Ahead of Essendon’s blockbuster elimination final clash with West Coast next Thursday, we’ve taken the chance to look back on the sides’ previous finals battles.
History certainly lies in the favour of those in the red and black, with the five previous encounters in September seeing the Bombers claim the win by an average margin of 46 points.
1990 preliminary final, Waverley Park
A strong start with four goals to one in the opening term put the Bombers immediately in the box seat in the clubs’ first ever finals meeting.
While the Eagles increased their output with four goals in the second quarter, the Bombers booted seven of their own to pile the pressure onto their opponents.
A tense third term saw just three goals kicked between the sides in the premiership quarter, but a powerful response from Essendon with five goals in the final term blew the margin out to 63 points and solidified its place in the following week’s Grand Final against Collingwood.
Veteran Simon Madden impressed in the dominant victory, gathering 21 disposals, 12 marks and two goals, while Alan Ezard and Mark Harvey booted three goals apiece.
ESSENDON 4.1 11.3 13.10 18.13 (121)
WEST COAST 1.2 5.3 6.8 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Essendon: Ezard 3, Harvey 3, Madden 2, Salmon 2, Vander Haar 2, Anderson, Bewick, Kickett, Long, Manning, Watson
West Coast: Jackson 3, Sumich 2, Heady, Langdon, Mainwaring
DISPOSALS
Essendon: Anderson 25, T. Daniher 25, Thompson 25, Watson 25, Madden 21
West Coast: Lewis 22, Kemp 21, Heady 20, Mainwaring 19, Brennan 18
Bomber Greg Anderson tackles Chris Mainwaring in the 1990 preliminary final. (Image: AFL Photos)
1993 semi-final, MCG
The Baby Bombers entered the 1993 semi-final having lost two on trot including a narrow two-point loss to bitter rival Carlton in the qualifying final a week earlier.
But the reigning premiership-winning Eagles had troubles of their own entering the finals off two consecutive losses, but a convincing 51-point defeat of North Melbourne in an elimination final had them primed to take on Essendon.
However, any worries about the Dons were quickly quashed in a promising opening term. The Bombers kicked 4.2 to the inaccurate Eagles’ 1.5 to quarter-time before putting the foot down in the second quarter with six goals to three.
Impressive performances on the ball from a number of Dons including Gary O’Donnell, Joe Misiti and Michael Long helped Essendon’s forwards reap the rewards to half-time, when a 32-point margin had the result almost beyond doubt.
While West Coast continued to take it up to Essendon in the second half, matching the home side with 7.2 to the Bombers’ 6.8, but the damage had been done.
Paul Salmon was among the red and black heroes with 19 disposals, 14 hitouts, 10 marks and four goals, while Mark Mercuri (24 disposals and a goal) put in another brilliant display in the 32-point win.
ESSENDON 4.2 10.4 13.6 16.12 (108)
WEST COAST 1.5 4.8 8.9 11.10 (76)
GOALS
Essendon: Salmon 4, Calthorpe 3, Mercuri 2, Bewick 2, Long, Flood, Somerville, Grenvold, Watson
West Coast: Sumich 3, Heady 2, Lewis 2, Brenning , Mainwaring, Pyke, Waterman
DISPOSALS
Essendon: Misiti 30, O’Donnell 30, Long 25, Mercuri 24, Hills 24
West Coast: Mainwaring 27, Pyke 23, Kemp 22, McKenna 21, Matera 20
Paul Salmon lines up for a shot against the Eagles in the 1993 semi-final. (Image: AFL Photos)
1995 qualifying final, Waverley Park
The 1995 qualifier saw the tables turned early, with West Coast – again the reigning premier – getting the jump on the Bombers in what was a dour affair.
Both sides were up for the fight that Saturday afternoon, battling away in the opening half with the Eagles taking a slender five-point lead into the main change.
But the game changed complexion in the third term as the Bombers launched their attack, more than doubling their score by piling on six goals to the Eagles’ one to take a 25-point lead into the final change.
West Coast never looked like eating much into the margin in the final term, while the Bombers never looked like extending it in a spluttering finish to the game with just one scoring shot (an Eagles goal) in the last quarter.
Mercuri, O’Donnell and Long were again among Essendon’s best in the 19-point win, while Chris Mainwaring and Fraser Gehrig led the way for the Eagles.
