If history is anything to go by this weekend's Grand Final replay between Essendon and Melbourne at the MCG will be a cliffhangar. Since Kevin Sheedy took over at Windy Hill in 1981, the Bombers have taken part in five Grand Final replays - the average margin between the two side on these occasions has been an astonishing nine-points. At the conclusion of three of the replays the two sides were separated by six points or less on four occasions. Most of these repalys came on the back of resounding Grand Final wins so it goes to show that a year is a long time in football. We thought we should take a closer look at the Grand Final repalys since Kevin Sheedy has been at the helm.

The first Grand Final replay came in round two of the 1984 season when Essendon and Hawthorn went head-to-head at Windy Hill. Hawthorn had won the Grand Final of 1983 by a massive 83 points. The Bombers again went down in round two but the margin was just six points. Dermott Brereton and Chris Langford each kicked four goals on that day while Paul Salmon kicked seven for the Bombers. The final score was Hawthorn 17.14 (116) d Essendon 16.14 (110). Even after two rounds of football it was obvious that Hawthorn and Essendon were the sides to beat that season.

The Grand Final replay of 1985 saw Essendon take on Hawthorn in round three at Waverley. The Bombers had won the Grand Final in 1984 by 24 points. This result was closer again with the Bombers sneaking home by just 14 points. The final score was Essendon 17.12 (114) d Hawthorn 15.10 (100). The match was actually played prior to round one of that season as part of Victoria's 150th anniversary. One noteable incident from that game was Roger Merrett's report. Merrett had his number taken for time wasting and he was the first player to be reported for such an offence.

In 1986 Essendon and Hawthorn again met in the Grand Final replay at Waverley in round six. Essendon had smashed Hawthorn by 78 points in the Grand Final but Hawthorn turned it all around in this match running out 24-point winners. The final score was Hawthorn 19.12 (126) d Essendon 15.12 (102). The Bombers were without Darren Williams, Paul Van Der Haar and Tim Watson through injury. Steven Clarke kicked four goals in a losing side. The Bombers match committee was far from impressed and Peter Bradbury and Stephen Carey were dumped in the coming weeks.

In 1991 the Bombers did battle with Collingwood in the Grand Final replay in round 15 at Waverley. Collingwood had won the Grand Final by 48 points the previous year and it was Collingwood who was again victorious but this time by just two points. The final score was Collingwood 11.10 (76) d Essendon 10.14 (74). It was a surprise loss for the Bombers who were in second place on the ladder at the time. Collingwood on the other hand were a dismal 11th. Only 43,000 attended the match.

The Grand Final replay of 1994 was another cliffhangar with Essendon beating Carlton by just one point. Essendon had won the previous season's Grand Final by 44 points. It was a round nine match played at Waverley and only 40080 people attended the match. James Hird and Michael Symons kicked three goals each but the Bombers were aided by some woeful kicking for goal by the Bombers. The final score was Essendon 9.9 (63) d Carlton 7.20 (62).

There have been controversies and close games - just what will this Sunday bring?