In a game of constant change, history and tradition play an important role in preserving a club’s fabric.
Essendon’s history is rich – 16 premierships fill fans with pride.
But the fabric of the Bombers stretches far deeper than the Grand Final dais.
It’s the people that make this Club great.
Patrick O’Dowd never ran on to the field to play for his beloved Bombers, but he is just as important to the Club’s fabric as any premiership hero.
He was born in 1921 and grew up in Moonee Ponds. His daughter suspects he was probably sneaking into Windy Hill to watch the side play from a young age.
O’Dowd became a Club member for the first time 70 years ago. He’s renewed every year since.
He signed up with Essendon after returning from the Second World War. The Bombers reached the next seven Grand Finals as Dick Reynolds, Bill Hutchison and John Coleman became greats of the game.
“We grew up on all those stories of the great Essendon champions,” Patsy O’Dowd, Patrick’s daughter, remembers.
“Dad would take us out to Windy Hill all the time, we basically grew up down there.
“Dad would tell us how Coleman would just fly above the pack when he went for a mark and had a great set of hands.
“He used to refer to him as one of those very elegant players but also very tough.”
Patsy is one of Patrick’s five daughters. Four support the Bombers.
“Dad would take at least three or four of us every week,” she said.
“We’d fight our way to the front and stand on beer cans – we grew up with all of that at Windy Hill.”
Patrick worked as a panel beater before becoming a typewriter repairman later in life.
Patsy said her father could get quite animated when a decision went against the Bombers, but he mostly remained fair-minded.
When the Dons were beaten, Patrick tried to remain upbeat for his daughters, but Patsy sensed he struggled on the inside. The three point 1968 Grand Final loss to Carlton was one game in particular the family found hard to take.
“I was in tears,” Patsy said.
“Dad was too, but he just said they tried their best and someone has to win and someone has to lose but I think secretly he was shattered.”
The good times have far outweighed the bad and the O’Dowd’s enjoyed celebrating the triumphs.
“We lived in Ormond so we’d always sing the Essendon theme song all the way across town with our scarves out the window,” Patsy said.
“If we didn’t win there was a fair bit of grumbling and it was a pretty long drive.”
Patrick O'Dowd served in the Second World War and rarely missed an Anzac Day clash.
Patrick was still attending games in his 90’s. His time in the Army made Anzac Day a special occasion.
“He always tried to go to the Anzac match so that’s a strong image that will live in our memories of him at the MCG with his medals on,” Patsy said.
“He’d march in the morning and then have a few beers with his mates and then wander off to the game.
“That game was really important to him, even as he got older he may not have gone to every match, but he would always go to the Anzac Day game.”
Patrick admired the players that put their body on the line like Mark Harvey and Paul Vander Haar. He also enjoyed watching Geoff Blethyn who he thought had some ‘Coleman-esque’ qualities.
The last few years have been tough for Essendon fans, but the 2000 season brought plenty of excitement.
“The last Grand Final was very special,” Patsy said.
“Dad was over the moon about that. He thought players like Hird and Lloyd were just champions.”
Late last month Patrick O’Dowd passed away, aged 94.
He left behind five daughters, 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Most barrack for Essendon.
So while he may not have kicked goals like Coleman, won Best and Fairests like Reynolds, or played in premierships like Hutchison, Patrick O’Dowd will always be an important part of the Essendon fabric.
And through his family, his legacy will live on for many decades to come.
