FOR the 250th time.

A significant milestone between Carlton and Essendon will take place on Sunday afternoon at the MCG.

Ahead of this weekend’s clash with the arch rivals, here are some key stats and facts from 125 years of VFL/AFL history between the two clubs.

The head to head

Carlton shades the historical record between the Blues and Bombers, having recorded 125 from the 249 games so far.

On the other hand, Essendon has emerged victorious on 118 occasions, with six games ending in draws.

The Blues have held the historical ascendancy for over 100 years, with the Blues finally surpassing the Bombers in 1920 for head-to-head wins.

Carlton was coming from a long way back, with Essendon winning the first 14 encounters between the two sides.

Six of those have been Grand Finals, with the two sides sharing three wins each.

The closest fixture in the history of the game

That headline is not an exaggeration.

Of the 249 games to have been played between the two sides, the game has ended with a single-digit margin on 72 occasions.

The VFL/AFL history books show that no other match-up has resulted in more close games between two opposition teams.

Some of Carlton’s most-famous victories have occurred in a close fashion against Essendon.

There’s the 1947 (one point) and 1968 (three points) Grand Finals, the 2007 comeback (three points) after being 48 points down, and arguably the seminal moment of this grand rivalry: the 1999 preliminary final.

Most games decided by a single-digit margin (including draws):

72 - Carlton v Essendon; 66 - Carlton v South Melbourne/Sydney; 57 - Essendon v South Melbourne/Sydney; 57 - Collingwood v Essendon; 54 - Carlton v Richmond

Jumping ship

In the history of the game, there have been 39 players to represent both of these sides.

After nearly 15 years without a trade between these two sides, ruckman Andrew Phillips made the switch from IKON Park to Tullamarine at the conclusion of the 2019 season.

Adam Saad went the other way 12 months later in last year’s trade period.

The Blues have had some success with their recruits from the Bombers, with Justin Madden and Glenn Manton turning into premiership players at the Blues.

Conversely, 1995 premiership players Matthew Allan and Scott Camporeale ended their careers in the red and black after esteemed careers in the Navy Blue.

The Madden Cup

While it’s the 250th instalment of Carlton v Essendon, it will also be the 25th incarnation of the Madden Cup.

The initiative started in 1997, coinciding with Justin’s retirement after 332 AFL games: 287 of those came for Carlton after his first 45 for Essendon.

Of course, Justin made the move to IKON Park after his brother Simon had well and truly locked away the ruck position at Bomberland. Simon finished with 378 games (the second-most in Essendon history), while both finished with two premierships.

The only two brothers to play over 300 games each of VFL/AFL football, Essendon currently holds the bragging rights with 12 Madden Cups to Carlton’s 10.

However, the Blues are the current holders after its one-point triumph in Round 4 of last year.