The Red & Black Project
An oral history of the Essendon Football Club, proudly supported by the Essendonians and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association.
Episodes
42 episodes
#889 Wayne Otway
West Australian rover, Wayne Otway, Bomber number 889, was 25 years young when he played his first game for the Bombers in round 1, 1982. Two hours later, having amassed 28 disposals and kicked five goals, the Essendon supporters had a new hero...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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1:30:41
#629 Ray Martini
At 95 years young, Ray Martini, Bomber number 629, is Essendon's oldest living player, having played 13 games between 1950-52; an achievement in itself given Martini's time at Windy Hill coincided with the finest era in the club's VFL/AFL histo...
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Season 3
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Episode 41
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1:12:27
#928 John Barnes
Over two stints at Essendon, John Barnes, Bomber number 928, certainly left his imprint on the fabric of the Essendon Football Club. When the Bombers took all before them in 2000, Barnes was a vital ingredient in the tight bond shared by the pr...
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Season 3
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Episode 40
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1:52:54
#652 Greg Sewell
Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 652, Greg Sewell, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Sewell played 171 games...
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Season 3
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Episode 39
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54:35
#905 Leon Baker
One of Essendon's most popular players of all-time, Leon Baker will forever be remembered for his two sensational last-quarter goals in the 1984 Grand Final, which helped the Bombers to break a 19-year premiership drought. He was a star again t...
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Season 3
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Episode 38
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1:56:26
Matthew Drain
As football manager from 1997-2002, Matthew Drain played a vital role in the running of the Essendon Football Club during its most recent premiership era. Whether sitting alongside Kevin Sheedy in the coach's box, running messages during games,...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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2:13:11
Noel Judkins - Part 2
In the second episode of my two-part chat with legendary recruiter, Noel Judkins, he explains some of the key draft moves that helped set Essendon up for two more premierships in 1993 and 2000. Judkins also reveals why he left the Bombers in 19...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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2:11:17
Noel Judkins - Part 1
In part one of this extended two-part special with legendary recruiter, Noel Judkins, we discuss Noel's arrival at Windy Hill and his early years working alongside Kevin Sheedy as the Bombers built towards the 1984-85 premierships.This e...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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2:03:01
#783 Ken Roberts
Hear from Bomber #783, Ken Roberts, as he recalls his time at Windy Hill during the 1970s. A tough, versatile player, Roberts played 100 games and kicked 111 goals between 1970-77, where under four coaches he played at half-forward, full-forwar...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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1:24:41
#958 Brad Fox
Bomber #958 Brad Fox recalls his time growing up in Western Australia, his recruitment to Essendon as a high draft pick (12th overall in the 1988 National Draft), his years at Windy Hill which included the 1992 reserves premiership, his brief s...
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Season 3
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Episode 33
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1:34:38
#887 Steve Copping
Today, we'd refer to Steve Copping as a "mature age" recruit: he was 25 when he ran out for the first time with Essendon in round 1, 1982. In fact, Copping was as shocked as anyone when Kevin Sheedy and Noel Judkins knocked on his door midway t...
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Season 3
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Episode 32
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1:23:43
#716 Russell Blew
Bomber number 716, Russell Blew, was a star wingman during the 1960s, a decade that saw Essendon play off in three Grand Finals. He was a key player in the 1962 & 1965 premiership victories, and he narrowly missed a third flag in 1968 when ...
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Season 3
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Episode 31
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1:32:54
#908 Mark Harvey
Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 908, Mark Harvey, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. One of Essendon's finest s...
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Season 2
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Episode 30
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36:39
#1001 Justin Blumfield
Raised in Canberra, Justin Blumfield was one of a number of exciting and talented recruits who arrived at Essendon during the mid-late 1990s and helped steer the club to the 2000 premiership, the Bombers' most recent Grand Final triumph. Posses...
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Season 2
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Episode 29
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1:14:03
The Trainers: Charlie Italia, Murray Spargo & Rob Destradi
With over 100 years of experience, collectively, working at the Essendon Football Club, much loved trainers Charlie Italia, Murray Spargo and Rob Destradi have a catalogue of fascinating stories to share from their decades spent helping players...
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Season 2
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Episode 28
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1:32:15
#803 Graham Moss
Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 803, Graham Moss, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Few players in VFL/AFL history have...
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Season 2
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Episode 27
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32:32
#736 Kevin Egan
Bomber number 736, Kevin Egan, has pretty much done it all at Essendon. Premiership player (1965), numerous off-field roles including being Kevin Sheedy's right-hand man during the 1980s, and later on the board when the momentous decision was m...
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Season 2
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Episode 26
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1:21:52
Kevin Andrews
You may not recognise him in the street, but you certainly know his work and have likely sung his song on many an occasion. Kevin Andrews is the man who penned the most famous of songs, the Essendon theme song (he even sings it for me in this e...
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Season 2
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Episode 25
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1:09:22
#820 Simon Madden
Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 820, Simon Madden, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. One of Essendon's, and the game's,...
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Season 2
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Episode 24
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52:55
#19 Neil McKissock
As one of just 25 men in 152 years to have held the title of president/chairman of the Essendon Football Club, Neil McKissock is in select company. As the 19th president of the Bombers (2004-06), McKissock, a life-long supporter of the club who...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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1:00:25
#973 David Calthorpe
A member of Essendon's famed Baby Bombers, David Calthorpe reflects with raw honesty and openness on his 92-game career at Windy Hill (1992-98), which included the 1994 pre-season premiership, an EJ Whitten Medal as best Victorian State of Orig...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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1:59:46
#684 Col Hebbard
Former West Australian recruit, Colin Hebbard, reminisces about his 85-game career at Windy Hill (1957-61), which coincided with two Grand Final appearances in 1957 and 1959 - both losses to Melbourne - under legendary coach Dick Reynolds. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 21
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1:14:32
#883 Tony Buhagiar
From his hometown of Perth in Western Australia, Tony 'The Budgie' Buhagiar reflects on his four seasons at Windy Hill (1981-84), which coincided with the rise of the Bombers under Kevin Sheedy. Buhagiar burst onto the VFL scene after a success...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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1:06:24
#804 Russell Ellen
A product of Essendon's fruitful Wimmera recruiting zone during the 1970s, Russell Ellen played 35 games for the Bombers (1973-77). His time at Windy Hill coincided with the careers of champion ruckman, Graham Moss, and an emerging Simon Madden...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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1:33:55
#888 Bill Duckworth
Enjoy a laugh with Bomber number 888, Bill Duckworth, one of Essendon's most popular players and funniest storytellers, as he reminisces about his 126 games in red and black (1982-90), which included 64 goals, two premierships (1984-85) and the...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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1:34:13