Lace-up 'jumpers' or jerkins were widely worn until the early years of the 20th century when they were repalced by woollen jumpers. They made a comeback in the early 1970s among some players who preferred them because they were harder for opposition players to grip than conventional woollen jumpers. This one was worn by Roger Merrett in the 1984 premiership win over Hawthorn. Lace-up jerkins were banned by the VFL in 1986 after Melbourne player Robbie Flower injured a finger in the lacing of an opponent's jerkin

Lace-up cotton jerkin

VFL and Nubrik embroidered badges on front, white cotton "25" on back of jerkin

Premiership cap presented to Hercules "Hec" Vollugi after Essendon won the 1901 premiership. Premiership caps were presented by both the VFA and the VFL until about 1924. The caps were traditionally made of navy silk. This one has had Essendon's colours embroidered on the peak in the shape of a shield. Vollugi was a fine wingman who played 70 games for Essendon from 1901 to 1906.

Navy blue grosgrain silk cap with small peak; cap is divided into six segments separated by cream silk braid with navy button on top; embroidered badge in metallic and silk gold thread at front of cap; badge consists of monogram of interwined V F L with "Premiers" in a scroll beneath and "1901" beneath that; shield embroidered in red and black longstitch on peak. Cap is lined with "H. A. Vollugi 1901" handwritten in ink in centre.

"H. A. Vollugi 1901" is handwritten in ink on the inside of the cap

Essendon celebrated 1972 as its centenary year although the exact date of the club's founding is not certain. It played its first recorded game against a Carlton second twenty on 7 June 1873 (and won).

Folded cardboard Essendon Football Club membership ticket; ticket has black and red border with Essendon logo at top with "100 years" in gold box between flags, "Essendon / Football Club / Centenary / 1972" in black and red print with "Essendon" and "Centenary" in a stylised scroll; "Suaviter in modo, fortitier in re" in small black print at bottom. Inside has details of Club and office bearers and Essendon's fixture for 1972.

This 1880 membership ticket is the earliest membership ticket held by the club. It is signed by Alex McCracken, one of the club's founding fathers and the secretary and treasurer of the club in 1880. The inside includes fixtures of both the 'first 20' and 'second 20'.

It is the earliest membership ticket held by the club.

Inside paper is damaged but remains of Alex McCracken's signature are still visible.

Essendon arrived at the Essendon Recreation Reserve (later known as Windy Hill) in 1922. In August that year the club opened its first grandstand before the round 14 game against Richmond. It was later named the Dick Reynolds Stand.This historic photograph shows supporters crammed into the grandstand that day.

Black and white photograph on brown cardboard mount with imprinted border; remains of a white sticker in upper left corner. "E. Franklin Moonee Ponds 37 6794" hand-written in blue biro on reverse.

"Opening day of new stand, Essendon 19.8.22"

Albert Thurgood's is one of football's greatest-ever players. Nicknamed 'Albert the Great' he was big, strong, and it was said he could play in any position. He was instrumental in Essendon's premiership wins in 1892, 1893, 1894 and 1901. He was also a phenomenal goalkicker in an era of low scores, leading the VFA/VFL goalkicking in 1892, 1893, 1894, and 1901. Thurgood also played in Western Australia from 1895 to 1899.

The portrait is significant as Thurgood is one Of Essendon's greatest players.

A sepia photograph in a heavy wooden frame with brass floral decoration and gold slip under plain glass.

Cards were sent by John Coleman in response to letters of support received after he injured his knee in 1954. He never played again.

