Percy Ogden

Who was Percy Ogden?

Percy Ogden was an Australian rules footballer who played with and coached Essendon in the Victorian Football League.

A rover, Ogden started his career with Collingwood in 1905. He played just four games with the club before moving to Association team Preston and did not return to the VFL until 1910 with Essendon. Ogden was a member of Essendon's back-to-back premiership wins in 1911 and 1912. After Essendon disbanded during the Great War, Ogden was captain-coach of Preston in 1916–17 before returning when Essendon resumed in 1918. He spent 1919 as captain and the following two were as captain-coach.

Ogden effectively retired from League ranks and was captain-coach of Northcote in 1922. Believing his form was still good enough for League football, he returned to Essendon in 1923, but as a "new" player under zoning rules introduced post-war, he was residentially tied to Fitzroy and his permit was refused. Fitzroy expressed no interest in Ogden and rather than stand down for more than half a season to qualify for Essendon, he returned again to Preston. Ogden retired at the end of the 1925 season just before Preston were re-admitted to Association ranks.