Matthew Drain

More from The Red & Black Project All episodes →

1. 

   S3 · E42 · 13 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 31 min

   #889 Wayne Otway

   West Australian rover, Wayne Otway, Bomber number 889, was 25 years young when he played his first game for the Bombers in round 1, 1982. Two hours later, having amassed 28 disposals and kicked five goals, the Essendon supporters had a new hero to cheer for. If not for injuries, Otway may well have been roving in the back-to-back premierships of 1984-85, however, it was not to be and after just 36 games (and 65 goals) he returned to WA at the end of 1983 to play again with his original club, ...

2. 

   S3 · E41 · 11 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

   #629 Ray Martini

   At 95 years young, Ray Martini, Bomber number 629, is Essendon's oldest living player, having played 13 games between 1950-52; an achievement in itself given Martini's time at Windy Hill coincided with the finest era in the club's VFL/AFL history. Martini played alongside Dick Reynolds, John Coleman and Bill Hutchison—all Legends of the Australian Football Hall of Fame—and was a member of the 1950 and 1952 reserves premiership teams. He then played one year at Carlton (7 games, 1953) but, as ...

3. 

   S3 · E40 · 6 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 53 min

   #928 John Barnes

   Over two stints at Essendon, John Barnes, Bomber number 928, certainly left his imprint on the fabric of the Essendon Football Club. When the Bombers took all before them in 2000, Barnes was a vital ingredient in the tight bond shared by the premiership team. In his first period at Windy Hill, Barnes managed just 12 games across four seasons (1987-90), before he was traded to Geelong for Sean Denham. At the Cattery, Barnes' athletisicm and endurance came to the fore as he helped drive the tea...

4. 

   S3 · E39 · 3 Feb 2026 · 55 min

   #652 Greg Sewell

   Relive Dan Eddy's 2019 chat with Bomber number 652, Greg Sewell, which originally aired on Essendon's 'Fabric of the Essendon Football Club' podcast series celebrating the club's 150-year anniversary in 2022. Sewell played 171 games in red and black (1952-61) and was a member of the club's 1952 reserves premiership side. He kicked four goals in the 1959 VFL Grand Final loss to Melbourne. He then coached the reserves to a premiership (1968), filled in for John Coleman as senior coach for...

5. 

   S3 · E38 · 18 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 56 min

   #905 Leon Baker

   One of Essendon's most popular players of all-time, Leon Baker will forever be remembered for his two sensational last-quarter goals in the 1984 Grand Final, which helped the Bombers to break a 19-year premiership drought. He was a star again the following year, when Essendon went back-to-back in dominant fashion with a 78-point win over Hawthorn. Baker played 86 games and kicked 70 goals in the No. 4 guernsey, was twice runner-up in the Crichton Medal, All-Australian, and represented Western...

6. 

   S3 · E36 · 4 Jan 2026 · 2 hr 11 min

   Noel Judkins - Part 2

   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...

7. 

   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!

8. 

   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 ...

9. 

   S3 · E33 · 29 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 35 min

   #958 Brad Fox

   Bomber #958 Brad Fox recalls his time growing up in Western Australia, his recruitment to Essendon as a high draft pick (12th overall in the 1988 National Draft), his years at Windy Hill which included the 1992 reserves premiership, his brief stint at Richmond, then his long involvement in the game over the past three decades. This episode of the Red & Black Project Podcast is proudly brought to you by the Essendonians, the Essendon Past Players & Officials Association, and daneddyboo...

10. 

    S3 · E32 · 10 Aug 2025 · 1 hr 24 min

    #887 Steve Copping

    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...