Matthew Lloyd and John Barker have opened up about the tense rivalry between Essendon and Hawthorn that lit the fuse and sparked one of footy’s most infamous brawls in 2004.

The pair both played in the “line in the sand” game and re-lived that day on 3AW’s Footy: Then and Now podcast.

In this episode;

• Matthew Lloyd details his lack of respect for the Hawks at the time.
• John Barker explains what happened in the rooms at half-time that lit the fuse.
• The duo give their version of events from both sides of the fence.
• They share their thoughts on whether the rivalry was bigger then, or now.

‘Footy: Then and Now’ is a weekly podcast that gets you excited for the weekend ahead by revisiting famous VFL/AFL moments with the people who shaped them. Follow/Subscribe on Spotify, Apple, and Google Podcasts

Press PLAY below to listen to the episode!