The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Thought to have formed in 1872, Essendon played their first Victorian Football Association (VFA) game in 1873, before participating in the inaugural season of the Victorian Football League (now AFL) in 1897.[1] Headquartered at the Essendon Recreation Reserve, Windy Hill in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon, the club has won 16 VFL/AFL premierships, which, along with Carlton, is the most of any club.[1][2][3]
The club best and fairest award is claimed by some to have been first given in 1897; however, there is no contemporary evidence that it actually existed prior to the late 1920s. Since 1959 or 1960 it has been known as the W. S. Crichton Medal. Dick Reynolds was awarded medal on a record-equaling seven occasions between 1934 and 1943. Reynolds also won the Brownlow Medal a club-record three times, in 1934, 1937 and 1938. The medal is awarded annually to the best and fairest player in the competition, currently on the basis of a 3-2-1 match-by-match voting system used by the match umpires.[4]
Former Richmond player Kevin Sheedy coached Essendon for a record 635 games and four premierships in 27 seasons between 1980 and 2007, thus becoming the second-longest serving coach in VFL/AFL history.[5] Full-forward Matthew Lloyd, is the club's leading goal-kicker with 926, ahead of ruckman Simon Madden with 575.[6] Lloyd was Essendon's leading goal-kicker on a record 12 occasions between 1997 and 2009, kicking 100 goals in a season during 2000 and 2001.[7]
| Year | Coach | Captain | W. S. Crichton Medal | Leading goalkicker |
|---|
| 1897 # | — | George Stuckey | — | Norman Waugh (23) |
| 1898 | — | George|Stuckey}} | — | Charlie|Moore|Charlie Moore (Australian rules footballer)}} (20) |
| 1899 | — | George|Stuckey}} | — | Arthur|Cleghorn}} (15) |
| 1900 | — | George|Stuckey}} | — | Albert|Thurgood}} (25) |
| 1901 # | — | Tod|Collins}} | Albert|Thurgood}} | Fred|Hiskins}} (34) |
| 1902 | — | Tod|Collins}} | — | Albert|Thurgood}} (32) |
| 1903 | — | Jim|Anderson|Jim Anderson (footballer)}} | Hugh|Gavin}} | Mick|Madden}} (15) |
| 1904 | — | Jim|Anderson|Jim Anderson (footballer)}} / {{sortname|Hugh|Gavin}} | — | Mick|Madden}} (25) |
| 1905 | — | William|Robinson|Bill Robinson (footballer, born 1880)}} | — | George|Barker|George Barker (footballer, born 1885)}} (29) |
| 1906 | — | Jack|McKenzie|Jack McKenzie (footballer)}} | Jack|McKenzie|Jack McKenzie (footballer)}} | Norman|Yeo}} (31) |
| 1907 | — | William|Griffith|William Griffith (footballer)}} | — | Jim|Martin|Jim Martin (Australian footballer)}} (16) |
| 1908 | Dave|Smith|David Smith (sportsman)}} | William|Griffith|William Griffith (footballer)}} | Bill|Busbridge}} | Dave|Smith|David Smith (sportsman)}} (26) |
| 1909 | Dave|Smith|David Smith (sportsman)}} | William|Griffith|William Griffith (footballer)}} | Bill|Busbridge}} | Paddy|Shea}} (40) |
| 1910 | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | — | Bert|Armstrong}} (40) |
| 1911 # | Jack|Worrall}} | Dave|Smith|David Smith (sportsman)}} | Ernest|Cameron}} | Lou|Armstrong}} (35) |
| 1912 # | Jack|Worrall}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | Ernest|Cameron}} | Jack|Kirby|Jack Kirby (Australian footballer)}} (43) |
| 1913 | Jack|Worrall}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | Fred|Baring}} | Jack|Kirby|Jack Kirby (Australian footballer)}} (29) |
| 1914 | Jack|Worrall}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | — | Ernie|Lumsden}} (28) |
| 1915 | Jack|Worrall}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | — | Bill|Walker|Bill A. Walker}} (14) |
| 1916 | — | — | — | — |
| 1917 | — | — | — | — |
| 1918 | Jack|Worrall}} | Fred|Baring}} | — | Norm|Hall|Norm Hall (footballer)}} (15) |
| 1919 | Jack|Worrall}} | Alan|Belcher|Alan Belcher (footballer)}} | — | Dave|Walsh|Dave Walsh (Australian footballer)}} (15) |
| 1920 | Percy|Ogden}} | Percy|Ogden}} | Jock|Garden}} | Frank|McDonald|dab=footballer}} (33) |
| 1921 | Percy|Ogden}} | Percy|Ogden}} | — | Frank|McDonald|dab=footballer}} (17) |
