Essendon’s history books will be re-written in season 2015 when two Brownlow Medalists run out onto an AFL field in the red and black as winners of the award in the same team.
The recruitment of 2008 winner Adam Cooney during last week’s trade period will see him line up alongside 2012 winner Jobe Watson in the Essendon guernsey next season.
The club has never had two Brownlow Medalists line up in the same team after winning the award.
Of the club’s former Brownlow Medallists there are many who have played in the same team but none that have played together after both winning the award.
During the 1940’s Bill Hutchison and Dick Reynolds played together for many years but Hutchison won his medals in 1952 and 1953 after Reynolds had retired.
Reynolds last game in the red and black was the 1951 Grand Final against Geelong.
Gavin Wanganeen won his Brownlow Medal at the age of just 20 in 1993 but left at the end of 1996, the same year James Hird went on to win his.
Hird finished in a tie for the medal with Brisbane champion Michael Voss following the 1996 season.
The Bombers champion also went on to play with current captain Jobe Watson who went on to win the award following Hird’s retirement.
So while the club has had many occasions were two winners were teammates there has never been a pair play together following their medal wins.
So when Cooney runs out to kick off the 2015 season alongside Watson the club’s historians will take note as another piece of red and black history is written.