The shy and retiring Blues stirred up the rivalry with their latest slogan and the Bombers have responded in kind.
Essendon today posted a slogan on the club website (essendonfc.com.au): “They Know We’re Waiting”.
Club insiders said the Bombers were counting down the days to their Round 3 clash with the Blues saying, despite a heavy injury count and very young team, Essendon beat Carlton twice in 2008.
The 2009 clash is expected to be Victorian tribal warfare at its best and has the hall-marks of a classic encounter between two young, improving Victorian teams desperate to return to finals action. A crowd of around 80,000 people is expected.
A recent poll, run on essendonfc.com.au, showed that Carlton is the team Essendon fans most enjoy beating.
In general, the 2009 season is shaping as a big one for Victorian football with the likely resurgence of Essendon, Carlton and Richmond and the expected success of Collingwood, Hawthorn and Geelong.
Essendon has two massive Victorian rivalry clashes with Carlton, Collingwood (including a home ANZAC Day game), Richmond and Hawthorn next year.
There will be two big home clashes at Telstra Dome (Etihad Stadium) against the Hawks and Geelong so there are plenty of good reasons to sign up as a member and get to the game.
