Essendon Football club - Wikipedia Essendon Football club Essendon Football Club Names Full name Essendon Football Club Nickname ( s ) Bombers, Dons, Same Olds Motto Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re ( Gently in manner, resolutely in execution ) 2017 season After finals 8th Home - and - away season 7th Leading goalkicker Joe Daniher ( 65 ) W.S. Crichton Medal Joe Daniher Club details Founded 1871 ; 146 years ago ( 1871 ) Colours Red Black Competition Australian Football League Chairman Lindsay Tanner CEO Xavier Campbell Coach John Worsfold Captain ( s ) Dyson Heppell Premierships VFL / AFL ( 16 ) : 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 VFA ( 4 ) : 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 Ground ( s ) Etihad Stadium ( main venue ) ( capacity : 56,347 ) Melbourne Cricket Ground ( some games ) ( capacity : 100,024 ) Former ground ( s ) East Melbourne Cricket Ground ( 1897 -- 1921 ) Windy Hill ( 1922 -- 91 ) ( 1922 -- 91 ) Training ground ( s ) True Value Solar Centre Uniforms Home Away Other information Official website essendonfc.com.au Current season The Essendon Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League ( AFL ), the sport 's premier competition. Formed in 1871 as a junior club and playing as a senior club since 1878, Essendon is one of the oldest clubs in the AFL. It is historically associated with Essendon, a suburb in the north - west of Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2013, the club has been headquartered at the True Value Solar Centre, Melbourne Airport, and plays its home games at either Docklands Stadium or the Melbourne Cricket Ground ; throughout most of its history the club 's home ground and headquarters was Windy Hill, Essendon. Dyson Heppell is the current team captain. A founding member club of both the Victorian Football Association, in 1877, and the Victorian Football League ( since renamed the AFL ), in 1896, Essendon is one of Australia 's best - known football clubs. The club claims to have at least one million supporters Australia wide. Essendon has won 16 VFL / AFL premierships which, along with Carlton, is the most of any club in the competition. Contents 1 History 1.1 Formation and VFA years ( 1871 -- 1896 ) 1.2 Founding of the VFL to World War I ( 1897 -- 1915 ) 1.3 `` Same Olds '' 1.4 Return to suburban Essendon ( 1921 -- 1932 ) 1.5 Dick Reynolds years ( 1933 -- 1960 ) 1.6 Post-Reynolds era and the `` Slugging Seventies '' ( 1961 -- 1980 ) 1.7 Kevin Sheedy era ( 1981 -- 2007 ) 1.8 On field and relocation to Melbourne Airport ( 2008 -- 2012 ) 1.9 ASADA / WADA investigation ( 2013 -- 2016 ) 2 Club symbols 2.1 Guernsey 2.1. 1 Clash jumpers 2.1. 2 Yellow armbands 2.2 Song 2.3 Mascot 3 Notable supporters 4 Membership 5 Rivalries 6 Organisation and finance 6.1 Board 6.2 Major sponsor 7 Honours 7.1 Premierships 7.2 Team of the Century 7.3 Champions of Essendon 8 Current players and officials 8.1 Playing squad 9 Match records 10 Reserves team 11 See also 12 Notes 13 References 14 External links History Formation and VFA years ( 1871 -- 1896 ) Scenes from the 1891 VFA Premiership Match in which Essendon defeated Carlton The club was founded by members of the Royal Agricultural Society, the Melbourne Hunt Club and the Victorian Woolbrokers. The Essendon Football Club is thought to have formed in 1872 at a meeting it the home of a well - known brewery family, the McCrackens, whose Ascot Vale property hosted a team of local junior players. Robert McCracken, the owner of several city hotels, was the founder and first president of the Essendon club and his son, Alex, its first secretary. Alex would later become president of the newly formed VFL. Alex 's cousin, Collier, who had already played with Melbourne, was the team 's first captain. The club played its first recorded match against the Carlton second twenty on 7 June 1873, with Essendon winning by one goal. Essendon played 13 matches in its first season, winning seven, with four draws and losing two. The club was one of the inaugural junior members of the Victorian Football Association ( VFA ) in 1877, and began competing as a senior club from the 1878 season. During its early years in the Association, Essendon played its home matches at Flemington Hill, but moved to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1881. In 1878, Essendon played in the first match on what would be considered by modern standards to be a full - sized field at Flemington Hill. In 1879 Essendon played Melbourne in one of the earliest night matches recorded when the ball was painted white. In 1883 the team played four matches in Adelaide. In 1891 Essendon won their first VFA premiership, which they repeated in 1892, 1893 and 1894. One of the club 's greatest players, Albert Thurgood played for the club during this period. Essendon was undefeated in the 1893 season. Founding of the VFL to WORLD war I ( 1897 -- 1915 ) The Essendon side that won the 1897 VFL premiership At the end of the 1896 season Essendon along with seven other clubs formed the Victorian Football League. Essendon 's first VFL game was in 1897 was against Geelong at Corio Oval in Geelong. Essendon won its first VFL premiership by winning the 1897 VFL finals series. Essendon again won the premiership in 1901, defeating Collingwood in the Grand Final. The club won successive premierships in 1911 and 1912 over Collingwood and South Melbourne respectively. `` Same Olds '' Dave Smith captained Essendon to premiership success in 1911. Having already re-located from its ground at Kent Street, Ascot Vale ( `` McCracken 's Paddock '' ) to Flemington Hill, the club was again forced to move in 1881 ; and, because the City of Essendon mayor of the day considered the Essendon Cricket Ground `` to be suitable only for the gentleman 's game of cricket '', Essendon moved to East Melbourne. The club became known by the nickname `` the Same Old Essendon '', from the title and hook of the principal song performed by a band of supporters which regularly occupied a section of the grandstand at the club 's games. The nickname first appeared in print in the local North Melbourne Advertiser in 1889, and ended up gaining wide use, often as the diminutive `` Same Olds ''. This move away from Essendon, at a time when fans would walk to their local ground, did n't go down too well with many Essendon people ; and, as a consequence, a new team and club was formed in 1900, unconnected with the first ( although it played in the same colours ), that was based at the Essendon Cricket Ground, and playing in the Victorian Football Association. It was known firstly as Essendon Town and, after 1905, as Essendon ( although it was often called Essendon A, with the A standing for association ). Return to suburban Essendon ( 1921 -- 1932 ) Fred Baring during the 1920s After the 1921 season, the East Melbourne Cricket Ground was closed and demolished to expand the Flinders Street Railyard. Having played at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground from 1882 to 1921, and having won four VFA premierships ( 1891 -- 1894 ) and four VFL premierships ( 1897, 1901, 1911 and 1912 ) whilst there, Essendon was looking for a new home, and was offered grounds at the current Royal Melbourne Showgrounds, at Victoria Park, at Arden St, North Melbourne, and the Essendon Cricket Ground. The Essendon City Council offered the ( VFL ) team the Essendon Cricket Ground, announcing that it would be prepared to spend over ₤ 12,000 on improvements, including a new grandstand, scoreboard and re-fencing of the oval. The club 's first preference was to move to North Melbourne -- a move which the North Melbourne Football Club ( then in the VFA ) saw as a grand opportunity to get into the VFL. Most of Essendon 's members and players were from the North Melbourne area, and sportswriters believed that Essendon would have been taken over by or rebranded as North Melbourne within only a few years of the move. However, the VFA, desperate for its own strategic reasons not to lose its use of the North Melbourne Cricket Ground, successfully appealed to the State Government to block Essendon 's move to North Melbourne. With its preferred option off the table, the club returned to Essendon, and the Essendon VFA club disbanded, with most of its players moving to North Melbourne. The old `` Same Olds '' nickname fell into disuse, and by 1922 the other nicknames `` Sash Wearers '' and `` Essendonians '' that had been variously used from time to time were also abandoned. The team became universally known as `` the Dons '' ( from EssenDON ) ; it was not until much later, during the War years of the early 1940s, that they became known as `` The Bombers '' -- due to Windy Hill 's proximity to the Essendon Aerodrome. In the 1922 season, playing in Essendon for the first time in decades, Essendon reached the final four for the first time since 1912, finishing in third place. In the 1923 season the club topped the ladder with 13 wins from 16 games. After a 17 - point second semi final loss to South Melbourne defeated Fitzroy ( who had beaten South Melbourne ) in the challenge final : Essendon 8.15 ( 63 ) to Fitzroy 6.10 ( 46 ). Amongst Essendon 's best players were half forward flanker George `` Tich '' Shorten, centre half forward Justin McCarthy, centre half back Tom Fitzmaurice, rover Frank Maher and wingman Jack Garden. This was one of Essendon 's most famous sides, dubbed the `` Mosquito Fleet '', due to the number of small, very fast players in the side. Six players were 5'6 '' ( 167 cm ) or smaller. The 1924 season proved to be arguably the strangest year in Essendon 's entire history. For the first time since 1897 there was no ultimate match -- either `` Challenge Final '' or `` Grand Final '' -- to determine the premiers ; instead, the top four clubs after the home and away season played a round - robin to determine the premiers. Essendon, having previously defeated both Fitzroy ( by 40 points ) and South Melbourne ( by 33 points ), clinched the premiership by means of a 20 - point loss to Richmond. With the Tigers having already lost a match to Fitzroy by a substantial margin, the Dons were declared premiers by virtue of their superior percentage, meaning that Essendon again managed to win successive premierships. But the poor crowds for the finals meant this was never attempted again, resulting in Essendon having the unique record of winning the only two premierships without a grand final. Prominent contributors to Essendon 's 1924 Premiership success included back pocket Clyde Donaldson, follower Norm Beckton, half back flanker Roy Laing, follower Charlie May and rover Charlie Hardy. The 1924 season was not without controversy, with rumours of numerous players accepting bribes. Regardless of the accuracy of these allegations, the club 's image was tarnished, and the side experienced its lowest period during the decade that followed, with poor results on the field and decreased support off it. There was worse to follow, with various Essendon players publicly blaming each other for the poor performance against Richmond, and then, with dissension still rife in the ranks, the side plummeted to an humiliating 28 - point loss to VFA premiers Footscray in a special charity match played a week later in front of 46,100 people, in aid of Dame Nellie Melba 's Limbless Soldiers ' Appeal Fund, purportedly ( but not officially ) for the championship of Victoria. While it is always difficult to assess the damage caused by events such as these, the club 's fortunes dipped alarmingly, and persistently. Indeed, after finishing third in the 1926 season, it was to be 14 years before Essendon would even contest a finals series. Dick Reynolds years ( 1933 -- 1960 ) Dick Reynolds is regarded as one of Essendon 's greatest players. The 1933 season, was probably the start of the Essendon revival, seeing the debut of the player regarded as one of Essendon 's greatest players Dick Reynolds. His impact was immediate. He won his first Brownlow Medal aged 19. His record of three Brownlow victories ( 1934, 1937, 1938 ), equalled Haydn Bunton, Sr ( 1931, 1932, 1935 ), and later equalled by Bob Skilton ( 1959, 1963, 1968 ), and Ian Stewart ( 1965, 1966, 1971 ). Reynolds went on to arguably even greater achievements as a coach, a position to which he was first appointed, jointly with Harry Hunter, in 1939 ( this was while Reynolds was still a player ). A year later he took the reins on a solo basis and was rewarded with immediate success ( at least in terms of expectations at the time which, after so long in the wilderness, were somewhat modest ). He was regarded as having a sound tactical knowledge of the game and being an inspirational leader, as he led the side into the finals in 1940 for the first time since 1926, when the side finished 3rd. Melbourne, which defeated Essendon by just 5 points in the preliminary final, later went on to trounce Richmond by 39 points in the grand final. 1941 brought Essendon 's first grand final appearance since 1923, but the side again lowered its colours to Melbourne. A year later war broke out and the competition was considerably weakened, with Geelong being 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 with Western Australian Wally Buttsworth in irrepressible form at centre half back. Finally, the long - awaited premiership was Essendon 's after comprehensively outclassing Richmond in the grand final, 19.18 ( 132 ) to 11.13 ( 79 ). The match was played at Carlton in front of 49,000 spectators. In any case, there could be no such reservations about Essendon 's next premiership, which came just four years later. Prior to that Essendon lost a hard fought grand final to Richmond in 1943 by 5 points, finished 3rd in 1944, and dropped to 8th in 1945. After WWII, Esssendon enjoyed great success. In the five years immediately after the war, Essendon won 3 premierships ( 1946, 1949, 1950 ) and were runners up twice ( 1947, 1948 ). In 1946, Essendon were clearly the VFL 's supreme force, topping the ladder after the roster games and surviving a drawn second semi final against Collingwood to win through to the grand final a week later with a 10.16 ( 76 ) to 8.9 ( 57 ). Then, in the grand final against Melbourne, Essendon set a grand final record score of 22.18 ( 150 ) to Melbourne 13.9 ( 87 ), with 7 goal centre half forward Gordon Lane. Rover Bill Hutchinson, and defenders Wally Buttsworth, Cec Ruddell and Harold Lambert among the best players. The 1947 Grand Final has to go down in the ledger as ' one of the ones that got away ', Essendon losing to Carlton by a single point despite managing 30 scoring shots to 21. As if to prove that lightning does occasionally strike twice, the second of the ' ones that got away ' came just a year later, the Dons finishing with a lamentable 7.27, to tie with Melbourne ( who managed 10.9 ) in the 1948 grand final. A week later Essendon waved the premiership good - bye, as Melbourne raced to a 13.11 ( 89 ) to 7.8 ( 50 ) triumph. The club 's Annual Report made an assessment that was at once restrained and, as was soon to emerge, tacitly and uncannily prophetic : It is very apparent that no team is complete without a spearhead and your committee has high hopes of rectifying that fault this coming season. The 1949 season heralded the arrival on the VFL scene of John Coleman, arguably the greatest player in Essendon 's history, and, in the view of some, the finest player the game has known. In his first ever appearance for the Dons, against Hawthorn in Round 1 1949, he booted 12 of his side 's 18 goals to create an opening round record which was to endure for forty five years. More importantly, however, he went on to maintain the same high level of performance throughout the season, kicking precisely 100 goals for the year to become the first player to top the ton since Richmond 's Jack Titus in 1940. The Coleman factor was just what Essendon needed to enable them to take that vital final step to premiership glory, but even so it was not until the business end of the season that this became clear. Essendon struggled to make the finals in 4th place, but once there they suddenly ignited to put in one of the most consistently devastating September performances in VFL history. John Coleman kicked 537 goals in 98 matches. Collingwood succumbed first as the Dons powered their way to an 82 - point first semi final victory, and a fortnight later it was the turn of the North Melbourne Football Club as Essendon won the preliminary final a good deal more comfortably than the ultimate margin of 17 points suggested. In the grand final, Essendon were pitted against Carlton and in a match that was a total travesty as a contest they overwhelmed the Blues to the tune of 73 points, 18.17 ( 125 ) to 6.16 ( 52 ). Best for the Dons included pacy aboriginal half back flanker Norm McDonald, ruckman Bob McLure, and rovers Bill Hutchinson and Ron McEwin. John Coleman also did well, registering 6 majors. A year later Essendon were if anything even more dominant, defeating the North Melbourne Football Club in both the second semi final and the grand final to secure consecutive VFL premierships for the third time. Best afield in the grand final in what was officially his swansong as a player was captain - coach Dick Reynolds, who received sterling support from the likes of Norm McDonald, ruckman / back pocket Wally May, back pocket Les Gardiner, and big Bob McLure. With ' King Richard ' still holding court as coach in 1951, albeit now in a non-playing capacity, Essendon seemed on course for a third consecutive flag but a controversial four - week suspension dished out to John Coleman on the eve of the finals effectively put paid to their chances. Coleman was reported for retaliation after twice being struck by his Carlton opponent, Harry Caspar, and without him the Dons were rated a 4 goals poorer team. Nevertheless, they still managed to battle their way to a 6th successive grand final with wins over Footscray by 8 points in the first semi final and Collingwood by 2 points in the preliminary final. The Dons sustained numerous injuries in the preliminary final and the selectors sprang a surprise on grand final day by naming the officially retired Dick Reynolds as 20th man. ' King Richard ' was powerless to prevent the inevitable, although