IT ALL started in 1983, when Hawthorn played Essendon in the Grand Final. The Hawks won by what was at the time, a record-breaking margin of 83 points.

The game was played as you’d expect of a Grand Final, it was a hard and tough contest with players leaving nothing on the field.

There were clashes, both on and off the ball. And from that, the passion that ignites within the die-hard fans who believe one of their players, their heroes had been done wrong.

But that was only the beginning.

Hawthorn and Essendon faced off in the next two Grand Finals, in 1984 and 1985, with the Bombers victorious on both occasions.

At the time, both teams were powerhouse clubs with superstar players the envy of most.

It was a rivalry built not just on the big hits, but on the respect both teams, both clubs as a whole had for one another.

And when you think about the great players of the 1980s for both sides, it’s little wonder why the two teams met so often in the finals and endured tough contests each time Hawthorn played Essendon.

For Hawthorn; there was Leigh Matthews, Peter Knights, Robert DiPierdomenico, Gary Ayres - the list goes on.

For Essendon; it was Simon Madden, Roger Merrett, Terry Daniher, Tim Watson. Need we go on?

“That’s where the rivalry started, in 1983 – the first of three consecutive Grand Finals we played in against them,” Club great Peter Knights told hawthornfc.com.au this week.

“I was part of the 1970s where we had a fantastic rivalry with North Melbourne – we played in three Grand Finals against them in 1975, 1976 and 1978. That rivalry stays but turns into respect you have for the opposition players and team.

“That’s the way it was with Essendon as well.

“That rivalry started as a result of playing a lot of finals and playing in Grand Finals.

“That’s what we all play for, to play in finals and play in Grand Finals and win premierships. We won one in 1983 and the Bombers won in ’84 and ’85. That’s where it did start.

“When you think about the great players of Essendon in that era against the great players of Hawthorn in that era there are so many great Essendon players of the 80s against great Hawks of the 80s.

“When you put those two together, you’re always going to have a good contest, one against one and team against team.”

The most memorable encounters and moments between Hawthorn and Essendon, however, don’t come exclusively from the finals played between the two sides in the 1980s.

In order to reach the finals, players and coaches give their all during the home and away season, and that’s the way it was back then, too.

The games out at Windy Hill, Glenferrie Oval and Princes Park would hold particular significance for fans, but also the players who took part.

For Hawthorn, there was nothing sweeter than beating Essendon at Windy Hill in front of hoards of their passionate fans.

“Traditionally, we had great clashes in the home and away series against them, tough games, tough encounters,” Knights recalled.

“It used to be great to go out to Windy Hill and to have a win out there, which was always very, very tough.

“When we used to play Essendon out at Windy Hill, it was tough to defeat the Bombers on field and tough to beat their supporters off field because they were so passionate the way that they supported their players.

“Irrespective of the clashes that you had during finals, you had to make the finals and you have to earn your opportunity during the home and away season.”

More recently, the rivalry has continued with the infamous 2004 line in the sand game and the 2009 Round 22 match between the two sides – with the winner to play in the finals.

There’s the Matthew Lloyd and Campbell Brown incidents.

The passion that is ignited inside Hawthorn and Essendon members and supporters when the two teams prepare to face-off against one another is up there with the most famous rivalries in sport.

It still exists even for Knights, almost 30 years since he wore the brown and gold of Hawthorn.

He is still consumed though by the Club he loves, working as Coterie Manager at the Ricoh Centre and teaching the players, coaches and staff all about the history and traditions surrounding Hawthorn Football Club.

Still, to this day there’s nothing he loves more than seeing Hawthorn beat Essendon. And he loves to see the current players love to beat them.

“It’s not a matter of disliking them; I have great respect, but love to beat them probably more than any other side in the competition for me,” he passionately says.

“I just love to beat Essendon footy club and I like to see our players feeling that as well.

“I love to see them involved in this feeling of they’re a measuring stick and we need to perform at our best to defeat them.

“It started in the 80s and continued on into today.”

The next chapter in the history of Hawthorn and Essendon begins at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.