Two-time Essendon premiership player Paul Salmon has revealed the background story before he kicked the winning goal against a formidable West Coast Eagles back in Round 16, 1993.
The match may be remembered for Kevin Sheedy's famous jacket waving gesture after the win, but Salmon also recalled his match-winning goal.
With around 30 seconds to go, Salmon was awarded a free-kick and subsequent set shot to give Essendon the lead and the AFL Hall of Famer explained how he had the goal kicking ‘yips’ heading into the game.
“I had been playing poorly the previous couple of weeks and I couldn’t kick a goal,” Salmon said on SEN’s The Sporting Capital.
“I think I kicked something like 11 or 12 straight behinds. I had three behinds before I had that shot.
“Kevin (Sheedy) probably lacked a bit of confidence in me, I know my teammates did.
“I saw the humour in that at the moment. I think that’s always been my way.
“The footy Gods had chosen me to have the ball in my hands to win the game under those circumstances.
“We did win. We closed the game with 30 seconds to go and Kevin came out and waved that jacket.”
Salmon went on to reveal what some of his teammates said when he was awarded the free-kick which ultimately helped settle his nerves.
“Gary O’Donnell resigned himself and said, ‘of all people’,” Salmon laughed.
“Mark Harvey said it was me and him in the car park after the game if I missed.
“There were little jibes like that and I think it all helped wittingly on their behalf to calm me down and put a smile on my face and say if it’s meant to be it’s going to be.
“It was a wobbly old one, but it went through.”
The Bombers would hold on for a two-point win against the Eagles that day and eventually went on to the win the premiership that year with Salmon kicking five goals in the Grand Final against Carlton.