text:
Essendon Football Club
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
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)
2018 season
Home-and-away season
11th
Leading goalkicker
Jake Stringer (30)
W. S. Crichton Medal
Devon Smith
Club details
Founded
1871; 147 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
Championship of Australia (1): 1893
Ground(s)
Etihad Stadium (main venue)[1] (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)
The Hangar
Uniforms
Home
Away
Alternate
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. Thought to have formed in 1872, the club played its first recorded game on 7 June 1873 against a Carlton Second 20, winning 1 goal to nil. The club played a senior club in the Victorian Football Association in 1878, one year after the VFA formed. It is historically associated with Essendon, a suburb in the north-west of Melbourne, Victoria. Since 2013, the club has been headquartered at The Hangar, 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, where it played from 1922 until 1991. While it stopped playing games at the ground thereafter, Windy Hill remained its training and administration base until the end of 2013. Dyson Heppell is the current team captain.
A founding member club of both the Victorian Football Association, in 1877, and the Victorian Football League (renamed the AFL in 1990), in 1896, Essendon is one of Australia's best-known football clubs.[2] Essendon has won 16 VFL/AFL premierships, which, along with Carlton, is the most of any club in the competition. The club also won four consecutive VFA premierships between 1891 and 1894, a feat unmatched in VFA history and equalled only once in the VFL, technically giving them the most amount of premierships in AFL history: 20.
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)
1.10 A new beginning (2017-onward)
2 Club symbols
2.1 Guernsey
2.1.1 Clash jumpers
2.1.2 Yellow armbands
2.2 Club Song
2.3 Mascot
3 Membership
4 Rivalries
5 Organisation and finance
5.1 Board
5.2 Major sponsor
6 Honours
6.1 Premierships
6.2 Team of the Century
6.3 Champions of Essendon
7 Current players and officials
7.1 Playing squad
8 Match records
9 Reserves team
10 Other ventures
11 See also
12 Notes
13 References
14 External links
History[edit]
Formation and VFA years (1871–1896)[edit]
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5]
The club played its first recorded match against the Carlton second twenty on 7 June 1873,[6] with Essendon winning by one goal. Essendon played 13 matches in its first season, winning seven, with four draws and losing two.[citation needed] The club was one of the inaugural junior members of the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877,[7] and began competing as a senior club from the 1878 season.[8] 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed] Essendon was undefeated in the 1893 season.[citation needed]
Founding of the VFL to World War I (1897–1915)[edit]
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.[9][10]
"Same Olds"[edit]
Dave Smith captained Essendon to premiership success in 1911.
The club is recorded as having played at McCracken's Paddock, Glass's Paddock and Flemington Hill. It is likely that these are three different names for the one ground, given that McCracken's Paddock was a parcel of land that sat within the larger Glass's Paddock which in turn was situated in an area widely known at the time as Flemington Hill. In 1882 the club moved home games to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, (since gone) after an application to play on the Essendon Cricket Ground (later known as Windy Hill) was voted down by then Lord Mayor James Taylor on the basis that City of Essendon the mayor considered the Essendon Cricket Ground "to be suitable only for the gentleman's game of cricket",[11]
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.[12] The nickname first appeared in print in the local North Melbourne Advertiser in 1889,[13] and ended up gaining wide use, often as the diminutive "Same Olds".[14]
This move away from Essendon, at a time when fans would walk to their local ground, didn'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).[15]
Return to suburban Essendon (1921–1932)[edit]
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,[16] 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[17] – a move which the North Melbourne Football Club (then in the VFA) saw as an 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.[18][19] 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.[20] 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.[21]
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.[22]
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
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.[23]
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.[citation needed]
Dick Reynolds years (1933–1960)[edit]
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.
The Essendon Football Club adopted the nickname The Bombers in April 1940.[24]
