History of the Essendon Football Club
Early Days
The origins of the Essendon Football Club are somewhat clouded, but records show an Essendon club played
Australian Rules Football as early as July 1862. The club officially came into being in 1871 and the first game
was played in 1873.
The club was formed after a meeting held at the home of the McCracken family, a well known brewery family at
the time in Ascot Vale, Melbourne and as such the McCrackens are regarded as the founders of the Essendon
Football Club. In this early period Essendon played in what was called the South Yarra Challenge Cup.
Early results for the fledgling club were not good.
It was not until 1876 that success started to come Essendon's way. In that year the club won seven games, lost two, and
two games were drawn. The jersey of red sash over black was adopted in 1875.
The VFA years
The Victorian Football Association was formed in 1877 (Essendon being one of the founding members) and
this body controlled Australian Rules Football for the next twenty years. The forming of the Association resulted
in a more formal approach to the administration of the game at all levels. With the growing popularity of football
amongst the population of Victoria, the association became an important body in the organisation and promotion
of the game.
Moving house
Essendon played their home games at the McCracken's paddock at Flemington Hill until 1882, when the East Melbourne
Cricket club invited Essendon to use it's ground as a permanent headquarters. Facilities at the new ground were excellent
and this was just another step in a more professional approach to the game.
Essendon's First Golden Era
Success for the club was non existent in the 1880s, although there were several seasons when the "Same Old" as they
were then known came close to a premiership. It was not until 1891 that Essendon won it's first flag in the Association,
subsequently going on to win a further three flags in succession. With success came great patronage and crowds of over
thirty thousand came to watch an Essendon game.
This was the era of Albert Thurgood, who became a star forward for
the club and is regarded as one of the greatest players to have played the game. In the 1892 season, Thurgood kicked
47 goals, a remarkable effort considering only 131 goals were scored by the whole team in 19 games. From July 1892 until
September 1894, Essendon had played in 57 matches without a defeat. Thurgood moved to Western Australia in 1895 and
his loss dimiinished Essendon's chances for a fifth consecutive premiership.
The Big Split
Several clubs in the Association were unhappy with aspects of the administration of the game and in 1896 representatives
of the wealthier and stronger clubs held a meeting to form a breakaway league known ats the Victorian Football League.
This defection was as a result of the view by the clubs that professionalism within the Association ranks and rough play and
hooliganism was bringing the great game into disrepute. And so it was that Essendon, Geelong, Melbourne, South Melbourne,
Collingwood, and Fitzroy decided to form the new league and invited Carlton and St. Kilda to join them. The inaugeral year
of the League was 1897 and Essendon had the distinction of winning the first premiership.
Further Premierships
The early years of the 20th century were reasonably good for the Essendon Football club. With the return of Thurgood in 1901, Essendon
won it's second premiership and were consistent finalists in the first decade of the century. John Worrall became coach in 1911
and with his appointment Essendon went on to further success in 1911 and 1912.
War Years
Season 1914 started positively enough with four wins and a draw in the first five games, but injuries took their toll and the club finished the
season in 6th position. Attention was diverted from football as war had broken out. Several players volunteered for active service at the
beginning of the 1915 season further weakening the side. The loss of manpower during the war affected all sides with the University club
disbanding altogether. There was public pressure to discontinue the competition, however a vote of league delegates resulted in play continuing.
The issue of amateurism was a continual source of discontent in football circles in this period. In 1916 Essendon passed a resolution to the
league that all players play as amateurs and that all membership subscriptions and gate receipts be handed over to the Patriotic Funds.
It was only under this conditon that Essendon would continue to play in the league. The league did not agree to this motion and so it was that
Essendon dropped out of the competition for the 1916 and 1917 seasons. The return to competition in 1918 following a plea from the
East Melbourne Cricket club (due to lack of football revenue), was not particularly successful with Essendon finishing wooden spooners.
This was not all that surprising considering the lay-off and the fact that players were still overseas with the military.
Between the Wars
Times were tough immediately after World War 1. A series of poor seasons in the early twenties and the news that
Essendon would have to vacate the East Melbourne ground by the beginning of the 1922 season were blows to
the club. There was debate amongst members as to whether Essendon should move to the North Melbourne ground
or to move back to the Essendon district. The North Melbourne club disbanded at this time and amalgamated with
Essendon. The decison was finally made that the Essendon Recreaton reserve would be used by the club. largely
because the use of the North Melbourne ground was vetoed. The ground commonly known as "Windy Hill" was to
be Essendon's home until 1992.
With an influx of ex-North Melbourne players and some local talent, Essendon was well positioned .
A bunch of talented small men known as the Essendon "Mosquito Fleet" radically changed the style of play of the period
and opposition sides had difficulty in countering the speed and skill of the Essendon players. Premierships were won
in 1923 and 1924. This period was also one of the blackest in the club's history,which was somewhat surprising given the generally good on-field
performances. After several below standard performances in 1924, there was great dissention in the club with palyers openly
blaming each other for the losses. There was instances of fighting in the rooms after the game and a fight broke out in the after match
dinner on one occasion. A match between the VFA premiers Footscray and the VFL premier Essendon in 1924 resulted in a heavy
loss for the bombers. There were rumours of players taking payments to throw the game and fighting and recriminations continued.
