Justin Madden

Justin Mark "Harry" Madden AM (born 31 May 1961) is an Australian politician and former Australian rules footballer. He rose to prominence as a highly successful player with the Carlton Football Club, after an early stint with Essendon. He entered politics after retiring in 1997 from AFL. He has held seven Ministerial portfolios since the Victorian Labor Party took government at the 1999 election. Madden was Minister for Youth Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning from 1999–2002, Minister for Sport and Recreation from October 1999 to December 2006, Minister for Commonwealth Games from February 2002 to December 2006, Minister for Planning from 2006 - December 2010 and Minister for the Respect Agenda from January 2010 to December of the same year. Madden retired from politics in 2014.

Madden was born in Melbourne, he attended Primary School at St Christopher's in Airport West and had his secondary schooling at St. Bernard's College in Essendon, a school renowned for its sporting prowess. He then studied teaching at the Institute of Catholic Education (now the Australian Catholic University). Madden was still at college when he made his VFL senior debut in 1980 with the Essendon Football Club, where his brother Simon was an established player. 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 transferred to Carlton part way through the 1983 VFL season.

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 utilized by Carlton, who used him as their main ruckman. Over the next fifteen seasons, Madden became a mainstay of the Carlton side, and one of the most recognizable 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 when he polled three votes in five consecutive games.