Years - 1897 -
Home grounds: East Melbourne, Windy Hill, MCG, Docklands
First game: Round 7, 1897 at East Melbourne
| Wins | Draws | Losses | % | |
| 83 | 2 | 130 | 38.60 | |
The first team called Essendon was formed in 1862 but soon folded. They were reformed in the 1870s.
For many years the club played its home games at East Melbourne while a VFA side played at Windy Hill.
Biggest Win
| Margin | Round | Venue | ||
| 1 | 90 | Round 15, 1927 | MCG | |
| 2 | 85 | Round 2, 1937 | Windy Hill | |
| 3 | 77 | Round 19, 1994 | MCG | |
| 4 | 73 | Round 8, 1959 | MCG | |
| 5 | 68 | Round 12, 1940 | MCG | |
| 5 | 68 | Round 9, 1956 | MCG | |
| 7 | 65 | Round 16, 1955 | MCG | |
| 8 | 61 | Grand Final 1957 | MCG | |
| 9 | 51 | Round 14, 1963 | MCG | |
| 10 | 48 | Round 10, 1941 | MCG | |
Highest Score
| Score | Round | Venue | ||
| 1 | 25.20.170 | Round 2, 1937 | Windy Hill | |
| 2 | 21.15.141 | Round 2, 1939 | Windy Hill | |
| 3 | 20.20.140 | Round 15, 1927 | MCG | |
| 4 | 21.10.136 | Round 20, 1978 | Windy Hill | |
| 5 | 21.9.135 | Round 19, 1994 | MCG | |
| 6 | 19.20.134 | Round 15, 1975 | MCG | |
| 6 | 21.8.134 | Round 18, 1979 | MCG | |
| 6 | 20.14.134 | Round 7, 1999 | MCG | |
| 9 | 20.13.133 | Round 3, 1976 | Windy Hill | |
| 10 | 19.15.129 | Round 8, 1959 | MCG | |
Biggest Loss
| Margin | Round | Venue | ||
| 1 | 148 | Round 2, 2013 | MCG | |
| 2 | 122 | Round 15, 1986 | MCG | |
| 3 | 82 | Round 7, 1979 | Windy Hill | |
| 3 | 82 | Round 9, 1985 | Windy Hill | |
| 5 | 69 | Round 9, 1919 | East Melbourne | |
| 6 | 66 | Round 10, 1906 | MCG | |
| 7 | 63 | Grand Final 1946 | MCG | |
| 7 | 63 | Round 14, 1997 | MCG | |
| 9 | 62 | Round 4, 1986 | Windy Hill | |
| 10 | 60 | Round 16, 1908 | East Melbourne | |
| 10 | 60 | Round 1, 1935 | MCG | |
| 10 | 60 | Grand Final 2000 | MCG | |
Lowest Score
| Score | Round | Venue | ||
| 1 | 0.8.8 | Semi Final 3 1897 | Lake Oval | |
| 2 | 0.9.9 | Round 3, 1911 | MCG | |
| 3 | 1.10.16 | Round 6, 1899 | East Melbourne | |
| 4 | 2.8.20 | Round 12, 1898 | MCG | |
| 5 | 3.5.23 | Round 5, 1898 | East Melbourne | |
| 6 | 3.6.24 | Round 5, 1901 | East Melbourne | |
| 7 | 3.7.25 | Round 3, 1902 | East Melbourne | |
| 7 | 3.7.25 | Round 13, 1899 | MCG | |
| 7 | 3.7.25 | Round 4, 1903 | MCG | |
| 10 | 3.9.27 | Round 7, 1897 | East Melbourne | |
| 10 | 3.9.27 | Round 10, 1902 | MCG | |
Lowest Score (1980-)
| Score | Round | Venue | ||
| 1 | 7.14.56 | Round 14, 1984 | Waverley | |
| 2 | 8.9.57 | Round 14, 1997 | MCG | |
| 3 | 8.10.58 | Round 10, 2012 | MCG | |
| 4 | 9.6.60 | Round 19, 1981 | Windy Hill | |
| 4 | 8.12.60 | Round 15, 1986 | MCG | |
| 6 | 10.7.67 | Round 2, 2016 | MCG | |
| 7 | 9.14.68 | Round 6, 1988 | MCG | |
| 8 | 9.14.68 | Round 2, 1989 | Windy Hill | |
| 9 | 10.10.70 | Round 9, 1981 | MCG | |
| 10 | 9.17.71 | Round 9, 1985 | Windy Hill | |
| 10 | 10.11.71 | Round 17, 2003 | MCG | |
Shared Players
1900s
Corrie Gardner
Jack Godby
Les Minto
Les Rainey
Fred Whelpton
1910s
Charlie Edwards
Jack Geggie
Alf George
Vernon Hazel
Rupe Lowell
Jack McKenzie
Jim Moore
Jack Woolley
1920s
1930s
Gerry Donnelly
Bill Earle
Frank Kelly
Ted Regan
Archie Roberts
1970s
Bruce Brown
Allan Davis
Peter Keenan
Ken Roberts
Ray Smith
1980s
Phil Carman
Cameron Clayton
Tony Elshaug
Paul O'Brien
Michael O'Sullivan
1990s
2000s
Chris Heffernan
Gary Moorcroft