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OzBomber
24 Mar 2009, 20:55
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5G6Nf7JQPfo/Sci7Og8oQ4I/AAAAAAAAAEc/qSxQT-uGZMk/s400/lloy00-6.jpg (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5G6Nf7JQPfo/Sci7Og8oQ4I/AAAAAAAAAEc/qSxQT-uGZMk/s1600-h/lloy00-6.jpg)

This is the first of what is hopefully a week by week feature from me. Each week, I will try and write an article on an old match that Essendon played. Today's Blast from the Past is the first round of 2000 between the Bombers and Port Power.

It was the start of what would end up being a record breaking season. A season where the Bombers would only lose a single game. It all started with a thumping of Port Adelaide at the newly created Colonial Stadium.

Just some 6 months earlier, Essendon had lost their preliminary final against Carlton by one solitary point. Essendon were almost dead certainties to win the flag in that year, and vowed to go one further in the first year of the new Millennium. They had won the pre-season comp without breaking a sweat, and went into the season as Flag favourites as they came up against Port Power to start the season.

They dominated the match, winning by a mammoth 94 points. Champ, Matthew Lloyd kicked 7 goals, while Hird kicked 4 in his comeback from a stress fracture in his foot the previous year and Bewick kicked 3 as the Bombers ripped apart the Power in a scintillating display of football.

They started strongly with Michael Long kicking the first ever goal in the AFL at Colonial Stadium and kept Port goalless until well into the 2nd term. The Power never looked in the hunt, only kicking 2 goals and 8 behinds to half time and ending up with only 8 goals at the final siren.

Among the highlights were Dustin Fletcher who kept youngster Warren Tredrea down to one goal, Jason Johnson and Michael Long who produced the running in the middle of the ground under the ruck work of John Barnes. Matthew Lloyd and James Hird benefited from the wonderful delivery from the midfield, while small forward Darren Bewick was there whenever a ball was spilt. It was a brilliant start for Lloyd in his bid to win his first Coleman medal, despite a knock to the head and a report.

It was an all round effort from the Bombers, where they produced 10 goal kickers and a brilliant start to what would become and unforgettable season.

Information Source: Essendon FC

Wahooti Fandango
24 Mar 2009, 21:05
Nice idea Sean. If only we could keep Tredrea quite more often. Is that Paxman in the picture? He was a handy player.

larson
24 Mar 2009, 21:14
Some wanka stole my football at half-time of this game.

Sir James
24 Mar 2009, 21:37
I think it was wanganeen who hit Lloyd if im not mistaken.
had great seats and till this day ive got reserved seating in the same spot.

loopy_cam
24 Mar 2009, 21:38
I was there. I stole some guys footy...

:p

Sir James
24 Mar 2009, 21:41
I was there. I stole some guys footy...

:p
Lovely :)

stay true
24 Mar 2009, 22:09
Ah yeah this is a cool idea. :thumbsu:

Can't believe how 9 years have passed so quickly.

larson
24 Mar 2009, 22:10
I was there. I stole some guys footy...

:p

hahahhha:thumbsu:

warney7
24 Mar 2009, 22:34
Some wanka stole my football at half-time of this game.



I was there. I stole some guys footy...

:p

Genuine lol

Well played Sir! :thumbsu:

Jonesy1987
25 Mar 2009, 00:24
I was there, I remember they had roman candles all around the ground but the roof was closed so the stadium filled with smoke, first was hard to see the ground but it dissipated soon after.

ManWithNoName
25 Mar 2009, 00:41
I was there, I remember they had roman candles all around the ground but the roof was closed so the stadium filled with smoke, first was hard to see the ground but it dissipated soon after.
Roof was open, the first game wasn't played under a closed roof until Rd 3 IIRC.

Jonesy1987
25 Mar 2009, 00:50
Roof was open, the first game wasn't played under a closed roof until Rd 3 IIRC.

Thought the roof was closed before the game... Meh Memories failing me in my old age.

daffo
25 Mar 2009, 10:03
They used to open/close the roof during games.
I was there to, i remember when we got ahead by 100 points an everyone cheered because we'd get an extra 10% off at sportsco.

Jex
25 Mar 2009, 13:10
Would be great for Sunday to play out in similar fashion, unfortunately I think round 1 2004 will be closer to the mark. We have a horrible record against Port, but interestingly, Dustin Fletcher has a 6-5 career record against them. With or without him, I think Sunday might get messy for us.