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 World War II, 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.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
Post-Reynolds era and the "Slugging Seventies" (1961–1980)[edit]
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)[edit]
Essendon 1980s shield logo
Former Richmond player Kevin Sheedy started as head coach in 1981.[25]
Essendon reached the Grand Final in 1983, the first time since 1968. Hawthorn won by a then record 83 points.[26]
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.[27] 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.[28]
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.[29] 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).[30]
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.[citation needed] 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)[31] 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)[edit]
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.[32] 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,[33] 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.[34]
ASADA/WADA investigation (2013–2016)[edit]
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.[35] Several office-bearers also resigned their posts during the controversy, including chairman David Evans[36] and CEO Ian Robson.[37]
In the midst of the supplements saga, assistant coach Mark Thompson took over as coach for the 2014 season during Hird's suspension.[38] 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.[39] 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.[40]
Hird returned as senior coach for the 2015 season,[41] 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.[42] 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.[43][44] As a result, Essendon contested the 2016 season with twelve[45] 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.[46] The club eventually finished on the bottom of the ladder and thus claimed its first wooden spoon since 1933.
A new beginning (2017-onward)[edit]
Essendon made their final financial settlement related to the supplements saga in September 2017, just before finals started.[47] 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.[48]
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.
Expectations were high for the 2018 season, with the club having an outstanding off season. The recruitment of Jake Stringer, Adam Saad and Devon Smith from the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants respectively was expected to throw Essendon firmly into premiership contention.
After beating the previous year's runner up Adelaide (which went on to beat reigning premiers Richmond the following round)[49] in round one,[50] Essendon's form slumped severely, only winning one game out of the next seven rounds and losing to the then-winless Carlton in round eight.[51] Senior assistant coach Mark Neeld was sacked by the club the following Monday.[52]
The teams form improved sharply after this, recording wins against top eight sides Geelong, GWS, West Coast and Sydney, and winning ten out of the last 13 games of the season. However, the mid-season revival was short lived, with an upset loss to reigning premiers Richmond by eight points in round 22 ending any hopes they had of reaching the finals.
The 2018 season was capped off by the club not offering veteran Brendon Goddard a new contract for 2019.
Club symbols[edit]
Guernsey[edit]
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[edit]
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.[53]
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.[53]
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.[54]
Yellow armbands[edit]
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.[55] 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.[56] In 2007, the AFL agreed to allow yellow armbands to be incorporated into the left sleeve of the jumper.[57] 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.[58][59][60] In 2009, the jumpers were auctioned along with yellow boots worn by some players during the match.[61]
Club Song[edit]
The club's theme song, "See the Bombers Fly Up", is thought to have been written c. 1959 by Kevin Andrews in the home of player Jeff Gamble at which time Kevin Andrews was living. The song is based on the tune of Johnnie Hamp's 1929 song "(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up" at an increased tempo. Jeff Gamble came up with the line 'See the bombers fly up, up' while Kevin Andrews contributed all or most of the rest. At the time, "(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up" was the theme song for the popular Melbourne-based TV show on Channel 7 Sunnyside Up.[62] The official version of the song was recorded in 1972 by the Fable Singers and is still used today.[63]
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.
See the Bombers fly up, up!
To win the premiership flag.
Our boys who play this grand old game,
Are always striving for glory and fame!
See the bombers fly up, up,
The other teams they don't fear,
They all try their best,
But they can't get near,
As the bombers fly up!
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[edit]
