The Essendon Football Club are a professional Aussie Rules club, currently competing in the AFL and a reserves team in the VFL. They are headquartered at the The Hangar located near the Melbourne Airport. Since the 2000 season, the club's home games are played at Marvel Stadium or the MCG.
Essendon are one of the AFL's founding Victorian clubs and were apart of the VFL from 1878, a year after the competitions formation. In the AFL era the club dominated in the year 2000, recording an unbeaten season. In 2001 the club recorded a minor premiership, but fell short of a premiership. Since their last finals win in 2004, The Bombers have struggled and currently hold the longest drought for a finals win out of any team in the AFL. In 2013, The WADA found of an illegal player supplements and sports science program which had been used during the 2012 season. The club was fined $2 million, stripped of their early draft picks and forced to surrender their place in the 2013 finals series. In 2016 a further punishment was handed down and 34 of Essendon's 2016 playing squad also apart of the 2012 squad were suspended for the season, resulting in the clubs maiden wooden spoon. Since then Essendon have made elimination final appearances in 2018 and 2019.
Rivalries[]
Considered one of the strongest and longest rivalries in the AFL. Carlton and Essendon both share the most VFL/AFL premiership (16). Carlton also defeated Essendon in a preliminary final in 1999, a year when Essendon was favourites to take out the premiership. As well as a combined 6 AFL/VFL grand finals competed between the two.
The rivalry can be linked back to a series of 3 grand finals in 1901, 1902 and 1911. Collingwood than denied Essendon the chance to level with Carlton on 15 premierships in 1990. Since than Collingwood and Essendon have becoming a staple game in the home and away season, and have become the annual ANZAC day match.
Essendon and Richmond met in the rivalry round din 2005 and 2009, whilst also being in the Dreamtime at the 'G indigenous game since 2005. They have also played out many close games especially in 1974 when a half-time brawl broke out between players and officials. Each teams dedication to a "never say die" attitude has also contributed to the intense game.
Hawthorn and Essendon had many physical encounters in the 1980's. Brawls erupted between the two in games in 1988 and 2004. Battles with Hawthorn were referred to as "hard and uncompromising affairs". In the 2009 season a round 22 affair between the two would decide who would make finals, Essendon came from 22 points down to win. Essendons captain Matthew Lloyd knocked out Brad Sewell which led to another brawl.
The rivalry between Essendon and North Melbourne mostly goes back to when Essendon had North Melbourne excluded from the VFL as they took supporters from the same area. North fans blame Essendon for their low fan base and their late emission into the competition.
External Links[]
Club Website: https://www.essendonfc.com.au/