Thank you card on cream cardboard with rounded corners and message in calligraphy script printed in blue ink; message reads: "Sincere thanks for your kind expressions of Sympathy and Good-will during my recent football injury. I can asssure you it is deeply appreciated. John Coleman." Handwritten message in blue ink on back of card reads: "Thanks, Ray, for your very nice letter. The "Dons" are going along well now, don't you think. (Should make the four). Kind regards, John Coleman.

essendon football club, john coleman

Plastic membership ticket; front has colour photo of Paddy Ryder in an Essendon jumper with a crowd of people behind him, including Jobe Watson, David Hille, Jack Jones, Gary O'Donnell and other current players; "This is Essendon" at top of card in silver and red letters, small circle in top left corner has Essendon bomber logo in centre and "Bronze 2010 membership" in black letters around bronze border; "Member 2010" in bronze letters with red, black and silver Essendon logo and Samsung logo across bottom of card. Reverse has bar code and "2010 Bronze Adult 11" and "Year member 17" in stylised log in top right corner; also details of member and reserved seats.

essendon football club

Plastic membership ticket; front has action photo of Jobe Watson in an Essendon jumper holding a football; "Stand as One Proud/ United / Excited" in red and grey text at top of card; small bronze strip with "scarf" in black text on right edge; small circle in bottom left corner has Essendon bomber logo in centre and "Bronze member" in black letters around bronze border; "Member 2011" in black text on bronze background below it; small Essendon and Samsung logos in bottom right corner. Reverse has bar code and "2011 Adult Bronze" and "Year member 19" in stylised logo in top right corner plus details of member and reserved seats.

essendon football club

Essendon Football Club's Essendon Women's Network hosts the Great Grand Final Comedy Debate each year

Folded cardboard brochure for the 2011 Great Grand Final Comedy Debate, hosted by Hamish McLachlan, to be held at the Crown Palladium, Thursday 29 Sept, 2011. Front has photo of two players in chef's hat and apron, and sponsors' logos; inside has details of the event and a booking form.

great grand final comedy debate, essendon football club, essendon women's network

The Dick Reynolds Club is a coterie group for the Essendon Football Club. It holds several themed events each year

Four-page cardboard brochure produced for the Dick Reynolds Club luncheon "Nine lives", Palladium at Crown, Wednesday August 11th 2010. Front cover has colour photo of Adam Ramanauskas in a black short-sleeved polo shirt; "Adam Ramanauskas with Emma Quayle" in blue and grey text in top left corner; "Nine lives football, cancer & getting on with life" in white text across bottom half; small logos of Essendon Football Club and Dick Reynolds Club in bottom left corner. Inside has summary of Adam Ramanauskas's career and colour photos and brief descriptions of four of Adam's friends and colleagues (Emma Quayle, James Hird, Bruce Reid and Dean Solomon). Back cover has the menu and details of the DRC committee and objectives, plus and ad for Mitchelton Wines. Front cover is a copy of the cover of Ramanauskas's book "Nine lives".

adam ramanauskas, dick reynolds club, essendon football club, coterie groups

Doug Bigelow and Bill Brittingham are former players, Allan Hird is a former player and president, Roger Hampson was general manager at the time of the function

Colour photograph of Doug Bigelow sitting at a table at a social function; Allan Hird and Bill Brittingham are sitting on his left and Roger Hampson standing between Hird and Brittingham; all are smiling; Bigelow, Hird and Hampson are wearing jackets, white shirts and ties, Brittingham is in a brown cardigan and brown shirt. A sign for Preece Cabernet Sauvignon is on the wall behind Hampson.

doug bigelow, allan hird, bill brittingham, roger hampson, essendon football club

Poster of the 2012 Essendon players and coaches

Colour poster of the 2012 Essendon players and coaches. Players are in sleeveless Essendon jumpers, black shorts and white boots; coaches are in grey short-sleeve shirts and black shorts. Players and coaches are standing and sitting in four rows; large "2012" in background, "Essendon Bombers" in large red text across top, Essendon logo in centre at bottom with premiership years on either side; names in small print at bottom of poster; Essendon, Melbourne Airport, Kia and True Value Solar logos in bottom corners. Reverse has printed names, numbers and signatures. > Back row: Sam Lonergan, Jake Melksham, Dyson Heppel, Anthony Long, Ariel Steinberg, David Myers, Tayte Pears, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Stewart Crameri, Michael Hibberd, Brent Prismall, Jason Winderlich. Third row: Mark Thompson, Simon Goodwin, Michael Ross, Ben Howlett, Kyle Hardingham, Jake Carlisle, Scott Gumbleton, Cale Hooker, David Hille, Thomas Bellchambers, Dustin Fletcher, Patrick Ryder, Luke Davis, Alex Browne, Kyle Reimers, Matthew Egan, Sean Wellman, Dean Robinson. Second row: Alwyn Davey, Leroy Jetta, Ricky Dyson, Angus Monfries, David Zaharakis, Brent Stanton, James Hird, Jobe Watson, Mark McVeigh, Heath Hocking, Michael Hurley, Courtney Dempsey, Henry Slattery. Front row: Elliott Kavanagh, Mark Baguley, Cory Dell'Olio, Brendan Lee, Hal Hunter, Jackson Merrett, Lauchlan Dalgleish, Nicholas O'Brien, Travis Colyer.

