The Essendon side of 2000 was arguably one of the best the game has seen and never more evident was that than on Grand Final day. The Bombers scored a comprehensive victory over Melbourne on that occasion. But it will be a very different side that takes the field against the Demons this Sunday. Essendon has played just seven AFL matches since Grand Final day. Ironically that matches the number of Essendon players who will be missing from the Grand Final side this weekend.
Chris Heffernan, Darren Bewick, Steven Alessio, Michael Long, Mark Mercuri, Joe Misiti and Dean Wallis are all missing from the successful Grand Final side. Six of them are injured while Bewick has retired. Melbourne by the same token will also be a very different side with at least six players being sidelined. Peter Walsh, Matthew Collins, Andrew Leoncelli, Jeff Farmer, Stephen Powell and Troy Simmonds will all be missing.
“We have got a few players out at the moment but that is always going to happen,” Essendon assistant Mark Harvey said. “You would like to think that you are going to have your best players fit and raring to go each week but it just doesn’t happen that way. We (Essendon and Melbourne) are both missing good players.”
The one constant for the Bombers this season has been the back six. “The defence hasn’t really been affected by injury this season which has been a bonus,” Harvey said. “Obviously you would like your personnel to be constant all over the ground but I think it is particularly important in defence. Defenders get used to playing with each other and it really helps them gel.”
Here are the two sides that were named on Grand Final day 2000.
Backs: Dean Wallis Dustin Fletcher Mark JohnsonJeff Farmer David Neitz Stephen PowellHalf Backs: Dean Solomon Sean Wellman Damian HardwickBrad Green David Schwarz Russell Robertson
Centres: Justin Blumfield Joe Misti Blake CaracellaDaniel Ward Shane Woewodin Anthony McDonald
Half Forwards: Mark Mercuri Scott Lucas James HirdSteven Febey Alistair Nicholson Adem Yze
Forwards: Steven Alessio Matthew Lloyd Michael LongPeter Walsh Anthony Ingerson Matthew Collins
Followers: John Barnes Chris Heffernan Jason JohnsonJeff White Andrew Leoncelli Guy Rigoni
Bench: Paul Barnard Darren Bewick Gary Moorcroft Adam RamanauskasBen Beams Brent Grgic Travis Johnstone Troy Simmonds
