Essendon Football Club facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Essendon Football Club |
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| Names | ||||
| Full name | Essendon Football Club | |||
| Nickname(s) |
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| Motto | Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re "Gently in manner, resolutely in execution" |
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| 2023 season | ||||
| Home-and-away season | 11th | |||
| Leading goalkicker | Kyle Langford (51 goals) | |||
| Club details | ||||
| Founded | 1872 | |||
| Colours | Red Black | |||
| Competition | AFL: Senior men AFLW: Senior women VFL: Reserves men VFLW: Reserves women VWFL: Wheelchair |
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| President | David Barham | |||
| CEO | Craig Vozzo | |||
| Coach | AFL: Brad Scott AFLW: Natalie Wood VFL: Blake Caracella VFLW: Cherie O'Neill |
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| Captain(s) | AFL: Zach Merrett AFLW: Stephanie Cain/Bonnie Toogood VFL: Xavier O'Neill VFLW: El Chaston VWFL: Louis Rowe |
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| Premierships | VFL/AFL (16)
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| Ground(s) | AFL: Docklands Stadium (56,347) & Melbourne Cricket Ground (100,024) AFLW: Windy Hill (10,000) VFL/VFLW: Windy Hill (10,000), The Hangar (3,500) VWFL: Boroondara Sports Complex |
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| Former ground(s) | East Melbourne Cricket Ground (1897–1921) | |||
| Windy Hill (1922–91) | ||||
| Training ground(s) | The Hangar (2013–) | |||
| Uniforms | ||||
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| Other information | ||||
| Official website | essendonfc.com.au | |||
The Essendon Football Club, also known as the Bombers or Dons, is a professional Australian rules football team. They play in the Australian Football League (AFL), which is the top competition for the sport. The club was started by the McCracken family in their home in Ascot Vale around 1872. They named the club after the local area, Essendon.
Essendon played their first recorded game on June 7, 1873. From 1878 to 1896, they were part of the Victorian Football Association (VFA). In 1896, Essendon and seven other clubs left the VFA to form the Victorian Football League (VFL). This league is now called the Australian Football League (AFL).
The club's main home ground was Windy Hill from 1922 to 2013. In late 2013, they moved their training and administration to The Hangar in Tullamarine. Today, Essendon plays its home games at both Docklands Stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Zach Merrett is the current captain of the team.
Essendon is one of Australia's most famous and successful football clubs. They have won 16 VFL/AFL premierships, which is tied with Carlton and Collingwood for the most wins in the competition. They also won four VFA premierships in a row from 1891 to 1894. Essendon is the only club to win a premiership in their very first VFL season (1897). However, they haven't won a premiership since 2000 or a final since 2004.
Three Essendon players—John Coleman, Bill Hutchison, and Dick Reynolds—are considered "Legends" in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Their coach, Kevin Sheedy, is also a Legend.
Essendon also has reserve teams for men and women in the Victoria Football League and VFL Women's. Since 2022, they have a senior women's team in the national AFL Women's competition.
Contents
Club History
Early Years and VFA Success (1871–1896)
The Essendon Football Club was founded in 1872 by members of the Royal Agricultural Society and other groups. It's believed the club started at the home of the McCracken family in Ascot Vale. Robert McCracken was the first president, and his son, Alex McCracken, was the first secretary. Alex later became president of the VFL.
Essendon played its first recorded game on June 7, 1873, winning against the Carlton Second Twenty team. In their first season, Essendon won seven out of 13 matches. They joined the Victorian Football Association (VFA) as a junior club in 1877 and became a senior club in 1878.
In their early VFA years, Essendon played home games at Flemington Hill. They moved to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1881. In 1879, Essendon played one of the first night matches ever recorded, using a white ball.
Essendon won their first VFA premiership in 1891. They continued this success, winning four premierships in a row from 1891 to 1894. This was a record in the VFA. A great player named Albert Thurgood joined the club during this time. In 1893, Essendon had an amazing season, winning 18 games and drawing two, without any losses.
