Essendon is preparing for a crucial clash against St Kilda, a week after it beat Collingwood in a fiery clash.

Half a century ago the same line could have been written when the Bombers faced the Saints in the 1965 Grand Final.

The side led by Captain Ken Fraser and Coach John Coleman had qualified for the decider after a 55 point win over the Magpies.

The match is best remembered for an incident involving the Bombers John Somerville and Pies opponent Duncan Wright. 

“I was concentrating on the ball but out of the corner of my eye I saw John Somerville lying on the ground,” Fraser remembers.

“He was completely concussed, I waved to the trainers, they rushed out and I rushed to the umpire and asked him to stop the game.”

Somerville was stretchered from the field and Fraser spoke to his teammates about maintaining their focus on the ball.

It was decades later that he realised his Vice-Captain, Ian ‘Bluey’ Shelton, was relaying a different instruction that involved squaring up with the Pies.

“Collectively we ended up giving a pretty good message,” Fraser said jokingly.

The Bombers maintained their composure and went on to meet St Kilda in the Grand Final a week later.

“Unfortunately for John he was badly concussed and he missed the Grand Final which was a shame because he was a great player,” Fraser said.

“We were playing confidently but St Kilda were the favourites to win.

“Ted Fordham had an exceptionally good game (seven goals) ... our rovers John Birt and Jack Clarke were very good. 

“We were in control from the third quarter on and we were the better team.

“I look back feeling very thankful and fortunate to have captained a premiership side.

“Winning a premiership cements a tremendously strong bond of friendship with the players in the team.”