“Traditional Rivals” and “Blockbuster” are descriptions that fit very well with Carlton v Essendon matches. Critics argue that these descriptions are used too often in an attempt to ‘build up’ matches but it is not the case when Carlton and Essendon play, there is no doubt these teams are true traditional rivals and the matches are blockbusters.

On Saturday night the Blues and the Bombers will meet at the MCG for the 50th time, the 33rd home and away match at the venue. The average crowd for home and away matches is 60,570 and for finals matches it is 75,782. IN the 49 matches played at the MCG between these two teams the average crowd is 65,848.

The largest crowd was for the 1968 Grand Final – 116,828
The largest home & away crowd was a Carlton home game in round 20, 2000 – 91,571.

In the 178 matches played between Carlton and Essendon where crowd numbers have been recorded, a total of 6,869,820 have seen these two great rivals in action.

In total the teams have met in 228 AFL matches with the Blues winning 117, the Bombers 107 and four games have finished with scores level. The last draw was round 16 in 2006.

In 228 matches Carlton’s total score is just 24 points more than Essendon.
Carlton
2,520 goals
2,798 behinds
17,918 points
Essendon
2,516 goals
2,798 behinds
17,894 points

History suggests the Bombers may get away to a good start in the first quarter on Saturday night but it is the second quarter that the Blues have been dominant in the 228 meetings. And while the third quarters have been very even, the final quarters have been the biggest scoring quarters. Based on history the Blues will want to be well in front at the final break as the Bombers 4th quarter has been their best in the 228 matches.
Quarter
Carlton
Essendon
Goals
Behinds
Points
+/-
Goals
Behinds
Points
1st
584
686
4190
-63
591
707
4253
2nd
651
713
4619
+213
618
698
4406
3rd
611
714
4380
-3
616
687
4383
4th
674
685
4729
-123
691
706
4852
Total
2,520
2,798
1,918
+24
2,516
2,798
17,894

While this will be the 50th meeting at the MCG, the teams have played at another six venues in the AFL:

Princes Park77 games
Windy Hill57 games
Waverley17 games
East Melbourne Cricket Ground26 games
Sydney Cricket Ground1 game in 1980
Victoria Park1 game, the 1908 semi-final


A total of 807 players have represented Carlton against Essendon in the AFL and this number will increase on Saturday night with Johnson, Robinson, Jacobs, Joseph and Garlett all named in Carlton’s squad for the match.

Most goals for Carlton in a game against Essendon is nine and this was achieved by Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence in round 2, 1936, Ken Baxter in round 18, 1939 and Alex Jesaulenko in round 1, 1970. Of the current players Brendan Fevola has kicked the most goals in a game, he kicked eight in round 3, 2007 and round 3, 2008. He has also kicked the most goals of the current players with a total of 51 goals from 15 matches against the Bombers.

The history between these two teams is incredible and adds to the rivalry and ensures that when Carlton and Essendon meet it really is a “clash of traditional rivals” in a “blockbuster game”.