The Red & Black Project

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.
Go Bombers!

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.
Go Bombers!

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.
Go Bombers!

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!

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 1997, his key role in helping rebuild a battling Collingwood, and he shares his views on the current recruiting team at The Hangar.
This podcast is proudly brought to you by Dan Eddy Books, the Essendonians, and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association.
Go Bombers!