Joining the VFL and Early Premierships (1897–1915)
At the end of the 1896 season, Essendon and seven other clubs formed the new Victorian Football League (VFL). Essendon's first VFL game was in 1897 against Geelong. Essendon won the very first VFL premiership by winning a round-robin finals series in 1897.
They won another premiership in 1901, beating Collingwood in the Grand Final. Essendon then won back-to-back premierships in 1911 and 1912, defeating Collingwood and South Melbourne.
The club was often called "the Same Old Essendon" because of a song their supporters sang. This nickname was shortened to "Same Olds."
In 1882, the club moved its home games to the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. This was because the Lord Mayor of Essendon thought the local Essendon Cricket Ground was only for cricket. This move made some local fans unhappy. A new team, Essendon Association, was formed in 1900, but it was not connected to the original Essendon Football Club.
Moving Back Home (1921–1932)
After the 1921 season, the East Melbourne Cricket Ground closed down. Essendon needed a new home. The Essendon City Council offered the team the Essendon Cricket Ground, promising to improve it.
Essendon wanted to move to North Melbourne, but the VFA stopped this move. So, the club returned to Essendon. The Essendon VFA club then broke up, and many of its players went to North Melbourne.
The old "Same Olds" nickname was no longer used. By 1922, the team became known as "the Dons." Later, during World War II, they became known as "The Bombers" because their ground, Windy Hill, was close to the Essendon Aerodrome.
In 1923, Essendon finished first on the ladder. They went on to win the Grand Final against Fitzroy. This team was called the "Mosquito Fleet" because they had many small, fast players.
In 1924, Essendon won another premiership. This was unique because there was no Grand Final that year. The top four teams played a round-robin, and Essendon won based on their overall performance. This means Essendon holds the unique record of winning two premierships without a Grand Final.
After these wins, the club faced a difficult period. Results on the field were poor, and support decreased. It took 14 years, until 1940, for Essendon to play in the finals again.
The Dick Reynolds Era (1933–1960)
The 1933 season marked a new beginning with the debut of Dick Reynolds, one of the game's all-time greatest players. He won his first Brownlow Medal at just 19 years old. Reynolds won the Brownlow Medal three times (1934, 1937, 1938), a record shared with only a few other players.
Reynolds also became a great coach. He started coaching in 1939 while still playing. He was known for his smart tactics and inspiring leadership. In 1940, he led the team to the finals for the first time in many years.
The Essendon Football Club officially adopted the nickname The Bombers in April 1940.
In 1941, Essendon reached the Grand Final but lost. A year later, during World War II, Essendon won the 1942 Premiership, beating Richmond. The team continued its success after the war. In the five years after World War II, Essendon won three premierships (1946, 1949, 1950) and were runners-up twice (1947, 1948).
In 1946, Essendon was the strongest team in the VFL. They set a Grand Final record score of 22.18 (150) against Melbourne.
In 1949, John Coleman joined the team. He is considered one of Essendon's greatest players. In his first game, he kicked 12 goals. He kicked 100 goals in his first season, a rare achievement. Coleman helped Essendon win the 1949 Grand Final by a large margin against Carlton.
A year later, in 1950, Essendon won back-to-back premierships for the third time, beating North Melbourne. Coach Dick Reynolds was a star player in this Grand Final, which was his last game as a player.
In 1951, Essendon aimed for a third straight flag, but John Coleman was suspended before the finals, which hurt their chances. They still reached the Grand Final but lost to Geelong.
Coleman's career ended in 1954 when he dislocated his knee at just 25 years old. He had kicked 537 goals in only 98 games. His impact on the game was huge, even in such a short time.
Without Coleman, Essendon struggled in the 1950s. They reached the Grand Final in 1957 and 1959 but lost both times to Melbourne.
