Craig McGill

One reason as to why I wanted to create this blog site was to uncover the profound connection dedicated Bombers supporters have with the club and its history.

Essendon fans have diverse backgrounds, experiences, and stories to tell relating to their fandom.

There's a long list of people I'm hoping are interested in telling their stories.

You would struggle to find a more positive person on any of the socials or forums regarding Essendon than Craig McGill.

The passion he has for the football club and players, even in tough times like the last few years, has to be admired.

All of that makes for great reasons as to why Craig would be a fantastic person to get to know more about.

I sent over some questions so he could inform us all on his background, ideas, emotions and what it's been like following The Bombers.

He certainly didn't disappoint.

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How did you become an Essendon supporter?

Dad was a big Essendon fan (still is) from a young age. He took me to Essendon games as a kid and we continue go to the footy together to this day.

Another thing that helped was the era i grew up in.

My first memories of footy was 1993 and the premiership. Followed by the consistent finishes and success that continued.

What’s your fondest memory about supporting Essendon?

Going to the footy with my dad, especially in the late 90’s.

We didn’t get go much back in those days, but when we did, I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially going to games out at Waverley as we only lived 20 mins away.

Another was the 2000 grand final.

I was in grade 6 and I remember getting a premiership t-shirt and proudly wearing it to school the Monday after.

It was the highlight of my childhood barracking for the bombers because of the year it was, and the fact i was old enough to vividly remember it.

Do you have a personal story about an Essendon game?

Last year I was invited to an Essendon coterie function by someone at Essendon, I was lucky enough to have some good seats and meet the players inside the rooms after the game.

Even though we lost, it was still a great experience and something i will never forget.

Where were you on Grand Final day 2000?

At home, my sister had her massive 18th birthday party on that night so that took a lot of time and energy within the household, however I remember sitting on the floor in front of the tv watching the game

Did you emulate any past player in the backyard playing football?

Yes Matthew Lloyd and Jason Johnson.

They were my two favourite players growing up. Was never as good as those two obviously!!

What are some of your recollections on going to the football growing up?

As a kid I always went to the footy with just my dad, it's the one passion we got to share together and still do to this day.

Going to the football as a kid was a treat for me, as I didn’t get to go as much as I would have liked early on.

My dad had a hobby of showing dogs on the weekend, which unfortunately took up most of our weekends. When we did go to the football, we mostly went to games at Waverley park.

I grew up in Ferntree Gully, so Waverley was only 20 mins away and easy to get to.

As most would know, the carpark was a pain to get out of, so we would park just off Jells Road and walked the rest of the way.

The first game I remember going to was the 1993 night Grand Final at Waverley.

The funny thing is the only part I remember were the fireworks. I was only a 5 year old at the time and have been told I slept through the whole game.

After that, my next clear memory for obvious reasons was the game in 1996 against St. Kilda at Waverley, as many would know it was the night the lights went out.

I just remember the lights going out and then trying to weave our way in the dark through the stands and carpark, which was hard to see at night even during the best of times.

As I said, I didn’t get to many games as a kid but the one game we went to every year was against Hawthorn.

My grandparents where both Hawthorn supporters, which unfortunately led to my sister becoming a Hawthorn supporter also and that was the one game we would go to as a family every year.

The good thing about that was it was a game that we would always seem to win. At least that was the case back in the mid to late 90’s .

As much as I didn’t get to many as kid, I still enjoyed that time.

The players I grew up watching from Long, Hird, Fletcher, Lloyd, Lucas, Misiti, Mercuri, the list goes on and on.

It was one of the best eras in the clubs history, a pleasure and a privilege to be following the club during that period.

Best game you have ever watched live or on tv?

I had the privilege of watching live and 100+ times over since on replay, the comeback game against North Melbourne in 2001.

Being there live was a great experience and a wow moment of “what just happened”.

To be honest, the day was a bit of a blur. However what I do remember, and what made being there so good, was the fact that we were sitting around some North supporters, hearing them go from annoyingly completely nuts (full excitement) when they were destroying us, to then shutting there mouths once we started to get back into the game.

The full 180 they did made my day and the win on top of that made it special.

That game was the first AFL game I purchased on VHS and has become my favourite game to watch of all time, that includes both the 1993 and 2000 Premierships, which have equal significance to me.

Saddest Essendon memory and why?

The 1999 Preliminary Final.

Being that we finished on top of the ladder and clearly the best team that year and then losing that game was a tough thing to swallow

Being 11 years old at the time, it was the first big loss I remember and understood from an emotional standpoint.

