The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed the Bombers, is a professional Australian rules football club that plays in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition. Founded in 1872 in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon, the club entered the Victorian Football Association in 1878, and in 1896, joined seven other clubs in forming the breakaway Victorian Football League. Headquartered at Windy Hill for much of the 20th century, the club moved to The Hangar, Melbourne Airport in 2013, and now plays its home games at either Docklands Stadium or the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Dyson Heppell is the current team captain.
The 1897 Victorian Football League season was the inaugural season of the Victorian Football League and saw eight teams play in the first season. After fourteen rounds was played in the regular seasons, the top four teams played in a three-week final series with Essendon claiming the premiership after they won all three of their games finishing ahead of minor premiers Geelong.
The 1902 Victorian Football League season was the sixth season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1908 Victorian Football League season was the 12th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
Dustin Fletcher is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played his entire 23 season career for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is widely acknowledged as one of the finest defenders in VFL/AFL history.
Barry Davis is a former Australian rules footballer who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL) with Essendon and North Melbourne, before coaching his original team between 1978 and 1980.
Albert John Thurgood was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), Victorian Football League (VFL) and the Western Australian Football Association (WAFA).
The 1912 Victorian Football League season was the 16th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1914 Victorian Football League season was the 18th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1918 Victorian Football League season was the 22nd season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
Ken Fraser is a former Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League (VFL).
The 1951 Victorian Football League season was the 55th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1949 Victorian Football League season was the 53rd season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1946 Victorian Football League season was the 50th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
John Beckwith is a former Australian rules football player and coach, for the Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
The 1973 Victorian Football League season was the 77th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
The 1974 Victorian Football League season was the 78th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
Wallace Francis Buttsworth was an Australian rules footballer who played for Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
John Birt is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL and West Torrens in the South Australian National Football League.
Marcus Marigliani is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).