Australian Football

Known evocatively as 'Mad Mick', Michael Madden was a powerful, extremely mobile key position player who boasted a luxuriant crop of red hair and the traditional fiery temper to go with it. Essendon recruited him from Heathcote, and he gave the club good service in 65 games, which saw him kick 51 goals, between 1903 and 1906.

In 1907 Madden crossed to Essendon Association where he rapidly became one of the biggest draw cards in the VFA. In 1911, however, he was banned for a full year and although his appeal against the ban was upheld in a court of law, the VFA refused to budge. Madden came back in style in 1912 by helping the Dreadnoughts to a second successive flag with a 9.8 (62) to 5.11 (41) Grand Final defeat of Footscray. Once his playing career was over, 'Mad Mick' calmed down sufficiently to take up the whistle as an Association umpire. 

Author - John Devaney