Carlton and one of its strongest traditional rivals, Richmond, had enjoyed considerable success through the 1970s, while Essendon had endured mediocrity.

[1] The significance of 1981 is highlighted by the memorable and controversial finish to the teams' second meeting that season, which was held at Princes Park.

The controversy came when, with the margin still at 14 points, Carlton's Mike Fitzpatrick conceded a free kick in defence for the rarely applied infringement of wasting time; that free kick resulted in a behind, and therefore did not have a direct influence the result, but it is the incident from which this game is mostly remembered.

The first was the 1993 Grand Final, when Carlton was a strong favourite to win, but was comprehensively beaten by 44 points by a notably young, inexperienced Essendon team known as the "Baby Bombers".

The second was the 1999 Preliminary Final, when Essendon was an even stronger favourite to win, but was beaten by a single point by a Carlton team whose form throughout the season had been inconsistent.

On 14 July 1981, 42,269 people witnessed Essendon win the 1981 Escort Cup over Carlton at Waverley Park.

In front of more than 65,000 people at Waverley Park, Essendon would go on to knock out the reigning Premiers before making 3 consecutive Grand Finals.

Carlton was second on the ladder with a record of 15–4, having had a thirteen-game winning streak broken only the previous week.

[5] In the near-opposite circumstances of the highly anticipated match from Round 20, 2000, both teams were sitting at the bottom of the ladder.

Pitted against the arch enemy Essendon in front of a near-capacity MCG crowd, big questions were being asked of the playing group.

Saad was taken to the middle of the ground, where he bombed forward to a pack of players, with teammate Jacob Townsend marking and kicking for goal – and the game – from 50 metres out with seconds to go.

[8] It was a good-looking kick; however, it fell just short and was rushed through for a point, with the match ending at Carlton 7.10 (52) def Essendon 8.3 (51) The two sides faced each other in the AFL Women's competition for the first time in round two of AFL Women's season seven at North Port Oval on Sunday 4 September.

[9] Despite a goal and 21 disposals to Madison Prespakis, an Essendon comeback from 21 points down in the final quarter fell just short as Carlton hung on for a one-point win.

After 233 games in the navy blue, one of Carlton's favourite sons, Scott Camporeale, walked out on the club.

After the 2005 season, Carlton tried to make it difficult for Scott to leave by not releasing him to train with Essendon (his desired club).