Author(s): MURRAY John

Sport

Throughout the 1970s, the Essendon Football Club was at its lowest ebb. The Bombers made just three finals appearances during that decade - a huge shock to the system for a club accustomed to regular success. That all changed when Kevin Sheedy walked through the doors of Windy Hill in 1981. Glory and Fame focuses on Essendon's resurgence from its lowest ebb to become a football superpower. In a series of essays, some of Australia's leading football writers, including Rohan Connolly, Scott Gullan, Emma Quayle, Glenn McFarlane and John Harms, retrace the key moments in the Bombers' renaissance and look at the key people who helped transform the club on and off the field. It features interviews with Kevin Sheedy, James Hird, Tim Watson, Peter Jackson, Terry Daniher, Simon Madden, Michael Long and many others who have been pivotal to the Bombers' success over the past quarter century. Plus there is a comprehensive review of each of the Bombers' last four Grand Final triumphs (the drought-breaker of 1984, back-to-back success of 1985, the Baby Bombers of 1993, and the redemption of 2000).