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Updated: 04/10/2009

Essendon Bombers
It is thought that a junior Essendon Club was formed as early as 1862 but that the senior club was probably not formed until 1872. They wore black and red colours from the beginning initially as vertical stripes, adopting their famous black jumper with the red sash in 1874. They were an initial member of the VFA in 1877 and won four VFA premiership in a row from 1891 to 1894 prior to entering the breakaway VFL in 1897.

Essendon has won 16 premierships, including the first in 1897. Its modern day coach is Kevin Sheedy who has coached them since 1981 winning the back-to-back flags in 1984 and 1985, and the flag again in 1993 with the "Baby Bombers" and last year, 2000.

In 1982 a cover was issued showing the Club's logo.

Essendon's home ground from 1922 was Windy Hill which it still uses as its training facility. It then played  its home games at the MCG, but in 2000 moved to Colonial Stadium . Indeed it played the first official match on the 9th March 2000 against Port Adelaide winning easily in front of a crowd of 43,012.

1996 Essendon AFL Centenary Cover

The AFL Centenary Cover above shows the Essendon Peel and Stick Stamps with the Essendon Permanent Pictorial Postmark (PMP 631) which was introduced on the 23rd April 1996. It was also used on a AFL Centenary cover of the 1942 Premiership Team.

The Bombers chose Dick Reynolds on the cover of their stamp Booklet and Gavin Wanganeen on their Postcard and maximum card.

The 1997 Season saw Essendon celebrating its 125th anniversary and the naming of its team of the century.

On the 7th March 2000 the inaugural meeting of the "Premiership Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. Four Essendon players were included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps of the millennium issue. They were Dick Reynolds, Barry Davis, Ken Fraser and Simon Madden. The stamps were also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by Havilah Enterprises.

The 25th May 2000 marked  the release of club and individual 2000 Personalised Stamps.

Season 2000 proved to be Essendon's, or for that matter any other teams, most successful season. They went through the season loosing only one game in round 21  to the Western Bulldogs. In the finals 45 points was the closest margin and they easily won the 2000 Premiership against Melbourne by 60 points.

On the 28th March 2001 the second annual  meeting of the "Premiership Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. Two Essendon players were included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps of the globe and map issue. They were John Birt and Norm McDonald. The stamps were also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by Havilah Enterprises.

The 2001 season has started very well with Bombers only loosing to Carlton, Brisbane and Port Adelaide by the 17th round of the season.  On March 30th the 2001 Personalised Stamps were issued. Back to Back premierships looked a real possibility. Unfortunately the strong finishing Lions relegated them to second place and only one win out of three very successful years started talk of recriminations.

On the 27th March 2002 the third annual  meeting of the "Premiership Players Club" was held at the MCG to help raise funds for charity. Two Essendon players were included in the 20 players pictured on the A4 sheet of 20 P stamps of the sand, sea and sky overlaid by the Southern Cross issue. They were Alan Dale and Terry Danhier. The stamps were also displayed on a set of 20 first day covers by First Class Collectables.

 On the 15th May the Bombers 2002 Personalised Stamps were released.

2002 proved a difficult season. The Bombers ended the season 5th on the ladder. They then defeated the Eagles but lost to Port Adelaide in a semifinal in Adelaide.

The 2003 season was plagued by injury. The Annual Premiership Players Club P stamp Sheet of 20 players was released on the 26th March 2003. The Essendon players featured were Dean Wallis and Jack Jones. In April the 2003 Personalised Stamps were released by Australia Post. The traditional Anzac Day clash, on the 25th April 2003, between Essendon and Collingwood was won by the Bombers. First Class Collectibles released a cover  showing James Hird to commemorate the event. Joe Misiti celebrated his 200th Game. First Class Collectibles released a commemorative cover. Bill Hutchison was elevated to 'Legend of the Game' in The Hall of Fame.

Mathew Lloyd and James Hird were picked in the All Australian Team. The Bombers made it into the second week of the Finals defeating Fremantle at home but lost to Port Adelaide.

2004 started with the Bombers the best placed of the Victorian teams. In mid April the 2004 Personalised Stamps were released. This year they were a booklet of 20 stamps showing 10 players, rather than the A4 sheet. Mark Harvey and Ted Leehane  were included in the 20 players of the "Premiership Players Club". Adam McPhee made the All Australian Team.

On the 1st April 2005 the Essendon Bombers booklet of the 2005 Personalised Stamps was released. On 24th June 2005 Matthew Lloyd played his 200th game for the Essendon Bombers.
A Commemorative Covers showing Lloyd was released by First Class Collectables. The Indigenous Team Of the Century was named at a lavish function at the Palladium on the 1st August 2005. First Class Collectables produced a set of covers. Signed player covers included Michael Long, On the weekend commencing 6th August 2005 Scott Lucas played his 200th Game for the Bombers. A Commemorative Cover showing Lucas were released by First Class Collectables. First Class Collectables issued covers  to commemorate the Best and Fairest winners including Jason Johnson.

On the 20th March 2006 the Bombers booklet of the 2006 Personalised Stamps was released. Onlycovers released the Captains series with covers including Matthew Lloyd. Round 16 was the Heritage Round with clubs wearing jumpers from a previous era. Onlycovers released a cover for each club including the Essendon FC.

The Bombers finished down the ladder in 2007 with Australia Post issuing the 2007 Personalised Stamps. 2008 and 2009 were rebuilding years with them finishing in the bottom half of the ladder in 2008 but making the finals in 2009 finishing eighth. Australia Post changed from the Prestige Booklet to the Folder format issuing the 2008 Personalised Stamps and 2009 Personalised Stamps.