Essendon will play its final practice match of the 2001 pre-season at Lavington, near Albury, on Saturday, March 17th. Essendon will play Richmond and the match will commence at 7.30pm. The Bombers have twice played at Lavington and have split the results in those visits - defeating Carlton in 1995 and going down to Sydney in 1992.

In 1995 Essendon 16.7 (103) defeated Carlton 8.7 (55). For the Bombers Darren Bewick and Paul Salmon kicked three goals each and a young Gary moorcroft kicked one goal.

In 1992, the Bombers were dumped from the Fosters Cup competition when they went down to Sydney by 61-points. The match saw National Draft selection Shane Strempl play his one and only game for the club. Bombers fans also saw a superbly skilled winger make his debut in the number 52 jumper - his name was Mark Mercuri.