Hello again Bomber fans,

We made it!

As it turned out, all the results went our way last weekend and we didn’t need the win against the Pies to take eighth spot. The very pleasing thing to witness though was while already knowing their fate, the professional way in which the players and coaching staff approached the game to improve on the momentum built and consolidate what they had been doing well in the second half of the year. 

No players were rested or punches pulled in the quest to go in full of confidence in a do-or-die final against the Bulldogs this weekend.

We know a thing or two about do-or-die finals at this club. 

Just in my time, like many teams that get to play finals on a regular basis, there was our fair share of heartbreak - a couple of elimination final losses including in 1991 versus Melbourne at Waverley, when Alan Jakovich kicked eight goals to sink our hopes after three-quarter time, and then my last-ever game in 1998, when Sheeds, making his way back to the rooms post game, was pelted with marshmallows by delirious North Melbourne supporters. 

And don’t talk to me about the two one-point losses firstly to Brisbane, and then to Sydney, in the preliminary final, in the AFL’s centenary year of 1996. 

It was not all doom and gloom over the journey, however.

As players, in every sudden-death final, we risk the despair of loss to experience the exhilaration of victory. 

Going into the 1993 finals series, young players Paul Hills, David Calthorpe, Mark Mercuri and Ricky Olarenshaw all played their first-ever final in the top-of-the-table, two-point qualifying final loss to Carlton. Then three more - Dustin Fletcher, James Hird and Joe Misiti - all came back from injury in the cut-throat semi-final the following week against West Coast.

The approach to the game from these young blokes did not change. They were all valuable contributors by playing their role and continuing to back themselves. Dave ‘Stumpy’ Calthorpe kicked three goals and Paul ‘Fish’ Salmon added another four to get us over the line.

The 32-point win over the powerhouse West Coast Eagles was also achieved without our captain Mark 'Bomber' Thompson and triple premiership player Mark Harvey.

The rest is history. Two weeks later, we were able to achieve the ultimate.

What is exciting about this weekend is that this current team has as many players playing in their first finals series that seem ripe to make a similar and immediate impact. There also seems to be a good balance and synergy between the defence, midfield and forward-line players and an impressive attitude from the majority of players in the team to help your teammate be better.

Our opponents, the Western Bulldogs, deserve to be slight favourites just for the body of work they have produced over the whole season. 

Their ‘one wood’ is the depth of their midfield and their ability to get out of trouble and move the ball with slick handball and precision kicking. The fact that they have so many left-footers just has to be an advantage, too. Last time Essendon was able to win the contested ball and clearance game and hurt them on the scoreboard, especially from centre bounce stoppages. This will be a key battle again.

The club’s recent history in sudden-death finals is well documented and doesn’t need much comment. Importantly, what has happened in the past will have no bearing on who are essentially a new group of players trying to forge their careers and write their own story in the history of this famous club.

It’s the first time for a long time that we’ve entered a finals series in good form, chock full of confidence, and where the team we are playing is coming in with indifferent form. Like in recent series, too, we are again playing in an interstate final but this time it is much different. It is at a neutral venue and going by that round 14 game against Hawthorn in Launceston earlier this season, we can expect a crowd that is predominantly red and black. We are privileged to be playing a final on the Apple Isle in a state rich in Australian Football heritage and tradition. 

This finals series is the most wide open campaign for many years. Although some teams appear better on paper, each and every final, especially this weekend, is a toss of the coin. 

This young team has definitely surprised us with their achievements so far this season. It’s so exciting to anticipate what more surprises they have got in store for us this weekend. 

Good luck to Dyson and the team.

Until next time, the other teams we don’t fear. 

GO’D

Gary O'Donnell played 243 games from 1987 to 1998, leading the Bombers as captain for two seasons in a decorated career in the red and black. Known as 'Mr Reliable', he was a vital part of Essendon's 1993 premiership side - a year which also saw him win the Crichton Medal as the Bombers' best and fairest. Blending tales of the past with the present, he'll be a contributor to essendonfc.com.au in 2021.