Dick Reynolds

Dick Reynolds
Personal information
Full name	Richard Sylvannus Reynolds
Nickname(s)	King Richard
Date of birth	20 June 1915(1915-06-20)
Date of death	2 September 2002(2002-09-02) (aged 87)
Original team	Woodlands (EDFL)
Height/Weight	179cm / 82kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1933–1951	Essendon	320 (442)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
	Victoria	19
Coaching career3
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1939–1960	Essendon	415 (275–134–6)
1 Playing statistics to end of 1951 season . 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1960.
Career highlights
Essendon premiership captain-coach 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950 AFL Team of the Century Brownlow Medal 1934, 1937, 1938 W. S. Crichton Medal 1934, 1936–1939, 1942, 1943 Essendon captain 1939–1950 Essendon leading goalkicker 1943 Australian Football Hall of Fame "legend," inducted 1996

Richard Sylvannus 'Dick' Reynolds (born 20 June 1915 - 2 September 2002) was an Australian rules footballer and coach who represented Essendon and Victoria with great distinction. Reynolds had several relatives who also became League footballers, including his brother Tom, cousin Max Oppy, and grandson Joel.

He played from 1933 until 1951, captain coaching the side from 1939 until 1950, and coaching after his retirement from 1951 until 1960.

Revered by Essendon supporters, he was often referred to simply as "King Richard".^[1]

Overview

Dick Reynolds statue

The most notable highlights of Reynolds career include:

• Four time premiership captain-coach (1942, 1946, 1949, 1950)^[2]
• Three time Brownlow Medal winner (1934, 1937, 1938), the equal most of any player
• Seven time Essendon best-and-fairest (1934, 1936–1939, 1942, 1943), an equal club record^[3]
• 320 career games, a league record at the time of his retirement
• 442 goals scored, a club record at the time of his retirement
• Ranked as the greatest ever player for the club in the "Champions of Essendon"

Off the field, Reynolds was a shy and private man, noted for his humility about his footballing achievements. Just three days before his death, after being given a standing ovation by the crowd at the "Champions of Essendon" announcement dinner, at which he was named the greatest Essendon player of all time, Reynolds was visibly moved and stated "I don't deserve this honour... Bill Hutchison was the best player I ever saw."^[4]

His family's link with Essendon continued when his grandson Joel Reynolds was selected by the club in the 2001 AFL Draft. He made his debut in Round 3, 2002 against Brisbane at the Gabba, with Dick watching from the stands.

A statue in his honour was erected in 2004 at the Parade of Champions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.^[5]

Footnotes

1. ^ Baum, Greg: The legacy of Essendon's greatest son, The Age, 7 September 2002.
2. ^ Bombers farewell another Reynolds, The Age, 9 November 2002.
3. ^ Johnson, Len: Hird and Lucas share medal, The Age, 2 October 2003.
4. ^ Champions of Essendon Gala Dinner, Essendon Football Club, 20 August 2002.
5. ^ King Richard reigns at MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground, 20 June 2004.

References

• Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-959-17402-8
• Miller, W., Petraitis, V. & Jeremiah, V., The Great John Coleman, Nivar Press, (Cheltenham), 1997. ISBN 0-646-31616-8
• Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
• Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 546. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.

External links

• Player profile: Dick Reynolds (Essendon Football Club)

Awards
Preceded by Wilfred Smallhorn Dinny Ryan	Brownlow Medallist 1934 1937–1938	Succeeded by Haydn Bunton Marcus Whelan
Preceded by Paddy Walsh Keith Forbes Wally Buttsworth	Essendon Best and Fairest winner 1934 1936–1939 1942–1943	Succeeded by Keith Forbes Hugh Torney Percy Bushby
Sporting positions
Preceded by Len Webster	Essendon Football Club Captain 1939–1950	Succeeded by Bill Hutchison
Preceded by Jack Baggott	Essendon Football Club Coach 1939–1960	Succeeded by Harry Hunter

Persondata
Name	Reynolds, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	20 June 1915
Place of birth
Date of death	2 September 2002
Place of death