leading at half time, the Geelong kicked five goals to two points in the third quarter to set up victory by 11 points. Essendon slumped to 8th in 1952 but John Coleman was in irrepressible form managing 103 goals for the year. Hugh Buggy noted in The Argus : `` It was the wettest season for twenty two years and Coleman showed that since the war he was without peer in the art of goal kicking. '' Two seasons later Coleman 's career was ended after he dislocated a knee during the Round 8 clash with the North Melbourne Football Club at Essendon. Aged just twenty five, he had kicked 537 goals in only 98 VFL games in what was generally a fairly low scoring period for the game. His meteoric rise and fall were clearly the stuff of legend, and few if any players, either before or since, have had such an immense impact over so brief a period. According to Alf Brown, football writer for The Herald : ( Coleman ) had all football 's gifts. He was courageous, a long, straight kick, he had a shrewd football brain and, above all, he was a spectacular, thrilling mark. Somewhat more colourful, R.S. Whittington suggested, `` Had he been a trapeze artist in a strolling circus, Coleman could have dispensed with the trapeze. '' Without Coleman, Essendon 's fortunes plummeted, and there were to be no further premierships in the 1950s. The nearest miss came in 1957 when the Bombers ( as they were popularly known by this time ) earned premiership favouritism after a superb 16 point second semi final defeat of Melbourne, only to lose by over 10 goals against the same side a fortnight later. 1959 saw another grand final loss to Melbourne, this time by 37 points, but the fact that the average age of the Essendon side was only 22 was seen as providing considerable cause for optimism. However, it was to take another three years, and a change of coach, before the team 's obvious potential was translated into tangible success. Post-reynolds era and the `` slugging seventies '' ( 1961 -- 1980 ) 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. However, 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, winning the 1962 Premiership. 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 's time as coach turned out to be much like his playing career : highly successful but cut short when he had to stand down due to health problems in 1967. Only six years later, on the eve of the 1973 season, he would be dead of a heart - attack at just 44 years of age. Following Coleman 's retirement, the club experienced tough times on and off the field. Finals appearances were rare for the side, which was often in contention for the wooden spoon. Essendon did manage to make the 1968 VFL Grand Final, but lost to Carlton by just three points and would not make it back to the big stage for a decade - and - a-half. During the period from 1968 until 1980, five different coaches were tried, with none lasting longer than four years. Off the field the club went through troubled times as well. In 1970 five players went on strike before the season even began, demanding higher payments. Essendon did make the finals in 1972 and 1973 under the autocratic direction of Des Tuddenham ( Collingwood ) but they were beaten badly in successive elimination finals by St. Kilda and would not taste finals action again until the very end of the decade. The 70s Essendon sides were involved in many rough and tough encounters under Tuddenham, who himself came to logger heads with Ron Barassi at a quarter time huddle where both coaches exchanged heated words. Essendon had tough, but talented players with the likes of `` Rotten Ronnie '' Ron Andrews and experienced players such as Barry Davis, Ken Fletcher, Geoff Blethyn, Neville Fields and West Australian import Graham Moss. In May 1974, a controversial half time all - in - brawl with Richmond at Windy Hill and a 1975 encounter with Carlton were testimony of the era. Following the Carlton match, the ' Herald ' described Windy Hill as `` Boot Hill '', because of the extent of the fights and the high number of reported players ( eight in all -- four from Carlton and four from Essendon ). The peak of these incidents would occur in 1980 with new recruit Phil Carman making headlines for head - butting an umpire. The tribunal suspended him for sixteen weeks, and although most people thought this was a fair ( or even lenient ) sentence, he took his case to the supreme court, gathering even more unwanted publicity for the club. Despite this, the club had recruited many talented young players in the late 70s who would emerge as club greats. Three of those young players were Simon Madden, Tim Watson and Paul Van Der Haar. Terry Daniher and his brother Neale would come via a trade with South Melbourne, and Roger Merrett joined soon afterwards to form the nucleus of what would become the formidable Essendon sides of the 1980s. This raw but talented group of youngsters took Essendon to an elimination final in 1979 under Barry Davis but were again thrashed in an Elimination Final, this time at the hands of Fitzroy. Davis resigned at the end of the 1980 season after missing out on a finals appearance. One of the few highlights for Essendon supporters during this time was when Graham Moss won the 1976 Brownlow Medal ; he was the only Bomber to do so in a 40 - year span from 1953 -- 1993. Even that was bittersweet as he quit VFL football to move back to his native Western Australia, where Moss finished out his career as a player and coach at Claremont Football Club. In many ways, Moss ' career reflects Essendon 's mixed fortunes during the decade. Kevin Sheedy era ( 1981 -- 2007 ) Essendon 1980s shield logo Former Richmond player Kevin Sheedy started as head coach in 1981. Essendon reached the Grand Final in 1983, the first time since 1968. Hawthorn won by a then record 83 points. In 1984, Essendon won the pre-season competition and completed the regular season on top of the ladder. The club played, and beat, Hawthorn in the 1984 VFL Grand Final to win their 13th premiership -- their first since 1965. The teams met again in the 1985 Grand Final, which Essendon also won. At the start of 1986, Essendon were considered unbackable for three successive flags, but a succession of injuries to key players Paul Van der Haar ( only fifteen games from 1986 to 1988 ), Tim Watson, Darren Williams, Roger Merrett and Simon Madden led the club to win only eight of its last eighteen games in 1986 and only nine games ( plus a draw with Geelong ) in 1987. In July 1987, the Bombers suffered a humiliation at the hands of Sydney, who fell two points short of scoring the then highest score in VFL history. In 1988, Essendon made a rebound to sixth place with twelve wins, including a 140 - point thrashing of Brisbane where they had a record sixteen individual goalkickers. In 1989, they rebounded further to second on the ladder with only five losses and thrashed Geelong in the Qualifying Final. However, after a fiery encounter with Hawthorn ended in a convincing defeat, the Bombers were no match for Geelong next week. In 1990, Essendon were pace - setters almost from the start, but a disruption from the Qualifying Final draw between Collingwood and West Coast was a blow from which they never recovered. The Magpies comprehensively thrashed them in both the second semi final and the grand final. Following the 1991 season, Essendon moved its home games from its traditional home ground at Windy Hill to the larger and newly renovated MCG. This move generated large increases in game attendance, membership and revenue for the club. The club 's training and administrative base remained at Windy Hill until 2013. Following the retirement of Tim Watson and Simon Madden in the early 1990s, the team was built on new players such as Gavin Wanganeen, Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long, Dustin Fletcher ( son of Ken ) and James Hird, who was taken at # 79 in the 1992 draft. This side became known as the `` Baby Bombers '', as the core of the side was made up of young players early in their careers. The team won the 1993 Grand Final against Carlton and that same year, Gavin Wanganeen won the Brownlow Medal, the first awarded to an Essendon player since 1976. Three years later, James Hird was jointly awarded the medal with Michael Voss of Brisbane. In 2000, Essendon won 20 consecutive matches before they lost to the Western Bulldogs in round 21. The team went on to win their 16th premiership, defeating Melbourne, thereby completing the most dominant single season in AFL / VFL history. The defeat to the Bulldogs was the only defeat for Essendon throughout the entire calendar year ( Essendon also won the 2000 pre-season competition ). Essendon was less successful after 2001. Lucrative contracts to a number of premiership players had caused serious pressure on the club 's salary cap, forcing the club to trade several key players. Blake Caracella, Chris Heffernan, Justin Blumfield, Gary Moorcroft and Damien Hardwick had all departed by the end of 2002 ; in 2004 Mark Mercuri, Sean Wellman and Joe Misiti retired. The club remained competitive, however they could progress no further than the second week of the