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 to "Skeeta Reynolds". He appears as a red mosquito in an Essendon jumper and wears a red and black scarf.
Membership[edit]
Year
Total Members [64]
1984 10,231
1985 11,376
1986 12,607
1987 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
1996 24,324
1997 28,063
1998 27,099
1999 29,858
2000 34,278
2001 36,227
2002 35,219
2003 31,970
2004 33,469
2005 32,734
2006 32,511
2007 32,759
2008 41,947
2009 40,412
2010 40,589
2011 50,275
2012 47,708
2013 56,172
2014 60,714
2015 61,317
2016 57,494
2017 67,768
2018 79,319
Rivalries[edit]
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 doesn'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 didn'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 didn'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." [65]
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[edit]
Board[edit]
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, Melissa Verner Green, Sean Wellman, David Barham, Catherine Lio, Ken Lay, Simon Madden, Andrew Muir and Lindsay Tanner.[66]
Major sponsor[edit]
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.[67] 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.[68]
The club's apparel is currently produced by ISC.[69] The club's apparel has also been made by Reebok (1996–1999), Fila (2000–2002), Puma (2003–2008), and Adidas (2009–2016).[70]
Years
Seasons
Sponsor
Current Kia Motors[71][72] Fujitsu
2011 1 Samsung True Value Solar
2009–2010 2
2003–2008 6 Hutchison Telecommunications Three[73]
2001–2002 2 Orange[74]
1994–2000 7 Transport Accident Commission (TAC) "Speed Kills"
1984–1993 10 Nubrik
1977–1983 7 Don Smallgoods
Honours[edit]
See Essendon Football Club honours and W. S. Crichton Medal.
Premierships[edit]
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[edit]
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.[75]
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[edit]
In 2002, a club panel chose and ranked the 25 greatest players to have played for Essendon.[76]
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[edit]
Playing squad[edit]
Essendon Football Club
view
talk
edit
Senior list
Rookie list
Coaching staff
1 Andrew McGrath
2 Tom Bellchambers
3 Darcy Parish
4 Kyle Langford
5 Devon Smith
6 Joe Daniher
7 Zach Merrett (vc)
8 Martin Gleeson
10 Aaron Francis
11 David Zaharakis
12 Mark Baguley
13 Orazio Fantasia
14 Jordan Ridley
16 Josh Begley
17 James Stewart
18 Michael Hurley
19 Kobe Mutch
21 Dyson Heppell (c)
23 David Myers
24 Jordan Houlahan
25 Jake Stringer
26 Cale Hooker (vc)
27 Mason Redman
28 Mitch Brown
29 Patrick Ambrose
30 Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
33 Jayden Laverde
34 Jake Long
35 Matt Guelfi
36 Michael Hartley
37 Dylan Clarke
42 Adam Saad
43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
44 Shaun McKernan
45 Conor McKenna
49 Matt Dea
Dylan Shiel
38 Sam Draper
39 Trent Mynott
40 Luke Lavender (B)
41 Ben McNiece (B)
Head coach
John Worsfold
Assistant coaches
Hayden Skipworth (midfield)
Mark Harvey (defence)
James Kelly (development coach)
Mark Corrigan (performance coach)
Dan Jordan (VFL coach)
Paul Corrigan (forwards)
Rob Harding (opposition strategy and game intelligence)
Legend:
(c) Captain(s)
(vc) Vice captain(s)
(B) Category B rookie
Updated: 28 November 2017
Source(s): Playing list, Coaching staff
Match records[edit]
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[edit]
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.[77] 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
1983 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[a] 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
1996 AFL Reserves (VSFL) North Melbourne 7.10 (52) – 23.18 (156) MCG
1998 AFL Reserves (VSFL) Footscray 12.8 (80) – 20.16 (136) MCG
a Essendon refused to play the Grand Final in Geelong, so the premiership was awarded to Geelong.
Other ventures[edit]
Essendon also has a women's team that competes in the women's VFL. In December 2017, the team announced the recruitment of two daughters of Essendon AFL legends: Stephanie Hird (daughter of James) and Michaela Long (daughter of Michael).[78]
The same month, Essendon also entered E-Sports by acquiring Australian League of Legends team Abyss ESports.[79] This made them the second AFL team to acquire an E-Sports division after Adelaide acquired Legacy ESports in May.
See also[edit]
Melbourne portal
Australian rules football portal
Dreamtime at the 'G
Sport in Australia
Sport in Victoria
Notes[edit]
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 ^ "The Fall". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 March 2014.
Jump up ^ "Essendon Football Club - Club History". Archived from the original on 11 June 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
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. p. 76.
Jump up ^ "Annual Meetings of football clubs". The Australasian. XXIV (628). Melbourne. 13 April 1878. p. 461.
Jump up ^ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/142951681
Jump up ^ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/50672717