New Coaches and Challenges (1961–1980)
John Coleman became Essendon's coach in 1961, taking over from Dick Reynolds. In 1962, his second year as coach, Essendon had a fantastic season, losing only two matches and finishing first. They easily won the 1962 Premiership against Carlton.
Another premiership followed in 1965, which was a surprise given their inconsistent form that season. Coleman had to step down as coach in 1967 due to health problems. He sadly passed away at 44 years old in 1973.
After Coleman, the club faced tough times. They rarely made the finals and sometimes finished near the bottom of the ladder. They did reach the 1968 VFL Grand Final but lost by just three points to Carlton. It would be 15 years before they played in another Grand Final.
During the 1970s, Essendon had several coaches, but none lasted long. The club also faced challenges off the field, including player disagreements about payments in 1970. Essendon had tough players like Ron Andrews and experienced players such as Barry Davis and Ken Fletcher.
Towards the end of the 1970s, talented young players like Simon Madden, Tim Watson, and Paul Van Der Haar joined the club. Terry Daniher and his brother Neale also joined, forming the core of a strong Essendon team for the 1980s. This young team reached an elimination final in 1979 but lost.
A highlight during this period was Graham Moss winning the Brownlow Medal in 1976. However, he later left to play in Western Australia.
The Kevin Sheedy Era (1981–2007)
Former Richmond player Kevin Sheedy became Essendon's head coach in 1981.
In 1983, Essendon reached the Grand Final for the first time since 1968, but they lost to Hawthorn by a large margin. However, in 1984, Essendon finished first and beat Hawthorn in the 1984 VFL Grand Final to win their 13th premiership. They beat Hawthorn again in the 1985 Grand Final, winning back-to-back flags.
After the 1991 season, Essendon moved its home games from Windy Hill to the larger MCG. This helped the club gain more fans and money. Their training and administration stayed at Windy Hill until 2013.
New young players like Gavin Wanganeen, Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long, Dustin Fletcher, and James Hird joined the team. This group became known as the "Baby Bombers."
The "Baby Bombers" won the 1993 Grand Final against Carlton. That same year, Gavin Wanganeen won the Brownlow Medal. Three years later, James Hird also won the medal.
In 2000, the club moved most of its home games to the new Docklands Stadium. The 2000 season was one of the most successful in VFL/AFL history. Essendon won 20 games in a row before losing one match. They then won their 16th premiership, defeating Melbourne, making it the most dominant single season ever.
After 2001, Essendon faced financial challenges, which led to some key players leaving. The club remained competitive, reaching the second week of finals in 2002, 2003, and 2004.
In 2005, Essendon missed the finals for the first time since 1997. In 2006, they had their worst season since 1933, winning only three games. Coach Kevin Sheedy's contract was not renewed after 2007, ending his 27-year time as coach.
Challenges and New Beginnings (2008–Present)
Matthew Knights replaced Sheedy as coach and led the club for three seasons, reaching the finals once in 2009. In 2010, Knights was replaced by former captain James Hird.
In 2013, the club moved its training and administration to The Hangar in Melbourne Airport. They still use Windy Hill for their reserve team's home games and for a social club.
From 2013 to 2016, the club faced a major investigation by the AFL and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) about their player supplements program in 2012. The club was fined, lost draft picks, and was removed from the 2013 finals. Coach Hird was suspended for twelve months.
In 2014, assistant coach Mark Thompson coached the team during Hird's suspension, leading them to the finals. In 2015, Hird returned, but the team struggled. He resigned in August 2015. John Worsfold became the new senior coach.
In January 2016, a court ruled that 34 past and present Essendon players had taken a banned substance. As a result, all 34 players were suspended for two years. Essendon played the 2016 season with many of its regular players suspended. They were allowed to sign extra players to fill the gaps. Despite predictions they wouldn't win a game, they won three matches. The club finished last on the ladder, receiving the "wooden spoon" for the first time since 1933.
