The Bombers were licking their wounds from an early finals exit when Adam Ramanauskas arrived at the club.
Essendon secured the former Dandenong Stingray with the 12th pick in the 1998 national draft – a selection acquired through a trade involving Ricky Olarenshaw.
“Rama was just one of the classiest midfielders going around and had an instant impact from the day he walked in the door,” Ramanauskas’ former teammate Matthew Lloyd said.
“He had that ability to drag the ball in one hand. He was light on his feet; I sort of called him ‘cat-like’ in a sense.
“Rama could sit on heads. Rama could run like a Peter Matera on the wing.
“He was one I loved leading out to because you knew he was going to hit you lace out.”
Ramanauskas played only two games in his first season but by 2000 he was a key component of the all-conquering premiership side.
He was runner-up in the AFL’s Rising Star award that year and represented his country in the International Rules series a season later.
“He was a 200-250 game player,” Lloyd said.
“I could see Rama winning a Norm Smith or something like that on a big day.”
After 2001, Ramanauskas wouldn’t get another shot on Grand Final day.
In 2003, fresh from a 25-possession performance against Carlton, he was diagnosed with cancer for the first time.
“We were absolutely in shock,” Lloyd said.
“It hit us like a ton a bricks.”
Remarkably he was back playing just over two months later.
But the cancer returned in 2006.
“It was a real tough time. We feared we’d lose him,” Lloyd said.
Again Ramanauskas would make a heroic return.
It was round 14, 2007 and the Bombers were playing Geelong.
A handball from Jobe Watson set Ramanauskas away to run in to the open game.
“It’s one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the game,” Lloyd said.
The Bombers lost, but that didn’t matter – Rama was back.
“Rama’s a go-getter, a very positive person.
“Rama’s a great friend of mine, he’s always the first one to call you if you have any issues yourself.”
Ramanauskas retired at the end of 2008.