| 1922 | Sam|Gravenall}} | Sid|Barker}} | Tom|Fitzmaurice}} | Jack|Moriarty}} (36) |
| 1923 # | Sid|Barker}} | Sid|Barker}} | Tom|Fitzmaurice}} | Greg Stockdale (68) |
| 1924 # | Sid|Barker}} | Sid|Barker}} | Tom|Fitzmaurice}} | Tommy|Jenkins|Tommy Jenkins (Australian rules footballer)}} (50) |
| 1925 | Fred|Maher}} | Frank|Maher|Frank Maher (footballer)}} | Greg|Stockdale}} | Tommy|Jenkins|Tommy Jenkins (Australian rules footballer)}} (37) |
| 1926 | Fred|Maher}} | Frank|Maher|Frank Maher (footballer)}} | Joe Harrison | Greg Stockdale (36) |
| 1927 | Fred|Maher}} | Frank|Maher|Frank Maher (footballer)}} | Frank|Maher|Frank Maher (footballer)}} | Jack|Vosti}} (35) |
| 1928 | Charlie|Hardy}} | Frank|Maher|Frank Maher (footballer)}} | Norm Beckton | Greg Stockdale (39) |
| 1929 | Charlie|Hardy}} | Norm|Beckton}} | Howard|Okey}} | Keith|Forbes}} / {{sortname|Len|Johnson|Len Johnson (footballer)}} (40) |
| 1930 | Charlie|Hardy}} | Norm|Beckton}} | Keith|Forbes}} | Keith|Forbes}} (54) |
| 1931 | Garnet Campbell | Garnet Campbell | Tom Clarke | Ted Freyer (50) |
| 1932 | Garnet Campbell | Garnet Campbell | Syd Carman | Ted Freyer (52) |
| 1933 | Garnet Campbell | Garnet Campbell | Paddy Walsh | Ted Freyer (51) |
| 1934 | Charlie May | Keith Forbes | Dick Reynolds * | Ted Freyer (61) |
| 1935 | Charlie May | Keith Forbes | Keith Forbes | Keith Forbes (52) |
| 1936 | Jack Baggott | Jack Baggott | Dick Reynolds | Ted Freyer (50) |
| 1937 | Jack Baggott | Jack Baggott / Keith Forbes | Dick Reynolds * | Keith Forbes (44) |
| 1938 | Jack Baggott | Len Webster | Dick Reynolds * | Tom Reynolds (68) |
| 1939 | Jack Baggott / Harry Hunter / Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Tom Reynolds (71) |
| 1940 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Hugh Torney | Ted Bryce (48) |
| 1941 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Wally Buttsworth | Tom Reynolds (65) |
| 1942 # | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Tom Reynolds (61) |
| 1943 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds (31) |
| 1944 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Percy Bushby | Ray Powell (42) |
| 1945 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Wally Buttsworth | Bill Brittingham (48) |
| 1946 # | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Brittingham (66) |
| 1947 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Wally Buttsworth | Ted Leehane (50) |
| 1948 | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Hutchison (52) |
| 1949 # | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | John Coleman | John Coleman (100) |
| 1950 # | Dick Reynolds | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | John Coleman (120) |
| 1951 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Norm McDonald | John Coleman (75) |
| 1952 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Hutchison * | John Coleman (103) |
| 1953 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Hutchison * | John Coleman (97) |
| 1954 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | John Gill | John Coleman (42) |
| 1955 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Hutchison | Hugh Mitchell (51) |
| 1956 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Bill Hutchison | Graham Willey (33) |
| 1957 | Dick Reynolds | Bill Hutchison | Reg Burgess | Fred Gallagher (34) |
| 1958 | Dick Reynolds | Jack Clarke | Jack Clarke | John Birt (31) |
| 1958 | Dick Reynolds | Jack Clarke | Jack Clarke | John Birt (31) |
| 1959 | Dick Reynolds | Jack Clarke | Hugh Mitchell | Ron Evans (78 |
| 1960 | Dick Reynolds | Jack Clarke | Reg Burgess | Ron Evans (67) |
| 1961 | John Coleman | Jack Clarke | John Birt | Hugh Mitchell (33) |
| 1962 # | John Coleman | Jack Clarke | Jack Clarke | Charlie Payne (39) |
| 1963 | John Coleman | Jack Clarke | Ken Fraser | Charlie Payne (36) |
| 1964 | John Coleman | Jack Clarke | Ken Fraser | Hugh Mitchell (32) |
| 1965 # | John Coleman | Ken Fraser | John Birt | Ted Fordham (54) |
| 1966 | John Coleman | Ken Fraser | Don McKenzie | Ted Fordham (76) |
| 1967 | John Coleman | Ken Fraser | John Birt | Alan Noonan (40) |
