Essendon versus Hawthorn for more than 50 years was a clash just like any other in the then-VFL competition. Until 1983, that is.
That season, as two teams both climbing towards premiership status butted heads, this time literally, seemingly out of nowhere sprung one of league football’s great rivalries, marked by relentlessly tough affairs played for high stakes and with a catalogue of controversial incidents.
These two teams would meet in three straight grand finals between 1983-85, the score 2-1 to Essendon, a host of other finals, and even when September wasn’t part of the equation, their clashes were no less fierce.
That they remain decades later, the respect of each club towards the other only ever grudging, the enmity still present in every tussle, even more than 35 years on.
It’s been some rivalry. And on the eve of another big Essendon-Hawthorn stoush, we're looking back at the five games we’ve enjoyed the most.
Round two, 2015
Essendon 12.6 (78) def. Hawthorn 11.10 (76)
Essendon hadn’t beaten Hawthorn for five years by the start of 2015, and once again started underdog against the reigning premier.
But after a tight first quarter, the Dons got right on top in the second, leading by as much as 35 points shortly before half-time.
Typically, the Hawks kept coming to reduce the deficit to just eight points at the final change, and with just 90 seconds left to play the game appeared theirs, Hawthorn leading by 10 points.
A strong mark at full-back by Cale Hooker launched a desperate attack through the corridor. A series of handballs and chip passes found Travis Colyer sprinting into the forward 50, and the little speedster banged it through.
From the next centre bounce, Jake Melksham banged the ball forward to a pack, Colyer collected the crumbs and dished off a handball to Hooker, having drifted forward, who promptly slammed the ball on his right boot and watched an ugly mongrel punt float through to, incredibly, give the Dons the lead.
Cale Hooker is swarmed upon by teammates after his match-winner against the Hawks. (Photo: AFL Media)
Even then the game wasn’t won, Patrick Ambrose’s driving tackle on the Hawks’ Brad Hill a saver, as was the siren, which rang just as Hawthorn’s Luke Breust was running into an open goal. Victory by two points, and wins against an old enemy don’t come any more memorable.
You can read more of Rohan Connolly’s work at his FOOTYOLOGY website.
