King Richard

Dick Reynolds was regarded by many as Australian Rules football’s greatest player. However, unlike other well-known contemporaries he has never had his story published in this much detail. Through his on-field deeds during the 1930s and 1940s, Reynolds transformed the once struggling Essendon Football Club into a powerhouse within the Victorian Football League. His meteoric rise saw him claim a record three Brownlow Medals. Reynolds was labelled an inspiration when he led Essendon to the 1942 premiership, where his best-on-ground display brought an end to an 18-year premiership drought for the club. Reynolds then led Essendon through one of the finest eras of any side in the history of the VFL/AFL, with the Bombers playing in every Grand Final between 1946 and 1951. Despite his remarkable success, Reynolds’ inability to claim a premiership as a non-playing coach saw many question his capacity to inspire a team in the same manner he had as a player. However, when he was controversially sacked in 1960, Reynolds had the greatest winning percentage of any coach in the history of the VFL.