Thankfully 2000 came along and it was the year that was and 1999 was quickly forgotten.

Do family members support Essendon?

Yes my dad. He is the only one in my immediate family that supports the Dons and has done so since he was a kid.

He has forever told the story of how he became an Essendon supporter.

In the early 1950s, his family was living in Surrey Hills and both his parents were Hawthorn supporters. It was during that time, they went to a Hawthorn game at Glenferrie Oval against Essendon, and who should be playing? None other than the great John Coleman, who kicked 10 goals that day.

My dad went on to idolise the great man and became an Essendon supporter, which he has remained ever since, 70 years later.

Which player did you not want to see leave Essendon?

Gavin Wanganeen.

As a young kid he was the first player I idolised and enjoyed watching play.

His departure was a real shock to the system, and it took me a while to get over it.

I was only years old and didn’t understand why an Essendon player, with a Premiership and Brownlow medal, would want to leave such a great club, one he had called home for the last 6 years and one I thought he would play his whole career at.

I had no real understanding of the expansion club and the fact he was made Captain or the pull for him to go back to South Australia.

It was a sad day when the news broke and I harboured some sadness for a period of time, especially when the club played against Port Adelaide

But as I got older and into my teen years, I got over it, moved on and still consider him a legend of the Essendon Football Club and always will.

What type of supporter are you when watching on tv? Passive? Aggressive?

A bit of both at times.

I can sit there being quite aggressive early on, especially when we are losing.

But then once I come to the realisation that it’s just not our day, like against GWS in round 23 last year, I can just sit there in a grump accepting of our fate because that has been so typically Essendon over the last few years.

On the flip side though, if we are loosing and then start to fight back, I can get back to being aggressive again and screaming "cmon" at the TV.

I guess just all part of the typical mood swings we face as Essendon supporters right?

What does the perfect day of football look like for you?

Getting up and having my Weetbix and then slowly getting myself ready.

Once ready, I’ll head over to my dad’s house where I’ll pick him up and we will drive to the footy or head to the train station.

Once at the ground, we head to our seats and hopefully watch us win.

Then it’s the trip home listening to post match on the radio and once home patiently waiting for Brad Scott's press conference before watching the replay on Kayo before bed.

That’s as good as it gets.

Even better if it’s Anzac Day.

It will be perfect when it’s a Grand Final win. Fingers crossed.

Which 3 past players stood out to you and why?

Jason Johnson.

He was my favourite player growing up.

He stood out to me because he was a tough hard-nosed footballer who always knew how to find the ball.

A versatile midfielder, he was equally comfortable playing as an "inside bull" and roaming the outside with his impressive running ability.

He played a crucial role in our successful years between 1999 and 2001. His impact was undeniable, showcased in the iconic comeback game against North Melbourne in 2001.

In that game alone, he racked up a staggering 31 disposals, 13 clearances, 10 inside 50s, and even kicked four goals!

Additionally, 2001 was arguably his peak year, culminating in both All-Australian selection and the Crichton Medal.

These achievements, along with his consistent dedication and skill, are why he stood out and was as a true hero for me.

Dustin Fletcher.

A lanky defender with the long go go gadget arms was my second favourite player growing up.

His dedication and consistency were evident in his staggering 400 game career.

What stood out to me although lanky and not very big, he was versatile and could play on almost any forward of any size. Meaning he was capable of taking on not only the big boys but could also shut down small forwards due to his agility.

A highlight of his game was his elite spoiling. With his long arms and high leap, he became a nightmare for forwards. He consistently spoiled marking attempts and intercepted passes, earning him the nickname Inspector Gadget. Another thing that stood out was his long kicking.

Although primarily a defender, Fletcher possessed a booming kick. He could launch the ball from deep in defence, often setting up scoring opportunities for teammates while also occasionally drifting forward using that booming kick to kick crucial goals in big games. Despite all the things mentioned, what truly resonated with me, even beyond his accolades, was his Best and Fairest win in our 2000 Premiership year.

This achievement cemented his status as one of the greatest defenders, and indeed, players, ever to grace the Essendon Football Club.

Dean Rioli.

An Indigenous footballer unfortunately plagued by injuries, captivated me early in his career with his silky skills and undeniable talent.

The great Bruce McAvaney aptly described him as a magician, and was the first player I saw with such an astonishing combination of skill, speed, and goal scoring instinct.

Despite playing only 100 games, his highlight reel rivals those of many 300 game veterans. Though injuries robbed us of witnessing more of his magic, his impact was undeniable.