ESSENDON 2.4 5.6 11.8 11.8 (74)
WEST COAST 4.2 6.5 7.7 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Essendon: Mercuri 4, Alessio 2, Lloyd 2, O’Donnell, Hardwick, Somerville
West Coast: Gehrig 3, Heady, Kemp, Matera, McKenna, Worsfold
DISPOSALS
Essendon: O’Donnell 31, Long 27, Mercuri 25, Hird 24, Young 21
West Coast: Mainwaring 32, Kemp 21, Matera 18, Lyle 18, White 18
Michael Long found plenty of the ball in the 1995 qualifying final. (Image: AFL Photos)
1996 semi-final, MCG
85,656 people flocked to the ‘G on September 14, 1996, to see the Bombers take on the Eagles in the semi-final and the Dons put on a show.
A blistering opening burst of five goals to none in the first term set up a dominant game as the Bombers flexed their muscles, capitalising on West Coast’s inaccuracy in front of goal.
A 25-point half-time lead turned into a 51-point margin at the final change as Essendon continued to put the visitors to the sword, but they left their best until last.
The final quarter saw the Bombers boot a further seven goals to two to burst away for a sensational 77-point thumping of the Eagles with star performances throughout the side.
Steven Alessio kicked five goals, while Che Cockatoo-Collins and James Hird (to go with 31 disposals) booted four of their own.
Legendary defender Dustin Fletcher got in on the action with an equal career-high three goals, and brilliant Bomber Darren Bewick displayed his very best with a career-high 37 disposals.
ESSENDON 5.4 9.6 15.10 22.12 (144)
WEST COAST 0.3 4.11 6.13 8.19 (67)
GOALS
Essendon: Alessio 5, Cockatoo-Collins 4, Hird 4, Fletcher 3, O’Donnell 2, Lloyd, Mercuri, Misiti
West Coast: White 2, Cousins, Evans, Heady, Kemp, Lovell, Morrison
DISPOSALS
Essendon: Bewick 37, Hird 31, Denham 28, Doolan 25, Young 24
West Coast: Kemp 27, Mainwaring 22, Banfield 17, Matera 17, Metropolis 16
Protective headgear (Chris Daniher pictured) has changed a bit since the 1996 semi-final. (Image: AFL Photos)
2002 elimination final, Marvel Stadium
An enthralling, seesawing contest, this elimination final was an absolute cracker.
The Bombers were on early, kicking the first three goals of the clash in just eight minutes, but the Eagles were up for the challenge as they drew the margin back to eight points at the first change.
While the Bombers were hot early again in the second term to extend their lead to 13 points, West Coast began to take control of the contest.
Over the next 30 minutes of play across the second and third quarters, the Eagles piled on six of eight goals to wrestle the game back in their favour and draw out to an eight-point lead midway through the third term.
Gun Bomber Scott Lucas, after performing well in defence throughout the game, was set the task of turning the game around. He was sent forward to immediate effect, putting his booming left foot to good use in booting three goals in a sensational seven-minute burst.
He dragged Essendon back into the lead at the final change before the tension continued to rise in the final term, with just nine points in it halfway through the last quarter.
But the Bombers were ready to burst and the floodgates opened once more as the team put five more through the big sticks in just eight minutes to finally put away the gallant Eagles.
Lucas dominated at both ends of the ground to finish with 29 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 11 contested possessions to go with his three goals, while Jason Johnson – at the peak of his powers – was outstanding with 30 disposals, 16 contested possessions, six inside 50s and a goal.
ESSENDON 3.4 6.6 11.7 17.9 (111)
WEST COAST 2.2 6.6 9.8 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Essendon: Lucas 3, Moorcroft 3, Barnard 2, Bolton 2, Caracella 2, Jacobs, J Johnson, M Johnson, Salmon, Welsh
West Coast: Munro, Troy Wilson, Banfield, Gardiner, Humm, Jakovich, Kerr, Sampi
DISPOSALS
Essendon: Misiti 34, J. Johnson 30, Lucas 29, Wellman 25, Ramanauskas 24
West Coast: Cousins 24, Kerr 24, Banfield 17, Gardiner 16, Lynch 16
Scott Lucas was sensational in the 2002 elimination final. (Image: AFL Photos)
