Career
He was also president of the American Federation of Labor-Congress Players Association from 1985 until 1989. Simon Madden was one of the greatest ruckman to play the game, and certainly the most durable. In all he played 378 senior matches, the second most by any Essendon player (behind Dustin Fletcher), and sixth most in league history (behind Michael Tuck, Kevin Bartlett, Brent Harvey, Robert Harvey, and Dustin Fletcher).
In addition to playing in the ruck, Madden was a handy part-time forward, kicking 575 goals in his career, a club record that stood until it was broken in 2003 by full-forward Matthew Lloyd.
He played in the back-to-back premiership sides in 1984 and 1985, winning the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the 1985 Grand Final. In 1986 he rejected an offer of a $500,000 contract by the Sydney Swans to remain with Essendon for his entire career.
He was also named in the All-Australian Team on three occasions (1983, 1987 and 1988). After his playing days were over, Madden had a brief stint as ruck coach for Carlton.
He was with the Blues for the 1993 season, in which they made the grand final but lost to Madden"s former club Essendon.
Simon"s brother Justin was also a top class ruckman for Essendon and Carlton, and they are the only set of brothers to both play 300 games of league football. Both brothers had their secondary schooling at Street Bernard"s College, Essendon, a school renowned for its sporting prowess. Simon became head coach of Saint Bernards Old Collegians Football Club in 2005.