After the investigation, Essendon improved. In 2017, they finished 7th and made the finals, but lost to Sydney. Key players like Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton retired.
In 2018, Essendon recruited new players like Jake Stringer and Devon Smith. After a slow start, their form improved, winning ten of their last 13 games, but they missed the finals.
In 2019, Essendon acquired Dylan Shiel and made the finals again, but lost to the West Coast Eagles. This extended their finals-winning drought to 15 years.
Ben Rutten became the new senior coach after the 2020 season. 2020 was a tough year, with the team finishing 13th. Several players left the club.
In 2021, Essendon improved and returned to the finals, but lost to the Western Bulldogs. The 2022 season marked the club's 150th anniversary, but they finished 15th. Coach Ben Rutten was replaced by Brad Scott.
In 2023, there were rumors about changing the club's bomber logo, but these were denied by captain Zach Merrett. At the end of the 2023 season, Essendon finished 11th.
In August 2024, club champion Dyson Heppell announced his retirement after 253 games. He was the last player from the "Essendon 34" group (those involved in the supplements saga) still playing at the club.
Club Symbols
Team Jumper (Guernsey)
Essendon's first recorded jumpers were navy blue, with a red sash added in 1877. This red sash helped Essendon players stand out from other teams that also wore blue. The "men in the sash" became a common way to refer to them.
Away Jumpers
Since 2007, the AFL requires all clubs to have an alternative jumper for games where their main jumper might clash with the opponent's. Essendon's first clash jumper (2007-2011) was mostly red with a wider sash.
From 2012 to 2016, their clash jumper was mostly grey with a red sash. It even had the names of all Essendon premiership players printed on it. Before the 2016 season, Essendon changed their clash jumper to a mostly red one with a black-outlined red sash. This one also featured the names of premiership players.
Yellow Armbands
In 2006, Essendon started a "Clash for Cancer" match with the Cancer Council of Victoria to raise money. Players wanted to wear yellow armbands, but the AFL said no at first. The club was fined for wearing them anyway. In 2007, the AFL allowed yellow armbands to be part of the jumper's sleeve. This "Clash for Cancer" match is now an annual event.
Club Song
The club's theme song, "See the Bombers Fly Up," was written around 1959. It's based on the tune of "(Keep Your) Sunny Side Up" from 1929. The song is played before every match and after every win.
The lyrics are:
- 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!
Logo and Mascot
The club's current logo was introduced in 1998. Their mascot is named "Skeeta Reynolds," after the famous player Dick Reynolds. Skeeta is a mosquito, honoring the "Mosquito Fleet" team from the 1920s. He is a red mosquito wearing an Essendon jumper and a red and black scarf.
Headquarters and Training
The Essendon Football Club's main training and administration base has been at The Hangar since 2013. Before that, it was at Windy Hill Oval from 1922 to 2013. Even earlier, their home ground was the East Melbourne Cricket Ground from 1882 to 1921.
Membership
The Essendon Football Club has a large and dedicated fan base. The number of members has grown significantly over the years.
| Year | Total Members |
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| 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 |
| 2019 | 84,237 |
| 2020 | 66,686 |
| 2021 | 81,662 |
| 2022 | 86,001 |
| 2022 | 86,274 |
Club Rivalries
Essendon has strong rivalries with Carlton, Richmond, and Collingwood. These are some of the biggest and most supported clubs in Victoria. Games between these teams are often very exciting. Essendon also has a fierce rivalry with Hawthorn, which started with intense matches in the 1980s.
- Carlton – The rivalry between Essendon and Carlton is one of the strongest. Both teams have won 16 premierships, and they always want to beat each other. Many of their games, including Grand Finals, have been very close.
- Collingwood – This rivalry began with several Grand Final matches in the early VFL days. Since 1995, the clubs play annually in the Anzac Day clash, which is one of the biggest games of the season. No matter how the teams are doing, this game always draws a huge crowd.
