Episode notes
Today, we'd refer to Steve Copping as a "mature age" recruit: he was 25 when he ran out for the first time with Essendon in round 1, 1982. In fact, Copping was as shocked as anyone when Kevin Sheedy and Noel Judkins knocked on his door midway through 1981 and asked him to leave South Australia and move to Melbourne to be part of the rising Bombers. After a fine career with Glenelg, Copping played 42 games with Essendon (1982-84) and kicked 88 goals playing alongside the likes of Roger Merrett...
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The Red & Black Project
An oral history of the Essendon Football Club, proudly supported by the Essendonians and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association.
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S3 · E37 · 14 Jan 2026 · 2 hr 13 min
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S3 · E36 · 4 Jan 2026 · 2 hr 11 min
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In the second episode of my two-part chat with legendary recruiter, Noel Judkins, he explains some of the key draft moves that helped set Essendon up for two more premierships in 1993 and 2000. Judkins also reveals why he left the Bombers in 1997, his key role in helping rebuild a battling Collingwood, and he shares his views on the current recruiting team at The Hangar. This podcast is proudly brought to you by Dan Eddy Books, the Essendonians, and the Essendon Past Players & Officials A...
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S3 · E35 · 3 Jan 2026 · 2 hr 3 min
Noel Judkins - Part 1
In part one of this extended two-part special with legendary recruiter, Noel Judkins, we discuss Noel's arrival at Windy Hill and his early years working alongside Kevin Sheedy as the Bombers built towards the 1984-85 premierships. This episode of the Red & Black Project Podcast is proudly brought to you by Dan Eddy Books, the Essendonians, and the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association. Go Bombers!
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S3 · E34 · 4 Sep 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
#783 Ken Roberts
Hear from Bomber #783, Ken Roberts, as he recalls his time at Windy Hill during the 1970s. A tough, versatile player, Roberts played 100 games and kicked 111 goals between 1970-77, where under four coaches he played at half-forward, full-forward and in the middle, proving a standout in each position. And he was right there amongst the action during the infamous Windy Hill Brawl, too! He also played 12 games for Melbourne (1978-79). This episode of The Red & Black Project Podcast is ...
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S3 · E33 · 29 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 35 min
#958 Brad Fox
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S3 · E31 · 27 Mar 2025 · 1 hr 33 min
#716 Russell Blew
Bomber number 716, Russell Blew, was a star wingman during the 1960s, a decade that saw Essendon play off in three Grand Finals. He was a key player in the 1962 & 1965 premiership victories, and he narrowly missed a third flag in 1968 when the Bombers fell three points short of Carlton in the Grand Final. Blew finished runner-up to Ken Fraser in the 1964 Crichton Medal count, a year when he represented Victoria in State footy. A former captain of the under-19s, Blew was entering his...
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S2 · E30 · 29 Dec 2024 · 37 min
#908 Mark Harvey
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S2 · E28 · 16 Oct 2024 · 1 hr 32 min
The Trainers: Charlie Italia, Murray Spargo & Rob Destradi
With over 100 years of experience, collectively, working at the Essendon Football Club, much loved trainers Charlie Italia, Murray Spargo and Rob Destradi have a catalogue of fascinating stories to share from their decades spent helping players and coaches strive for success. In this special podcast, the three life members reveal plenty of new insights into what has made the club tick for the past 40 years. This podcast is proudly brought to you by daneddybooks.com, the Essendonians, the EFC...
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S2 · E27 · 9 Oct 2024 · 33 min
#803 Graham Moss
Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 803, Graham Moss, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Few players in VFL/AFL history have had a bigger impact over a four-year span than Moss, who, like a shooting star, burst on the scene in 1973 then left spectators awestruck as he departed, just weeks after winning the 1976 Brownlow Medal; the first West Australian-born player to claim f...
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