| 1968 | Jack Clarke | Ken Fraser | Barry Davis | Alan Noonan (51) |
| 1969 | Jack Clarke | Don McKenzie | Barry Davis | Alan Noonan (43) |
| 1970 | Jack Clarke | Barry Davis | Darryl Gerlach | Geoff Blethyn (33) |
| 1971 | John Birt | Barry Davis | Barry Davis | Alan Noonan (31) |
| 1972 | Des Tuddenham | Des Tuddenham | Neville Fields | Geoff Blethyn (107) |
| 1973 | Des Tuddenham | Des Tuddenham | Andy Wilson | Alan Noonan (63) |
| 1974 | Des Tuddenham | Des Tuddenham | Graham Moss | Alan Noonan (77) |
| 1975 | Des Tuddenham | Des Tuddenham | Graham Moss | Alan Noonan (48) |
| 1976 | Bill Stephen | Graham Moss | Graham Moss * | Geoff Blethyn (39) |
| 1977 | Bill Stephen | Ken Fletcher | Simon Madden | Max Crow (38) |
| 1978 | Barry Davis | Ken Fletcher | Ken Fletcher | Wayne Primmer (47) |
| 1979 | Barry Davis | Ken Fletcher | Simon Madden | Terry Daniher (57) |
| 1979 | Barry Davis | Ken Fletcher | Simon Madden | Terry Daniher (57) |
| 1980 | Barry Davis | Simon Madden | Tim Watson | Simon Madden (45) |
| 1981 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Simon Madden | Neale Daniher | Tony Buhagiar (42) |
| 1982 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Neale Daniher | Terry Daniher | Simon Madden (49) |
| 1983 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Simon Madden | Terry Daniher (64) |
| 1984 # | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Simon Madden | Paul Salmon (63) |
| 1985 # | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Tim Watson | Mark Harvey (48) |
| 1986 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Glenn Hawker | Alan Ezard (47) |
| 1987 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Mark Thompson | Paul Salmon (43) |
| 1988 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Terry Daniher | Tim Watson | Paul Salmon (37) |
| 1989 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Tim Watson | Tim Watson | Paul Salmon (39) |
| 1990 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Tim Watson | Mark Thompson | Paul Salmon (43) |
| 1991 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Tim Watson | Alan Ezard | Simon Madden (42) |
| 1992 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Mark Thompson | Mark Harvey | Paul Salmon (59) |
| 1993 # | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Mark Thompson | Essendon player Gavin Wanganeen was awarded the Brownlow Medal.[10]|group="N"}} | Paul Salmon (65) |
| 1994 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Mark Thompson | James Hird | Scott Cummings (32) |
| 1995 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Mark Thompson | James Hird | James Hird (47) |
| 1996 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Gary O'Donnell | James Hird * | James Hird (39) |
| 1997 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Gary O'Donnell | Sean Denham | Matthew Lloyd (63) |
| 1998 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Damien Hardwick | Matthew Lloyd (70) |
| 1999 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird / Michael Long | Mark Mercuri | Matthew Lloyd (87) |
| 2000 # | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Dustin Fletcher | Matthew Lloyd (109) |
| 2001 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Jason Johnson | Matthew Lloyd (105) |
| 2002 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Mark Johnson | Matthew Lloyd (47) |
| 2003 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | James Hird / Scott Lucas | Matthew Lloyd (93) |
| 2004 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Adam McPhee | Matthew Lloyd (96) |
| 2005 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | James Hird | Jason Johnson | Matthew Lloyd (59) |
| 2006 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Matthew Lloyd | Scott Lucas | Scott Lucas (67) |
| 2007 | Kevin|Sheedy|Kevin Sheedy (Australian footballer)}} | Matthew Lloyd | James Hird | Matthew Lloyd (62) |
| 2008 | Matthew Knights | Matthew Lloyd | David Hille | Matthew Lloyd (62) |
| 2009 | Matthew Knights | Matthew Lloyd | Jobe Watson | Matthew Lloyd (35) |
