Essendon Association Football Club
| Essendon Association | |
|---|---|
| Names | |
| Full name | Essendon Football Club |
| Former name(s) | Essendon Town |
| Nickname(s) | Essendon A, Dreadnoughts |
| Club details | |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Dissolved | 1921 |
| Colours | Black and Red |
| Competition | Victorian Football Association |
| Premierships | 1911, 1912 |
| Ground(s) | Essendon Recreation Reserve |
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 (known today as Windy Hill). They were also known by the name Essendon Town during their time in the association, and by Essendon 'A'.
The club was formed as Essendon Town in 1900 and joined the VFA that year. Essendon already had a team 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.
In 1905, the club officially changed its name to the Essendon Football Club, the same name as the VFL club. To distinguish it from the VFL club, the club was referred to as Essendon (Association), Essendon (V.F.A.) or Essendon (A.) wherever there was confusion.
The club's 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 – coincidentally, Essendon (League) won the VFL premiership in both of those years. 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.
The club was left without a home ground and with diminished local support when the Essendon League club relocated to Essendon Recreation Reserve in October 1921; with no alternatives, the club disbanded in December 1921.
VFA Premierships (2)
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