Geelong v Essendon
Each week Michael Rogers gives us an exclusive look at the stats and facts that matter for the Cats.
Interested in the history of the Greatest Club of All? Head to 'Footy Histories' to purchase amazing books on the 1951/52 and 1963 Geelong Premiership sides.
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At the end of the 1903 season Geelong and Essendon had each won half of the matches played against each other. Since then Geelong's running win percentage vs Essendon has finished below 50% at the end of each season, dropping to its lowest of 37.8% at the end of the 1911 season. At the end of 1939 it had climbed to 47.0% and has never been below 40% again. Its most recent low point was at the end of 1986 when it sat at 40.4%. Since 1986 the Cats have won twice as many matches against the Bombers than they have lost (26 wins, 13 losses and 1 draw.)
The Cats' running points margin was most in deficit at the end of 1986 with 1,288 fewer points scored than conceded against the Dons. In the 40 matches since then Geelong have scored 694 points more than they have conceded vs Essendon.
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At Docklands Stadium, Essendon's win% of 33.3% vs Geelong is their second lowest after 30.8% vs Nth Melbourne.
At the Dons' former home of 'Windy Hill' (Essendon Recreation Reserve), Geelong won three consecutive matches there 1925-8 and two consecutive 1931-3. After 1933, the Cats never won consecutively there again but did manage their biggest win at Windy Hill in their last match there in round 19 1988 - 24.13-157 vs Essendon 12.18-90.
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The Bombers are one of four opponents that the Cats have won 12 of their last 15 matches against. The others are: Brisbane, Carlton, and Sydney.
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Only Melbourne has conceded more points (20,840) in its last 200 matches than Essendon has.
Geelong and Essendon: Head to Head All Opponents Last 10 Seasons 2005-14.
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2014 matches vs teams placed 1-9 on the ladder after round 14
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2014 matches vs teams placed 10-18 on the ladder after round 14
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Geelong have won eight of their last nine matches vs Essendon with a percentage of 160.87%.
Geelong have won 15 of their last 24 matches vs Essendon with a percentage of 115.92%.
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Geelong last lost to Essendon by 60 points or more in the 1989 Qualifying Final - 11.15-81 vs Essendon 24.13-157. In one of the most remarkable turnarounds in League history, 13 days later in the Preliminary Final, Geelong scored 24.20-164 vs Essendon 10.10-70.
Geelong's previous longest winning streak vs Essendon was five 1954-6.
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Geelong has finished ahead of Essendon 54 times on the final season ladder in the 113 seasons that they have competed against each other in. (Essendon did not compete in 1917.)
Geelong has placed higher than Essendon in all of the last 10 seasons 2004-13 - the most consecutive times that they have finished ahead of the Bombers. Previous: Six consecutive 1951-6.
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Colin Rice's only win against the Bombers was the Cats' breakthrough win on their way to the premiership, against their 'bogey' opponent in round 13 1963 at Kardinia Park - 14.15-99 vs Essendon 9.8-62.