finals each year for the years of 2002, 2003, and 2004. Sheedy signed a new three - year contract at the end of 2004. Kevin Sheedy and James Hird farewell banner ahead of their final game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground In 2005, Essendon missed the finals for the first time since 1997 ; and in 2006, the club suffered its worst season under Sheedy, and its worst for more than 70 years, finishing second - last with only three wins ( one of which was against defending premiers Sydney, in which Matthew Lloyd kicked eight goals ) and one draw from twenty - two games. Matthew Lloyd replaced James Hird as captain at the start of the season, but after suffering a season - ending hamstring injury early in the season, David Hille was appointed captain for the remainder of the season. The club improved its on - field position in 2007, but again missed the finals. On field and relocation to Melbourne Airport ( 2008 -- 2012 ) Sheedy 's contract was not renewed after 2007, ending his 27 - year tenure as Essendon coach. Matthew Knights replaced Sheedy as coach, and coached the club for three seasons, reaching the finals once -- an eighth - place finish in 2009 at the expense of reigning premiers Hawthorn. On 29 August 2010, shortly after the end of the 2010 home - and - away season, Knights was dismissed as coach. Essendon players prepare to take the field before a match against Greater Western Sydney in 2013. On 28 September 2010, former captain James Hird was named as Essendon 's new coach from 2011 on a four - year deal. Former Geelong dual premiership winning coach and Essendon triple - premiership winning player Mark Thompson later joined Hird on the coaching panel. In his first season, Essendon finished eighth. The club started strongly in 2012, sitting fourth with a 10 - 3 record at the halfway mark of the season ; but the club won only one more match for the season, finishing eleventh to miss the finals. In 2013 the club moved its training and administrative base to the True Value Solar Centre, a new facility in the suburb of Melbourne Airport which it had developed in conjunction with the Australian Paralympic Committee. Essendon holds a 37 - year lease at the facility, and maintains a lease at Windy Hill to use the venue for home matches for its reserves team in the Victorian Football League, and for a social club and merchandise store on the site. ASADA / WADA investigation ( 2013 -- 2016 ) See also : 2013 Essendon Football Club season, 2014 Essendon Football Club season, and Essendon Football Club supplements saga During 2013, the club was investigated by the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority ( ASADA ) over its 2012 player supplements and sports science program, most specifically over allegations into illegal use of peptide supplements. An internal review found it to have `` established a supplements program that was experimental, inappropriate and inadequately vetted and controlled '', and on 27 August 2013 the club was found guilty of bringing the game into disrepute for this reason. Among its penalties, the club was fined A $2 million, stripped of early draft picks in the following two drafts, and forfeited its place in the 2013 finals series ( having originally finished seventh on the ladder ) ; Hird was suspended from coaching for twelve months. Several office - bearers also resigned their posts during the controversy, including chairman David Evans and CEO Ian Robson. In the midst of the supplements saga, assistant coach Mark Thompson took over as coach for the 2014 season during Hird 's suspension. He led the club back to the finals for a seventh - place finish but in a tense first elimination final against archrivals North Melbourne, the Bombers would lead by as much as 27 points at half time before a resurgent Kangaroos side came back and won the game by 12 points. After the 2014 season Mark Thompson left the club to make way for Hird 's return to the senior coaching role. In June 2014, thirty - four players were issued show - cause notices alleging the use of banned peptide Thymosin beta - 4 during the program. The players faced the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal over the 2014 / 15 offseason, and on 31 March 2015 the tribunal returned a not guilty verdict, determining that it was `` not comfortably satisfied '' that the players had been administered the peptide. Hird returned as senior coach for the 2015 season, and after a strong start, the club 's form severely declined after the announcement that WADA would appeal the decision of the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal. The effect of the appeal on the team 's morale was devastating and they would go on to win only six games for the year. Under extreme pressure, Hird resigned on 18 August 2015 following a disastrous 112 - point loss to Adelaide. Former West Coast Eagles premiership coach John Worsfold was appointed as the new senior coach on a three - year contract. On January 12, 2016, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overruled the AFL anti-doping tribunal 's decision, deeming that 34 past and present players of the Essendon Football Club, took the banned substance Thymosin Beta - 4. As a result, all 34 players, 12 of which were still at the club, were given two year suspensions. However all suspensions were effectively less due to players having previously taken part in provisional suspensions undertaken during the 2014 / 2015 off season. As a result, Essendon contested the 2016 season with twelve of its regular senior players under suspension. In order for the club to remain competitive, the AFL granted Essendon the ability to upgrade all five of their rookie listed players and to sign an additional ten players to cover the loss of the suspended players for the season. Due to this unprecedented situation, many in the football community predicted the club would go through the 2016 AFL season without a win, however, they were able to win three matches : against Melbourne, Gold Coast and Carlton in rounds two, 21 and 23 respectively. The absence of its most experienced players also allowed the development of its young players, with Zach Merrett and Orazio Fantasia having breakout years, while Darcy Parish and Anthony McDonald - Tipungwuti, impressing in their debut seasons. Merrett acted as captain in the side 's round 21 win over the Suns. The club eventually finished on the bottom of the ladder and thus claimed its first wooden spoon since 1933. A new beginning ( 2017 - onward ) Essendon made their final financial settlement related to the supplements saga in September 2017, just before finals started. They also improved vastly on their 2016 performance, finishing 7th in the home and away season and becoming the first team since West Coast in 2011 to go from wooden spooner to a finals appearance, but ultimately losing their only final to Sydney. The 2017 season was also capped off by the retirement of much loved club legend and ex-captain Jobe Watson, midfielder Brent Stanton, and ex-Geelong star James Kelly, who later took up a development coach role at the club. 126 game midfielder Heath Hocking was delisted. Club symbols Guernsey Essendon players traditionally run through a banner which is created by its supporters before their matches. Essendon 's first recorded jumpers were navy blue ( The Footballers, edited by Thomas Power, 1875 ) although the club wore ' red and black caps and hose '. In 1877 The Footballers records the addition of ' a red sash over left shoulder '. This is the first time a red sash as part of the club jumper and by 1878 there are newspaper reports referring to Essendon players as ' the men in the sash '. Given that blue and navy blue were the most popular colours at the time it is thought that Essendon adopted a red sash in 1877 to distinguish its players from others in similar coloured jumpers. Clash jumpers In 2007, the AFL Commission laid down the requirement that all clubs must produce an alternative jumper for use in matches where jumpers are considered to clash. From 2007 -- 2011, the Essendon clash guernsey was the same design as its home guernsey, but with a substantially wider sash such that the guernsey was predominantly red rather than predominantly black. This was changed after 2011 when the AFL deemed that the wider sash did not provide a sufficient contrast. From 2012 to 2016, Essendon 's clash guernsey was predominantly grey, with a red sash fimbriated in black ; the grey field contained, in small print, the names of all Essendon premiership players. Before the 2016 season, Essendon 's changed their clash guernsey to a predominately red one, featuring a red sash in black. Similar to the grey jumper, the names of Essendon premiership players were also printed outside the sash. Yellow armbands Following Adam Ramanauskas ' personal battle with cancer, a `` Clash for Cancer '' match against Melbourne was launched in 2006. This was a joint venture between Essendon and the Cancer Council of Victoria to raise funds for the organisation. Despite a formal request to the AFL being denied, players wore yellow armbands for the match which