STONEHAM, Alan Verified listing

Alan Stoneham, known as "Rocky", was a fine half-back flanker. He came from Footscray where he played 129 games from 1972 to 1979 after making his debut at only 16 years of age. He had also represented Victoria in 1977 and 1978 while at Footscray.

He didn't miss a game in his first season at Windy Hill and missed only five his his next two seasons. But he played only 10 games in his last season, his last in Round 16. Although he was a fine contributor at Essendon, he never quite lived up to what many expected of him.

He captained Essendon Reserves to their 1983 premiership win and won the Reserves Best Clubman award.

He was involved in an infamous incident in 1983 when Hawthorn's Robert Dipierdomenico elbowed him in the face, badly breaking his nose. He returned to the field and even played the following week, but the effects of this severe injury began to appear years later and he developed symptoms of brain injury.

Stoneham became a skills coach at Essendon in 1984, a position he held until 1988. He coached Old Melbournians in the Amateurs in 1987 while still a member of Essendon's coaching panel.