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. 3 August 1889. p. 3.
Jump up ^ "Football – Essendon v. Carlton". North Melbourne Advertiser. North Melbourne. 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. p. 4.
Jump up ^ Old Boy (8 July 1921). "Football – North Melbourne ground". The Argus. Melbourne. p. 4.
Jump up ^ J.W. (8 Jul 1921). "Football – notes and comments". The Australasian. CXI (2884). Melbourne. p. 69.
Jump up ^ "North Melbourne ground". The Argus. Melbourne. 12 August 1921. p. 6.
Jump up ^ J.W. (22 October 1921). "Football – notes & comments". The Australasian. CXI (2899). Melbourne.
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 ^ Bombing to Victory, The Argus, (Wednesday, 10 April 1940), p.17.
Jump up ^ "Sheedy still promoting Indigenous football talent". abc.net.au. 12 February 2007.
Jump up ^ "Club History - essendonfc.com.au". Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 14 April 2014.
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 ^ Gaskin, Lee (29 March 2018). "Match report: Strong Crows win soured by injury". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
Jump up ^ McGowan, Marc (23 March 2018). "Match report: Dons steal a stunner off Crows". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
Jump up ^ Phelan, Jennifer (12 May 2018). "Match report: Carlton breaks its drought". AFL.com.au. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
Jump up ^ Morris, Tom (14 May 2018). "Mark Neeld sacked from coaching role at Essendon". Fox Sports Australia. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b 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. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
Jump up ^ "Bombers shocked by AFL sanction". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 19 June 2006. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
Jump up ^ "Yellow armband to be incorporated into Essendon guernsey". Melbourne: Essendon Football Club. 31 May 2007. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
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 ^ 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.
Jump up ^ Hird back in the red and black, and another Long by Mark McGowan AFL.com
Jump up ^ Essendon enters Esports EssendonFC.com.au
References[edit]
The Illustrated History of the Essendon Football Club. Melbourne, Victoria: Geoff Slattery Publishing. 2007. ISBN 978-0-9758362-8-6.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Essendon Football Club.
Official website of the Essendon Football Club
"Around the Grounds" – Web Documentary – Windy Hill
show
v
t
e
Essendon Football Club
History
Premierships and records
Players
Captains
Coaches
Awards
W. S. Crichton Medal
Leading goalkickers
Nickname: Bombers
AFL coach: John Worsfold
AFL captain: Dyson Heppell
VFL/AFL home grounds
East Melbourne Cricket Ground (1897–1921)
Windy Hill (1922–1991)
Melbourne Cricket Ground (1992–)
Docklands Stadium (2000–)
VFL/AFL premierships (16)
1897
1901
1911
1912
1923
1924
1942
1946
1949
1950
1962
1965
1984
1985
1993
2000
Seasons (146)
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
1893
1894
1895
1896
1897
1898
1899
1900
1901
1902
1903
1904
1905
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
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
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
Related articles
Anzac Day match
Carlton–Essendon rivalry
Dreamtime at the 'G
Archer–Hird Medal
Line in the sand match
Round 16, 2001 comeback vs. North Melbourne
Supplements saga
Essendon did not participate in the 1916 and 1917 VFL seasons due to the World War I (indicated in grey)
show
v
t
e
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)
show
v
t
e
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
show
v
t
e
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:
Victoria
Big Bash League:
Melbourne Renegades
Melbourne Stars
WNCL:
Victoria
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
Supercars:
Charlie Schwerkolt Racing
Dragon Motor Racing
Eggleston Motorsport
Erebus Motorsport
Garry Rogers Motorsport
Kelly Racing
MW Motorsport
Tickford Racing
Walkinshaw Andretti United
23Red 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 Victory
W-League:
Melbourne City
Melbourne Victory
Water polo
ANWPL:
Victorian Seals
Main Article: Sport in Victoria
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Essendon_Football_Club&oldid=865341085"
Categories:
Sports clubs established in 1871
Australian Football League clubs
Essendon Football Club
Australian rules football clubs in Melbourne
Former Victorian Football League clubs
1871 establishments in Australia
Hidden categories:
CS1: Julian–Gregorian uncertainty
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
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
In other projects
Wikimedia Commons
Languages
Català
Deutsch
Español
Français
한국어
Italiano
Magyar
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Simple English
吴语
中文
4 more
Edit links
This page was last edited on 23 October 2018, at 09:45 (UTC).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