resulted in the club being fined $20,000. In 2007, the AFL agreed to allow yellow armbands to be incorporated into the left sleeve of the jumper. The ' Clash for Cancer ' match against Melbourne has become an annual event, repeated in subsequent seasons, though in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016, Hawthorn ( twice ), the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions were the opponents in those respective seasons instead of Melbourne. In 2009, the jumpers were auctioned along with yellow boots worn by some players during the match. Song The club 's theme song, `` See the Bombers Fly Up '', was written c. 1959 by Kevin Andrews and is based on the tune of Johnnie Hamp 's 1929 song `` ( Keep Your ) Sunny Side Up '' at an increased tempo. At the time, `` ( Keep Your ) Sunny Side Up '' was the theme song for the popular Melbourne - based TV show Sunnyside Up. The official version of the song was recorded in 1972 by the Fable Singers and is still used today. The song, as with all other AFL clubs, is played prior to every match and at the conclusion of matches when the team is victorious. Songwriter Mike Brady, of `` Up There Cazaly '' fame, penned an updated version of the song in 1999 complete with a new verse arrangement, but it was not well received. However, this version is occasionally played at club functions. Mascot The club 's mascot is named `` Skeeta Reynolds ''. Named after Dick Reynolds, he is a mosquito and was created in honour of the team 's back - to - back premiership sides in the 1920s known as the `` Mosquito Fleet ''. He was first named through a competition run in the Bomber magazine with `` Skeeta '' being the winning entry. This was later changed by the AFL to `` Skeeta Reynolds ''. He appears as a red mosquito in an Essendon jumper and wears a red and black scarf. Notable supporters Notable supporters include : Andrew Bogut, Australian basketball player Andrew Whittington, Australian tennis player Dante Exum, Australian basketball player Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player Kyrie Irving, Australian - born basketball player Peter Garrett, Australian politician and Midnight Oil singer Nick Giannopoulos, Australian actor Steve Irwin, environmentalist and TV personality Jennifer Keyte, Australian television presenter Joan Kirner, former Premier of Victoria Andrew Peacock, former Australian foreign minister Charlie Pickering, Australian comedian and television presenter Lindsay Tanner, former Australian politician Membership Year Total Members 1984 10,231 1985 11,376 1986 12,607 8,129 1988 8,432 1989 7,958 1990 11,046 1991 11,593 1992 10,034 1993 11,546 1994 19,720 1995 23,833 24,324 1997 28,063 1998 27,099 1999 29,858 2000 34,278 2001 36,227 2002 35,219 2003 31,970 33,469 2005 32,734 2006 32,511 2007 32,759 2008 41,947 2009 40,412 40,589 2011 50,275 2012 47,708 2013 56,172 2014 60,714 2015 61,317 2016 57,494 Rivalries Essendon has a four - way rivalry with Carlton, Richmond, and Collingwood being the four biggest and most supported clubs in Victoria. Matches between the clubs are often close regardless of form and ladder positions. If out of the race themselves, all four have the desire to deny the others a finals spot or a premiership. Essendon also has a fierce rivalry with Hawthorn stemming from the 1980s. Carlton -- The rivalry between Essendon and Carlton is considered one of the strongest in the league. With the teams sharing the record of 16 premierships, both sides are keen to become outright leader, or if out of the finals race, at least ensure the other does n't. In recent years, the rivalry has thickened with Carlton beating the 1999 Minor Premiers and premiership favourites by 1 point in the Preliminary Final. Other notable meetings between the two clubs include the 1908, 1947, 1949, 1962 and 1968 VFL Grand Finals and 1993 AFL Grand Final with some decided by small margins. Collingwood -- In the early days of the VFL, this rivalry grew out of several Grand Final meetings -- 1901, 1902 and 1911. The teams did n't meet again in a Grand Final until 1990 when Collingwood won to draw level with the Bombers on 14 premierships and denying the Bombers a chance to join Carlton on 15. Since 1995 the rivalry has been even more fierce with the clubs facing off against each other in the Anzac Day clash, a match which is described as the second biggest of the season, behind only the Grand Final. Being possibly the two biggest football clubs in Victoria, regardless of their position on the ladder, this game always attracts a huge crowd and it is a match both teams have a desire to win even if it is their only win for the season. Richmond -- This rivalry stems out of the 1942 Grand Final which Essendon won. In 1974, a half time brawl took place involving trainers, officials and players at Windy Hill and has become infamous as one of the biggest ever. The teams did n't meet in the finals between 1944 and 1995, but there have been many close margins in home and away season matches as a result of each team 's `` never say die '' attitude and ability to come back from significant margins in the dying stages of matches. Having met in the AFL 's Rivalry Round in ( 2006 and 2009 ) and meeting in the Dreamtime at the ' G match since 2005, the rivalry and passion between the clubs and supporters has re-ignited. In recent years the rivalry has been promoted as the `` Clash of the Sash. '' The rivalry with archrival Hawthorn stemmed from their meetings in a number of grand finals in the mid-1980s Hawthorn -- The two sides had a number of physical encounters in the mid-1980s when they were the top two sides of the competition. The rivalry was exacerbated when Dermott Brereton ran through Essendon 's three - quarter time huddle during a match in 1988 and again by an all in brawl during a match in 2004 allegedly instigated by Brereton ( now known as the Line in the Sand Match after the direction allegedly given by Brereton for the Hawthorn players to make a physical stand ). This was reminiscent of the 1980s when battles with Hawthorn were often hard and uncompromising affairs. During round 22 of the 2009 season Essendon and Hawthorn played for the last finals spot up for grabs. The teams played out an extremely physical game and despite being 22 points down at half time Essendon went on to win by 17 points. The game included a brawl shortly after half time sparked by Essendon 's captain Matthew Lloyd knocking out Hawthorn midfielder Brad Sewell, which led Hawthorn 's Campbell Brown to label Lloyd a ' sniper ', and promised revenge if Lloyd played on in 2010. North Melbourne - One of the most fierce rivalries in the AFL can be traced back to 1896, when several clubs including Essendon, broke away from the Victorian Football Association to form the Victorian Football League. North were a contender to join in the breakaway competition, but Essendon rejected North mainly due Essendon feeling threatened by North 's proximity and the fact their inclusion could drain Essendon of vital talent. North supporters have not forgiven Essendon for the decision and have blamed the Bombers on their small supporter base and gate revenue. North were finally admitted into the VFL in 1925 alongside Footscray and Hawthorn. In 1950, the two sides met in their first and only grand final meeting to date, which Essendon won by 38 points. The rivalry was re-ignited in the 1990s due to the on field success of the two sides and continues to this day. A meeting of the two rivals at the MCG in the 2014 AFL finals series in the 2nd elimination final resulted in North winning by 12 points. Organisation and finance Board For the full list, see List of VFL / AFL presidents Lindsay Tanner has served as chairman of the board since late 2015. Essendon 's board members are Paul Brasher, Paul Cousins, Chris Heffernan, Daryl Jackson, Catherine Lio, Paul Little, Simon Madden, Andrew Muir and Lindsay Tanner. Major sponsor On 25 August 2008, Samsung was announced as major sponsor of the Essendon Football Club in a three - year deal touted as the biggest individual annual club sponsorship in AFL history. The deal included Samsung having naming rights on the front and back of the club jumper and signage. Although the amount was only confirmed by the club as a very significant lift from where 3 were, it was estimated to be worth around $7 million in total. The club 's apparel is currently produced by ISC. The club 's apparel has also been made by Reebok ( 1996 - 1999 ), Fila ( 2000 - 2002 ), Puma ( 2003 - 2008 ), and Adidas ( 2009 - 2016 ). Years Seasons Sponsor Current Kia Motors Fujitsu 2011 Samsung True Value Solar 2009 -- 2010 2003 -- 2008 6 Hutchison Telecommunications 3 mobile 2001 -- 2002 Orange 1994 -- 2000 7 Transport Accident Commission ( TAC ) `` Speed Kills '' 1984 -- 1993 10 Nubrik 1977 -- 1983 7 Don Smallgoods Honours See Essendon Football Club honours See W.S. Crichton Medal Premierships VFA / VFL Premiers ( 4 ) : 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 Runner - up ( 3 ) : 1882, 1884, 1885 VFL / AFL Premiers ( 16 ) : 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 Runner - up ( 14 ) : 1898, 1902, 