Essendon Association Football Club
Encyclopedia
Essendon Association Football Club was an Australian rules football
club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1900 until 1921. The 'Dreadnoughts', who wore black and red, played their home games at the Essendon Recreation Reserve (Windy Hill
). They were also known by the name Essendon Town during their time in the league and by the abbreviated Essendon 'A'.
which competed in the Victorian Football League but many locals protested that they were based at East Melbourne instead of Essendon. The Essendon Town Football Club came about as a result, a side which would play their home games in the district.
A winless season in 1903 meant that they took home their first wooden spoon and in 1905 the club officially changed their name to Essendon Association.
Their most successful period came between 1908 and 1914 when they competed in the finals each year and won back to back premierships in 1911 and 1912. Interestingly, these were the same two years which the VFL's Essendon were premiers. In the 1912 premiership season, Essendon Association's full-forward Dave McNamara
became the first VFA footballer to kick over 100 goals in a season.
When the VFL team relocated to Essendon Recreation Reserve in 1922, the Dreadnoughts were forced to merge with North Melbourne
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club which played in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) from 1900 until 1921. The 'Dreadnoughts', who wore black and red, played their home games at the Essendon Recreation Reserve (Windy Hill
Windy Hill, Essendon
Windy Hill is an Australian rules football ground located in Essendon, a northwestern suburb of the Melbourne metropolitan area....
). They were also known by the name Essendon Town during their time in the league and by the abbreviated Essendon 'A'.
History
The club was formed as Essendon Town in 1900 and joined the VFA that year. Essendon already had a teamEssendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
which competed in the Victorian Football League but many locals protested that they were based at East Melbourne instead of Essendon. The Essendon Town Football Club came about as a result, a side which would play their home games in the district.
A winless season in 1903 meant that they took home their first wooden spoon and in 1905 the club officially changed their name to Essendon Association.
Their most successful period came between 1908 and 1914 when they competed in the finals each year and won back to back premierships in 1911 and 1912. Interestingly, these were the same two years which the VFL's Essendon were premiers. In the 1912 premiership season, Essendon Association's full-forward Dave McNamara
Dave McNamara
David J. "Dave" McNamara was a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League .McNamara played with St Kilda as a Centre Half-Forward....
became the first VFA footballer to kick over 100 goals in a season.
When the VFL team relocated to Essendon Recreation Reserve in 1922, the Dreadnoughts were forced to merge with North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
.