#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 through 1981 and asked him to leave South Australia and move to Melbourne to be part of the rising Bombers.

After a fine career with Glenelg, Copping played 42 games with Essendon (1982-84) and kicked 88 goals playing alongside the likes of Roger Merrett and Simon Madden in the multi-pronged Bomber forward line. He was a part of the club's losing 1983 Grand Final side, before the emergence of Paul Salmon led to him returning to Glenelg where he finally won an elusive premiership in 1985 then again in 1986. With 246 games and 460 goals for the Tigers (1974-81 & 1985-86), Copping was later inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2004.

This episode of the Red & Black Project Podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.