- Richmond – This rivalry started with the 1942 Grand Final, which Essendon won. A famous half-time brawl happened between the teams in 1974. Today, they play in the "Dreamtime at the 'G" match, which has made the rivalry even stronger.
- Hawthorn – Essendon and Hawthorn had many tough games in the 1980s when they were top teams. A famous incident in 2004, known as the "Line in the Sand Match," involved a large on-field fight. When these teams play, fans often wave their jackets in the air, a tradition started by Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy in 1993.
- North Melbourne – This rivalry goes back to 1896 when Essendon joined the VFL, and North Melbourne was not allowed in at first. Some North Melbourne fans still blame Essendon for this. The teams met in the 1950 Grand Final, which Essendon won. The rivalry became strong again in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2001, Essendon made the biggest comeback in VFL/AFL history against North Melbourne, winning after being 69 points behind.
Club Achievements
See Essendon Football Club honours.
Premierships and Other Titles
Essendon has a rich history of winning many competitions.
| Premierships | |||
| Competition | Level | Wins | Years Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Football League | Seniors | 16 | 1897, 1901, 1911, 1912, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1949, 1950, 1962, 1965, 1984, 1985, 1993, 2000 |
| Reserves (1923–1999) | 6 | 1941, 1950, 1952, 1968, 1983, 1992, 1999 | |
| Under 19s (1946–1991) | 5 | 1950, 1952, 1959, 1961, 1966 | |
| VFL Women's | Reserves | 1 | 2022 |
| Victorian Football Association | Seniors (1877–1896) | 4 | 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894 |
| Other titles and honours | |||
| AFL pre-season competition | Seniors | 4 | 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000 |
| McClelland Trophy | Seniors | 9 | 1951, 1953, 1957, 1968, 1989, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Championship of Australia | Seniors | 1 | 1893 |
| AFC Night Series | Seniors | 2 | 1981, 1984 |
| Lightning Premiership | Seniors | 3 | 1896, 1943, 1996 |
| Finishing positions | |||
| Australian Football League | Minor premiership | 17 | 1898, 1911, 1923, 1924, 1942, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1962, 1968, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1993, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Grand Finalist | 14 | 1898, 1902, 1908, 1941, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1951, 1957, 1959, 1968, 1983, 1990, 2001 | |
| Wooden spoons | 5 | 1907, 1918, 1921, 1933, 2016 | |
| VFL Women's | Minor premiership | 1 | 2022 |
| Wooden spoons | 1 | 2018 | |
Team of the Century
In 1997, Essendon chose its "Team of the Century" to celebrate 125 years of the club and 100 years of the VFL/AFL. This team features the best players from different eras.
| B: | Gavin Wanganeen
1991–96, 127 games, 64 goals |
Fred Baring
1910–15/1918–24, 154 games, 92 goals |
Tom Fitzmaurice
1918–20/1922–24, 85 games, 30 goals |
| HB: | Barry Davis
1961–72, 218 games, 65 goals |
Wally Buttsworth
1939–49, 188 games, 2 goals |
Harold Lambert
1940–41/1946–51, 99 games, 2 goals |
| C: | Reg Burgess
1954–60, 124 games, 9 goals |
Jack Clarke
1951–67, 263 games, 180 goals |
Michael Long
1989–2001, 190 games, 143 goals |
| HF: | James Hird
1992–2007, 253 games, 343 goals |
Ken Fraser
1958–68, 198 games, 157 goals |
Terry Daniher
1978–92, 294 games, 447 goals |
| F: | Bill Hutchison
1942–57, 290 games, 496 goals |
John Coleman
1949–54, 98 games, 537 goals |
Albert Thurgood
1899–1902/1906, 46 games, 89 goals |
| Foll: | Simon Madden
1974–92, 378 games, 575 goals |
Tim Watson
1977–91/1993–94, 307 games, 335 goals |
Dick Reynolds (c)
1933–51, 320 games, 442 goals |
| Int: | Mark Thompson
1983–96, 202 games, 50 goals |
Keith Forbes
1928–37, 152 games, 415 goals |
Frank Maher
1921–28, 137 games, 124 goals |
| William Griffith
1899–1913, 187 games, 13 goals |
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| Coach: | Kevin Sheedy
1981–2007; Coached 634, Won 386, Lost 242, Drew 6 |
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Champions of Essendon
In 2002, a club panel selected and ranked the 25 greatest players in Essendon's history.
