DELAHUNTY, Hugh

Hugh Delahunty was a strong, toiling ruck rover who came from Murtoa.

Although he was a good mark, he lacked pace.

Delahunty left Essendon to become captain-coach of Donald from 1974 to 1976, during which time Donald won the Country Championship in 1975 and he won the N. C. F. L. Best and Fairest (Feeney Medal) in 1976.

He rejoined Murtoa in 1977 where he was assistant coach in 1977 and captain-coach from 1979 to 1981, winning Murtoa's only premiership in 1980. He left Murtoa at the end of 1982.

Delahunty became captain-coach of Dimboola from 1983 to 1984 and was the coach of the Wimmera Interleague side for nine years, winning the Country Championship (Division 2) in 1988.

He has been actively involved in community affairs for many years. He has been Mayor of Horsham twice and Chairman of Commissioners of the Mildura Rural City. He was the National Party Member for Wimmera from 1999 to 2002, and after an electorate re-distribution in 2002 he became the first Member for Lowan. He was appointed Shadow Minister for Sport, Recreation, Youth Affairs and Veterans' Affairs in 2008. After the win by the Liberal/Nationals Coalition in 2010, he became Minister for Sport and Recreation, and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. In 2013, as Minister for Sport and Recreation, he officially opened The Hangar, Essendon's new facility at Tullamarine.

His brother, Michael, played 42 games for Collingwood (1971-1975). Their sister, Mary, was a well-known media personality and later, Victorian Cabinet minister.