essendon football club; sam lonergan; jake melksham; dyson heppell; anthony long; ariel steinberg; david myers; tayte pears; nathan lovett-murray; stewart crameri; michael hibberd; brent prismall; jason winderlich; mark thompson; simon goodwin; michael ross; ben howlett; kyle hardingham; jake carlisle; scott gumbleton; cale hooker; david hille; tom bellchambers; dustin fletcher; paddy ryder; luke davis; alex browne; kyle reimers; matthew egan; wellman, sean; robinson, dean; davey, alwyn "froggie"; leroy jetta; ricky dyson; angus monfries; david zaharakis; brent stanton; james hird; jobe watson; mark mcveigh; heath hocking; michael hurley; courtney dempsey; henry slattery; elliott kavanagh; mark baguley; cory dell'olio; brendan lee; hal hunter; jackson merrett; lauchlan dalgleish; nicholas o'brien; travis colyer

Issued to Essendon supporters at the Round 20 game, Essendon v Collingwood, at the MCG on 13 Aug., 2010, which recognised the significant contribution that seatbelts have made to saving lives over 40 years. Essendon's David Hille was the spokesman for the event.

Plastic banner rolled tightly on to a handle at each end so that it opens like a roller blind and rolls shut when released. Banner is black with Essendon bomber logo on left and "Goal!" in large red letters. Reverse has "Belt up" in large red letters over a stylised red seat belt with white TAC logo at bottom. Handles are grey plastic. Package also contains two grey plastic suction caps so that unrolled banner can be stuck to a window. Banner and suction caps are still in original clear cellophane envelope; envelope has been torn.

essendon football club; transport accident commission (tac); david hille; seatbelts

Essendon champion, John Coleman, was sensationally suspended before the 1951 VFL Grand Final. Many believe this cost Essendon the premiership.

The letter is significant because it is one of the few hand-written letters by John Coleman held by the Hall of Fame

Sheet of cream writing paper with pale blue lines and buff envelope; handwritten letter (VEF 2230.2.1) in dark blue ink from John Coleman to Mrs Geary thanking her for her kind words over his suspension against Carlton and subsequent missing of the Grand Final. Letter is dated 16/10/51 and address in top right corner is 13 Belmont Avenue, Kew. Envelope (VEF 2230.2.2) is addressed to Mrs D. Geary / 463 Dryburgh Street / North Melbourne and has a blue Australian 3 ╜ pence stamp in top right corner.

essendon football club; john coleman; victorian football league; grand finals

Supplied as part of the 2012 Bronze membership package

Plasticised paper sticker with peel-off paper covering adhesive back; black background with part of stylised aircraft on left, then slogan with "I'm" in red "Essend" in grey and "one" in red, "2012 Member" in red below that, next to Essendon logo; logos for True Value Solar, Kia and Caltex across bottom.

essendon football club; members

This is the scorecard for the home-and-away game between Essendon and North Melbourne Kangaroos at the MCG which Essendon won 27.9.171 to Kangaroos 25.9.159

This item is of great significance for it is the official record of the greatest comeback in VFL/AFL history. Essendon came from 69 points down in the second quarter to defeat the Kangaroos by 12 points. It has been hailed as one of the greatest games ever.

White cardboard card ruled into sections

Scores for each team for each quarter have been entered in blue ink and card has been signed by three umpires

essendon football club, north melbourne kangaroos, comebacks, significant events