It’s been 15 years since Essendon last took on Sydney at the MCG and the sides will finally return to battle at the home of football on Saturday.

But look back a further five years and you’ll discover one of the greatest individual performances by any forward in VFL/AFL history.

It was in round three, 1999, and the Bombers entered the clash with the Swans favoured to win after claiming two impressive victories in the opening two games of the season, while Sydney had suffered defeats to Port Adelaide and Richmond.

Enter Matthew Lloyd, aged 20.

Coming off a pair of moderate games – by Lloyd’s lofty standards – booting three goals in each of the first two rounds against Carlton and North Melbourne, the masterful forward was keen to get back to his best against the Swans in round three.

Matthew Lloyd took his game to new heights in 1999. (Image: AFL Photos)

He certainly did that, putting together an unbelievable performance in one of the most dominant goalkicking displays ever seen at the MCG.

Lloyd booted 13 goals and four behinds that day, largely off the back of a sensational aerial effort raking in 14 marks and proving simply unbeatable in the contest.

He claimed 26 disposals to go with his huge career-high goal haul, also recording career-high tallies for kicks (22) and contested marks (nine), and equal career-high numbers for contested possessions (12) and marks inside 50 (12).

The teams had just three goals apiece at quarter-time, but Lloyd’s monstrous game helped the Bombers race away from the Swans to claim a brilliant 81-point victory.

The legendary Don would go on to boot 87 goals and claim an All Australian selection in a massive season, setting up a huge era for the club in which he would also kick over 100 goals in each of the next two years to help the Bombers reach consecutive Grand Finals.

This flashback is brought to you by DON Smallgoods.