key: html

type: local

value: div

attrs: id class

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: a

attrs: id class lang

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

attrs: class href

values: mw-jump-link #mw-head

values: mw-jump-link #p-search

value: p

value: th

attrs: colspan style

values: text-align:center;font-size:125%;font-weight:bold;font-size: large; background: Black; color: #CC2031; border: solid #CC2031 2px

value: tr

value: img

attrs: alt src width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

attrs: href class

value: td

values: text-align:center;background: Black; color: #CC2031; border: solid #CC2031 2px

values:
/wiki/Fortiter_in_re_suaviter_in_modo
mw-redirect
Fortiter in re suaviter in modo

values: background-color:#CC2031; color:white; border:1px solid #000000; text-align:center;

values: background-color:Black; color:white; border:1px solid #000000; text-align:center;

values:
/wiki/Etihad_Stadium_(Melbourne)
mw-redirect
Etihad Stadium (Melbourne)

attrs: alt src width height style data-file-width data-file-height

values: position: absolute; left: 31px; top: 0px; width: 38px; height: 59px; background-color: #000000;

values: position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 59px; width: 100px; height: 36px; background-color: #000000

attrs: alt src width height style srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 95px; width: 100px; height: 40px; background-color: #FF0000

values: position: relative; left: 0px; top: 0px; width: 100px; height: 135px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0;

values: width: 100px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0;

values: position: absolute; left: 0px; top: 59px; width: 100px; height: 36px; background-color: #FFFFFF

values: position: absolute; left: 31px; top: 0px; width: 38px; height: 59px; background-color: #ff0000;

values: padding: 0; background: #ffffff; text-align: center;

values:
nofollow
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/
external text

values: 2016 Essendon Football Club season (page does not exist)

values: checkbox button toctogglecheckbox toctogglecheckbox display:none

values: Edit section: Formation and VFA years (1871–1896)

values: This claim needs references to reliable sources. (January 2010)

values:
noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact
white-space:nowrap;

values: Edit section: Founding of the VFL to World War I (1897–1915)

values:
/wiki/Victorian_Football_Association
mw-redirect
Victorian Football Association

values: Edit section: Return to suburban Essendon (1921–1932)

values:
/wiki/Royal_Melbourne_Showgrounds
mw-redirect
Royal Melbourne Showgrounds

values: This claim needs references to reliable sources. (April 2014)

values: Dame Nellie Melba's Limbless Soldiers' Appeal match

values: Edit section: Dick Reynolds years (1933–1960)

values:
/wiki/Haydn_Bunton,_Sr
mw-redirect
Haydn Bunton, Sr

values: Ian Stewart (Australian rules footballer)

values: Edit section: Post-Reynolds era and the "Slugging Seventies" (1961–1980)

values:
/wiki/Paul_Van_Der_Haar
mw-redirect
Paul Van Der Haar

values:
/wiki/South_Melbourne_Swans
mw-redirect
South Melbourne Swans

values: Edit section: Kevin Sheedy era (1981–2007)

attrs: alt src width height class data-file-width data-file-height

values:
/wiki/Paul_Van_der_Haar
mw-redirect
Paul Van der Haar

values: Darren Williams (Australian rules footballer)

values: This claim needs references to reliable sources. (December 2009)

