Never before in Australian sport has a club’s story been told so comprehensively or so openly.

Screening on Fox Footy and Kayo over a four-week period, The Bombers: Stories of a Great Club is an eight-part documentary series in chronological order that was commissioned for the Bombers' 150-year celebrations in 2022.

This sweeping story shows how a suburban club evolved into an Australia-wide sporting brand. Along the way, the viewer is taken inside each of the eras, from the 19^th century through to preparations for the 2022 AFL season.

Here's what you can expect from episodes five and six tonight.

BUILDING THE DYNASTY
Episode 5, 7:30pm AEDT, Tuesday, November 2
Exclusively on Fox Footy and Kayo

In episode five we see how one of the great eras in Australian Football, Kevin Sheedy’s reign at Essendon, ramps up as the Bombers win back-to-back premierships.

We learn how a decision by Sheedy revived the career of young forward Paul Salmon.

Champion ruckman Simon Madden reveals how he knocked back a fortune in offers from Dr Edelsten’s Sydney Swans.

Sheedy admits that the biggest mistake of his coaching career was leaving Neale Daniher out of Essendon’s 1990 Grand Final team. He says that Neale’s maturity and leadership qualities against Collingwood could have quelled the tension after a wild quarter-time brawl.

LONG'S LEGACY
Episode 6, 8pm AEDT, Tuesday, November 2
Exclusively on Fox Footy and Kayo

In episode six, we hear the story of how legendary player James Hird was almost delisted before his career took off. Coach Kevin Sheedy had the last vote at a meeting on whether Hird should stay with the club and the coach’s response was profound.

Hird also reveals the club ethos where long-standing staff put upstart players in their place.

Former club captain Neale Daniher and ex-Carlton coach David Parkin tell a story of how Daniher worked out how to stop Carlton beanpole Justin Madden’s ruck dominance before the 1993 Grand Final, and how it all came unstuck for Parkin.

Also in this episode is a beautiful tribute to the magical Michael Long and his courageous stance against racism.