He stood out throughout his seven-year career, leaving a lasting impression on me.

Describe the 2000 season Premiership.

That season was just absolutely phenomenal by the club, it will never be repeated, and to top it all off with a Grand Final win was so special. Even more special though was going to Kmart the next day and picking up a premiership t-shirt, which I wore with pride on the Monday to primary school.

I felt so cool wearing it and no matter what happened that day, nothing was going to bring me down.

Which player did you pick early in their career would be a star and why?

Kyle Langford.

Ever since he was drafted alongside Jayden Laverde I’ve kept a keen eye on him.

Though injuries hampered his early years, he oozed class whenever he played.

He's a smart footballer, seems to have an uncanny knack of getting to the right spots to find the footy or be a link in the chain and his forward skills are undeniably elite.

Whenever the ball was in his hands, I always had faith that something positive would happen and whenever he marked the ball within the forward line, he was always someone we could rely on to kick the goal when needed.

Last season all those qualities perfectly came together culminating in him having a career best year.

What current players have you most excited about the future and why?

Martin, Perkins, Caddy and Tsatas.

Nic Martin.

My excitement for Martin is sky-high! A highly talented footballer with plenty of upside, who has made a name for himself playing on the wing.

Now entering his third season, it would seem a move to a role at half back could be on the cards, which excites me.

His smarts and ability to read the play up the field really well, along with his elite kicking ability, will make him a strong asset playing off half back. Not only that, it will help him build the defensive side of his game more and add another string to his bow, making him a more rounded footballer.

A 50/50 split between half back and wing appears the most likely, an ideal scenario for him and the team.

If the reports from preseason are anything to go by, I really think he is about to make that spot his own.

Furthermore, I sincerely hope he gets opportunities to showcase his skills in the midfield as well, as I believe he possesses all the necessary tools to elevate his game to that level.

Here’s hoping he gets those opportunities.

Archie Perkins.

A COVID-year kid entering his 4th season, he has taken some time to develop but seems poised to explode this year.

Throughout his career, primarily as a half-forward, he's expressed a desire to shift more into the midfield and become a strike player similar to that of Shai Bolton, Connor Rozee, or even our own Jake Stringer.

Last year he finally got that chance, spending time in the midfield and even taking on tough tagging assignments against opponents like Patrick Cripps.

This experience hints at their plan to potentially develop him for a hybrid 50/50 forward-mid role similar to that of Jake Stringer moving forward.

That is a role I think he will be perfect for.

He's a burst player with strong hips, making him hard to tackle and quick off the mark. If he develops his midfield skills like Stringer did, I'm confident he could seamlessly replace him after he retires. Seemingly big shoes to fill I know, but I have no doubt he has the potential to get there and become a true star for Essendon in the process.

Nate Caddy.

This year's top 10 recruit has set the preseason on fire.

His consistent effort, running, unwavering determination, and high flying marks have already become a signature of his game.

He is a key forward that models his game on the likes of Charlie Curnow and could be the missing X-factor we have needed in our forward line.

This talented youngster, possessing both significant potential and a strong desire to learn and improve, boasts a ceiling that remains unknown.

Caddy also carries a kind of swagger that's not arrogance, but rather a quiet confidence born from unwavering self belief.

He knows his talent, and he's determined to push himself to his limits, to get the best out of himself.

He is the type of player Essendon hasn’t seen in a long time.

This is just the beginning of Caddy's story however and footy is tough, he, and we, may be forced to patiently wait for him to get his first taste of AFL footy whilst he finds his feet, but if the preseason is any indication, it's going to be worth the wait.

Elijah Tsatas.

Held back by injuries in the past, Tsatas has the potential to become a superstar.

He possesses similar pace to Dylan Shiel and shares some playing similarities with Patrick Dangerfield.

His skills below his knees, demonstrated by his one-handed pickups, and quickness off the mark contribute to his impressive outside run. However, his kicking remains a weakness, consistently noted by fans.

Hopefully with David Rath now at the club, this is an area he can improve upon.

If he stays healthy, he has the potential to develop into our own version of Dangerfield and seamlessly replace Shiel when he eventually retires.

Honourable mentions.

Jade Gresham and Ben McKay.

Gresham and McKay, Both extensively previewed in this blog, are invaluable pick-ups. They fill crucial needs in defence and attack respectively, and their presence will not only elevate the performance of those around them but also become vital assets for the club moving forward.

I'm beyond excited to see what they bring to the Bombers!

What would you like to see more on field from Essendon?