values: A red banner featuring drawings of former Essendon player James Hird and former coach Kevin Sheedy

values: Edit section: On field and relocation to Melbourne Airport (2008–2012)

values: Edit section: ASADA/WADA investigation (2013–2016)

values: Essendon Football Club supplements controversy

values: Edit section: A new beginning (2017-onward)

values:
/wiki/The_Cancer_Council_Australia
mw-redirect
The Cancer Council Australia

values:
headerSort
0
columnheader button
Sort ascending

values:
/wiki/Anzac_Day_clash
mw-redirect
Anzac Day clash

values:
/wiki/2006_AFL_Season
mw-redirect
2006 AFL Season

values:
/wiki/Line_in_the_Sand_Match
mw-redirect
Line in the Sand Match

values:
/wiki/International_Sports_Clothing
mw-redirect
International Sports Clothing

values:
/wiki/Hutchison_Telecommunications
mw-redirect
Hutchison Telecommunications

values:
/wiki/Hutchison_3G
mw-redirect
Hutchison 3G

values:
/wiki/Orange_(brand)
mw-redirect
Orange (brand)

values:
/wiki/Essendon_Football_Club_honours
mw-redirect
Essendon Football Club honours

values: Jack Clarke (Australian footballer, born 1933)

values:
/wiki/Bill_Hutchison_(footballer)
mw-redirect
Bill Hutchison (footballer)

values: Edit section: Current players and officials

values: Template:Essendon Football Club current squad

values: Template talk:Essendon Football Club current squad

values: text-align:center; position:relative; white-space:nowrap; color:#CC2031; position:absolute; right:0; top:0; margin:0 5px;

values: background-color:black; border: solid #CC2031 2px; color:#CC2031; text-align: center;

values: background-color: black; border: solid #CC2031 2px; color:#CC2031; text-align: center;

values: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (page does not exist)

values: Australian Football League reserves affiliations

values:
/wiki/Footscray_Football_Club
mw-redirect
Footscray Football Club

values:
/wiki/Electronic_sports
mw-redirect
Electronic sports

values: display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle

values: margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em;border:solid #aaa 1px

values:
nofollow
external autonumber
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/partners

values:
nofollow
external text
http://footyjumpers.com/essendonall.htm

values:
nofollow
external text
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/champions

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values: ;background:#000000; color:#CC2031; border: solid #CC2031 2px;background:none transparent;border:none;-moz-box-shadow:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;box-shadow:none; padding:0;

values: List of Essendon Football Club leading goalkickers

values:
*_History
*_Premierships_and_records
*_Players
*_Captains
*_Coaches
*_Awards
*_W._S._Crichton_Medal
*_Leading_goalkickers

*_Nickname:_Bombers

*_AFL_coach:_John_Worsfold
*_AFL_captain:_Dyson_Heppell

values:
navbox-abovebelow
2
background:#000000; color:#CC2031

values:
/wiki/Carlton%E2%80%93Essendon_rivalry
mw-redirect
Carlton–Essendon rivalry

values:
/wiki/Archer%E2%80%93Hird_Medal
mw-redirect
Archer–Hird Medal

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible mw-collapsed

values: nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner mw-collapsible mw-made-collapsible mw-collapsed

values:
/wiki/Geelong_West_Football_Club
mw-redirect
Geelong West Football Club

values:
/wiki/South_Williamstown_Football_Club
mw-redirect
South Williamstown Football Club

values: Australian domestic limited-overs cricket tournament

values:
/wiki/Kelly_Racing
mw-redirect
Kelly Racing

values: Category:Sports clubs established in 1871

values: Category:Australian Football League clubs

values: Category:Australian rules football clubs in Melbourne

values: Category:Former Victorian Football League clubs

values: Category:1871 establishments in Australia

values: Category:Use Australian English from April 2013

values: Category:All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English

values: Category:All articles with unsourced statements

values: Category:Articles with unsourced statements from January 2010

values: Category:Articles with unsourced statements from April 2014

values: Category:Articles with unsourced statements from December 2009

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Essendon_Football_Club
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values: Past revisions of this page [ctrl-alt-h]

