APSLEY AFL product Reg Burgess has spoken about his love for the Essendon Football Club and his experience of moving away from the country to pursue a career in football.
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Burgess was last month inducted into the Bombers' Hall of Fame and admitted he was shocked to be named among the club's greatest players.
"I feel privileged to be inducted into the Essendon Hall of Fame – it's the greatest football club in Australia, no doubt," he said.
"I never thought I would be considered for such an honour - magnificent.
"Coming from a small country town to Essendon in those days wasn't very easy.
"I had to leave all my friends behind, go down there and accept this challenge."
Burgess said he had only ever been to Melbourne once before he had to move to the club, but he said it was the best thing that had ever happened to him
"I was only in Melbourne once before I turned up to play for them," he said.
"Having the opportunity to with Essendon was a dream come true, I can tell you.
"This club is the greatest."
Burgess debuted in 1954 after playing for Apsley since 1949.
He hung up the boots in 1960.
He is still unsure how he was picked for his maiden AFL match, but he certainly made an impact.
"When I went out for my first game - how I ever got a first game, I don't know - if my team-mates had have handballed it to me in the race running out, I would've fumbled it badly," he said.
He played 124 games for Essendon in seven seasons and was named in the All-Australian team in 1958.
Burgess was named most improved in his second season, before finishing runner-up in the club's best and fairest in 1956.
He went on to win Essendon's best and fairest the following year, claiming another in 1960.
Burgess represented Victoria nine times and was named in Essendon's Team of the Century.
“I couldn't have had a better time, because when I first came there all the officials were so good to me, it was so much appreciated - it was great,” he said.
Burgess believes he also owes plenty to his wife.
"Every part of the week revolved around preparing for the games," he said.
"And how my poor wife put up with me, I don't know."
Burgess said he got more out of football than he put into it, as was the greatness of the club he played for.
But he certainly loved every aspect of the game.
"I would polish the souls of my boots and I would wash the laces in my boots - I thought the world of them."
Clearly the Bombers think the world of him too.
Of all the Champions of Essendon, Burgess is ranked 13th.
