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The other Essendon
<DIV style=""MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"" class=MsoNormal>Between 1900 and 1921, Windy Hill - then more popularly known as the Essendon Recreation Reserve - was home to another Essendon club from the VFA. The club was called Essendon Town or Essendon (A), indicating the Association. They were nicknamed the Dreadnoughts after the great British battleship of the time.</DIV>
Between 1900 and 1921, Windy Hill - then more popularly known as the Essendon Recreation Reserve - was home to another Essendon club from the VFA.
The club was called Essendon Town or Essendon (A), indicating the Association.
They were nicknamed the Dreadnoughts after the great British battleship of the time.
Essendon Town ensured that the local Essendon community had a team to represent them while the Essendon VFL side, played their home games at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground. Essendon (VFL) had moved there in 1882, and many of Essendon’s locals naturally felt unrepresented with their team
The Dreadnoughts wore the same jumpers as Essendon (VFL), black with red sash, and coincidentally they also won premierships in two of the same seasons: 1911 and 1912.
Well at the end of the 1921 season, the VFL Essendon side was forced off their ground by the Railways Department who sought the land to extend the rail yards. The club was homeless but eventually found a home here at Windy Hill. With its VFL club now back in town, the struggling Dreadnoughts disbanded, some players heading to North Melbourne, and the good people of Essendon now had their own League team playing back in their suburb.
This year the Essendon Hall of Fame will mount a small a display about the Dreadnoughts and their association with both Windy Hill and Essendon FC.
To learn more about the Hall of Fame - or become a member of The Stuckey Club - click here.
Meanwhile, Essendon would like to advise supporters of a small delay in the mailing of 2010 membership packs (packs were originally planned to be sent during the week of 16th December).
The unexpected delay is due to a number of factors including strikes at Australia Post and an upgrade of the Essendon’s IT systems (which will ultimately improve the accuracy of club information).
Membership packs have started hitting mailboxes and the majority will be received in mid to late January 2010.
Sam Lonergan took a step forward with his tough brand of football last season. In his 19 games he showed his courage and strong attack on the football but clearly still has improvement in him. Fans believe the 22-year-old can take another step in 2010 and become more consistent. His rating dropped from 6.9/10 in 2008 to 6/10 this season.