1908, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1983, 1990, 2001 Team of the Century To celebrate the 125th anniversary of the club, as well as 100 years of the VFL / AFL, Essendon announced its `` Team of the Century '' in 1997. Essendon Team of the Century B : Gavin Wanganeen 1991 -- 96, 181cm 83kg, 127 games, 64 goals Fred Baring 1910 -- 15 / 1918 - 24, 185cm 90kg, 154 games, 92 goals Tom Fitzmaurice 1918 - 20 / 1922 - 24, 192cm 96kg, 85 games, 30 goals HB : Barry Davis 1961 - 72, 185cm 87kg, 218 games, 65 goals Wally Buttsworth 1939 - 49, 185cm 91kg, 188 games, 2 goals Harold Lambert 1940 - 41 / 1946 - 51, 175cm 76kg, 99 games, 2 goals C : Reg Burgess 1954 - 60, 175cm 72kg, 124 games, 9 goals Jack Clarke 1951 - 67, 175cm cm 78kg, 263 games, 180 goals Michael Long 1989 - 2001, 178cm 80kg, 190 games, 143 goals HF : James Hird 1992 - 2007, 188cm 89kg, 253 games, 343 goals Ken Fraser 1958 - 68, 187cm 80kg, 198 games, 157 goals Terry Daniher 1978 - 92, 188cm 89kg, 294 games, 447 goals F : Bill Hutchison 1942 - 57, 174cm 70kg, 290 games, 496 goals John Coleman 1949 - 54, 185cm 80kg, 98 games, 537 goals Albert Thurgood 1899 - 1902 / 1906, 183cm 76kg, 46 games, 89 goals Foll : Simon Madden 1974 - 92, 198cm, 99kg, 378 games, 575 goals Tim Watson 1977 - 91 / 1993 - 94, 185cm 96kg, 307 games, 335 goals Dick Reynolds ( c ) 1933 - 51, 179cm 82kg, 320 games, 442 goals Int : Mark Thompson 1983 - 96, 177cm 87kg, 202 games, 50 goals Keith Forbes 1928 - 37, 171cm 72kg, 152 games, 415 goals Frank Maher 1921 - 28, 170cm 70kg, 137 games, 124 goals Billy Griffith 1899 - 1913, 175cm 76kg, 187 games, 13 goals Coach : Kevin Sheedy 1981 - 2007, Coached 634 Won 386 Lost 242 Drawn 6 Champions of Essendon In 2002, a club panel chose and ranked the 25 greatest players to have played for Essendon. Dick Reynolds John Coleman James Hird Bill Hutchison Simon Madden Tim Watson Ken Fraser Jack Clarke Albert Thurgood Tom Fitzmaurice Terry Daniher Wally Buttsworth Reg Burgess Bill Busbridge Barry Davis Keith Forbes Graham Moss Mark Harvey Gavin Wanganeen Mark Thompson John Birt Matthew Lloyd Michael Long Fred Baring Harold Lambert Current players and officials Playing squad Essendon Football Club view talk Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff 1 Andrew McGrath 2 Tom Bellchambers 3 Darcy Parish 6 Joe Daniher 7 Zach Merrett ( vc ) 8 Martin Gleeson 9 Brendon Goddard 10 Aaron Francis 11 David Zaharakis 12 Mark Baguley 13 Orazio Fantasia 14 Jordan Ridley 15 Josh Green 16 Josh Begley 17 James Stewart 18 Michael Hurley 19 Kobe Mutch 20 Jackson Merrett 21 Dyson Heppell ( c ) 22 Matthew Leuenberger 23 David Myers 24 Craig Bird 25 Alex Morgan 26 Cale Hooker ( vc ) 27 Mason Redman 28 Mitch Brown 29 Patrick Ambrose 30 Kyle Langford 32 Travis Colyer 33 Jayden Laverde 36 Michael Hartley 37 Dylan Clarke 40 Ben Howlett 43 Anthony McDonald - Tipungwuti 45 Conor McKenna 49 Matt Dea Devon Smith 34 Jake Long 38 Sam Draper 41 Ben McNiece ( B ) 44 Shaun McKernan Luke Lavender ( B ) Head coach John Worsfold Assistant coaches Mark Neeld ( general performance manager ) Hayden Skipworth ( forwards ) Mark Harvey ( defence ) James Kelly ( midfield ) Mark Corrigan ( development coach ) Dan Jordan ( development coach ) Paul Corrigan ( VFL coach ) Rob Harding ( opposition strategy and game intelligence ) Legend : ( c ) Captain ( vc ) Vice captain ( B ) Category B rookie Updated : 12 October 2017 Source ( s ) : Playing list, Coaching staff Match records Highest score : 32.16 ( 208 ) v Footscray 9.8 ( 62 ) - Round 22, 1982 at Western Oval Lowest score : 0.9 ( 9 ) v Fitzroy 6.11 ( 47 ) - Round 1, 1899 at Brunswick Street Oval Lowest score since 1919 : 1.12 ( 18 ) v St Kilda 5.5 ( 35 ) - Round 10, 1923 at Junction Oval Highest losing score : Essendon 21.13 ( 139 ) v Collingwood 23.6 ( 144 ), Round 22, 1987, M.C.G. Lowest winning score : Essendon 1.8 ( 14 ) v Melbourne 0.8 ( 8 ), Finals Week 3, 1897, Lake Oval ( League record ) Lowest winning score since 1919 : Essendon 3.10 ( 28 ) v Footscray 3.5 ( 23 ), Round 13, 1989, Windy Hill Greatest winning margin : 165 points -- Essendon 28.16 ( 184 ) v South Melbourne 2.7 ( 19 ), Round 18, 1964, Windy Hill Greatest losing margin : 163 points -- Essendon 11.7 ( 73 ) v Sydney Swans 36.20 ( 236 ), Round 17, 1987, S.C.G. Record attendance ( home and away game ) : 94,825 - 25 April 1995 at MCG v Collingwood Record attendance ( finals match ) : 116,828 - 1968 VFL Grand Final v Carlton Reserves team The Essendon reserves team first competed in the Victorian Football League 's reserves competition when the competition was established in 1919. The team enjoyed success in the form of eight premierships between 1919 and 1999, including the last Victorian State Football League year in 1999. From 2000 until 2002, the club 's reserves team competed in the new Victorian Football League competition. At the end of 2002, the club dissolved its reserves team and established a reserves affiliation with the Bendigo Football Club in the VFL. The affiliation ran for ten years from 2003 until 2012, allowing reserves players from the Essendon list to play with Bendigo. The club re-established its reserves team in 2013, seeking greater developmental autonomy. The reserves team has since competed in the VFL. The team plays its home games at Windy Hill. The team is made up of AFL senior listed players and VFL contracted players. Premierships ( 8 ) Year Competition Opponent Score Venue 1921 VFL Reserves Collingwood 10.9 ( 69 ) - 8.13 ( 61 ) MCG 1941 VFL Reserves Fitzroy 12.16 ( 88 ) - 9.17 ( 71 ) MCG 1950 VFL Reserves North Melbourne 12.8 ( 80 ) - 8.7 ( 55 ) MCG 1952 VFL Reserves Collingwood 7.14 ( 56 ) - 4.5 ( 29 ) MCG 1968 VFL Reserves Richmond 15.7 ( 97 ) - 13.14 ( 92 ) MCG VFL Reserves Collingwood 19.14 ( 128 ) - 15.9 ( 99 ) MCG 1992 VSFL Melbourne 18.19 ( 127 ) - 14.10 ( 94 ) MCG 1999 AFL Reserves ( VSFL ) St Kilda 20.13 ( 133 ) - 11.10 ( 76 ) MCG Runners - up ( 10 ) Year Competition Opponent Score Venue 1922 VFL Reserves Collingwood 1.9 ( 15 ) - 8.10 ( 58 ) MCG 1924 VFL Reserves Geelong Did Not Play Kardinia Park 1932 VFL Reserves Melbourne 4.10 ( 34 ) - 8.12 ( 60 ) MCG 1949 VFL Reserves Melbourne 9.14 ( 68 ) - 17.10 ( 112 ) MCG 1951 VFL Reserves Carlton 7.9 ( 51 ) - 8.15 ( 63 ) MCG 1953 VFL Reserves Carlton 11.7 ( 73 ) - 15.7 ( 97 ) MCG 1971 VFL Reserves Richmond 8.18 ( 66 ) - 14.14 ( 98 ) MCG 1981 VFL Reserves Geelong 18.6 ( 114 ) - 21.14 ( 140 ) MCG AFL Reserves ( VSFL ) North Melbourne 7.10 ( 52 ) - 23.18 ( 156 ) MCG 1998 AFL Reserves ( VSFL ) Footscray 12.8 ( 80 ) - 20.16 ( 136 ) MCG Essendon refused to play the Grand Final in Geelong, so the premiership was awarded to Geelong. See also Melbourne portal Australian rules football portal Dreamtime at the ' G Sport in Australia Sport in Victoria Notes Jump up ^ http://www.essendonfc.com.au/team/fixtures-and-results Jump up ^ `` Record doping penalty for Australia 's Essendon football club ''. BBC News. 28 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Essendon Football Club - Supporters ''. Jump up ^ `` The Fall ''. The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 March 2014. Jump up ^ `` Essendon Football Club - Club History ''. Jump up ^ The Clubs -- The Complete History of Every Club in the VFL / AFL, editors G. Hutchinson and J. Ross, ISBN 1 - 86458 - 189 - 1 Jump up ^ `` Football ''. The Argus. 9 June 1873. p. 7. Jump up ^ Peter Pindar ( 21 July 1877 ). `` Football Gossip ''. The Australasian. XXIII ( 590 ). Melbourne, VIC. p. 76. Jump up ^ `` Annual Meetings of football clubs ''. The Australasian. XXIV ( 628 ). Melbourne, VIC. 13 April 1878. p. 461. Jump up ^ `` History of Windy Hill ( Essendon Recreation Reserve ) ''. Shawfactor.com. Retrieved 2012 - 10 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Football - Essendon v. North Melbourne ''. North Melbourne Advertiser. North Melbourne, VIC. 3 August 1889. p. 3. Jump up ^ `` Football - Essendon v. Carlton ''. North Melbourne Advertiser. North Melbourne, VIC. 31 August 1889. p. 3. Jump up ^ Devaney, John ( 2008 ). The Full Points Footy Encyclopedia of Australian Football Clubs. Lulu.com. p. 174. ISBN 0955689708. Jump up ^ Maplestone, M., Flying Higher : History of the Essendon Football Club 1872 -- 1996, Essendon Football Club, ( Melbourne ), 1996. ISBN 0 - 9591740 - 2 - 8 Jump up ^ ( Mapleston, 1996, p. 56. ) Jump up ^ Old Boy ( 1 July 1921 ). `` Football -- the `` passing '' of Essendon ``. The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 4. Jump up ^ Old Boy ( 8 July 1921 ). `` Football -- North Melbourne ground ''. The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. p. 4. Jump up ^ J.W. ( 8 Jul 1921 ). `` Football -- notes and comments ''. The Australasian. CXI ( 2884 ). Melbourne, VIC. p. 69. Jump up ^ `` North Melbourne ground ''. The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 12 August 1921. p. 6. Jump up ^ J.W. ( 22 October 1921 ). `` Football -- notes & comments ''. The Australasian. CXI ( 2899 ). Melbourne, VIC. Jump up ^ Hutchinson, 1996, p. 159. Jump up ^ Frost, Lionel ( 25 September 2006 ). `` Did the 1924 Bombers throw their last game ''. AFL Official Website. Archived from the original on 8 March 2008. Jump up ^ `` Sheedy still promoting Indigenous football talent ''. abc.net.au. 12 February 2007. Jump up ^ Club History - essendonfc.com.au Jump up ^ Rogers, Stephen ; Every Game Ever Played ; VFL / AFL Results 1897 -- 1995 ; pp. 687 -- 689. ISBN 0 - 670 - 90794 - 4 Jump up ^ Cockerill, Michael ( 27 July 1987 ). `` A record win puts Swans on target for flag ''. Sydney Morning Herald. p. 50. Jump up ^ Rogers ; Every game Ever Played ; p. 711 Jump up ^ `` Essendon Is on Brink of Sporting History : Bombers Bid to Exorcise The Melbourne Demons ''. The New York Times. 