As one of the original teams that formed the VFL, Essendon has now played 1180 players, including 10 for the first time in 2021, so it is not surprising they can provide their full compliment of nicknames.
19. ‘Whoppa’.
Gordon Lane (1940) was a real big game performer who booted 6 goals in the Don’s 1942 and then 7 in the 1946 premiership wins.
18. ‘Newhaven’.
William Charles Jackson (1898) was nicknamed after a Melbourne Cup-winning horse. Also a successful cyclist, Jackson won the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic and two Australian Cycling Championships.
17. ‘Weary’.
William Young Wilson (1932) gave up football to concentrate on playing interstate cricket for Victoria.
16. ‘Daisy’.
Darren Williams (1979) was highly skilled, his disposal by foot and hand was almost invariably effective, and he was a key player in the Bombers 1984 and 1985 premiership teams.
15. ‘Tinker’.
Herbert Tonkes (1944) missed the 1945 season serving in the Pacific on war duties Next year he returned and was in the victorious 1946 VFL Grand Final team. The surname gives the clue to the nickname!
14. ‘Hirdy’.
During the playing career of James Albert Hird (1991) his then-coach Kevin Sheedy dubbed him the ‘Keiran Perkins of football’ but the nickname never really took off and he was just known as ‘Hirdy’ – one of the 20 greatest players of all time.
James Hird starred in Essendon’s elite 2000 campaign. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
13. ‘Nuts’.
A play on the first name of Almond T. Richards (1936).
12. ‘Kanga’.
Ralph Lumsden Raisbeck’s (1922) main claim to fame was that he was born on Xmas Day, 1898.
11. ‘Duffy’.
Elton Wilfred Plummer (1934) Essendon recruited Plummer, from Preston. At one stage he played 98 consecutive games and was a member of Essendon’s 1942 premiership team.
10. ‘Inspector Gadget’.
Dustin Fletcher, with his long reach and flexibility, appeared to have arms as long as cartoon character Inspector Gadget.
Fletcher played exactly 400 AFL games (the third player to do so) and – with his Essendon champion father Ken – holds the record for the most AFL/VFL games played by a father/son combination.
9. ‘Racehorse’.
Neil Besanko (1968) was part of a well-known racing family and a prominent pro sprinter.
8. ‘Joker’.
Alexander James Hall (1898) was a great personality and his nickname ‘Joker’ became well known to ‘Sporting Globe’ readers as a columnist in that newspaper.
7. ‘Fish’.
Paul Salmon (1983) was one of the tallest players in League history and a great full forward who topped Essendon’s goalkicking on seven occasions. He also played 100 games for Hawthorn.
6. ‘Leggo’.
Harry J’s birth name was ‘Sauer’ but it was anglicized to Sawyer The origin of the nickname is unknown. He played in 1918.
5. ‘Smokin’ Joe’.
Joe Misiti (1992) was an exuberant and talented footballer. He player 236 games and kicked 94 goals for the Bombers.
4. ‘Jules’.
Anyone with even a slight knowledge of William Shakespeare knows of the play, Julius Caesar, so Jack Caesar (1938) was a monty to be called ‘Jules’.
3. ‘Kookaburra’.
Known as ‘Kookaburra’ because of his non-stop talking on the field, Alexander A. Epis (1958) gave Essendon tremendous service as a tough, dashing half-back flanker.
2. ‘Budgie’.
Tiny Tony Buhagiar (1981) was a great Essendon favorite. One of my favorite signs at the footy was ‘Budgie wants a Krakouer’ referring to the upcoming battle with North Melbourne’s Phil and Jim Krakouer.
1. ‘The Flying Dutchman’.
Paul Vander Haar (1977) was a brilliant, flamboyant footballer who marked spectacularly and was a long kick when needed. He was popular with all footy fans and enjoyed his social life.
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