50 Best Essendon Wins since 2000 (countdown)

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Best Win Since 2000 No. 29

Elimination Final 2002 vs West Coast

Essendon 3.4.22 6.6.42 11.7.73 17.9.111
West Coast 2.2.14 6.6.42 9.8.62 11.12.78

Context

  • Essendon’s plan to exact revenge for their disappointing 2001 Grand Final loss had not gone as expected, finishing 5th with only 12 wins and 1 draw. 3 of those wins had come in the final 3 rounds of the Home and Away season.

  • The Bombers had become accustomed to playing without their two superstars, James Hird and Matthew Lloyd, thanks to both sustaining injuries that saw them miss 7 games throughout the season. Hird was ruled out pre-game, but Lloyd was knocked out late in the 1st quarter by Eagle Adam Hunter to really put Essendon’s depth to the test.

  • A rejuvenated West Coast had shot up the ladder under new coach John Worsfold after a dismal 2001 season. They had held on to 8th spot thanks to an epic 143-127 victory over fellow Elimination Finalists, the Kangaroos, at Manuka Oval in Round 22.

Why it’s on the list / key moments

  • AKA “The game where Dustin Fletcher tripped Chris Judd and missed a final because of it”.

  • A gritty finals win under difficult circumstances.

  • West Coast led by 7 points early in the 3rd quarter.

  • Scott Lucas played a hero’s game for the Bombers, kicking 3 goals in the 3rd quarter after being swung forward by Kevin Sheedy, steering the game back in the Dons’ favour. His 3rd goal in 7 minutes, a 50m bouncing snap, restored the Bombers’ lead which they’d never relinquish. Lucas had 29 disposals, 10 marks, 3.2 and 10 inside 50s to play a pivotal role at both ends of the ground.

  • To ease 4th quarter nerves, Blake Caracella kicked his 2nd last goal in an Essendon jumper, a classic feint and snap on his wrong foot to put Essendon 15 points up.

  • A minute later, Jason Johnson showed his trademark grit to win the contested ball before kicking truly on his left foot.

  • Paul Salmon, in his 2nd last game of AFL football, kicked the Bombers’ 5th goal in 13 minutes to put the result beyond doubt. The Big Fish immediately went down with cramp while celebrating.

  • Click here for the Essendon goals/highlights.

Extra notes

  • Andrew Welsh kicked his first goal for Essendon.

  • Paul Salmon had 33 hitouts for Essendon, his highest tally for the season (and ever in an Essendon jumper).

  • Sam Hunt played his 3rd of 7 career games for Essendon. He retired with a perfect 1/1 finals winning record.

What happened next?

  • An undermanned Essendon looked like spooking Port Adelaide at Football Park in a Semi Final the following week before being overrun in the 3rd quarter. The Bombers have not led during the 3rd quarter of a Semi Final (or better) since.

Click here to go to best win #28.

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