| 2010 | Matthew Knights | Jobe Watson | Jobe Watson | Angus Monfries (24) |
| 2011 | James Hird | Jobe Watson | David Zaharakis | Stewart Crameri (34) |
| 2012 | James Hird | Jobe Watson | Jobe Watson | Stewart Crameri (32) |
| 2013 | James Hird | Jobe Watson | Brendon Goddard | Stewart Crameri (30) |
| 2014 | Mark Thompson | Jobe Watson | Dyson Heppell | Joe Daniher (28) |
| 2015 | James Hird / Matthew Egan | Jobe Watson | Cale Hooker | Joe Daniher (34) |
| 2016 | John Worsfold | Brendon Goddard | Zach Merrett | Joe Daniher (43) |
| Source: [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318091536/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/honours.asp Essendon Football Club]. Last updated: 16 November 2016. |
1. ^1 {{cite web| url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/history.asp| title = Club History| publisher = Essendon Football Club| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090912001345/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/history.asp| archivedate = 12 September 2009| df = dmy-all}}
2. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.carltonfc.com.au/history%20of%20achievement/tabid/15276/default.aspx| title = History of Achievement| publisher = Carlton Football Club| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110217020353/http://www.carltonfc.com.au/history%20of%20achievement/tabid/15276/default.aspx| archivedate = 17 February 2011| df = dmy-all}}
3. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.150years.com.au/History/Premierships/tabid/12090/default.aspx| title = Premierships| publisher = Australian Football League| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090911212647/http://www.150years.com.au/History/Premierships/tabid/12090/Default.aspx| archivedate = 11 September 2009| df = dmy-all}}
4. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/profile.asp?ID=48| title = Dick Reynolds Profile| publisher = Essendon Football Club| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091002232720/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/profile.asp?ID=48| archivedate = 2 October 2009| df = dmy-all}}
5. ^{{cite web| url = http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/news/article/-/6449564/sheedy-perfect-fit| title = Sheedy the perfect fit| date = 9 November 2009| publisher = Yahoo 7| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100124041440/http://au.sports.yahoo.com/afl/news/article/-/6449564/sheedy-perfect-fit| archivedate = 24 January 2010| df = dmy-all}}
6. ^{{cite web| url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=6196| title = Simon Madden returns to Windy Hill| date = 3 December 2008| publisher = Essendon Football Club| accessdate = 22 November 2009| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090106201257/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=6196| archivedate = 6 January 2009| df = dmy-all}}
7. ^{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,26113965-5005401,00.html |title=Bombers captain Lloyd announces retirement from AFL football|date=23 September 2009 | publisher = Perth Now| accessdate = 22 November 2009 | first=John | last=Salvado}}
8. ^{{cite web |url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/premierships.asp |title = Premiership Sides |publisher = Essendon Football Club |accessdate = 22 November 2009 |date = |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20091216040246/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/premierships.asp |archivedate = 16 December 2009 |df = dmy-all}}
9. ^{{cite web |url = http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/achievements.asp |title = Player Achievements |publisher = Essendon Football Club |accessdate = 22 November 2009 |date = |deadurl = yes |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090917210401/http://www.essendonfc.com.au/history/achievements.asp |archivedate = 17 September 2009 |df = dmy-all}}
10. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20476441-23211,00.html|date=26 September 2009|title=Williams wants Brownlow justice|publisher=Fox Sports|accessdate=22 November 2009}}