Best Win Since 2000 No. 39
Round 1 2006 vs Sydney
| Essendon | 9.1.55 | 11.3.69 | 13.6.84 | 17.6.108 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 2.2.14 | 8.4.52 | 10.6.66 | 12.9.81 |
Context
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Essendon were coming off their first season of no finals since 1997. Expectations were relatively low.
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The Swans were the reigning premiers who had broken a 72-year premiership drought. Leo Barry’s pack mark in the dying seconds of the Grand Final would be replayed for years to come.
Why it’s on the list / key moments
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Matthew Lloyd’s first game as club captain was one of his best. He kicked 6 goals on Leo Barry in the first quarter. He eventually finished with 8.2 and had 26 disposals total - the equal second-highest of his career.
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The Bombers blew away all expectations early, catching the Swans in a brief premiership hangover by leading 49-7 after a frantic 24 minutes of play.
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Despite the Swans hitting back with a big 2nd quarter, Essendon held their nerve to put the game to bed early in the last quarter, thanks to some characteristically long 50m bombs from Scott Lucas.
Extra notes
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Paddy Ryder and Scott Camporeale’s Essendon debuts.
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Assuming the broadcast audio was accurate, Camporeale kicked a goal on the run after the QT siren, but the umpire paid the goal anyway.
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Chris Heffernan’s first game for Essendon since 2002.
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Barry Hall kicked 7.2 for Sydney.
What happened next?
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The Bombers lost to Brisbane at the Gabba the following week. Disaster struck in Round 3 when Lloyd tore his hamstring off the bone against the Western Bulldogs, putting him out for the season. Essendon lost the game narrowly and would have to wait 16 more rounds until the next win arrived. Eventually, they’d finish 15th with 3 wins.
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Sydney made a second successive Grand Final, again against West Coast. This time they would be the ones to have their hearts broken, losing by a point.
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