Burgess was a centreman, recruited from Apsley,[1] after he finished second in the Kowree Naracoorte Mail Medal as an 18 year old.
Burgess left Essendon in 1960 at the age of 26 to captain-coach Casterton in the South-East & Border Football League.
He was paid more in one season for Casterton than his entire Essendon career.
[4] Reginald Mark Burgess was born in Apsley, Victoria on 6 August 1934.
[5] Burgess was the father in law of VFL/AFL player Roger Merrett who married his daughter Sharon.