Mark Harvey

Mark Harvey was a tough, canny and courageous centre half back from East Keilor who had the good fortune to play in Essendon premiership teams in his first two seasons in the VFL. His 1985 season was especially memorable as, in addition to contributing to the Bombers’ Grand Final annihilation of Hawthorn, he made his Victorian interstate debut and was selected in the All Australian team. Harvey played some of his best football during the early 1990s, winning a club best and fairest award in 1992, and achieving AFL All Australian selection whilst making a telling contribution to a flag win the following year. In all, he played 206 games and kicked 170 goals, with his durability being all the more remarkable in light of the fact that he sustained at least a dozen serious injuries during his career, a legacy of his immense courage and wholehearted commitment to the team cause.

Harvey coached Fremantle from 2007 to 2011 and joined Brisbane’s coaching panel for the 2012 season. When Michael Voss was removed as coach of the Lions late in the 2013 season, Harvey stepped in as caretaker coach but left the club at the end of that season. He returned to the Bombers as an assistant coach in 2015.