Justin Madden

Infobox afl player

| | firstname = Justin
lastname = Madden


| birthdate = Birth date and age|1961|5|31|df=y
birthplace =
heightweight = 206cm / 107kg
originalteam =
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = 1980
debutteam = Essendon
debutopponent =
debutstadium =
playingteams = Total - 332 games 190 goals
* Essendon (1980-1982) 45 games 20 goals
* Carlton (1983-1996) 287 games 170 goals
coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 1996
careerhighlights =

* Premiership player 1987 and 1995
* 2nd in the 1985 Brownlow Medal
* John Nicholls Medal 1985 and 1991
* All Australian selection 1987, 1988 and 1995

Justin Mark "Harry" Madden (born 31 May 1961) was an Australian rules football player turned politician. He rose to prominence as a highly successful player with the Carlton Football Club, after an early stint with Essendon. He switched to politics after his retirement in 1997, and is the current Victorian Minister for Planning.

Early life

Madden was born in Melbourne, and had his secondary schooling at St Bernard's College Essendon a school renowned for its sporting prowess. He then studied teaching at the Institute of Catholic Education (now Australian Catholic University). He made his top-level football debut while still at college, after being signed to the Essendon Football Club, where his brother, Simon Madden, was an established player, in 1980. He graduated from college the following year, and in 1982, set about juggling the twin demands of teaching and football careers. In 1980 and 1981, Madden played 45 games for Essendon, but was concerned that he was not getting enough playing time, and made the switch to the Carlton Football Club in time for the 1983 season.

Move to Carlton

Madden was 206 cm (6' 9") tall, and one of the tallest men ever to play Australian Rules football, and his potential in this area was fully utilised by Carlton, who used him as their main ruckman. Over the next fifteen years, Madden became a mainstay of the Carlton side, and one of the most recognisable players in the league, playing 287 games for the club. He was a member of their 1987 and 1995 premiership teams, and came within one vote of tying with Brad Hardie for the 1985 Brownlow Medal where he also polled 3 votes in five consecutive games.

Madden retired from teaching in 1988, and in 1990, became President of the AFL Players Association, while still playing for Carlton and at the peak of his career. In his seven-year tenure, which continued until his retirement, he oversaw the increasing professionalism of the game, and the expansion of the association to the point where it represented almost every eligible player in the entire league. Despite the increasing demands of AFL football, where most players were becoming professional players, Madden studied at RMIT University to become an architect. After graduating, he worked in this field while continuing to play football.

Politics

After retiring from football in 1997, Madden continued to work as an architect. The Essendon and Carlton Football Clubs agreed to name future contests between the two clubs the "Madden Cup", in honor of both the Madden brothers. By this time, Madden was also a life member at Carlton.

Madden's nomination as a Labor candidate for the Legislative Council seat of Doutta Galla Province in the leadup to the 1999 state election came as a surprise to many. However, he attained pre-selection, and was subsequently elected. When Labor won a surprise victory at the election, Madden found himself appointed Minister for Sport and Recreation, despite having no prior political experience. This was in spite of rumours that he had specifically requested not to be given Sport and Recreation, but instead had asked to be made responsible for Education. He was initially given the additional portfolio of Youth Affairs, but this was replaced with the Commonwealth Games after the 2002 election.

In the wake of reforms to the Legislative Council which cut the number of members, Madden was initially placed in danger of losing his preselection, but was saved by intervention from Premier Steve Bracks. This initially saw him preselected for the Legislative Assembly seat of Bundoora, vacated by former minister Sherryl Garbutt. However, after the sudden retirement of another former minister, Mary Delahunty, in Northcote, another deal was arranged which saw Madden instead remain in a safe position on the Legislative Council ticket. At the 2006 Victoria State election he was elected to the Legislative Council as a member for the Western Metropolitan Region.In mid 2006 and early 2007 Minister Madden made reference to "McMansions" stating that too many Victorians are building large homes . This statement became very controversial after it was discovered Minister Madden had himself a sprawling home and had in fact applied to renovate and conduct a major extension onto his home, thus creating much discussion on radio 3aw talk back Neil Mitchell program on this radio station , regarding the minister's own hypocrisy as questioned by Journalist and program host Neil Mitchell. The Minister has since completed his extensions and defended his statements.

Madden is also a keynote speaker at the [http://www.metropoliscongress2008.com/ 2008 Metropolis Congress] in Sydney October 2008. Madden will address world mayors and industry leaders on 'Metropolitan Performance Management.'

Interviews

Madden is a key note speaker at the [http://www.metropoliscongress2008.com/ 2008 Metropolis Congress] in Sydney October 2008. Madden will address world mayors and industry leaders on urban development and Metropolitan Performance Management.

ee also

*List of Australian rules football families

References

*AflRleague|ref=J/Justin_Madden.html
* [http://www.fullpointsfooty.net/ma.htm#Justin%20Madden%20(Essendon%20&%20Carlton) Full Points Footy profile]
* [http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mlcs.html List of Legislative Council Members]

External links

* http://www.metropoliscongress2008.com