- 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
Hall of Fame
The Essendon Hall of Fame honors players and coaches who have made a huge impact on the club. Some are even called "Legends."
- Essendon Hall of Fame Legends: Bill Brew (2013), Bill Busbridge (1996), Jack Clarke (1996), John Coleman (1996), Bill Cookson (1996), Wally Crichton (2010), Terry Daniher (1996), Barry Davis (2006), Ron Evans (2012), Tom Fitzmaurice (1996), Ken Fraser (1996), Allan Hird Sr (1996), James Hird (2011), Harry Hunter (2015), Bill Hutchison (1996), Matthew Lloyd (2013), Simon Madden (1996), Alex McCracken (1996), Michael Long (2010), Howard Okey (2012), Frank Reid (1996), Dick Reynolds (1996), Greg Sewell (2009), Kevin Sheedy (2008), Albert Thurgood (1996), Tim Watson (1998), Neale Daniher* (2018), Dustin Fletcher*, Dr Bruce Reid* (2014), Gavin Wanganeen*
*denotes recent elevation to Legend status
- Essendon Hall of Fame members: Noel Allanson (2015), Fred Baring (2013), John Birt (2010), Reg Burgess (2015), Wally Buttsworth (2010), Barry Capuano (2014), Kevin Egan (2015), Alec Epis (2014), Ken Fletcher (2011), Keith Forbes (2010), Garry Foulds (2010), Darryl Gerlach (2013), Mark Harvey (2014), Bruce Heymanson (2013), Jack Jones (2012), Ron Kirwan (2016), Harold Lambert (2018), Scott Lucas (2013), Roy McConnell (2013), Don McKenzie (2010), Roger Merrett (2018), Joe Misiti (2012), Hugh Mitchell (2012), Graham Moss (2012), Gary O'Donnell (2014), Dr Ian Reynolds (2018), Paul Salmon (2012), David Shaw (2011), Arthur Showers (2010), George Stuckey (2010), Hugh Torney (2011), Paul Vander Haar (2015)
Current Squad
| Senior list | Rookie list | Coaching staff | |||||||
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 9 June 2025 |
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Match Records
- Highest score: 32.16 (208) v Footscray 9.8 (62) – Round 22, 1982, at Western Oval
- Lowest score: 0.9 (9) v Fitzroy 6.11 (47) – Round 1, 1899, at Brunswick Street Oval
- Lowest score since 1919: 1.12 (18) v St Kilda 5.5 (35) – Round 10, 1923, at Junction Oval
- Highest losing score: Essendon 21.13 (139) v Collingwood 23.6 (144), Round 22, 1987, M.C.G.
- Lowest winning score: Essendon 1.8 (14) v Melbourne 0.8 (8), Finals Week 3, 1897, Lake Oval (League record)
- Lowest winning score since 1919: Essendon 3.10 (28) v Footscray 3.5 (23), Round 13, 1989, Windy Hill
- Greatest winning margin: 165 points – Essendon 28.16 (184) v South Melbourne 2.7 (19), Round 18, 1964, Windy Hill
- Greatest losing margin: 163 points – Essendon 11.7 (73) v Sydney Swans 36.20 (236), Round 17, 1987, S.C.G.