1 September 2000. Jump up ^ Bombers upset Swans - ABC News ( Australian Broadcasting Corporation ) Jump up ^ Angry Hawks clash with Matthew Lloyd, Herald Sun, 29 August 2009 Jump up ^ `` Bombers take flight to Airport site ''. Racing and Sports. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 30 March 2014. Jump up ^ Rohan Connolly ( 28 October 2013 ). `` Lifetimes of memories and legends depart Windy Hill ''. The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2014. Jump up ^ Dons ' D - Day : your five - minute guide AFL Website 27 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013 Jump up ^ `` Essendon chairman David Evans quits ''. The Australian. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 16 August 2013. Jump up ^ Will Brodie ; Jake Niall ( 23 May 2013 ). `` Robson quits Essendon ''. The Age. Retrieved 16 August 2013. Jump up ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-10/mark-thompson-to-coach-essendon-while-james-hird27s-serve-afl-/5014754 Jump up ^ `` ASADA boss Ben McDevitt to front media in wake of AFL verdict clearing 34 past and present Essendon players ''. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015. Jump up ^ Roar, The. `` AFL Tribunal finds Essendon players not guilty ''. The Roar. Retrieved 31 March 2015. Jump up ^ http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/james-hird-returns-to-essendon-after-suspension-20140825-107z55.html Jump up ^ http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-08-18/hird-bombers-part-ways Jump up ^ http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-01-12/guilty-court-bans-the-essendon-34-for-2016 Jump up ^ http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/cas-verdict-essendon-players-to-miss-season-2016-20160107-gm18nq.html Jump up ^ http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-01-12/where-are-they-now Jump up ^ Conway, Simon ( 14 August 2016 ). `` Merrett seeks out Selwood ''. EssendonFC.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2016. Jump up ^ `` AFL Daily : Live rolling footy news from around Australia for September 8, 2017 ''. Herald Sun. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017. Jump up ^ Twomey, Callum ( 12 September 2017 ). `` Season review : Essendon ''. AFL.com.au. Australian Football League. Retrieved 12 September 2017. ^ Jump up to : Landsberger, Sam ; Wilson, Rebecca ( 2 July 2012 ). `` Essendon to unveil new clash strip against St Kilda ''. Courier Mail. Retrieved 5 July 2012. Jump up ^ http://www.essendonfc.com.au:80/news/2016-02-11/heritage-guernsey-launch Jump up ^ `` Bombers prepare for ' Clash for Cancer ' ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 14 June 2006. Jump up ^ `` Bombers shocked by AFL sanction ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 19 June 2006. Jump up ^ `` Yellow armband to be incorporated into Essendon guernsey ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 31 May 2007. Jump up ^ Marriott, Tom ( 16 May 2014 ). `` Match Day Information - Round 9 ''. EssendonFC.com.au. Retrieved 1 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Clash for Cancer ''. EssendonFC.com.au. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 3 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Clash for Cancer enters seventh season ''. EssendonFC.com.au. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2015. Jump up ^ `` Secure a unique piece of memorabilia ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 23 June 2009. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Jump up ^ `` Official AFL website of the Essendon Football Club ''. BTV : The history of our song ( Video interview with Kevin Andrews. ). 12 March 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015. Jump up ^ AFL Tunes to Remember -- The Melbourne Age, 23 July 2010 Jump up ^ `` Heppell on the Hangar - essendonfc.com.au ''. Jump up ^ `` Dante is a Don - essendonfc.com.au ''. Jump up ^ `` Nick Giannopoulos Giannopolous ''. www.onlymelbourne.com.au. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Steve Irwin : 1962 - 2006 ''. CBS News. Jump up ^ `` BTV : Don The Sash - Ch 7 News - essendonfc.com.au ''. essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Essendon mourns Joan Kirner - essendonfc.com.au ''. essendonfc.com.au. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ `` Charlie Pickering : `` I know nothing about racism in Australia. '' ``. Mamamia. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ Niall, Michael Gleeson and Jake ( 2015 - 10 - 29 ). `` Essendon confirm Lindsay Tanner will be new chairman ''. The Age. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 10. Jump up ^ Lovett 2013 Jump up ^ http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2014-08-06/clash-of-the-sash Jump up ^ `` Essendon chairman Paul Little has the support of Labor MP Lindsay Tanner, who was touted as possible boardroom challenger ''. The Herald Sun. 9 July 2015. Jump up ^ `` Samsung announced as 2009 major partner ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 25 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2009. Jump up ^ Sheahan, Mike ( 23 August 2008 ). `` Dons land $7 million sponsor ''. Melbourne : Herald Sun. Retrieved 22 August 2009. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ `` Season by Season Jumpers ''. footyjumpers.com. Retrieved 2017 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Essendon announce joint major partner 2011 ''. Archived from the original on 21 February 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fujitsu General Join The Bombers ''. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Jump up ^ `` BOMBER 'S SPONSORSHIP A WORLD FIRST ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 18 November 2002. Archived from the original on 28 January 2004. Retrieved 22 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT ; THE FUTURE IS ORANGE ''. Melbourne : Essendon Football Club. 13 November 2000. Archived from the original on 8 January 2005. Retrieved 22 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` All Star Teams ( A-M ) ''. Full Points Footy. 8 July 2007. Archived from the original on 28 April 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2009. Jump up ^ `` Champions of Essendon ''. Essendon Football Club. 30 August 2002. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Jump up ^ Landsberger, Sam ( 9 January 2013 ). `` Josh Toy and Matthew Bate set to play on with Essendon ''. Herald Sun. References The Illustrated History of the Essendon Football Club. Melbourne, Victoria : Geoff Slattery Publishing. 2007. ISBN 978 - 0 - 9758362 - 8 - 6. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Essendon Football Club. Official website of the Essendon Football Club `` Around the Grounds '' -- Web Documentary -- Windy Hill Essendon Football Club History Premierships and records Players Captains Coaches Awards W.S. Crichton Medal Leading goalkickers Captain : Dyson Heppell Coach : John Worsfold Nickname : Bombers Home grounds East Melbourne Cricket Ground ( 1897 -- 1921 ) Windy Hill ( 1922 -- 91 ) Melbourne Cricket Ground ( 1992 -- present ) Docklands Stadium ( 2000 -- present ) Premierships ( 16 ) 1897 1901 1911 1912 1923 1924 1942 1946 1949 1950 1962 1965 1984 1985 1993 2000 Seasons 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Related articles Anzac Day clash Carlton -- Essendon AFL rivalry Dreamtime at the ' G Archer -- Hird Medal Line in the sand match Round 16, 2001 comeback vs. North Melbourne Supplements saga Essendon Football Club VFL / AFL premiership teams Essendon Football Club 1897 VFL premiers Essendon won the finals series with 3 wins and 0 losses Anderson Barry Campbell Cleghorn Cochrane Collins Croft Ferguson Forbes Gavin Groves Hastings Kearney Kinnear Martin Officer O'Loughlin Stuckey ( c ) Sykes Vautin Waugh Wright Essendon Football Club 1901 VFL premiers Essendon 6.7 ( 43 ) defeated Collingwood 2.4 ( 16 ), at the Lake Oval Anderson Barry M. Collins T. Collins ( c ) Gavin Griffith Hastings Hiskins Kinnear Larkin Mann Martin McKenzie Robinson Stuckey Thurgood Vollugi Wright Essendon Football Club 1911 VFL premiers Essendon 5.11 ( 41 ) defeated Collingwood 4.11 ( 35 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Armstrong 2. Busbridge 3. Bowe 5. Baring 6. Cameron 7. Chalmers 8. Griffith 9. Hanley 10. Kirby 11. Ogden 12. O'Shea 13. Smith ( c ) 14. Shea 15. Sewart 16. Walker 18. McLeod 19. Monteith 21. Hazel Coach : Worrall Essendon Football Club 1912 VFL premiers Essendon 5.17 ( 47 ) defeated South Melbourne 4.9 ( 33 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Belcher ( c ) 