More shared leadership, more players taking on more on field leadership roles. Hopefully that will lead to more shared accountability when things don’t go the way they should. Also may have the effect of reducing the number of instances where opposition teams enjoy extended periods of momentum, which has been an issue.

This would empower more players to take immediate responsibility and turn the tide and not wait until it's too late.

Hopefully that will bring about more consistent performances.

What would you like to see more off field from Essendon?

The club has gone through a lot off field and made many positive changes. So there isn't much more off-field activity I'd like to see. However, I would like to see continued stability throughout the entire organisation starting with the board.

Additionally, I would love to see the board continue to listen and act upon feedback from members and fans. I hope the responses to fan surveys will lead to positive changes within the club.

Prior to the Barham years, it seemed those surveys were just used as lip service and nothing more.

Hopefully Barham continues to lead a board that listens to its fans.

How far away from the ultimate success is Essendon?

3-5 years.

We are still a developing side with a healthy mix of experienced mature players and promising youngsters, a side that is still in the process of implementing a new system. This system may require time to fully adjust and become a consistent style of footy that will bring us the ultimate success.

What are your thoughts on Brad Scott?

Brad is a smart, measured and mature coach who speaks well and seems to have the full respect of club, board and the players.

He commands the respect of the players without being demonstrative. The players seem keen and willing to listen and take it all in like sponges.

After the failed extension of John Worsfold and succession plan with an inexperienced coach, I'm glad the club brought in a coach with experience that the players will listen to and can learn on. He understands the game well and without a doubt, through his coaching at North Melbourne and his time at the AFL, has the experience and tools to get us to a finals win and hopefully a Grand Final

How many games will Essendon win, and what finishing ladder position do you predict?

Anywhere from 12 to 16 wins.

I don’t believe we will win less games than last year but how many more games we do win will be interesting.

Question for me is how well will the new players gel with the current playing list and how quickly can the group learn a new system.

Those things will play a big part in how many games we win this year.

As for ladder position, depends on the questions I raised above.

We could finish anywhere from 12th to 6th. However I have us finishing around 6th or 7th.

What needs to improve the most in performance?

Our defence, how we setup behind the ball and our team defence to hopefully defend higher up the ground and allow us to get more mid-zone turnovers.

Our mids needs to push back more defensively to help out when needed and our forwards need to apply more pressure to help stop the easy rebound attacks by the opposition.

The more midzone turnovers we create, the more forward 50 entries we can create for ourselves, which will hopefully lead to more scoring shots and goals.

Which player from an opposition team do you love watching the most?

Marcus Bontempelli, simply because to me, he's almost the complete footballer.

He's versatile, tall, and a powerfully built player who dominates through the midfield as a contested ball winner, seamlessly transitioning into the forward line and into a prolific goal scorer.

Essendon fans know this all too well having endured his scoring prowess firsthand.

What truly elevates him beyond his natural football talent is his leadership. Witnessing him carry the Western Bulldogs on his shoulders almost single-handedly and inspiring them to victory makes him a player I not only love to watch but also deeply appreciate, even when he's playing against our team.

Which current opposition player would you like at Essendon and why?

This is actually a tough question because there so are many opposition players I’d love to have. One specifically being Joe Daniher.

He is one player we have yet to replace since he left, but I’m hoping Harry Jones in time can fill that role moving forward.

However If I had to choose a player, my priority would be addressing a specific need first. Currently, I believe an additional small to mid forward to support Menzie and improve upon Guelfi would be ideal. While Gresham is a valuable addition, he doesn't play that typical small forward role, and Jayden Davey is still recovering and developing. That's why I'd love to have a player like Tom Papley in our team. He's a competitive, quick, and an intelligent footballer with a consistent knack for finding the goals. When he's on fire, he's an incredibly tough opponent to beat. But he's more than just a scorer, he's also a willing tackler who applies good defensive pressure.

Alongside Gresham, Menzie and hopefully Davey, I think he would be a perfect fit and help create an almost unstoppable small forward combination.

Who do you consider Essendon's arch enemy?

While some might argue Carlton, for me Hawthorn undeniably holds the title of our arch enemy. Whether it be the Grand final clashes in the mid-80s, Dermott Brereton's infamous huddle run-through in 1988, the 'line in the sand' game, Lloyd's hit on Sewell or Mitchell's jab jibe, these moments for me cement Hawthorn as our arch enemy.

Former hawks players like Dermott Brereton and Jason Dunstall have never shied away from expressing their playful yet persistent jabs towards Essendon, even after all these years. Their playful digs, though lighthearted, speak to the depth and longevity of the Hawthorn-Essendon rivalry.