values: p-views navigation vectorTabs p-views-label

values:
p-cactions
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-cactions-label

values:
mw-wiki-logo
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page

values:
/wiki/Main_Page
Visit the main page [ctrl-alt-z]
z

values: Featured content – the best of Wikipedia

values: Find background information on current events

values:
/wiki/Special:Random
Load a random article [ctrl-alt-x]
x

values: portal navigation p-navigation p-navigation-label

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-ca
display: none;

values: 에센던 풋볼 클럽 – Korean

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-hu
display: none;

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-simple
display: none;

values: 轰炸机澳洲式足球队 – Wu Chinese

values:
interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu
display: none;

values: 阿辛頓澳式足球會 – Chinese

values: All languages (initial selection from common choices by you and others)

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Essendon_Football_Club rootpage-Essendon_Football_Club skin-vector action-view


text:
Welcome to Country
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Wiradjuri Elder, Aunty Isobel Reid, giving the Welcome to Country.
A welcome to country is a ritual performed at many events held in Australia, intended to highlight the cultural significance of the surrounding area to a particular Aboriginal clan or language group. The welcome must be performed by a recognised elder of the group. Welcomes to country are sometimes accompanied by traditional smoking ceremonies, music or dance.
Some jurisdictions, such as New South Wales, make a welcome (or, failing that, acknowledgement) mandatory at all government-run events, although such rules have proved controversial.[1][2] Where an elder is not available to perform the welcome, a simpler acknowledgement of country may be offered instead.
Fees for delivering a welcome to country vary. In Sydney, the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council charges between $400 and $600 for the service.[3] Activist Matilda Williams House was paid $10,500 to perform a welcome at the opening of the 44th Parliament in 2013.[4]
Contents
1 History
2 In Aboriginal culture
3 Acknowledgement of Country
4 References
History[edit]
The first recorded welcome to country occurred in 1976, when entertainers Ernie Dingo and Richard Walley developed a ceremony to welcome a group of Māori artists who were participating in the Perth International Arts Festival. The welcome, extended on behalf of the Noongar people, was intended to mirror the visitors' own traditions, while incorporating elements of Aboriginal culture.[5]
Walley recalled:[6]
I asked the good spirits of my ancestors and the good spirits of the ancestors of the land to watch over us and keep our guests safe while they’re in our Country. And then I talked to the spirits of their ancestors, saying that we’re looking after them here and we will send them back to their Country.
Arts administrator Rhoda Roberts says that the Aboriginal National Theatre Trust was instrumental in developing the welcome to country during the 1980s.[7]
Since 2008, a welcome to country has been incorporated into the ceremonial opening of the Parliament of Australia, an event which occurs after each federal election. The welcome includes a speech as well as traditional music and dance. Given that Parliament sits in Canberra, traditionally part of Ngambri country, a Ngambri elder officiates.[8]
Although welcomes to country have become commonplace across the country, they have attracted criticism from politicians, historians and commentators including Bess Price, Tony Abbott, Keith Windschuttle and Andrew Bolt. Critics consider such ceremonies to be a form of tokenism, and note that they do not reflect any element of traditional Aboriginal culture. Price, a Warlpiri woman and former parliamentarian, characterises welcomes as "not particularly meaningful to traditional people." Windschuttle calls them "an invented tradition" and Roberts considers them "part and parcel of being PC."[9][10][7]
In Aboriginal culture[edit]
Prior to European settlement, each clan's survival was dependent upon its understanding of food, water and other resources within its own 'Country' – a discrete area of land to which it had more or less exclusive claim. For this reason, traditional Aboriginal culture was highly territorial: visitors risked violent reprisal for crossing a tribal or clan boundary without permission.[11] Although there is no record of a welcome to country ceremony having existed in any traditional Aboriginal society, each group had mandatory protocols for seeking and granting permission to enter land.[4]
Acknowledgement of Country[edit]
If a local elder is not available, the host of an event can offer an acknowledgement of country in place of a welcome (though the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably). The following form of words, published by the Victorian Government, is typical:[12]
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land [or country] on which we are meeting. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present, and the Elders from other communities who may be here today.
Similar acknowledgements have become common at public events in Canada and have begun to be adopted by Native American groups in the United States.[13][14][15]
References[edit]
Jump up ^ "C2004-39 Recognising Aboriginal Cultural Protocols and Practices". NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. 1 November 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ Doman, Mark (29 June 2011). "Victoria dumps nod to traditional owners". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ "Welcome to Country". Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b Thomas, Tony (22 April 2016). "Brand new timeless traditions". Quadrant. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ Westwood, Matthew (15 February 2016). "Perth International Arts Festival gives welcome to west country". The Australian. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ Penberthy, Natsumi (3 March 2016). "40 years of the 'modern' Welcome to Country". Australian Geographic. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
^ Jump up to: a b Taylor, Andrew (15 October 2012). "Welcome to country ceremony 'lacks heart'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
Jump up ^ "A historic first: traditional Indigenous welcome begins Parliament". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 February 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ Maiden, Samantha (15 March 2010). "Tony Abbott reopens culture wars over nods to Aborigines". The Australian. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
Jump up ^ Windschuttle, Keith (1 December 2012), "Welcomes to country are being foisted on us in error", The Australian, retrieved 26 October 2018 .
Jump up ^ Flood, Josephine (2006). The original Australians: story of the Aboriginal people. Allen and Unwin. p. 194.
Jump up ^ "Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners". Victorian Government. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
Jump up ^ Shazad, Ramna (15 July 2017). "What is the significance of acknowledging the Indigenous land we stand on?". CBC News. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
Jump up ^ Marche, Stephen (September 7, 2017). "Canada's Impossible Acknowledgement". The New Yorker. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
Jump up ^ Evans, Hannah Graf (October 15, 2015). "We Begin with Acknowledgement". Friends Committee on National Legislation. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Welcome_to_Country&oldid=865893012"
Categories:
Indigenous Australian politics
Indigenous Australian culture
Ceremonies in Australia
Hidden categories:
Use dmy dates from August 2012
Use Australian English from August 2012
All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
Languages
Add links
This page was last edited on 26 October 2018, at 21:25 (UTC).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

