IN ONE of the greatest rivalries of the 1980s, Essendon was bidding to take down a star-studded Hawthorn and end its own premiership drought in the 1984 Grand Final.

The Bombers would go on to secure their first flag since 1965, coming from 23 points down at three-quarter time to overrun the Hawks.

Hawthorn had beaten Essendon the previous year in the first of three successive deciders between the rivals, with the Bombers going on to winning the premiership in 1984 and 1985.

The Bombers will hold a 40-year celebration of the '84 flag when the clubs meet in round one of the 2024 season at the MCG on Saturday.

02:02

Fixture throwback | Dons' back-to-back flags

Revisit one of the club's greatest-ever achievements ahead of Essendon's round one clash against the Hawks

Some of the key players on that day shared their thoughts in an AFL Media documentary in 2012, including Leigh Matthews, Terry Wallace, Rodney Eade, Peter Schwab and Russell Greene, plus Bombers coach Kevin Sheedy, captain Terry Daniher and Simon Madden, to re-live the decider.

The Hawks led at every change, only for Essendon to kick nine goals to two in the final term to charge to victory.

When Leon Baker swooped on to a loose ball in the forward line in the opening seconds of the final term and snapped truly, the players were struck by a "physical" wall of noise from the Essendon fans.

"The loudest noise I ever heard in football was when Leon Baker kicked a goal at the start of the last quarter," Hawks midfielder Wallace said.

"It was the sleeping giant awakening."

His teammate Greene said: "It was the catalyst for an absolute avalanche of goals."

06:39

BTV: 1984 GF | Final-term flurry

Down by 23 points at three-quarter time in the 1984 VFL Grand Final, the Bombers produced a nine-goal final term to down the Hawks and claim their 13th premiership.

"I quite honestly hold myself responsible," a rueful Greene continued, "because I was playing on him."

Current Bombers coach Brad Scott said he would discuss the rivalry with his players ahead of Saturday's clash.

"It's an unbelievable period in our club's history," he said on Thursday ahead of the Dons' season opener at the MCG against Hawthorn. 

"To play it against Hawthorn, a period of football through the '80s, there was no bigger rivalry than Essendon and Hawthorn. The rivalry is real.

"We'll certainly reference it, we'll certainly reflect on that part of the club's history – but (we'll) very quickly come back to the job."