Essendon - 1984 Prelim Highlights

[NAB777]

Some of us on this board were around to see the 84/85 premierships as kids. It's hard to explain to the you younger generation just how good this side was. I think watching the link below is as close as I could get.
Remember - this is 1984 - check out the skill level.
I have mentioned Leon Baker a few times - this shows what a player he was.
Van der haar - one of the most naturally talented players I have seen.

Have a look if you have a few minutes.

 

[Conor Mckenna]

This one one of the most brilliant games we ever played...

At half time they announced over the PA that the Collingwood buses were leaving now...LOL...Thanks for posting it, what a year...

If there was BF then imagine what the Match day forum would have looked like when we had kicked 4.15 to 3/4 time and trailed by 24 points....pays to support and keep the faith sometimes..

 

[Conor Mckenna]

Just watched it twice...Best game Baker ever played, possiblt Vander as well , though he had many many blinders, Hows the way he kicks his first two goals on the left foot...Vander was a right footer normally..nothing was normal for him..

Some footage here which shows how incredible some of these guys were..Watson, Madden, TD, Bomba Thompson, Neagle, Harvey to name a few...That was the las time we got to see The Budgie in the Red and Black as well...Spat it when he got dropped for the Granny and went to the dogs...Everyone loved Budgie, he was like a fat Boomer Harvey...

 

[Resistor]

How come the big fish wasn't playing?

 

[NAB777]

How come the big fish wasn't playing?

Did his knee in round13, whilst sitting on 63 goals

 

[Resistor]

Did his knee in round13, whilst sitting on 63 goals

Ah it was that year, thanks!

 

[Doss]

174-41 in a preliminary final.

It's an other-worldly scoreline.

 

[windyhill]

Sat at the top of The Sir Kenneth Luke stand, bit like watching ants. So Dad and I had a perfect view of the rats deserting the sinking ship @ HALF TIME ! I was in high school at the time surrounded by rich,haw,carl and coll fans, we were terrible in the 70's (primary school) and I can only remember one other Bomber fan, to say we enjoyed those two flags would be a massive understatement.
Hard to explain or put into words what those flags meant. It did prove my old mans words right "we will come good boy, just stick with them"

 

[Sporno 4 Pyros]

Enjoy reading this article from the day after the ‘84 granny. It focuses more on the lead up to the last quarter.
I’m sure a few on here still have copies of the newspapers from the day that could maybe take some photos of the articles and post them here.

From the Archives, 1984: Bombers break the shackles in GF win over Hawks

Essendon were beaten up by the Hawks in the preceding grand final and had lost to their rivals in a semi-final just 13 days prior. The Hawks were haunting the Bombers yet again. A tight third term kept Hawthorn in pole position, but the Bombers broke the shackles with a barnstorming nine-goal...

www.theage.com.au

 

[Doss]

The best part is that Collingwood kicked the first goal.

28.6 is a fair indication of the lack of pressure they were putting on us.

 

[Howard Moon]

the game style is so ahead of its time, look at all the forward handball, at the time it used to be kick mark, kick mark - this is exhilarating, just constant forward movement and forward handball cutting through the traditional lines

 

[Darealrath]

Enjoy reading this article from the day after the ‘84 granny. It focuses more on the lead up to the last quarter.
I’m sure a few on here still have copies of the newspapers from the day that could maybe take some photos of the articles and post them here.

From the Archives, 1984: Bombers break the shackles in GF win over Hawks

Essendon were beaten up by the Hawks in the preceding grand final and had lost to their rivals in a semi-final just 13 days prior. The Hawks were haunting the Bombers yet again. A tight third term kept Hawthorn in pole position, but the Bombers broke the shackles with a barnstorming nine-goal...

www.theage.com.au

If we concede 4 goals in the first 7 minutes next time we make a GF I reckon that'd be it for me.

 

[TheBrightSide]

If we concede 4 goals in the first 7 minutes next time we make a GF I reckon that'd be it for me.

I went to school with someone (an Essendon supporter) who left at half time.

 

[NAB777]

I went to school with someone (an Essendon supporter) who left at half time.

An Essendonian left at half time to go & watch Bathurst.

He might have been heard to say 'I'm not going to miss anything, anyhow".

 

[NAB777]

the game style is so ahead of its time, look at all the forward handball, at the time it used to be kick mark, kick mark - this is exhilarating, just constant forward movement and forward handball cutting through the traditional lines

I was lucky enough to be there. I've said it elsewhere, but this era was where the past was starting to meet the future, in terms of what footy would become.
Not full time professionals, but getting there - and you can see it.

Leon Baker...man, I loved him.