Es Downey

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Es Downey

| image = Es Downey (before 1945).jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| fullname = Esmond Joseph Downey

| birth_date = {{birth date|1923|08|11|df=y}}

| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=589049|title=World War Two Nominal Roll|publisher=Government of Australia|accessdate=14 November 2014}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|03|03|1923|08|11|df=yes}}

| death_place =

| originalteam = Xavier College

| height = 183 cm

| weight = 85 kg

| position = Centre half-back

| statsend = 1945

| years1 = 1944–45

| club1 = {{AFL Mel}}

| games_goals1 = 22 (9)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Esmond Joseph Downey AM (11 August 1923 – 3 March 2011){{cite journal|url=http://www.newman.unimelb.edu.au/sites/default/files/Newman%20News%20Winter%202011.pdf|title=Esmond Joseph Downey AM|accessdate=14 November 2014|volume=43|journal=Newman College Newsletter |issue=Winter 2011|publisher=Newman College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127152336/http://www.newman.unimelb.edu.au/sites/default/files/Newman%20News%20Winter%202011.pdf|archive-date=27 November 2014|url-status=dead}} was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Career

Downey, who went to Xavier College, was a centre half-back for Melbourne University, before joining Melbourne in 1944.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 |last=Holmesby|first=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim |year=2009 |edition=8th |isbn=978-1-921496-00-4 |publisher=BAS Publishing |location=Seaford, Victoria |page=225}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11805106 |title=FOOTBALLERS TRAIN. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=22 March 1944 |accessdate=14 November 2014 |page=11 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He played 16 league games for Melbourne in the 1944 VFL season and at the end of the year was named "Best First Year Player" at the club awards.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11371552 |title=MELBOURNE TROPHIES. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=23 November 1944 |accessdate=14 November 2014 |page=12 |publisher=National Library of Australia}} He later played for Old Xaverians, coaching them in 1950 and 1951.{{cite web|title=Honour Roll|url=http://www.oldxavs.com.au/about-us/honour-roll.html|publisher=Old Xaverians Football Club|accessdate=16 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530021400/http://www.oldxavs.com.au/about-us/honour-roll.html|archivedate=30 May 2015|df=dmy-all}}

Later life

Downey was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2008, for "service to the community through a range of church, educational and aged care organisations."{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138651|title=It's an Honour – Honours|publisher=Government of Australia|accessdate=14 November 2014}}

Notes

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