MOSS, Graham

Graham Moss was one of Essendon's greatest players. In four seasons at Windy Hill he was three times the Club's best player and finished in the top three players in the League on three occasions as well.

Moss was a champion player for Claremont and had played for Western Australia in the 1969 Carnival. His services were highly sought by both Essendon and St Kilda and he eventually came to Essendon as part of a swap for Essendon's Geoff Blethyn.

Moss was an excellent high-mark, was rarely beaten for knock outs and used his body superbly. He was also a fine long kick and kicked many goals when resting in the forward pocket. But it was as a ruckman that he excelled by winning the ball and bringing team-mates into the game.

Moss was magnificently consistent in his time at Essendon. In his first season, aged 23, he played in every game, won Essendon's best first year player award and was runner-up in the Brownlow Medal with 25 votes, only two votes behind the winner.

Moss then went on to win the Club's Best and Fairest award for the the next three consecutive seasons, as well as the Brownlow Medal in his final season, 1976. He had also gone close to winning the Medal in 1975 when he finished third in the count with 18 votes.

He captained the Club in 1976 and at times appeared to be carrying the side by himself.

Moss represented Victoria in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and kicked a total of 16 goals. He was chosen in The Sun All Star team in 1975 and won the Sunday Observer best player award. In 1976, he again made The Sun All Star team this time as vice-captain and won the The Truth Gold Cazaly award as the best League player.

Moss was also named in the Inside Football Team of the Year in 1974, 1975 and 1976. Unfortunately for Essendon, while still at the peak of his career, Moss sought a clearance back to Claremont as captain-coach in 1977 and Essendon had no choice but to clear him under the terms of his contract.

He won Claremont's Best and Fairest award every year from 1977 to 1980, giving him the remarkable record of winning seven consecutive Best and Fairest awards. He was captain-coach at Claremont until the end of 1983 and then became non-playing coach.

He became the inaugural CEO of the West Coast Eagles and later held the same position with the West Australian Sports Centre Trust and Tourism WA. He then became a project management consultant for Auzcorp Pty Ltd.

The Graham Moss Medal has been awarded to the best on ground in WAFL State of Origin matches from 1995.

Moss was named at number 17 in the Champions of Essendon (2002) and inaugurated as a Member of the Hall of Fame in 2012.