The 2000 season was certainly a memorable one for those in the red and black, and it all kicked off in style when the Bombers lined up against Port Adelaide in the first ever game held at Docklands.

Then called Colonial Stadium, the state-of-the-art facility was looked on with wonder and amazement and Essendon was the club honoured to take part in the first ever game under the roof.

The Thursday night kicked off the entire season and the Bombers were out to make a statement following a fiery pre-season fuelled by the pain of their heartbreaking 1999 preliminary final loss.

Essendon ruck John Barnes battles with Matthew Primus beneath the roof. (Image: AFL Photos)

It was set to be a night of firsts and few would have been surprised to see superstar forward Matthew Lloyd lining up for a set shot and a chance to be the first ever goalkicker at the stadium.

But football doesn’t follow a script and Lloyd, much to the surprise of many, pushed his set shot across the face and was forced to settle as the first player to kick a behind under the roof.

Michael Long was destined to be the man that day, benefiting from a sharp handball from big Bomber John Barnes to burst inside 50 and slot a tidy shot on the run from 40 metres out.

Long shakes hands with Port Adelaide’s Fabian Francis after the historic game. (Image: AFL Photos)

It was clear the Dons were there to impress in front of the boisterous crowd. They entered the first change with a handy 25-point lead after restricting the Power to just three behinds and then they went to work.

A second-quarter Bomber blitz stunned Port, tearing the game away from the visitors as the home side piled on seven goals to two to enter half-time 51 points in the clear, and Lloyd heading into the main break with five goals to his name.

The Bombers weren’t going to ease their way home – not that year with a point to prove. They booted another six goals in the third term to fight off a response from the Power and take a 60-point lead into the final quarter.

The side still wasn’t done yet, nailing another seven goals in the last term to send an imposing message to the competition.

The clear highlight of the final term was brilliant Bomber Dean Rioli’s unbelievable goal on the run. The masterful Don gathered the ball just outside 50 before crashing into an opponent and bouncing off them with ease. While the Power defender was knocked onto the fresh turf, Rioli kept his feet before coolly slotting the shot.

Rioli chats to former Bomber Che Cockatoo-Collins after the victory. (Image: AFL Photos)

Essendon finished the game with 156 points, but that was only its sixth-highest for the season in which the side averaged a mind-boggling 131 points in the unbelievable season.  

At the time, the 94-point margin made it Port’s biggest ever loss in a year that the team would eventually finish in 14th place with seven wins to its name.

The Bombers, of course, went on to play arguably the greatest individual season of any team in history to finish the year five games clear at the top of the ladder with a percentage of 159.1 following just one loss.

Three massive finals wins followed including a sensational 10-goal drubbing of Melbourne in the Grand Final that secured the remarkable team’s place in history, and it all begun under the roof for the first time.

Classy midfielder Jason Johnson was rewarded with three Brownlow Medal votes for 21 disposals, 12 contested possessions, four clearances and four inside 50s.

Lloyd claimed two after a cracking start to the season with seven goals, while captain James

Hird (one vote) was inspirational as always, dazzling on his long-awaited return after nearly a year on the sidelines with 19 disposals, 10 contested possessions, five inside 50s and four goals.

The two sides have met under the roof 13 times since that famous night and they’ll do it again in a huge clash this Saturday from 1:45pm.

This flashback is brought to you by DON Smallgoods.