values: mw-jump-link #mw-head

values: mw-jump-link #p-search

attrs: alt src width height class srcset data-file-width data-file-height

attrs: href class title

attrs: href title

attrs: class style

value: b

values: 44th Parliament of Australia (page does not exist)

values: checkbox button toctogglecheckbox toctogglecheckbox display:none

values:
/wiki/Perth_International_Arts_Festival
mw-redirect
Perth International Arts Festival

values: Aboriginal National Theatre Trust (page does not exist)

values: Edit section: Acknowledgement of Country

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values: Category:Use Australian English from August 2012

values: Category:All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Welcome_to_Country
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values: Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia

values: About the project, what you can do, where to find things

values: A list of recent changes in the wiki [ctrl-alt-r]

values: portal navigation p-interaction p-interaction-label

values: List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [ctrl-alt-j]

values: Recent changes in pages linked from this page [ctrl-alt-k]

values:
/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard
Upload files [ctrl-alt-u]
u

values: A list of all special pages [ctrl-alt-q]

values: Permanent link to this revision of the page

values: Link to connected data repository item [ctrl-alt-g]

values: Printable version of this page [ctrl-alt-p]

values: /static/images/wikimedia-button-1.5x.png 1.5x, /static/images/wikimedia-button-2x.png 2x

values: /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_132x47.png 1.5x, /static/images/poweredby_mediawiki_176x62.png 2x

values:
suggestions
display: none; font-size: 13px;

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Welcome_to_Country rootpage-Welcome_to_Country skin-vector action-view