Talls in the 1984-85 era

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Has there ever been a more extraordinary array of talls in one side than Essendon in the mid 80s?

To have Madden, Salmon and Merrett running around in the one side just seems criminal (to the extent that TD could be a flanker or gap-plugger as needed, Van Der Har could just float around doing his thing).

Madden and Salmon both had decent stints of being the best ruckman in the country (Salmon didn’t get his chance to do that for another decade), and Merrett was arguably the best player in the country full-stop circa 1985.

What an embarrassment of riches. Even the mighty 2000 side had a merely good/very good ruckman and CHF (and then Hird, who I guess is roughly analogous to TD albeit an upgrade).

Anyone who was around to watch that 80s side - what was it like? Tell us how it felt to have three or four (even five!) genuine champion big men in the side, any one of whom could kick a bag on any given day?

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You mentioned talls without mentioning Sheeds’ original favourite in Kevin Walsh who played a vital role at CHB.

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Yes, very true. And Norm Smith medallist Bill Duckworth.

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Believe it or not…it was pretty damn good.

81-82 were just good because after years of misery, we were finally winning games and making the finals…but losing at both attempts in those years.

83…I was overseas so missed that year.

84…the 84 GF still stands as the absolute highlight of my football following life…the sheer joy of the people around me when the siren rang and we’d broken a 19 year drought…just unbelievably satisfying

85…just clinical…a bit like the 2000 team…you just expected them to win every week.

86 was ruined by injuries to major players in the opening 5-6 weeks of the season.

Overall, it was easily my favourite time as an Essendon supporter.

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I certainly have recency bias as I was 7-8 years old in 84-85 and am really only familiar with the finals.

But Lloyd, Lucas, Barnes in and around 2000 was pretty Farking special.

To a (much) lesser extent, Alessio was a handy second ruck / FF too.

It would be remiss of me to omit Judd Lalich also.

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THE moment in 1984 was Tim Watson’s 2nd goal when he just straightened up and drilled it.

We had a heap of family members around us in the forward pocket, city end, railway side and everybody just went up and there were plenty of tears.

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Can we go a little earlier and include exports like Max Crow, Stephen Taubert and Justin Madden?
Pretty decent offcuts.

And of course Roger was better than just okay.
I wonder if I’ve forgotten anyone. I liked all of them for us.

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Not sure about that as a few at the Bombers had his measure, and some pretty handy players at other clubs. Though I am biased as I thought Roger Merrett was a thug and should have m

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And Crackers Keenan. Sheeds did clear a few talls in his early years, said our overall list was too tall.

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We had such an abundance of riches that we offloaded Justin Madden, who came within a vote of winning the Brownlow in 1985

Justin was taller but more comical when he ran

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The fact we could trade away those 4- who all went on to decent/Very decent careers- and still go back to back is scary.

Footnote- Steve Taubert was my first High School PE teacher. Cool guy- drove a 260z.

And whenever we has a footy clinic at the school, we’d get a massive turnout from the Essendon players!

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What about the prototypical Christian Bock:

Bernie Jones.

I think he came from (or was it went to?) Hawthorn… late 70s.

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After losing elimination finals in 79, 80 , 81 and 82 and then getting flogged in 83 GF it appeared the same thing was going to happen in 84 GF until 3/4 time. The last quarter began with Madden tapping to Daisy Williams who kicked long to a contest where Leon Baker roved the pack spun and kicked a goal within 10 seconds . That was the loudest noise I have ever experienced at the footy and my head nearly exploded. 8 more goals followed and the drout was over

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I was a bit spoiled because I watched Graham Moss running around during my early teenage years in the mid 70s. He was more than brilliant and stuck out in a mediocre team. 13 marks, 13 kicks, 13 handballs and four goals versus Melbourne at the G remains the best individual ruckman’s game I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes.

But our big man cohort in the early/mid 80s was as good it gets collectively. And yes I was there in ‘84 too having bullshizzed my way into the members without a pass with a cover story that would make you proud.

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And in spite of this weren’t a patch on Salmon, Merrett, Madden at their best!

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I mean, the named team had to hide Terry and Vander on the flanks/pockets, and the Hawks dug up the body of O’Halloran purely from fear of Salmon.
HF: 5 Terry Daniher (c) 25 Roger Merrett 38 Mark Harvey
F: 4 Leon Baker 3 Paul Salmon 18 Paul Van Der
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And I believe you’ll find an article in the GF Record naming Roger Merrett as the best tall in the league.

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From Hawthorn
Then
Back to Hawthorn

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And he rucked with not a hair of his luxurious bonce ever out of place. Class act ans ruckman was Graham Moss.

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And loved to smoke a gasper after the game in the change rooms.