- Record attendance (home-and-away game): 94,825 – 25 April 1995 at MCG v Collingwood (inaugural Anzac Day match)
- Record attendance (finals match): 116,828 – 1968 VFL Grand Final v Carlton
Reserves Team
| Essendon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Names | ||
| Full name | Essendon Football Club | |
| Former name(s) | Essendon Juniors (1919−1922) | |
| Nickname(s) | Bombers, Dons, Same Olds | |
| 2023 season | ||
| Home-and-away season | 17th | |
| Club details | ||
| Founded | 1919, re-established 2013 | |
| Competition | Victorian Football League | |
| Coach | Leigh Tudor | |
| Captain(s) | Daniel Younan | |
| Premierships | VFL/AFL reserves (7)
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| Ground(s) | Windy Hill (10,000) | |
| Training ground(s) | The Hangar (2013–) | |
| Uniforms | ||
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The Essendon reserves team plays in the Victorian Football League (VFL). This team helps develop players for the senior AFL team.
History of the Reserves Team
The team first played in the Victorian Junior Football League in 1919, known as Essendon Juniors. They won eight premierships, including in the last year of the reserves competition in 1999.
From 2003 to 2012, Essendon's reserves players played with the Bendigo Football Club in the VFL. In 2013, Essendon started its own reserves team again to better develop its players. This team plays home games at Windy Hill.
Reserves Premierships (7)
| Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1941 | VFL seconds | Fitzroy | 12.16 (88) – 9.17 (71) | MCG |
| 1950 | VFL seconds | North Melbourne | 12.8 (80) – 8.7 (55) | MCG |
| 1952 | VFL seconds | 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 | AFL reserves | Melbourne | 18.19 (127) – 14.10 (94) | MCG |
| 1999 | AFL reserves | St Kilda | 20.13 (133) – 11.10 (76) | MCG |
Women's Teams
AFL Women's Team
Essendon started a team in the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition in its seventh season (2022). In March 2022, Georgia Nanscawen became the club's first AFLW player. A week later, Natalie Wood was announced as the first AFLW coach.
AFL Women's Squad
| Senior list | Coaching staff | ||||||||
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Head coach
Assistant coaches
Updated: 9 June 2025 |
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VFL Women's Team
Essendon has had a team in the VFL Women's (VFLW) competition since 2018. This league is the highest level for female footballers in Victoria, below the national AFLW.
VFL Women's Season Summaries
| Essendon VFLW Honour Roll | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Final position | Coach | Captain | Best and fairest | Leading goalkicker | |||
| 2018 | 13th | Brendan Major | Lisa Williams | Hayley Bullas | Alexandra Quigley (7) | |||
| 2019 | 9th | Brendan Major | Courtney Ugle | Georgia Nanscawen | Alexandra Quigley (10) | |||
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
| 2021 | 3rd | Brendan Major | Georgia Nanscawen | Eloise Ashley-Cooper | Mia-Rae Clifford (16) | |||
| 2022 | Premiers | Brendan Major | Georgia Nanscawen/Mia-Rae Clifford | Georgia Nanscawen | Federica Frew (35) | |||
| 2023 | 5th | Travis Cloke | Mia-Rae Clifford/Courtney Ugle | Sophie Molan | Mia-Rae Clifford (11) | |||
| 2024 | 5th | Cherie O'Neill | El Chaston | El Chaston | Olivia Manfre (9) | |||
Club Activism
Support for Aboriginal People
Essendon has a long history of supporting Aboriginal talent in football, starting with Norm McDonald in 1947. In the 1990s, players like Michael Long and Gavin Wanganeen became very important to the club.
The "Dreamtime at the 'G" match and "The Long Walk" are two yearly events that promote and support Aboriginal culture. "The Long Walk" specifically raises money for Indigenous education programs across Australia.
Support for Equality
Essendon also supports important social causes. During the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey, the club supported the "Yes" vote for same-sex marriage.
Images for kids
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John Coleman kicked 537 goals in 98 matches.
