EZARD, Alan

Originally tied to Melbourne, Alan Ezard was cleared to Essendon almost sight unseen from Broadford and Coburg (VFA).

What a move it turned out to be. He played 184 games and kicked 200 goals and was a member of both the 1984 and 1985 premiership sides.

Ezard also represented Victoria at State of Origin level on three occasions in 1985, 1990 and 1991 and also won the E.J. Whitten Medal in 1991 as best on ground in the game against South Australia. That same year, he won the Club's Best and Fairest Player award and was Essendon's top Brownlow Medal vote-getter.

As a player Ezard was particularly dangerous on the forward line with his electrifying pace and goal sense. One of his greatest assets was his spectacular marking, despite being only 172 cm tall. He won the VFL Mark of the Year in 1986 with a towering mark over Carlton's Justin Madden who was 34 cm (14 inches) taller.

He kicked a goal with his first kick in League football in 1983. He was Essendon's leading goalkicker in 1986 with 47 goals and was third top in 1987. He was also a member of two night premiership teams in 1985 and 1990.

He represented the VFA in the 1988 Bicentennial Carnival.

He struggled to get a regular game in the "Baby Bombers" team of 1993 and only managed four games. He finished second in the VSFL Best and Fairest award. Despite his lack of form, the Club wanted to keep him but reluctantly delisted him at the end of the year due to the new rules reducing playing lists from 52 to 42.

After leaving Essendon he coached Ballarat in the VSFL, then coached Pascoe Vale, Hoppers Crossing, Hillside and finally the La Trobe University Football Club.