R.I.P Bill Stephen.
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He was the 1st Essendon coach that I can remember.
Even as a kid, I got the impression that he had almost fatherly influence on the younger players.
I hope Timmy or Simon can confirm this.
Massive legacy at Fitzroy
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Justin Townes Earle, musician and son of Steve Earle has passed away. A fine songwriter and musician
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And in my book, we made a mistake replacing him with Barry Davis.
And he was a singular character…Stephen, not Stephens.
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That’s interesting re Barry Davis.
I believed, and again I was a kid, that Davis was a more football teacher than a traditional coach.
More learnings than emotion, sounds familiar.
Oh God no… I saw him for the 2nd time up at Meeniyan just last year. An amazing Songwriter & performer. I can’t believe it, … and yet somehow I can. 
38. Very sad news. RIP mate.
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He and his wife were about the nicest most decent people I have met.
Word had it that he lacked the killer instinct as coach.
Far out. Too young.
The hihlight of my tenis career was playing against Barry Davis and Ken Fletcher one Easter at Kyabram. Iwas a bit in awe to be on the same court with them. Davis taught himself to play tennis after he retired from football, and got up to B grade pennant standard, good enough to coach professionally. After the match (they won) we talked naturally enough about Essendon and Sheedy’s prospects for the coming season, around 1982 IIRC.
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Barry Davis was my PE teacher at high school. He had a very technical approach to any activity. We laboured for hours being taught how to throw a tennis ball.
From the day he left Essendon as Captain to go to Kangas, he was dead to me. When he was appointed coach, I nearly went and supported Collingwood, but I had too many teeth.
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Was he offered big $ to jump to the Kangas like Doug Wade?
From the day he left Essendon as Captain to go to Kangas, he was dead to me. When he was appointed coach, I nearly went and supported Collingwood, but I had too many teeth.
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If Paddy Ryder ever becomes coach of EFC, I might know exactly how you feel.
Yep Kangas bought Doug Wade, John Rantall and Barry Davis, to add to a very good list of players that included Blight, Cable, Crosswell, Kraukeur Borothers and other. Davis who was Bomber captain took the money and became Kangas skipper winning there first premiership in 1975. Probably not that much money these days, but it allowed Davis to quit his job as a PE teacher, which he was not very good at.
Wade has told a story of been given $10k cash in $20 notes to get him to commit.
I also had him as a teacher. Many years after i had left school I saw him at Essendon training. He cam up to me and starting asking me how i was and what i had been doing. I could not believe he even remembered me
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You were probably a much nicer kid than me.
Chilla Porter, high jumper engaged in epic battle with US high jumper at Melbourne Olympics, finished with silver medal.
Father of Christian Porter. Fed AG.
Most believed, and said at the time that North bought that premiership. Probably right, and the beginning of the end of club loyalty.
I only had Warwick Irwin for PE teacher (Fitzroy team of the century).
(He’s not dead. Currently in his 47th year at Mt Waverley Secondary College!)
The catch up spending spree brought down the VFL system and introduced the AFL with an over concentration of power within the AFL, emasculating club authority.
Essendon nearly went under.