2. Armstrong 4. Bowe 5. Baring 7. Chalmers 9. Kirkwood 10. Hanley 11. Kirby 12. Martin 14. McLeod 16. Ogden 17. Sewart 18. Shea 19. White 20. Walker 25. O'Brien 27. Caine 29. Griffith Coach : Worrall Essendon Football Club 1923 VFL premiers Essendon 8.15 ( 63 ) defeated Fitzroy 6.10 ( 46 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Barker ( c ) 2. Donaldson 3. Beckton 5. Baring 6. Fitzmaurice 6. Rawle 10. Watt 13. Harrison 14. May 15. Laing 16. McCarthy 18. Irwin 21. Jenkins 24. Maher 25. Stockdale 28. Garden 30. Shorten 33. Hardy Coach : Barker Essendon Football Club 1924 VFL premiers Essendon won the finals series with 2 wins, 1 loss, and a percentage of 142.74 1. Barker ( c ) 2. Donaldson 3. Beckton 5. Baring 6. Fitzmaurice 6. Rawle 7. Hunter 8. Sullivan 10. Watt 11. Farrell 12. Gregory 14. May 15. Laing 16. McCarthy 21. Jenkins 24. Maher 25. Stockdale 28. Garden 30. Shorten 33. Hardy Coach : Barker Essendon Football Club 1942 VFL premiers Essendon 19.18 ( 132 ) defeated Richmond 11.13 ( 79 ), at Princes Park 1. Coward 3. D. Reynolds ( c ) 4. Exelby 5. Caesar 6. Hird 7. Hutchison 8. Plummer 10. Dearle 14. Leehane 15. Buttsworth 19. Cassin 20. Torney 21. Ruddell 22. Lane 25. Abbott 28. Silk 29. T. Reynolds 30. Flanigan 35. Bushby Coach : D. Reynolds Essendon Football Club 1946 VFL premiers Essendon 22.18 ( 150 ) defeated Melbourne 13.9 ( 87 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Tonkes 2. Rawle 3. Reynolds ( c ) 5. H. Lambert 6. Hassell 7. Hutchison 13. Harper 14. C. Lambert 15. Buttsworth 18. Gardiner 19. Cassin 20. Pearson 21. Ruddell 22. Lane 23. Brittingham 24. Jones 25. Abbott 31. McClure 32. Equid 35. Bushby Coach : Reynolds Essendon Football Club 1949 VFL premiers Essendon 18.17 ( 125 ) defeated Carlton 6.16 ( 52 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Fisher 2. Rawle 3. Reynolds ( c ) 4. McDonald 6. Hassell 7. Hutchison 9. Leehane 10. Coleman 11. McEwin 12. May 17. Lambert 18. Gardiner 22. Lane 23. Brittingham 24. Jones 25. McConnell 26. Syme 27. Bradley 31. McClure 36. Thaw Coach : Reynolds Essendon Football Club 1950 VFL premiers Essendon 13.14 ( 92 ) defeated North Melbourne 7.12 ( 54 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 2. Collins 3. Reynolds ( c ) 4. McDonald 7. Hutchison 8. Harper 9. Leehane 10. Coleman 11. McEwin 12. May 14. C. Lambert 15. Dale 17. H. Lambert 18. Gardiner 22. Snell 23. Brittingham 24. Jones 25. McConnell 26. Syme 31. McClure 33. Allanson Coach : Reynolds Essendon Football Club 1962 VFL premiers Essendon 13.12 ( 90 ) defeated Carlton 8.10 ( 58 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Clarke ( c ) 5. Shaw 6. Gosper 7. Payne 10. Shelton 11. Birt 12. Capuano 14. Blew 16. Johnston 18. Beissel 19. Somerville 23. Fraser 24. McKenzie 25. Timms 28. Epis 30. Leek 31. Mitchell 32. Davis 34. Sampson 36. Doran Coach : Coleman Essendon Football Club 1965 VFL premiers Essendon 14.21 ( 105 ) defeated St Kilda 9.6 ( 70 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Clarke 2. Gerlach 4. Shaw 6. Gosper 8. Payne 10. Shelton 11. Birt 14. Blew 16. Johnston 18. Brown 20. Fordham 21. Pryor 23. Fraser ( c ) 24. McKenzie 27. Waite 28. Epis 31. Mitchell 32. Davis 34. Sampson 43. Egan Coach : Coleman Essendon Football Club 1984 VFL premiers Essendon 14.21 ( 105 ) defeated Hawthorn 12.9 ( 81 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Neagle 4. Baker 5. Daniher ( c ) 7. Dunell 8. Clarke 9. Heard 10. Foulds 13. Williams 15. Ezard 18. Vander Haar 22. Duckworth 25. Merrett 26. Thompson 27. Madden 28. Weston 30. Walsh 32. Watson 33. Hawker 36. Bradbury 38. Harvey Coach : Sheedy Essendon Football Club 1985 VFL premiers Essendon 26.14 ( 170 ) defeated Hawthorn 13.8 ( 92 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 2. Wood 3. Salmon 4. Baker 5. Daniher ( c ) 8. Clarke 10. Foulds 13. Williams 14. Elshaug 15. Ezard 17. Carey 18. Vander Haar 22. Duckworth 25. Merrett 26. Thompson 27. Madden 28. Weston 30. Walsh 32. Watson 33. Hawker 38. Harvey Coach : Sheedy Essendon Football Club 1993 AFL premiers Essendon 20.13 ( 133 ) defeated Carlton 13.11 ( 89 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. Harvey 2. Mercuri 3. Salmon 4. Wanganeen 5. Hird 7. Daniher 8. Bewick 10. O'Donnell 11. Hills 13. Long 19. Somerville 21. Wallis 24. Misiti 26. Thompson ( c ) 29. Grenvold 31. Fletcher 32. Watson 38. Denham 47. Olarenshaw 48. Calthorpe Coach : Sheedy Essendon Football Club 2000 AFL premiers Essendon 19.21 ( 135 ) defeated Melbourne 11.9 ( 75 ), at the Melbourne Cricket Ground 1. M. Johnson 2. Mercuri 5. Hird ( c ) 6. Wellman 7. Solomon 8. Bewick 9. Ramanauskas 11. Hardwick 13. Long 14. J. Johnson 16. Barnard 18. Lloyd 21. Wallis 22. Barnes 24. Misiti 25. Lucas 26. Heffernan 27. Alessio 29. Moorcroft 31. Fletcher 32. Blumfield 33. Caracella Coach : Sheedy Essendon Football Club Team of the Century 1896 -- 1997 Full - back Gavin Wanganeen Fred Baring Tom Fitzmaurice Half - back Barry Davis Wally Buttsworth Harold Lambert Centre Reg Burgess Jack Clarke Michael Long Half - forward James Hird Ken Fraser Terry Daniher Full - forward Bill Hutchison John Coleman Albert Thurgood Ruck Simon Madden Tim Watson Dick Reynolds ( c ) Interchange Mark Thompson Keith Forbes Frank Maher Billy Griffith Coach Kevin Sheedy Clubs in the Australian Football League Clubs Adelaide Brisbane Lions Carlton Collingwood Essendon Fremantle Geelong Gold Coast Greater Western Sydney Hawthorn Melbourne North Melbourne Port Adelaide Richmond St Kilda Sydney West Coast Western Bulldogs Former clubs Brisbane Bears ( 1987 -- 1996 ) Fitzroy ( 1897 -- 1996 ) University ( 1908 -- 1914 ) Victorian Football League clubs Current clubs Box Hill Casey Demons Coburg Collingwood reserves Essendon reserves Footscray reserves Frankston Geelong reserves North Melbourne reserves Northern Blues Port Melbourne Richmond reserves Sandringham Werribee Williamstown Former clubs Albert Park Ballarat Ballarat Imperial Berwick Bendigo Brighton Brunswick Camberwell Carlton Carlton reserves Caulfield Collingwood Dandenong East Melbourne Essendon Essendon ' A ' Fitzroy Footscray Geelong Geelong ' A ' Geelong West Gold Coast Hawthorn Hotham / North Melbourne Kilsyth Melbourne Melbourne City Moorabbin Mordialloc Murray Kangaroos North Ballarat Northcote Oakleigh Prahran Richmond St Kilda St Kilda reserves South Ballarat South Melbourne South Williamstown Sunshine Tasmanian Devils Traralgon University Waverley West Melbourne Yarraville Professional sports teams based in Melbourne Australian rules football AFL : Carlton Collingwood Essendon Hawthorn Melbourne North Melbourne Richmond St Kilda Western Bulldogs AFL Women 's : Carlton Collingwood Melbourne Western Bulldogs Baseball ABL : Melbourne Aces Claxton Shield : Victoria Aces Basketball NBL : Melbourne United WNBL : Dandenong Rangers Melbourne Boomers Cricket Sheffield Shield / 50 overs : Victorian Bushrangers Big Bash League : Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Stars WNCL : Victorian Spirit Women 's Big Bash League : Melbourne Renegades Melbourne Stars Field hockey AHL : Victorian Vikings ( men 's division ) Victorian Vipers ( women 's division ) Futsal F - League : Vic Vipers Futsal Club Ice hockey AIHL : Melbourne Ice Melbourne Mustangs Motorsport V8 Supercar : Britek Motorsport Charlie Schwerkolt Racing Dragon Motor Racing Eggleston Motorsport Erebus Motorsport Garry Rogers Motorsport Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport MW Motorsport Nissan Motorsport Prodrive Racing Australia Rod Nash Racing Walkinshaw Racing Netball Suncorp Super Netball : Collingwood Magpies Netball Melbourne Vixens Rugby league NRL : Melbourne Storm Rugby union Super Rugby : Melbourne Rebels NRC : Melbourne Rising Soccer A-League : Melbourne City ! Melbourne City Melbourne Victory ! Melbourne Victory W - League : Melbourne City Melbourne Victory Water polo ANWPL : Victorian Seals Main Article : Sport in Victoria Champions of Australia Clubs 1888 : Norwood 1890 : Port Adelaide 1893 : Essendon 1907 : Norwood 1908 : West Adelaide 1909 : South Melbourne 1910 : Port Adelaide 1911 : West Adelaide 1913 : Port Adelaide 1914 : Port Adelaide 1968 : Carlton 1969 : Richmond 1970 : Carlton 1971 : Hawthorn 1972 : North Adelaide 1973 : Richmond 1974 : Richmond 1975 : North Melbourne Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Essendon_Football_Club&oldid=804957801 '' Categories : Sports clubs established in 1871 Australian Football League clubs Essendon Football Club Australian rules football clubs in Melbourne Australian rules football clubs in Victoria ( Australia ) Former Victorian Football League clubs 1871 establishments in Australia Hidden categories : Use Australian English from April 2013 All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010 Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009 Use dmy dates from April 2011 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español Français 한국어 Italiano Magyar Nederlands Polski Português Simple English 吴语 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 12 October 2017, at 04 : 11. 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Question: when was the last time essendon won a grand final
Answer: 2000