Essendon’s list of battle hardened warriors and exciting young players took all before them in 2000.
Fresh from the disappointment of a Preliminary Final loss in 1999, the Bombers exacted revenge in the best way possible.
Victory in the pre-season competition got things off to a great start and the momentum continued throughout the home and away season.
The Bombers dropped just one game, an 11-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in round 21.
Essendon entered the finals series five games clear on top of the ladder and the dominance continued in the Qualifying Final.
The side kicked 31 goals in their 125-point victory over North Melbourne. Matthew Lloyd kicked seven goals, including his 100th of the season. James Hird kicked five while Joe Misiti ended the game with 41 disposals and four goals.
After a week off, Essendon ended Carlton’s season in the Preliminary Final. The Bombers led at every change and ran out comfortable 45-point winners.
The win set up a Grand Final match-up with Melbourne.
Inaccuracy kept the game tight in the first quarter as the Bombers kicked 4.8 to 3.3. But six goals to two saw Essendon open up a 41-point lead at half time.
By the final siren the margin was an even ten goals. Hird won the Norm Smith Medal for his 29 possession, two-goal performance.
Lloyd and Paul Barnard kicked four goals each, while Blake Caracella kicked three. Misiti (26 possessions) and Justin Blumfield (23 possessions) were also prominent.
Highlighting Essendon’s dominant season four players picked up double figure votes in the Brownlow Medal count (Hird 16, Lloyd, 14, Fletcher 11, Misiti 11).
Adam Ramanauskas finished runner-up in the AFL’s rising Star award and four players (Hardwick, Fletcher, Hird, Lloyd) were named in the All-Australian side.
2000 Premiership side
B: M.Johnson, Fletcher, Wellman
HB: Hardwick, Wallis, Solomon
C: Heffernan, Misiti, Caracella
HF: Mercuri, Lucas, Hird
F: Ramanauskas, Lloyd, Long
R: Barnes, Blumfield, J.Johnson
I: Bewick, Barnard, Alessio, Moorcroft
