RAMANAUSKAS, Adam

Adam Ramanauskas has had one of the most chronicled football careers of modern times. He came late to football preferring basketball as a youngster and was drafted in 1998, as selection no. 12 form the Dandenong Under 18s. He was selected in the TAC Cup Team of the Year that year.

He made his Essendon debut in Round 8, 1999, played two games that season and won the Reserves Best and Fairest, to complete a successful first season.

By 2000, the Club's best season in history, "Rama" established himself as a first team regular, playing in every game that year but one. His timing could not have been better as the team swept all before it and he played in the pre-season premiership and the premiership win over Melbourne. By season's end he had a premiership medal around his neck, had won the Club's Most Improved award and was runner-up in the Norwich Rising Star award.

His fine form continued the following year and he played all 25 games, juggling the roles of link man through the mid-field and as a small defender, and performed both superbly. In a consistent season he polled votes in 18 games and finished sixth in the Crichton Medal. One of his most important contributions came in the Preliminary Final when his defensive efforts late in the match were sensational. He was also selected for the Australian side that played Ireland in the International series.

2002 was perhaps his best season, confirmed by his third placing in the Crichton Medal. He played in 23 games during the season, was one of the team's leading possession winners and took an on-field leadership role when senior players were injured.

While 2003 looked on track to be another stellar year for Ramanauskas, a benign lump on his neck was found after Round 3 and he required surgery which put him out for eight weeks. At half-time during a game in 2003, an umpire handed a small photo of Rama to Essendon's coaching staff - one of the players had been carrying it in his sock. A touching example of the affection he was held in by his team-mates.

His return in Round 12 was greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd, but the cancer returned and he missed the last six games while undergoing treatment. He was presented with the Best Clubman Award at season's end.

He won the respect of many by making his return to the game in 2004 after his serious illness. He played in all 24 games that year, kicking five goals for the season and polling 133 votes at the Best and Fairest.

Ramanauskas played the first three games of the 2005 season before suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a training drill. He required a knee reconstruction, which left him sidelined for the rest of the season and placed him once again on the long-term injury list.

He was re-diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and didn't play a game while undergoing treatment. The players wore yellow armbands in Round 12 to show their support for him despite being refused permission by the AFL who then fined the Club. Since then, Essendon has incorporated - with permission - a yellow band on the guernsey for the annual Clash for Cancer game.

"Rama" returned to senior football in Round14, 2007, amid emotional scenes and finished with five games for the season.

He played 18 games in 2008 and retired at the end of the year.

He will be remembered for his versatility, pace and skill as a footballer, and for his courage in overcoming his illnesses and injury.

After his retirement, Ramanauskas was appointed to work with the young players of the Essendon Football Club. His wife, Belinda, is a cousin of former Essendon player, Aaron Henneman.