The Bombers’ blue-loving best: Top 10 players who relished games against Essendon

Carlton Players‘ Strong Performances Against Essendon Rivalry

When it comes to footy rivalries, few can match the intensity and passion that Carlton and Essendon bring to the table. Many legendary players have enjoyed the thrill of going up against their arch-rivals, with some even standing out as dominant forces against the Bombers. Here are the top 10 Carlton players who had standout performances against Essendon.

1. Stephen Kernahan

Stephen Kernahan is undoubtedly one of the best Carlton players of all time, and his record against Essendon solidifies his place in the club’s history books. He kicked 68 career goals against the Bombers, with his most outstanding performance being a haul of 6.8 in Round 5, 1987. Kernahan had a strong middle portion of his career where he did plenty of damage against Essendon, kicking 33 goals from six games between 1992 and 1994.

2. Brendan Fevola

Brendan Fevola is another Carlton forward who enjoyed playing against Essendon. While he narrowly kicked more goals against Collingwood overall, there was a stretch where he dined out on the Bombers better than anyone. In 2006, Fevola kicked into gear, and his goals return from his next six games against Essendon was noteworthy, including a memorable bag of eight in a half of football as the Blues recorded their greatest ever comeback in round 3, 2007.

3. Matthew Lappin

Matthew Lappin is one of Carlton’s most beloved players, and his performances against Essendon will forever be etched in the minds of Blues fans. He kicked more goals against Essendon than any other team, and his two standout performances in the 2001 season are particularly noteworthy. In one of the Blues’ most famous backs-to-the-wall wins in Round 3, Lappin’s 80-metre torp was an all-time classic, while his five-goal haul against the reigning premiers in Round 18 of that season was also exceptional.

4. Greg Williams

Greg Williams may have had issues with Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, but he certainly didn’t show it on the field. After making the move to Carlton in 1992, Williams ended up averaging 31.7 disposals from his 10 games against them, as well as kicking 12 goals. That was a marked improvement from his pre-Carlton days when he averaged 22 disposals against Essendon.

5. Chris Judd

Another Carlton Brownlow medallist who found a new level when playing against Essendon was Chris Judd. While he registered 210 Brownlow votes overall, he would record 15 of his 16 votes against Essendon while playing for Carlton. Round 3, 2008 was the first time that the football world heard “Carlton, C.Judd, three votes”, while Round 23, 2014 was the last time that the very same sentence was uttered.

6. Scott Camporeale

While it may be tough for Carlton fans to accept, Scott Camporeale also had strong performances against the Blues’ arch-rivals when he pulled on the Essendon jumper. However, he definitely preferred playing for Carlton against Essendon, kicking 31 career goals against the Bombers, and having over 20 disposals and hitting the scoreboard in nine games. In a team without Craig Bradley, Anthony Koutoufides, or Stephen Silvagni, Camporeale was best on ground in a shock Round 3, 2001 win.

7. Eddie Betts

Eddie Betts’ chief tormentor years were while he was in South Australia, but he still managed to enjoy himself against Essendon while wearing the Navy Blue. His career-best performance from his 350 games played was for the Blues against the Bombers, kicking a memorable eight majors. In total, he kicked 43 goals from 21 Carlton games against Essendon, and another 19 while playing for Adelaide.

8. Lance Whitnall

When it comes to playing against Essendon, the Whitnall family seemed to have a special motivation. Lance Whitnall, the second-generation Blues player, burst onto the scene with a tremendous Rising Star nomination on debut against Essendon in 1997. Two years later, he kicked one of the most famous goals in Carlton history on 1999 preliminary final day, while he had 28 disposals, 18 marks and four goals against the all-conquering Bombers team in 2000. He kicked three final-quarter goals to lead the Blues to a stirring comeback in Round 2, 2005.

9. Andrew Carrazzo

Andrew Carrazzo was a midfielder who frequently found himself on the scoreboard against Essendon. He kicked 48 career goals across his 194 games, with over 20 per cent of those coming against the Bombers. Two memorable goal celebrations for Blues fans include beating the monogram as the Blues recorded a drought-breaking finals win, including channelling his inner Ric Flair against Bombers opponent – and future Carlton assistant coach – Brent Stanton.

10. Bryan Quirk

In the history books, Bryan Quirk’s record against Essendon was enviable. He came up against Essendon on 16 occasions and enjoyed 13 wins, including one of the most famous in the Blues’ existence. In the major semi-final of 1968, Quirk kicked three goals – including two in the first term – to set the Blues on their way to a Grand Final berth. In a golden era for Carlton against the Bombers, Quirk’s last nine games against the Bombers resulted in victories.

11. David Cuningham

While he is not yet retired, David Cuningham is a current Blues player who definitely has a grudge against Essendon. He recorded his two best games in his senior career so far against the Bombers. In 2020, he recorded 28 disposals and three Brownlow votes, followed up by a 25 disposals and two-goal performance the following season. Carlton fans will be hoping that Cuningham can add to his tally against Essendon in the coming years.

Passion and Enthusiasm in Footy Rivalries

Footy rivalries are an essential component of the game because they bring an extra level of passion and enthusiasm to the matches. When players and fans