This is a sequel to the 50 Worst Essendon Losses since 2000 thread which wrapped up recently. While I still hope another more qualified Blitzer will take the reigns to put together a pre-2000 list some day, the latest posts signalled an appetite for a 50 Best Wins since 2000 list, so here it will be.
Each day, I’ll aim to add a very brief summary of each match, counting down from #50 to #1, including a couple of notes that may help remind you why the win deserves to be on the list.
There is no hard science to the final order, but the excitement generated, surpassing of expectations, occasion, match quality and opponent are all factors.
Keen to hear which games stick out in the minds of everyone else on the forum, or whether the list triggers any long-forgotten memories.
There aren’t many of them, all 3 since the GF loss are memorable though. The West Coast game where Lloyd and Judd knocked each other out. The Freo one was great. And the Melbourne one was great.
I can’t say they are a re-watch every few years.
I still prefer some wins between 1987 and 1990, a few in 1993, a few in 1995 and 1998 and 1999 are regular go to re-watches.
Yes! This one definitely. Pretty sure we went in severely undermanned and the Hawks close to full strength and rising up from nowhere to become a contender that year. Smashed them by 65 points with, I think, Scotty Lucas having a blinder.
Everyone says that we peaked with the comeback game later in the year but looking back this is where we peaked, the comeback game was just the beginning of the end and a slow decline towards 20+ years of misery.
It’s on my very early shortlist of about 110, so that’s a start. If there was a crowd at the game, it’d be more memorable. Peter was almost flawless that day.
Round 20 2007 breaking the Saints 19 game unbeaten run with Nick Reiwoldt missing from around 50 mtrs with a set shot after the siren.
Great game, result and night after the match as I went to the Palais in St kilda to watch Kiss frontman Paul Stanley’s solo tour on his Live To Win tour.
What a time to be alive (well at least for one day) for me.
Outside of finals victories in 2000 and 2001, nothing will ever top the comeback game for me. It was genuinely incredible (and probably the last hurrah of that great side).