Jade
Smug lives here.
- Jul 8, 2008
- 34,604
- 53,545
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Spent the last hour or so reviewing some games from the 99, 00 and 01 seasons.
Some of the things I saw during those years I think maybe I forgot due to dissenting views. Let's face it, anyone that doesn't support Essendon will seize on anything they can to dilute or reduce the levels achieved.
The Bombers, particularly in 2000 and in glimpses of 2001 were simply remarkable, the finest football team I have ever seen.
From a statistical point of view, it cannot be argued that the 2000 premiership side is the finest that ever existed. I think the existence of the Brisbane Lions with their AFL backed superlist, and even more so, Geelong and their existing team have led some to question who truly has been the greatest.
Prior to this team, the run and carry game from half back simply did not exist. The very tool most teams now look to for victory was created by Kevin Sheedy and his assistants during this era, and all other teams since have either had to rely on it or counter it for victory.
Matthew Lloyd was a remarkable footballer. His leading was as well timed and executed as any forward that has played the game, and what's more, he had to do it post an era that allowed forwards to stand alone against single defenders. Once the ball was in his hands, he was as accurate a key forward you will see, putting some of the current batch to shame.
Dustin Fletcher is, IS the finest defender seen for the last 15 years at least, and maybe the greatest ever. Silvagni was a great, stopped goals, but did not rebound anywhere near as effectively. And Scarlett, does not deserve to be mentioned with either. Tell me he has been able to as effectively nullify forwards, and defend space, and rebound as well as Fletcher. And sadly, he remains the only talisman we have left from a bygone era, and his final year should be celebrated as highly as any Essendon champion to have come before him.
James Hird, simply put, is the greatest footballer the game has ever seen. No claimant put forward, not Carey, not Matthews, not Skilton, not anyone can approach his instinctual, almost superhuman awareness of what was around him. He was a leader that commanded the utmost respect, and when the Bombers reached the highest peak football has seen, it was he that stood greatest. You have all seen him do things others have not, and sadly, you may not see that level again. Ali said he was the greatest, Hird was too modest to do so.
For Bombers fans, remember this:
- Essendon are the first premiers
- No team has won more premierships
- No team has dominated like we have
We may never see such heights again, but at least I know my team has done things no other has.
Go Bombers.
Some of the things I saw during those years I think maybe I forgot due to dissenting views. Let's face it, anyone that doesn't support Essendon will seize on anything they can to dilute or reduce the levels achieved.
The Bombers, particularly in 2000 and in glimpses of 2001 were simply remarkable, the finest football team I have ever seen.
From a statistical point of view, it cannot be argued that the 2000 premiership side is the finest that ever existed. I think the existence of the Brisbane Lions with their AFL backed superlist, and even more so, Geelong and their existing team have led some to question who truly has been the greatest.
Prior to this team, the run and carry game from half back simply did not exist. The very tool most teams now look to for victory was created by Kevin Sheedy and his assistants during this era, and all other teams since have either had to rely on it or counter it for victory.
Matthew Lloyd was a remarkable footballer. His leading was as well timed and executed as any forward that has played the game, and what's more, he had to do it post an era that allowed forwards to stand alone against single defenders. Once the ball was in his hands, he was as accurate a key forward you will see, putting some of the current batch to shame.
Dustin Fletcher is, IS the finest defender seen for the last 15 years at least, and maybe the greatest ever. Silvagni was a great, stopped goals, but did not rebound anywhere near as effectively. And Scarlett, does not deserve to be mentioned with either. Tell me he has been able to as effectively nullify forwards, and defend space, and rebound as well as Fletcher. And sadly, he remains the only talisman we have left from a bygone era, and his final year should be celebrated as highly as any Essendon champion to have come before him.
James Hird, simply put, is the greatest footballer the game has ever seen. No claimant put forward, not Carey, not Matthews, not Skilton, not anyone can approach his instinctual, almost superhuman awareness of what was around him. He was a leader that commanded the utmost respect, and when the Bombers reached the highest peak football has seen, it was he that stood greatest. You have all seen him do things others have not, and sadly, you may not see that level again. Ali said he was the greatest, Hird was too modest to do so.
For Bombers fans, remember this:
- Essendon are the first premiers
- No team has won more premierships
- No team has dominated like we have
We may never see such heights again, but at least I know my team has done things no other has.
Go Bombers.