Star player Fitzmaurice refused to play again with the club after the debacle.
The 1930s were an unremarkable period for the bombers save for the emergence of Essendon's greatest player Dick Reynolds during
the 1933 season. The late 20s saw a large number of retirements from the club and Essendon came last in the competition in 1933.
Although four coaches were tried in the 30s, success was non-existent. Dick Reynolds took over as coach in 1939 and this was
the beginning of another golden era in the club's history.
The Magnificent 40s
Following Reynold's selection as coach, Essendon once again made the finals in 1940, the first occasion since 1926. Again with war
breaking out the competition was considerably weakened. Geelong was forced to pull out of the competition due to travel restrictions
as a result of petrol rationing. Attendances at games also declined dramatically whilst some clubs had to move from their normal grounds due
to them being used for military purposes. Many players were lost to football due to their military service. Nevertheless, Essendon went on
to win the 1942 premiership and had generally good years during the war. The continual changes which were required as players became
available or unavailable made the task of winning all the more difficult. From 1946 to 1951 Essendon were in six grand finals in succession,
winning three (1946,49,50). The return of many fine players from war service was partially responsible, but there was the emergence of
others such as Jack Jones, George Hassell and Bob McClure. John Coleman, one of the greatest forwards of all time joined Essendon in
1949 and was an immediate success kicking 12 goals in his first league game.
The 50s
The year 1950 was a great one for the club. Three matches were lost for the whole season in the three levels of competition - seniors (1),
reserves (2), and under 19 (nil). Not unexpectedly, the seniors went on to win the premiership. Essendon was well on the way to a third
successive flag when tragedy struck just prior to the Grand Final. John Coleman was suspended on a striking charge and therefore missed
the most important game of the season leaving a gaping hole in the Essendon attack. This same game was significant in that Dick Reynolds
played a club record 320th game as 19th man. Another great player of this era was Bill Hutchison, a rover who won the Brownlow medal
in 1953. Coleman retired in 1954 due to a serious knee injury and thus ended a relatively short, though brilliant career.
Towards the end of the decade, Essendon once again assembled a formidable side. Expectatons of supporters were high after narrowly
losing the 1957 Grand Final to Melbourne. The years following this loss provided for further disappointment - another loss to Melbourne in
1959. Players such as Fraser, Epis, Leek, Burgess, Mitchell, emerged at this time, these players being the basis of premierships in the 1960s.
Coleman returns
John Coleman started his coaching career at Essendon in 1961, thus ending the Dick Reynolds era at the club. In the same year Essendon
finished the season mid table and supporters were not expecting too much for the following season. The club blitzed the opposition in this
year, losing only two matches and finishing top of the table. Both losses were to the previous year's Grand finalists.The finals posed no
problems for the resurgent Dons, easily accounting for Carlton in the season's climax. This was a remarkable result for Coleman who in his
second season of coaching pulled off the ultimate prize in Australian football.
As so often is the case after a flag, the following two years were below standard. A further premiership in 1965 (won from 4th position on the ladder),
was also unexpected due to periods of poor form during the season. The Bombers were a different club when the finals came around, but some
of the credit for the improvement was given to the influence of Brian Sampson and Ted Fordham during the finals.
Coleman retired at the end of the 1967 season and Jack Clarke took over as coach. His first season ended with Essendon losing to Carlton
in a closely fought Grand Final, after dominating the competition for much of the season.
Loss of experience
An exodus of experienced players at the end of the 1968 season (Fraser, Epis, Shaw, Blew) meant much of the responsibility for performances
fell on young shoulders. Unfortunately a period of mediocrity followed. To make matters worse, the 1970 season was marked by a player revolt when
demands for increased match payments by several prominent players was refused by the club. These players stood out of football as a result.
Therefore, even more experience was lost and this was reflected in team performances. Former champion rover, John Birt, took over as coach
in 1971, but it was a disasterous year with only four wins registered for the season. Obviously something had to be done to stop the slide.
1972 - The Tuddenham Phenomenon
1972 was the centenary year for the club. Des Tuddenham from Collingwood was appointed captain-coach - a highly unusual occurence at Essendon
as 'outsiders' were rarely brought in to coach. Tuddenham performed miracles with the side which was basically the same as that of the
previous season, lifting the club into the finals. Tuddenham had a great influence on the young Essendon players, with inspirational personal
on-field displays. Players of the calibre of Fields,Blethyn,Roberts,Williams, and Cassin were reborn under the new regime. Unfortunately,
although reaching the finals in 1972 and 1973 (eliminated early), things turned sour after several years of middling performances. There was
a great deal of criticism of Tuddenham's coaching methods from various levels and this resulted in his sacking in 1975.
