Few players have traversed more of the country in pursuit of their AFL dream than West Australian-born Dale Kickett, who represented Fitzroy (15 games, 1990), West Coast (2, 1991), St Kilda (21, 1992), Essendon (8, 1994) and Fremantle (135, 1995-2002). A triple premiership player at WA club Claremont (1989, 1991, 1993), it was during Kickett's only season at Windy Hill where he won his only AFL premiership: the 1994 pre-season Foster's Cup. By then, he certainly knew how to perform in big games, having twice won the Simpson Medal as best afield in WAFL Grand Finals (1991, 1993). An inaugural Docker, Kickett won a Doig Medal as club best and fairest (1997), represented WA in State of Origin, and in 2024 was inducted into the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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Wingman Roger Hampson, Bomber number 772, had his playing career at Essendon cut short due to injury, managing just 10 games in three years (1969-71), but he did play in the 1968 reserves premiership side. He later returned to Essendon after the 1988 season, replacing Barry Capuano as general manager. During his seven years as GM, Hampson was involved in many significant events, including the move from Windy Hill to the MCG, the 1990 and 1993 Grand Finals, and, of course, working alongside legendary coach, Kevin Sheedy. 

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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Bomber number 701, Graham Leydin, recalls his 35-game career at Windy Hill (1959-61 & 1964), where he won an under-19s best and fairest (1958) and was a member of Essendon's 1959 Grand Final side which lost to Melbourne. Also his successful cricket career, which saw him play matches against touring nations, England and South Africa.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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In this episode, Bomber number 808, Ron Andrews, a man with one of the most notorious reputations in VFL/AFL history (he was suspended for a total of 24 weeks during his 12-year career), reveals insights that he's never shared before, including his mental and physical battles after that career-altering knee injury in 1978 and his devastation at missing out on Essendon's 1983 Grand Final side. If you thought you knew 'Rugged' or 'Rotten' Ronnie Andrews, nicknames bestowed upon him by the media, think again! During his 11 years at Windy Hill (1973-83, 151 games) Andrews was a fan favourite with the red & black army. He captained the club in 1982, won a reserves premiership in 1983, then, having fallen out of favour with coach Kevin Sheedy, played one final season at Collingwood (1984, 6 games), retiring on 157 games and a highlight reel as memorable as any player in Essendon's history.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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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 to cheer for. If not for injuries, Otway may well have been roving in the back-to-back premierships of 1984-85, however, it was not to be and after just 36 games (and 65 goals) he returned to WA at the end of 1983 to play again with his original club, East Perth, where he was a premiership player (1978) and former best and fairest winner (1980).

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

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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 history. Martini played alongside Dick Reynolds, John Coleman and Bill Hutchison—all Legends of the Australian Football Hall of Fame—and was a member of the 1950 and 1952 reserves premiership teams. He then played one year at Carlton (7 games, 1953) but, as he happily admits, his heart remains with the Red & Black.

NOTE: In the background, you may hear the occasional prompt from Ray's wife, Noreen.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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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 premiership team. In his first period at Windy Hill, Barnes managed just 12 games across four seasons (1987-90), before he was traded to Geelong for Sean Denham. At the Cattery, Barnes' athletisicm and endurance came to the fore as he helped drive the team into three Grand Finals (1992, 1994-95)—all losses—before falling out of favour with coach Gary Ayres. At the end of 1999, Barnes was offered a lifeline by Kevin Sheedy to return to Essendon, where he joined forces with ruckman Steve Alessio and played a further 46 games (2000-01), including two more Grand Finals. In all, Barnes—one of the great larrikins of the game—played 202 AFL games and also represented Victoria.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddybooks.com.

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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 in red and black (1952-61) and was a member of the club's 1952 reserves premiership side. He kicked four goals in the 1959 VFL Grand Final loss to Melbourne. He then coached the reserves to a premiership (1968), filled in for John Coleman as senior coach for one game (rd 11, 1965), then served on the Essendon committee (1969-76). Coaxed back to the club in 1980, he replaced Colin Stubbs as Essendon president and was in the chair when the Bombers won the 1984-85 premierships. In 2009, Sewell was elevated to Legend status in the club's Hall of Fame.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the EFCPP&OA and daneddybooks.com.

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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 the following year, when Essendon went back-to-back in dominant fashion with a 78-point win over Hawthorn. Baker played 86 games and kicked 70 goals in the No. 4 guernsey, was twice runner-up in the Crichton Medal, All-Australian, and represented Western Australia in State of Origin footy (despite being born and raised in country Victoria). Before joining the Bombers, Baker had starred with WA club Swan Districts, where he was later named in the club's Team of the Century. Baker's brief but magical career at Windy Hill was recognised in 2002, when he was selected at No. 40 in the top 60 'Champions of Essendon'.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by daneddybooks.com, the Essendonians and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association.

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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, or dealing with any off-field issues, Drain experienced everything during his time in football, which included stints with the West Coast Eagles, Sydney Swans, the Western Bulldogs, St Kilda and Port Adelaide. Here, he shares some fascinating insights into the mighty Bombers and their people during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

This podcast is proudly brought to you by Dan Eddy Books, the Essendonians and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association.

Go Bombers!