When Kevin Sheedy was asked who'd win a match between the Bombers' 1985 and 2000 premiership teams, he paused for a few seconds before revealing his decision.

"Probably '85. They've been to three Grand Finals, won two, and were pretty ruthless," Sheedy said on club podcast Working Through It last week.

Both sides, coached by Sheedy, could stake their claim as Essendon's greatest in history, sharing many similarities.

So to settle it, we've decided to put the vote to you, the Bomber faithful.

Relive each team's triumphs below and cast your vote at the end. The results will be revealed on Wednesday's episode of Working Through It, streamed live on essendonfc.com.au from 4pm AEST.

ESSENDON'S 1985 PREMIERSHIP TEAM

Coach: Kevin Sheedy
Captain: Terry Daniher
Average age: 25
Average games: 113

THE GRAND FINAL
Essendon 26.14 (170) def. Hawthorn 14.8 (92)

The 1985 VFL Grand Final marked the third successive one between Essendon and Hawthorn. The Hawks won the first in 1983 to the tune of 83 points, but the Bombers got their sweet revenge a year later, producing a blistering final term to overturn a 23-point deficit at the final break and claim a 24-point victory.

Just like '84, '85 was all about the finish. In a high-scoring affair, Essendon piled on 11 goals in the last term to record a 78-point win. Paul Salmon starred with six goals, Roger Merrett five and Mark Harvey four, while Simon Madden trumped them all with an outstanding performance in the ruck to earn the Norm Smith Medal.

The Bombers had stolen Hawthorn's crown in '84, but in '85, established themselves as the undisputed kings of the competition. They lost just three games en route to the Grand Final, finishing on top and needing just one finals win (a 40-point semi-final victory over the Hawks) to qualify for the big dance in a five-team finals series back then.

Tim Watson polled the most Brownlow votes for Essendon in '85 (equal fourth on 15), claiming his second club best and fairest.

ESSENDON'S 2000 PREMIERSHIP TEAM

Coach: Kevin Sheedy
Captain: James Hird
Average age: 25
Average games: 112

THE GRAND FINAL
Essendon 19.21 (135) def. Melbourne 11.9 (75)

The 2000 Grand Final win against Melbourne was the culmination of the best season by any club in League history.

After the heartbreak of the 1999 preliminary final defeat to Carlton, Essendon was hellbent on redemption from the get-go, winning the pre-season competition and then 24 of the next 25 AFL games to never get dislodged from top spot on the ladder.

The Bombers set new records for successive wins (20) and wins in a season (24), while their average winning margin of 51 points was also a record.

True to the lead-up, they did it with ease on Grand Final day, cruising to a 44-point lead at the main break and never taking the foot off the pedal.

Skipper James Hird won the Norm Smith Medal for his sensational performance, tallying 29 disposals, six clearances and two goals.

He was one of five Dons to be named in the 2000 All-Australian team, joining Damien Hardwick, Dustin Fletcher, Matthew Lloyd and Kevin Sheedy (coach).

KEY MATCH-UPS

If both sides were to go head-to-head at the peak of their powers, here are a few tantalising match-ups to whet the appetite.

Neil Clarke v James Hird

Operation: Stop Hird. That'd be at the top of the priorities for the 1985 Bombers - a mission made for the late Neil Clarke. Despite sacrificing 10cm in height to Hird, you could count on Clarke to not shirk the challenge, given he developed a reputation for responding to big jobs on dangerous opponents. In the 1984 Grand Final, he famously went to Hawthorn superstar Leigh Matthews in the second quarter and curbed his influence, keeping him to just 16 disposals while collecting 18 of his own.

Billy Duckworth v Matthew Lloyd 

Imagine lining up on a forward in the form of his life, coming off a 109-goal season. Daunting, isn't it? Well, not for Billy Duckworth. Sheedy said he'd turn to the aggressive, hard-as-nails defender, who Hird joked would leave Lloyd with a broken nose. Duckworth, the 1984 Norm Smith medallist, thrived in the pressure cooker, but would it have been enough to handle Lloyd, the great white shark of forwards?

Paul Salmon v Dustin Fletcher

Yes, the 1985 Bombers would have had their hands full minding Lloyd and partner-in-crime Scott Lucas, but spare a thought for Dustin Fletcher and his fellow defenders of 2000. How do you stop a dynamic forward line boasting twin towers Paul Salmon and Roger Merrett, with the dangerous Leon Baker and Mark Harvey at their feet and 'The Flying Dutchman' Paul Vander Haar leaping over anyone in his vicinity? It's little wonder the Bombers kicked 26 goals on Grand Final day in 1985. Over to you, Fletch. 

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