Hear from Bomber #783, Ken Roberts, as he recalls his time at Windy Hill during the 1970s. A tough, versatile player, Roberts played 100 games and kicked 111 goals between 1970-77, where under four coaches he played at half-forward, full-forward and in the middle, proving a standout in each position. And he was right there amongst the action during the infamous Windy Hill Brawl, too! He also played 12 games for Melbourne (1978-79). This episode of The Red & Black Project Podcast is ...

Bomber #958 Brad Fox recalls his time growing up in Western Australia, his recruitment to Essendon as a high draft pick (12th overall in the 1988 National Draft), his years at Windy Hill which included the 1992 reserves premiership, his brief stint at Richmond, then his long involvement in the game over the past three decades. This episode of the Red & Black Project Podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddyboo...

Today, we'd refer to Steve Copping as a "mature age" recruit: he was 25 when he ran out for the first time with Essendon in round 1, 1982. In fact, Copping was as shocked as anyone when Kevin Sheedy and Noel Judkins knocked on his door midway through 1981 and asked him to leave South Australia and move to Melbourne to be part of the rising Bombers. After a fine career with Glenelg, Copping played 42 games with Essendon (1982-84) and kicked 88 goals playing alongside the likes of Roger Merrett...

Bomber number 716, Russell Blew, was a star wingman during the 1960s, a decade that saw Essendon play off in three Grand Finals. He was a key player in the 1962 & 1965 premiership victories, and he narrowly missed a third flag in 1968 when the Bombers fell three points short of Carlton in the Grand Final. Blew finished runner-up to Ken Fraser in the 1964 Crichton Medal count, a year when he represented Victoria in State footy. A former captain of the under-19s, Blew was entering his...

Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 908, Mark Harvey, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. One of Essendon's finest servants, Harvey played in three premierships (1984-85, 1993), was a dual All-Australian (1985, 1993), won a Crichton Medal (1992), and led the Bombers' goalkicking in 1985. In his 206 games (1984-97), he played at both ends of the ground and is widely reco...

Raised in Canberra, Justin Blumfield was one of a number of exciting and talented recruits who arrived at Essendon during the mid-late 1990s and helped steer the club to the 2000 premiership, the Bombers' most recent Grand Final triumph. Possessing a good leap and a deep tank which allowed him to run all day, Blumfield - Bomber number 1001 - was a versatile player whom coach Kevin Sheedy used in various positions across the field. In 129 games (1996-2002), Blumfield kicked 86 goals, won the ...

With over 100 years of experience, collectively, working at the Essendon Football Club, much loved trainers Charlie Italia, Murray Spargo and Rob Destradi have a catalogue of fascinating stories to share from their decades spent helping players and coaches strive for success. In this special podcast, the three life members reveal plenty of new insights into what has made the club tick for the past 40 years. This podcast is proudly brought to you by daneddybooks.com, the Essendonians, the EFC...

Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 803, Graham Moss, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Few players in VFL/AFL history have had a bigger impact over a four-year span than Moss, who, like a shooting star, burst on the scene in 1973 then left spectators awestruck as he departed, just weeks after winning the 1976 Brownlow Medal; the first West Australian-born player to claim f...

Bomber number 736, Kevin Egan, has pretty much done it all at Essendon. Premiership player (1965), numerous off-field roles including being Kevin Sheedy's right-hand man during the 1980s, and later on the board when the momentous decision was made to end Sheedy's tenure. In 2015, Egan was rightfully inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. In this episode, he reflects on a remarkable life in football, which included a stint at the Sydney Swans during what proved a turning point in that club's h...

You may not recognise him in the street, but you certainly know his work and have likely sung his song on many an occasion. Kevin Andrews is the man who penned the most famous of songs, the Essendon theme song (he even sings it for me in this episode!). Having been forced to endure a troubled and nomadic childhood, Andrews came under the influence of Bombers Hugh Mitchell and Jeff Gamble, and it was at Gamble's parents' home - 13 Grandview Road, Niddrie - where the famous song was penned on a...

Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 820, Simon Madden, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. One of Essendon's, and the game's, greatest ruckmen—some say THE greatest—Madden won four Crichton Medals (1977, 1979, 1983-84), was selected in six VFL Teams of the Year, was a triple Essendon leading goalkicker (1980, 1982, 1991) with a career total of 575 goals, was Bombers skipper (...

As one of just 25 men in 152 years to have held the title of president/chairman of the Essendon Football Club, Neil McKissock is in select company. As the 19th president of the Bombers (2004-06), McKissock, a life-long supporter of the club who grew up idolising John Coleman and Bill Hutchison, oversaw a changing of the guard at Bomberland as the club struggled to replicate the on-field successes of the 1980s, '90s and early-2000s. As a member of the Essendon board since the late-1990s, McKis...

A member of Essendon's famed Baby Bombers, David Calthorpe reflects with raw honesty and openness on his 92-game career at Windy Hill (1992-98), which included the 1994 pre-season premiership, an EJ Whitten Medal as best Victorian State of Origin player, and of course, that famous 1993 flag alongside a number of his childhood mates from in and around the East Keilor area of Melbourne's northern suburbs. Calthorpe—a tagger, and one of the best endurance runners at the club—walked out on the Bo...

Former West Australian recruit, Colin Hebbard, reminisces about his 85-game career at Windy Hill (1957-61), which coincided with two Grand Final appearances in 1957 and 1959 - both losses to Melbourne - under legendary coach Dick Reynolds. A versatile player, Hebbard was equally at home on a half-back or half-forward flank, and also spent time in the centre where he played alongside the likes of Bill Hutchison, Jack Clarke, Ian Shelton and Ken Fraser. Returning home to West Perth at the...

From his hometown of Perth in Western Australia, Tony 'The Budgie' Buhagiar reflects on his four seasons at Windy Hill (1981-84), which coincided with the rise of the Bombers under Kevin Sheedy. Buhagiar burst onto the VFL scene after a successful career with East Fremantle (1973-80), which included two premierships. Wearing the number 20 red and black guernsey, the diminiative rover became a fan favourite at Essendon and was a member of the club's losing 1983 Grand Final against Hawthorn. Th...

A product of Essendon's fruitful Wimmera recruiting zone during the 1970s, Russell Ellen played 35 games for the Bombers (1973-77). His time at Windy Hill coincided with the careers of champion ruckman, Graham Moss, and an emerging Simon Madden, meaning Ellen, a tall, lanky ruckman himself, was in and out of the senior team. He went on to play 108 games at West Perth in Western Australia, before a successful business career took him to all corners of the globe. Now based permanently back in W...

Enjoy a laugh with Bomber number 888, Bill Duckworth, one of Essendon's most popular players and funniest storytellers, as he reminisces about his 126 games in red and black (1982-90), which included 64 goals, two premierships (1984-85) and the 1984 Norm Smith Medal. The West Australian also represented his home state in State of Origin football (1987), then, after returning to WA, won a stunning 11 premierships with amateur club, North Beach: one as a player and 10 as coach.

Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 936, Gary O'Donnell, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. One of Essendon's finest servants, O'Donnell toiled away in the under-19s and reserves for years before earning a senior game, and from there he never looked back. He won the Crichton Medal in a premiership year (1993), a Michael Tuck Medal for best player in the 1994 pre-season Grand...

Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 696, Alec Epis, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Dubbed 'The Kookaburra' because he loved a chat - on and off the field! - Epis, recruited from Western Australia, is one of the Bombers' finest contributors. He played 180 games (1958-68) and won two premierships (1962 & 1965), starring alongside Ian 'Bluey' Shelton and Barry Dav...

Bomber #725, Charlie Payne, reflects on his 184-game career in red & black (1962-72), which included the 1962 & 1965 premierships. Such was Payne's popularity with the Essendon faithful, he even had a song penned in his honour!