Summary
Melbourne march on at the MCG with their 12th win from 14 outings. It wasn’t a classic by any stretch but they demonstrated plenty of character to rebound after the defeat to Collingwood, and the bye, and stick to their task throughout, despite a spirited Essendon performance.
Steven May was immense, with Jake Lever and Michael Hibberd not far behind. That backline has become a phenomenal unit, superb in the air, on the ground, one-on-one, setting up structurally, and clearing the press. There was plenty of effort, but not much cohesion ahead of them, which is reflected on the scoreboard. Christian Petracca stood out in the third quarter, when the game was effectively won for the Demons.
Zach Merrett did not deserve to be on the losing side and his 41 touches included some of the finest of the night. Darcy Parish turned in another strong performance, but it was the third man in the emerging Essendon triumvirate, Jake Stringer, who held the key to the result. He was largely shackled, like most of his teammates, but when he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, as he did in bursts, he threatened to wrest the game the Dons’ way. Those moments were too few however, and Melbourne clung on.
Richmond’s slip-up against St Kilda goes unpunished, for now, but a GWS victory over Hawthorn tomorrow will see the misfiring premiers out of the eight after 15 rounds. Melbourne have no such worries, and with this defensive solidity will back themselves to stand up in September.
That’s all for now, let’s do this all again soon.
Essendon 8.9 (57) lose to Melbourne 9.14 (68)
A very hard earned four points for the ladder leaders. A spot in the top-eight will have to wait for Essendon.
Q4: 1 min remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - Melbourne win a stoppage in midfield and hammer the ball forward to gain territory. Brayshaw then claims a superb intercept mark from Essendon’s clearance and the clock continues to tick down.
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - Brilliant from Lever. Stringer has plenty of open field in front of him and the ball in his hands, but he overcooks his entry inside-50 and Lever mops up, calmly hitting the boundary and nailing a long pass down the line to Gawn. And exhale.
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - The Demons are hanging on gamely but Essendon have a head of steam. Time and again Melbourne just release in time, the crowd urges the umpires to blow their whistles, and finally they do when Pickett was caught in possession.
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - Melbourne have locked the ball on centre wing near the interchange gate for repeat stoppages. Locked until Stringer again comes in to bully it away and streak into the distance. He launches a huge roost but there are enough Demons to smuggle the ball to safety.
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - Essendon win the centre bounce, Stringer muscles his way through, Merrett finds Waterman on the lead. The momentum is building. Then Lever intercept marks.
Melbourne can’t clear their lines though and the ball comes back. Suddenly there’s some frantic energy in the G. Another entry, and another, repelled time and again by the Dees. Gawn this time is somehow in the right place at the right time. The Bombers are coming.
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne - Merrett is a magician. He is like Phil Mickelson with a lob wedge, weighting his delivery into the space in front of Hooker, above Lever’s fingertips, with incredible precision. Hooker goals. The Dons are alive still.
Q4: 9.30 mins remaining: Essendon 7.9 (51) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne - Another centre clearance win for the Dons but Rivers takes front position and intercepts superbly. The clearance comes straight back though but another entry is picked off, this time by Lever. They are such a difficult side to prise open.
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Essendon 7.9 (51) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne - Free-kick to Essendon at the centre bounce sets up the immediate reply and Wright does just that, snapping neatly after the ball came to ground.
Q4: 10.00 mins remaining: Essendon 6.9 (45) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne -Essendon are seeing plenty of the ball now but Melbourne are so hard to break down. Stringer tries to do it with brute strength, but to no avail, and Melbourne clear. The Dees resume their unfocussed kick-mark downfield until it ends in the hands of the leading Sparrow on the 50m arc. He takes plenty of time off the clock then hammers through the best set shot of the night to probably clinch it.
Q4: 12.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.9 (45) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne -If it was a scrappy game before, we’re down to the shreds now with Melbourne nursing their way home.
