On the back of the club’s ‘Don The Sash’ membership campaign launch for this year, essendonfc.com.au takes a closer look at the dominant decades of the sash over Essendon’s proud history.

Today we focus on the 1960s, a decade that included two premierships under the coaching reign of legendary player John Coleman.

It was expected that the 1960 season would be the year of the Bombers following an impressive campaign in 1959 when the young squad reached the Grand Final to be beaten by the 1950s’ team of the decade Melbourne. But despite strong early form with five straight wins and 11 wins in the first 13 games, the Bombers’ form dropped off at the business end of the season and the team lost the first semi-final to Collingwood by nine points.

On a individual level, 1960 was a triumph for a handful of Essendon stars. Captain Jack Clarke was again appointed captain of the Victorian team which also included two of Clarke’s Essendon team mates; the exciting young full forward and 1959 and 1960 League leading goal kicker Ron Evans, and Essendon champion Reg Burgess. By season’s end, the side fell under pressure which led to the release of Dick Reynolds as coach at the beginning of 1961 after 22 years in that role.

Following Reynolds’ release, the club’s committee advertised for a coach, and they didn’t have to look far when club legend John Coleman announced his availability. Coleman’s appointment as senior coach effectively ended ‘King Richard’s’ reign at Essendon after 28 years at Windy Hill, 22 as coach. Reynolds was to return as a committeeman before retiring from the club in 1972.

But while Coleman’s first year as coach was not a huge success, 1962 proved to be an unexpected success.

As Flying Higher states: “In a sensational burst of football power, Essendon started the 1962 season in a blaze of glory and continued on its winning way right through the season. It only lost two matches during the year to finish on top of the ladder.”

The team was marching toward the flag and were undisputed favourites to take out the premiership. Facing arch-rivals Carlton in the Grand Final, the Dons went on to spectacularly claim victory 13.12 (90) to 8.10 (58).  Jack Clarke was easily best on ground, while Hugh Mitchell, John Birt, Geoff Leek, Alec Epis, Graham Beissel, Barry Davis, Russell Blew, David Shaw and Barry Capuano all contributed magnificently.

In just his second year as coach, Coleman had taken the Bombers to their eleventh premiership, and the club’s first premiership win in 12 years. Coleman was ably supported by another one of Essendon’s favourite sons in Bill Hutchison, who was assistant coach in that year, as well as reserves coach.

It was a brilliant year for the Bombers, with Ken Fraser finishing equal second in the Brownlow Medal count behind Alistair Lord of Geelong. Fraser finished third in 1963 and then fourth in 1965. He was one of the game’s best players not to the win the award. In 1962, a band of loyal supporters and donors formed the club’s first coterie group known as ‘The Essendonians’.

After winning the premiership so convincingly in 1962, Essendon supporters were expecting big things in 1963. But despite record memberships, it was a letdown of a year on the field. Despite spending 10 weeks on top of the ladder, longer than any other team, the Bombers slipped to fifth for only the second time all season after the final round, allowing St Kilda to grab fourth spot. Despite the expectation at the start of the season there would be no finals football for the Bombers.

The following year would bring more disappointment. While the side finished two places higher than the year before in third spot, it lost the first semi-final to Geelong. The season was also remembered for a particular incident against Geelong in which coach John Coleman was reported and heavily reprimanded, and again some lacklustre performances on-field. Surprisingly only one player, Lindsay McGie, made his senior debut in 1964, the lowest number of Essendon debutants before or since.

If 1964 was a disappointment it was 1965 that surprised most Bomber fans. With new captain Ken Fraser at the helm, after Jack Clarke stepped down, the club started the season in fine fashion. By season’s end, Essendon was fourth on the ladder and the club went in to the finals’ series as underdogs. However, in the first semi-final against Geelong, the Bombers smashed them by 52 points and the rest of the teams were on notice.

A fortnight later Essendon faced Collingwood and the stage was set for one of the most controversial incidents in finals history. About 10 minutes into the game Essendon’s John Somerville was knocked out behind play by Collingwood’s Duncan Wright. Somerville was stretchered off the ground and Essendon players and fans were livid. Captain Ken Fraser gathered his players and implored them ‘to not get sucked in’ and to play the ball and not retaliate, while behind him ‘Bluey’ Shelton was advising his team mates to ‘Kill the b******s’! The incident led to Wright’s sacking at Collingwood  early the following year and field umpire that day Ron Brophy never umpired another league game.

Despite losing Somerville, Essendon won every quarter to run out 55-point winners and take their place in a second Grand Final in four years.   

The Bombers went in to the 1965 Grand Final against St Kilda with plenty of confidence despite having lost John Somerville and with a shoulder injury to ‘Bluey’ Shelton which was kept hush-hush. Ted Fordham had kicked six goals again the Magpies and fans were hoping his form would continue. Before a crowd of 104,846 the Bombers were only eight points in front at half time after failing to capitalise on their scoring opportunities. But a three-quarter time turnaround, when Essendon kicked five goals to St Kilda’s one, proved pivotal, and the Bombers went on claim their twelfth premiership. Ted Fordham’s seven goals was the equal highest in a Grand Final to that time. It was a brilliant achievement for Essendon to claim the flag after finishing fourth, the first time since Essendon won the flag 1949 that any side had done so from fourth position. It was also a personal triumph for first-year captain Ken Fraser.

The following season Essendon won 14 of its 18 home and away games, its best effort since the premiership year of 1962 and defeated Geelong by 10 points in the first semi-final before being well beaten by eventual premiers St Kilda two weeks later.

The following year, 1967, Essendon missed the finals for the first time in four season and finished sixth with only eight wins. The last time the team has won fewer games was in 1937.

It was to be John Coleman’s last season at the helm and he retired at the end of the year. After seven years as coach Coleman’s record was two flags in eight finals appearances. His win record of over 67% is the highest of any coach in league history with 100 games or more. The Essendon legend had retired prematurely due to heath reasons, which would ultimately be the reason for his passing in April, 1973.

Jack Clarke replaced Coleman at the end of 1967 and upon his induction said “I want to try to put more fun and enjoyment back into football.” Clarke introduced a new approach to training and by the end of his first year as senior coach the Bombers marched straight into another Grand Final and met old foes Carlton. In a thriller at the MCG, the Bombers went down by just three points. There was no solace for the Dons as they had once again lost a Grand Final against Carlton by less than one straight kick – the same as in 1947.

With a number of senior players retiring by 1969, including gentleman captain Ken Fraser who’d retired at the end of 1968, the Bombers would feel the loss of experience in their side.

After the success of the 1960s the 1970s would prove to be an entirely different decade.