General Bombers Talk Dominant Decades of the Sash: 1960s

[Doss]

Interesting article from the Essendon website: http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2014-03-08/dominant-decades-of-the-sash-1960s

Today we focus on the 1960s, a decade that included two premierships under the coaching reign of legendary player John Coleman.

It was expected that the 1960 season would be the year of the Bombers following an impressive campaign in 1959 when the young squad reached the Grand Final to be beaten by the 1950s’ team of the decade Melbourne. But despite strong early form with five straight wins and 11 wins in the first 13 games, the Bombers’ form dropped off at the business end of the season and the team lost the first semi-final to Collingwood by nine points.

On a individual level, 1960 was a triumph for a handful of Essendon stars. Captain Jack Clarke was again appointed captain of the Victorian team which also included two of Clarke’s Essendon team mates; the exciting young full forward and 1958 and 1959 League leading goal kicker Ron Evans, and Essendon champion Reg Burgess. By season’s end, the side fell under pressure which led to the release of Dick Reynolds as coach at the beginning of 1961 after 22 years in that role.

Read more: http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2014-03-08/dominant-decades-of-the-sash-1960s

I tend to think the '60s get overlooked somewhat in the context of our great eras, but the numbers tell the story- we were a very good side.

Anyone here got some memories of it?

 

['51 Bewick]

Interesting article from the Essendon website: http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2014-03-08/dominant-decades-of-the-sash-1960s



Read more: http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2014-03-08/dominant-decades-of-the-sash-1960s

I tend to think the '60s get overlooked somewhat in the context of our great eras, but the numbers tell the story- we were a very good side.

Anyone here got some memories of it?

Pretty young for the '62 & '65 premierships (Listened on radio). Went to the '68 grand final as a 16yo and had to suffer two carlton boofheads giving me crap after the game. Hated that club ever since. Great memories of favourite players including the bespectacled one. I was also at Princess park earlier that year when it was blowing a gale, and the scum scored only one goal for the entire match.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Needless to say (and I am pimping it a lot, I know), but get onto Doug Ackerly's Coleman: The Untold Story of an AFL Legend when it comes out in full for insight into Essendon's 60s.

'68 would have made for a perfect passing of the baton... instead Clarke's coaching tenure is perceived a failure. It's a fine fine line.