ground. Playing days During the days as Essendon's home ground, Windy Hill had the reputation of being a violent place for players, and was the site of several ugly incidents, The most famous of these was the "Battle of Windy Hill", when a brawl broke out between players, team officials, trainers, spectators and police at half-time during a match between Essendon and Richmond on 18 May 1974. Another famous incident is when Hawthorn player Leigh Matthews broke the behind post after running into it during play in a 1982 game. The dimensions of the grassed surface of the arena are long and wide (the playing field is slightly smaller after the boundary lines are marked). The long axis of the ground runs east-west. Windy Hill Fitness Centre The Windy Hill Fitness Centre is a multipurpose aquatic facility and health club in Essendon, Victoria. The facility consists of an indoor 25m pool, spa, toddler play area, sauna, health club, group fitness studio, crèche, wellness studio, cycle/spin studio and personal training studio. The facility was built by the Essendon Football Club for use by both the community and its players in 1995. The health club was originally built inside the old Showers Grand Stand which formed part of the Windy Hill Football Ground. The health club was renovated in 2007 as part of a redevelopment by the Football Club with the Shower Grand Stand demolished, and the new gym built next to where the Essendon Bowls Club once had a third green. The centre is currently managed for the Football Club by Bluefit. References External links History of Windy Hill (Essendon Recreation Reserve) The 1974 Windy Hill Brawl "Around the Grounds" - Web Documentary - Windy Hill Defunct Australian Football League grounds Victorian Football League grounds Sports venues in Melbourne Sports venues completed in 1881 1881 establishments in Australia Buildings and structures in the City of Moonee Valley Sport in the City of Moonee Valley Essendon, Victoria