Ken Fraser played 198 games for Essendon.  He played in the 1962 premiership and was Captain for the 1965 triumph.  The two-time best and fairest winner is also a member of the Bombers Team of the Century.  In this special insight, Fraser details his thoughts on the rivalry between Essendon and Carlton.

In 1947 as a seven-year-old living in North Essendon, I became a passionate Essendon supporter. It was a powerful Club then with triple Brownlow Medallist Dick Reynolds as playing/coach and double Brownlow Medallist Bill Hutchison as first rover.

The team played Carlton in the Grand Final and kicked 11.19.85 to Carlton’s 13.8.86. The Carlton player Stafford snapped a goal with 40 seconds left to play.

I was heartbroken and still vividly remember being in tears at the seeming unfairness of such a loss.

As an 11 year old in 1951 there was a second occasion to add to my dislike of Carlton. The previous two years in 1949 and 1950 were premiership years for the Dons; one of the main reasons for their success was the legendary John Coleman. He had joined the Club in 1949 and topped the VFL goal kicking in both 1949 and 1950 .The Dons had a fine team and the league's super star player at full forward.

But in the last match of the season for 1951, Essendon played Carlton.

Most full backs tried aggressive tactics to quell Coleman's ability and in this last match of the season, the Carlton full back Harry Caspar spared no mercy in harassing Coleman. An exasperated Coleman retaliated with a punch, was reported and the VFL Tribunal suspended him for four matches, missing any chance of participating in the Finals series.

Essendon and the football world was stunned by the severity of the suspension, for it was the first time that Coleman had been reported despite the weekly harassment by opposition full backs. In my mind as a fanatical 11-year-old Essendon supporter, it was a Carlton conspiracy! The faceless men on the Tribunal were undoubtedly Carlton supporters!

John Coleman and Harry Caspar shape up in that infamous match in 1951.

Essendon without their star full forward managed to get through to the Grand Final only to be narrowly beaten by a strong Geelong side by the small margin of 11 points. To me and many Essendon supporters’ Carlton was the reason for losing that premiership. And so the dislike for Carlton intensified.

There was some respite in 1962 when I was fortunate be a member of the team that beat Carlton quite convincingly in the Grand Final. John Coleman was our Coach so it was very pleasing “revenge” for John and for our growing number of Essendon fans.

Essendon had been reasonably successful period throughout the 1960's, winning the Flag again in 1965. Carlton after a few lean years had been out of the finals until 1967.

Come 1968 and the teams played off in the Grand Final.

In a tight match Carlton prevailed by three points. Diehard Essendon supporters rue the fact the star Centre Half Forward Alan Noonan was not awarded a free kick for what seemed a blatant push in the back not far out from goal in the dying minutes of the game. It was just not fair! And so the dislike intensified.

The period 1970-1982 was a lean one for Dons supporters with no premierships, whilst Carlton dominated, winning another five flags. By 1982 Carlton had surged ahead having won a total of 14 premierships to Essendon's 12.

Fortunately Kevin Sheedy came on board and success began again.

Kevin Sheedy's 'Baby Bombers' beat Carlton in the 1993 Grand Final.

Now it is John Worsfold’s turn.

Good luck Dons for a memorable victory on Sunday!

Go Bombers!

Ken Fraser