They come unstuck though, losing possession on the edge of attacking 50 and Essendon storm through the corridor with enough speed to isolate Stringer inside 50 with May caught downfield. A crucial, gettable, set shot slides wide. Stringer needed to nail that one from bang in front.
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne - Repeat stoppages on Melbourne’s half-forward flank continue to run down the clock. Essendon eventually force a turnover and try to switch flanks and exit, but they kick to a contest, and guess who’s there? Steven May, of course. Melbourne resume their slow grind, this time on the left wing.
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne - Melbourne have settled the tempo down nicely. They have their structure back and they’re back in control of the centre of the ground.
Updated
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne - Melbourne are imprecise on the counter but Hind gifts them a free-kick and from that Fritsch is found 40m out on an angle. He can only force a point, but it keeps the game in Essendon’s half.
Updated
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne - Excellent contested mark from Laverde to deny Melbourne an exit. the pressure continues to pour on the Dees, and the crowd gets involved with a chorus of boos for what they thought was a holding the ball call not paid against Petracca (they had a point). The pressure continues though, and a long bomb dribbles wide for a point.
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne - Essendon win the opening clearance of the quarter and tear off into attack. A Melbourne first interrupts a mark inside-50 but the Bombers remain on the front foot with repeat stoppages.
3QT: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne
Melbourne lifted their attacking game that quarter and have established a decent lead going into the final break.
Q3: 1 min remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne - The Dons try to up the tempo but Melbourne’s defensive structure and intensity is hard to penetrate. They are a tough unit to either grind through or play over. Devon Smith just got told off by one of the umpires for shouting at him. Fair to say Essendon feel they’ve not had the rub of the green tonight.
Q3: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne - The Demons reload quickly, benefit from a free-kick, and from the unsettled aftermath there’s space in the forward line. Two kicks later and Petracca is lining up a set shot from 45m on a slight angle. He nails it. Petracca’s class has shone this quarter.
Q3: 3.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 7.12 (54) Melbourne - Essendon are playing slow kick-mark footy, crabbing their way up the ground. It looks ropey, and not at all what’s required in the circumstances. But for the second time in the space of a few minutes it proves effective. The slow build precedes a huge bomb to the hotspot, the ball comes to ground, and Jones crumbs superbly to snap a second goal in quick succession.
Q3: 4.30 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.12 (54) Melbourne - Excellent by Petracca, escaping from the stoppage and finding Harmes in space just inside 50. Another miss.
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.11 (53) Melbourne - Fritsch is loose over the back and he’s found after Harmes is awarded a free-kick advantage on the burst in midfield. Fritsch hooks his set shot.
This has been a below-par attacking display from both outfits.
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.10 (52) Melbourne - There haven’t been many occasions tonight where the ball has come in fast and flat to a leading forward, but Spargo was hit lace out after Melbourne won a convincing centre clearance. He eschews the shot in favour of hitting McDonald’s chest, but his set shot is very weak and Draper should mark, but opts to concede the point instead.
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne - Essendon needing a momentum changer, and there it is, Heppell snapping truly from 25m after the ball fell kindly after a pack formed.
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Essendon 4.7 (31) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne - The Bombers finally get their hands on the pill after an age, but they don’t look full of purpose. However, after chipping the ball around midfield they engineer a couple of pockets of space, eventually finding Smith in shooting range. He lets fly but Gawn is on hand to reduce the damage by five on the line.
Dees with three in a row.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) June 26, 2021
Need to get this back on our terms.#AFLDonsDees pic.twitter.com/MckjOtEcOq
Q3: 12.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne - The Dees force the turnover in midfield and then piece together a scrappy chain of possession on the right wing. It ends with Petracca lining up a set shot from the boundary near enough 40m out. Chances don’t get much harder. No bother, he clips a beautiful drop punt to extend the lead.
