If one week is a long time in football then 15 years is an eternity. That is the last time Essendon and Geelong met in a finals series, Preliminary Final day 1989. It was a day to forget for Bomber fans though as Geelong trounced the Bombers by 94-points in front of 67,892 at Waverley Park.

That day, Gary Ablett senior booted eight goals while Bill Brownless kicked four and Barry Stoneham three as Geelong condemned Essendon to its greatest ever-losing margin in finals football history.

Football is a funny game however. Only two weeks before this the two sides met in the qualifying final at the MCG. On that day it was the Bombers who ran rampant and left the Cats to lick their wounds after a 76-point drubbing.

Fans have waited 15 years for Essendon and Geelong to meet again in September and while the sides may be line up differently this Saturday night, there is one common thread. Kevin Sheedy will coach, as he did 15 years ago, and Bomber fans can count on him to highlight the history these two teams have in finals football, particularly the embarrassing loss he witnessed in ‘89. He will also point out Essendon’s history of dominance over Geelong in finals matches.

Bomber Thompson has switched camp since 1989. Thompson was the lynch pin of the Bombers backline back in the 1980’s, now he is at the helm at Geelong as the senior coach. Another man that lined up next to Thompson in the preliminary final is Dean Wallis. Similar to Thompson, Wallis will also be sitting in the coaches box, but it will be Essendon’s.

Geelong and Essendon have met 12 times in finals, the Bombers leading the head to head battle with eight wins and four losses. Of the seven semi-finals they have played in, the Bombers have been triumphant on five occasions.

Come 7.30pm Saturday night records will go out the window. Form will also mean nothing. Only a week ago the Cats had the double chance after winning seven of their last eight games of the season. The Bombers limped home to finish eighth after winning just four of their last 11 home and away matches.

Last weekend the Bombers got over the line in a thriller against Melbourne, while the Cats were unconvincing in their loss to Port Adelaide. How form changes quickly.

All eyes will turn to the MCG this weekend, with both clubs locked in a battle for the chance to advance to a preliminary final. Essendon will draw confidence from their strong record against Geelong in finals, and hopefully exact some revenge following that forgetful spring afternoon 15 years ago.