and soon distinguished himself as a tough and pacy half back flanker with a powerful drop kick and with more than a touch of the lair about him. He never took a backward step and wasn’t above a bit of showmanship or giving a bit of lip. After taking a mark Epis would hold often hold the ball aloft in two hands showing it off to both the opposition and the crowd. The Bomber fans loved it. He also had the reputation for incessant chatter.
In his second season Epis won the most consistent player award. He won the award again in 1962 a premiership year and was also named among the best in the Grand Final win over Carlton. By then he was part of the formidable half back line along with champions Barry Davis and Bluey Shelton.
Epis won state honours in 1960 and 1963 and it was in Adelaide on the trip home from WA in ’63 that fellow state players Allen Aylett and Bob Skilton described his laughter as like that of a kookaburra. The name stuck.
Epis won a second premiership medal in 1965 and retired after the 1968 season. In 1972 he joined the club committee and served for four years and was later chairman of selectors in 1975 and 1976. He served the board again between 1998 and 2008 during a period of great change and success.
During his time at Windy Hill Epis played 180 games over 11 seasons, won two premiership medals, played for Victoria, served Essendon as a long term board member, was chairman of selectors, served as a specialist skills coach and behind the scenes was a mentor and father figure to many young players.
It has been quite a ride for the young boy from the WA goldfields.
