michaelwyres.com » Essendon

Bomber Chapters Of My Life

Michael Wyres — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 07:10:33 +0000

Having pulled off a series of inspirational wins in 2011, Essendon supporters have definitely gotten value for their money this year – and none was better than the gutsy defeat of the previously unbeaten Geelong several weeks ago, as shown below:

Sitting in my usual seat, it came after a couple of difficult weeks in my life, and lifted me so high.

Wandering through my memories over the years, I have a collection of games that I’ve attended where the same has happened. When I’ve been low, my team has come through for me.

I will never forget our record comeback from 69-points down against North Melbourne in 2001. I was there.

Darren Bewick kicking two huge goals right in front of me to get us home against St Kilda at Waverley Park in 1998.

Coming back from over forty points down at three-quarter-time against Melbourne in 1992. I was there.

All massive, all emotional, and none of them I will ever forget – and almost all of them coinciding with a time I needed an emotional lift. They sometimes feel like they did them for me.

Here’s a short compilation of some of the miraculous moments I have been lucky enough to witness live:

Steve Alessio – “A Kick for the Ages” – we’d been behind Sydney all night, played like a second rate team – but lifted in the last quarter, with Alessio putting us in front with a few seconds to go – the first time we’d led all night.

Gary Moorcroft – “It’ll be on CNN!” – regarded by many as the greatest mark of all time – (and certainly in the top two or three) – I was at the far end from this huge one, but just remember the complete sense of euphoria that spread around the ground. And it did get on CNN. And he did it on Brad Johnson’s back, which made it more special.

James Hird – “You Are A Genius” – a remarkable see-sawing game against West Coast, following a week in which James Hird was penalised for publicly criticising an umpire, and under pressure from many angles. Fifteen possessions in the final quarter and the miraculous final goal. I was sitting directly behind the line of this kick, and it was unforgettable.

David Zaharakis – “Zaharakis! Zaharakis!” – fighting back after looking completely beaten, David Zaharakis kicks his first goal in football. To beat Collingwood. On Anzac Day. If he never did another thing in football, it would never been forgotten.

Adam Goodes – “He’s Missed!” – not actually an Essendon player of course, but last night another memory was added to the list – the best point I’ve ever seen an opposition player kick. Goodes needed a goal to give Sydney the win after the final siren, and he missed. One of the best games of the year. Elation.

Never say die, Essendon.

The Mayor of Essendon Returns

Michael Wyres — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:46:08 +0000

In a fairly corny piece put together by Seven Nightly News in 1993, Mark Thompson was named “the new Mayor of Essendon” for a day, after captaining the Essendon Football Club to the 1993 AFL premiership.

With the return of Thompson to Windy Hill in December as the senior assistant to new head coach James Hird, after a successful eleven season stint as the coach of the Geelong Cats, the mayor in returning to his throne.

Welcome home Bomber, welcome home.

AFL Gains 19th Team!

Michael Wyres — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:19:29 +0000

In breaking news, it appears that a 19th team will join the AFL, after the Gold Coast Suns join in 2011, and Greater Western Sydney join in 2012.

As reported in today’s Herald Sun, it appears that the new team will be called “Essdeon”, which defeated St Kilda last night – (must have been a practice match).

I wonder if Essendon will have a problem with the name of the new side?

Double Standard Saints

Michael Wyres — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:09:53 +0000

In what is likely – (unfortunately) – to turn into one of those messy “nobody wins” situation, two players from AFL club St Kilda have been accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a schoolgirl – who also claims she is pregnant as a result of the relationship(s).

I have no intention of delving into this case in any particular detail, however I did find a statement made today in relation to the matter by St Kilda coach Ross Lyon to be interesting:

“We’re not into naming players … once it’s concluded, we will make a statement.”

Not into naming players? Even though St Kilda was more than happy to drop Andrew Lovett into the mire in a very public fashion in regards to an as-yet unproven rape allegation?

I have no love for Andrew Lovett – (as an Essendon supporter, I was more than happy to see him leave the club) – but when the rape allegation against him was made, the Saints dropped him in the shit immediately, and completely suspended him from the club. Yet in relation to this latest scandal, they won’t name names, and they certainly haven’t suspended anyone.

It is true that if the players involved today are shown to truly be involved with this schoolgirl, they may not have done anything illegal – but this doesn’t mean that they haven’t done something illegal either, so if the club was consistent, they should be naming and suspending the players until the matter is resolved. Just as they did Andrew Lovett, who is also yet to be shown to be guilty.

Double standard much?

UPDATE 7:39pm: Seems that the players have been cleared, but I believe the point remains that St Kilda treated what for all they knew at the time were very similarly serious cases in a completely different manner.

Kennett Has Convenient Memory

Michael Wyres — Sun, 09 May 2010 07:24:14 +0000

Well, Jeff Kennett is flapping his gums once again, and is displaying his carefully convenient memory – especially when it comes to the defection of former Hawthorn CEO Ian Robson to Essendon.

In today’s media, Kennett states that:

Ian came to me at the beginning of the year last year and said that he and his wife had decided they’d like to renew their contract at Hawthorn, but if the top job in the AFL or Cricket Australia came up, he’d like to pursue it with my support.

Yet today, with the Hawks reeling with only a single win so far for the season, he has a slightly different “memory” in effect!

Ian has completed five years at Hawthorn and had indicated at the beginning of the year that he was looking at other employment opportunities. So that this decision is not unexpected.

So what is it Jeff – did he tell you he wanted to stay at Hawthorn, or that he didn’t want to stay at Hawthorn? He certainly didn’t end up at the AFL or Cricket Australia! You even claimed today that you weren’t going to renew his contract anyway.

So what’s the problem?

Sounds to me like Jeff is back to his political roots – the headlines are bad – (bad performance by the Hawks) – so lets change the subject?

Footy fans are not that stupid Jeff!

Scoreboard!

Michael Wyres — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 00:42:19 +0000

Three words – “Essendon defeated Carlton”.

Kyle Reimers even had a chance to point out the condition of the scoreboard to Dennis Armfield, who felt it was a good idea to give Reimers a mouthful, even after kicking the match sealing goal!

James Hird Rises to the Challenge

Michael Wyres — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:39:46 +0000

History channel time again, and a flashback to AFL Round 3, 2004. After publicly slamming the performance of a particular umpire in the media the previous week, superstar James Hird was under the spotlight from all corners of the football world. But champions know how to respond, and in an astoundingly intense game of football, James singlehandedly lifted the Bombers to victory. We might have won without him, but he made sure that we did. That was the value of Hird.

Once again, I was there that night. I was right behind the flight of his winning final goal. Delirium followed, and I still get chills watching this footage. Awesome.

From the Vault: New Essendon “Mayor”

Michael Wyres — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:11:33 +0000

Although pretty corny (really), here’s another classic snippet I’ve recovered out of my old video collection.

On the Wednesday evening after the 1993 AFL Premiership win, here is captain Mark Thompson becoming the “Mayor of Essendon” for the day.

Also included is some great footage of the boys lining up for the official team portrait. Great stuff.