They're also my most hated opponent.

Ever since Hawthorn won their 3 premierships in a row (a bit of jealousy) and Clarko said that crap about Hird added with Mitchell pretending to jab his arm, yeah, I don't have much time for the Hawks.

If you could go back in time and change one things in Essendon's history, what would it be?

The hiring of Steven Dank and Dean Robinson. It marked a turning point for our club.

We had appointed James Hird as coach and Mark Thompson his assistant, we were hungry for success.

We wanted an edge and a ruthless advantage over the competition.

Unfortunately, we sought it in the wrong place.

Dank and Robinson arrived with grand promises, assuring us their methods were safe and effective. However, these promises proved hollow.

They implemented a supplements injection program that ultimately brought the club to its knees. The fallout was devastating.

We lost draft picks, our progress regressed by a decade, and 34 players sacrificed a year of their careers.

This saga remains a dark chapter in Essendon's history, one I'd rather forget.

What’s one thing you could bring back from a past era to today’s football?

One on one footy in the forward line.

Best forwards battling it out against the best defenders.

Back in the day we had Carey versus Jackovich and Lockett versus Silvagni.

These days it’s a lot more team defence and forwards getting double teamed, but back in the day, there were a lot more one on one battles which as a kid I loved watching.

Name one rule change you would like to make in football?

Not really a rule change per se but would love to see the AFL finally go to 5 on the bench.

It means coaches can have an extra rotation in a position they may benefit them against certain opponents.

Also means you’re not relying upon a concussion or injury to activate that player.

The sub isn’t nowhere near flexible enough in my opinion.

Also it gives clubs more of an incentive to blood new players/debutants and means that those debutants can no longer be selected as a sub for their first game, which for some players and fans, can overshadow a good news story for that week.

What frustrates you the most about football these days?

The amount of rule changes and interpretations.

Too often we change a rule or, interpretation of a rule to try and make the game better and more free flowing, but it ends up making it more confusing for players, fans and sometimes even the umpires.

Some of the rule changes create more issues that end up needing to be fixed with either another rule change or clarification.

What movie title sums up Essendon right now and why?

Talk about a conundrum!

I feel the movie Groundhog Day sums us up best at the moment

It follows a man who relives the same day repeatedly, trapped in a cycle of disappointment. Which is similar to the way Essendon has gone over the last 20 years. Stuck in a seemingly endless loop of mid-table and elimination final finishes, each season resembling the dreaded déjà vu of the last. Leaving fans with a yearning to break free from this repetitive cycle of disappointment. However, as the movie unfolds, it delves into the protagonist's need for personal growth.

We witness him learning from his mistakes, pushing himself towards self-improvement, all while searching for a way to break free from his troubles.

Hopefully that's the current path Essendon is on, taking all the learnings from past mistakes as it strives to improve and build the foundation for consistency, which will hopefully lead to future success.

But as I mentioned, picking a single movie to summarise Essendon is indeed a conundrum. After all, our story isn't over yet, the script is still being written, and this is merely another exciting chapter in the grand narrative of the Essendon Football Club.

A chapter, I hope, leads to resounding success.

Name a motto, life lesson, saying that you apply to Essendon?

Your future needs you, your past doesn’t.

So forget the mistakes and just remember the lesson.

Essendon has made plenty of mistakes over the last 15-20 years on field and off field which has dictated how we have played and ran our club. It has also affected how fans continue to perceive the club win or lose.

Now it's time to move on from the past, take what we have learnt and become the great club we want to be again.

It started 12 months ago with the much needed changes to the off-field and has continued with the on-field. But let’s bear in mind, it's a marathon not a sprint and it won’t happen overnight.

So for the impatient fans out there, I understand it's been 20 years since our last finals win, and while that might remain disheartening, we have made many positive changes for the better at the club and things are looking up.

As the original song that our club song samples reminds us "keep your sunny side up." Life's too short to dwell on past mistakes and defeats. Our time will come again.

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Quick fire questions.

One word answers.

Wanganeen or Long?

Long

Daniher or Saad?

Daniher (no one has replaced him.. yet)

Windy Hill or MCG?

MCG

Hird or Lloyd?

Hird

Misiti or Mercuri?

Smoking Joe

Rutten or Knights?

Rutten

Ground level or top tier?

Top tier (level 2)

Socks up or socks down?

Socks up

Day game or night game?

Day

Day or night grand final?

Day