Paddy Walsh
Patrick Yost “Paddy” Walsh (21 August 1906 – 3 August 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the VFL.
Born in Branxholm, Tasmania, he was the son of Michael and Matilda Walsh. Walsh was a left‑footed ruckman who caught Essendon’s eye after an impressive Tasmanian tour in 1926 and joined the club in 1927. He played 115 games for Essendon over ten seasons, kicking 20 goals.
In 1933 he won Essendon’s Best and Fairest award, and in 1929 he was recognised as the club’s most serviceable player. Walsh also represented Victoria in interstate football multiple times during his career.
He suffered a serious knee injury in 1934 that cut his season short. He returned in 1935 and finished his career in 1936, retiring after round 11 against Footscray in July. Outside football, he worked for the Melbourne and Metropolitan Fire Brigade, alongside several of his Essendon teammates.
Walsh was made a life member of Essendon in 1961. He was later honoured as an inaugural inductee into the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame in 2005 (No. 25 of 130 inductees).
He passed away in Launceston on 3 August 1988, aged 81.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:39 (CET).