Essendon great Simon Madden played his fiirst game in 1974 under Tuddenham, and Graham Moss won the Brownlow medal in 1976.
Apart from these highlights, the 70s were not a prosperous time for the Dons. Towards the end of the decade, a crop of first year players
with great promise emerged - names such as Van der Haar, Neagle, Madden, and Watson were to provide the basis for the Essendon powerhouse of
the 1980s. The acquisition of the Daniher brothers from South Melbourne was a coup which was not appreciated at the time.
The Baby Bombers - The Sheedy years
Essendon's exciting young brigade were dubbed the 'Baby Bombers' because of their youth and obvious talent. Kevin Sheedy, the ex-Richmond
champion was given the coaching responsibility in 1981 and he was set the task of harnessing the raw talent at his disposal. Essendon lost five
of it's first six games and things looked grim. The side then went on to win 15 straight games with ever-increasing confidence and authority. The night
premiership was another trophy won - Essendon's first flag of any kind since 1965. In the finals of 1981, the club was to face another elimination
final (it's fourth in 10 years) and as seems to be the common outcome, the game was lost to Fitzroy - a shattering way to end a very promising season.
Elimination final blues continued in 1982, but this time the Dons succumbed to North Melbourne. A further elimination final in 1983, but this time the
result was different. The club defeated Carlton, Fitzroy and North Melbourne in the final seriies to face Hawthorn in the Grand Final. Three tough
finals in as many weeks was too much for the young Essendon side and Hawthorn crushed Essendon in the one that matters most.
1984 was a great year in the history of the Essendon Football Club. The club won it's 13th premiership after a lapse of 19 years. It also won the
night premiership and headed the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series (the first time since 1968).
Hawthorn again was the advisary, and during the game it seemed likely that Hawthorn would win their second consecutive flag. Several crucial
moves by Sheedy - Weston to centre-half forward, Daniher to centre-half back, Madden off the bench and Bradbury into the forward line,
resulted in the Dons kicking 9.6 in the final quarter to swamp the Hawks - a satisfying revenge for the previous season.
Back to back
For the third year running Essendon faced the old nemesis Hawthorn in the 1985 Grand Final. There was nothing close about this game however.
Essendon dominated and finished off the hapless Hawks by kicking a record 11 goals in the final quarter. Best players in this victory were
Madden (Norm Smith medallist), Watson, Williams,Baker,Salmon, Merrett, and Harvey,
although no Essendon player was beaten on the day.
Hiccups
It was thought that there was no reason why Essendon should not win their 3rd consecutive premiership, but the 1986 season proved to be a
disappointment. The bogey of the elimination final reared it's ugly head yet again and the side went down to Fitzroy by the narrowest of margins in a
hard fought game. The will to win no longer seemed to be there,and along with injuries to key players, the club slipped down the ladder in
the next few years. The period was marked by several milestones - Simon Madden and Gary Foulds played their 300th league games in 1989. Essendon
made the finals in this year, but were bundled out in the preliminary final by Geelong.
The New Breed
The early part of the 90s has been a period of rebuilding for the Essendon Football club. 1990 saw improvements in on-field performances, but the team
was badly beaten by Collingwood in the Grand Final (their first flag since 1958). This was the first year of the newly instituted Australian Football League
(AFL). Yet another elimination final in 1991 saw Essendon bow out courtesy of a defeat to Melbourne. Terry Daniher (captain) played his
300th game in this season, whilst in 1992 Simon Madden created a new league record by playing his 379th game. Essendon also shifted it's home games
to the MCG in a 30 year agreement with the league. Windy Hill remains the training venue for the club.
Many of the players who were part of the maginificent Essendon sides of the mid 80s retired in this period. An exciting new batch of players have stepped
up to replace them. - Hird, Misiti, Olarenshaw, Mercuri,
Alessio, Fletcher, Long, Wanganeen and Cockatoo-Collins
have quickly filled the gaps left by players
such as Watson, Daniher, Van der Haar, and Madden. 1993 was a remarkable year and Essendon with a relatively inexperienced lineup managed to capture
the club's 15th day premiershp. The result was somewhat unexpected, but the youngsters in the team showed great maturity and skill in
gaining momentum during the season, and capping it off with a descisive Grand Final win. In this premiership year, Gavin Wanganeen won the
Brownlow and Michael Tuck medals, Michael Long won the Norm Smith medal, Gary O'Donnell
won the club's best and fairest award and Kevin Sheedy
was named All-Australian coach. - a clean sweep of awards.
The customary premiership hangover was again in evidence in 1994 (along with a crippling run of injuries) and the club finished tenth in an even competition.
Injuries and lack of form were evident, however the personnel and talent presently at the club ensures Essendon will remain a power in the competition in the
forseeable future.
By George Dragicevic
References:
(1) Maplestone, Michael "Flying Higher" History of the Essendon Football Club 1872-1994
(2) Annual Report 1994 - Essendon Football Club
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