Woodend’s Alec Epis was among those recognised by the AFL Premiership Players Club last week.
Each year the club recognises players and officials who have been in premierships, along with grand final umpires, on a set a stamps.
Several of those honoured were presented with the stamps at a ceremony at Windy Hill on Thursday night.
Epis, who splits his time between Woodend and Moonee Ponds, was part of two premierships at Essendon, 1962 and 1965.
Epis played 180 games for the Bombers, before being a long-standing board member, specialist coach and chairman of selectors.
Overall he spent 53 years involved with the Bombers after moving across from Western Australia.
Epis said it was a great honour to be on a set of stamps.
“It’s good,” he said. “You don’t expect to be honoured that way.
“It is good they do recognise you that way.
“I know Kouta [Anthony Koutoufides] and I’ve known Glenn Manton all my life and there’s a lot of players who I played with are here tonight.
“I don’t see them much and we talk about old times.”
Since stepping away from football, Epis has a new passion in wine. He has a winery in Woodend.
Newly retired Western Bulldogs premiership player Matthew Boyd was the most recent premiership player who was recognised.
Boyd, who came off the rookie list, played 292 games including the 2016 premiership, retired at the end of this year.
Former Essendon defender Kevin Walsh, Hawthorn’s Kevin Heath, Carlton’s Ken Sheldon, Richmond’s Ron Branton, former Bombers and Tiger Kevin Wood, Carlton duo Anthony Koutoufides and Glenn Manton and Collingwood’s Scott Russell were among others to be honoured.
Women Sports Australia president Carol Fox was special guest at the night. She presented first female grand final goal umpire Chelsea Roffery with her stamp set.
As well as presenting the stamps, two former AFL captains Barry Davis and Don Scott received the Ron Bararssi Medal.