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 6.9 (45) Melbourne - Melbourne are grinding well this quarter. It isn’t pretty, but it is effective. Merrett had 26 touches in the opening half, none so far in this.
Q3: 14.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 6.9 (45) Melbourne - Steven May is a boss. His dominance of defensive 50 has been awesome tonight, as it has most of the season. His partnership with Lever, and their relationship with Hibberd is a major reason why the Dees are at the top of the ladder.
May’s presence bullies Hooker out of the contest and after Jordon accepts possession on left centre wing he’s soon gifted a 50m penalty for Perkins coming off the bench into the protected area. Then just as he’s nearing his new mark there’s another whistle and 50m more! Not sure what this one’s for, but Melbourne don’t care, they’re 15 points in front.
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 5.9 (39) Melbourne - Gawn is penalised in the ruck contest so Essendon break. It’s not pretty for 70m, until Parish centres for Cox, but he can’t hold the mark. Melbourne try to break through hands but McDonald-Tipungwuti, who else, lays a superb run-down tackle. The Bombers can’t construct another decent opportunity with Melbourne set defensively and have to accept a behind.
Q3: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 5.9 (39) Melbourne - The opening score of the quarter is a point, courtesy of a Harmes snap after excellent thrust from deep from Hunt.
And out of nowhere Melbourne kick the first goal! McDonald applies the smart finish - kicking the ball over his head - after Hind has an absolute shocker, failing to smuggle the ball over for a behind, taking himself out against the point post in the process.
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne - Underway in the second half and Essendon win a rare centre bounce, but the bomb forward is an easy intercept and Melbourne clear to centre wing.
David emails, asking “why are Melbourne wearing black armbands?” I’m afraid I can’t shed any light on that. Can anyone help out?
HT: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne
Not much between these sides at the main break. Not a classic but plenty of industry.
Luke Jackson runs into an open goal and makes up for an earlier blunder 👏#AFLDonsDees pic.twitter.com/vEpnkJ82yw
— AFL (@AFL) June 26, 2021
Q2: 0.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne - It’s a 12-point error because Melbourne go up the other end through Langdon, receive a free-kick in the goalsquare, and Jordon kicks them back in front.
Updated
Q2: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne - It’s all Essendon for a spell and they link handball after handball, sprinting through the corridor like Geelong ‘09, but they over-possess and a certain goal turns into a Ham behind. Big opportunity missed.
Q2: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.4 (28) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne - If Zach Merrett was in a Melbourne guernsey the Dees would be out of sight. His delivery in crucial areas has been superb for Essendon, and again he threads the needle to pick a target under pressure. On this occasion Perkins cannot honour the build-up and kicks a point.
Q2: 3.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.3 (27) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne - Essendon’s intensity has dipped a fraction and Melbourne are trying to take them on with their running game, but they can’t connect adroitly enough to pierce a gap. The Bombers are slow and precise in possession but they make a chain down the right flank and the roost to the hotspot finds the massive Peter Wright swooping like an albatross to clunk the mark and drill the goal. Dons back in front.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne - ... and now the Dees are ahead. Another centre clearance win, the ball hoisted forward by Harmes, kept alive at ground level by Spargo and he snaps very smartly over his shoulder.
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 2.8 (20) Melbourne - Deary me. What is going on out there? McDonald is hit on his chest on a superb lead, he wheels around and kicks to a pack, the ball falls to Jackson who... tries a cute dribble with his non-preferred that doesn’t make the journey from 20m!
Goodwin is down near the boundary-line now, presumably ready to clip a few of his charges around the ear. Jackson may be spared one for the time being. Cheap turnover across Essendon’s backline, the ball is soon shipped to the big ruck-forward and he walks home into the open goal.
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.7 (13) Melbourne - Simon Goodwin has some work to do at the interval. Rivers just tore off, took a bounce, then just steamed into traffic aimlessly. What was he doing? What is the attacking strategy?
Again! This time Fritsch has time and space, jogging towards 50, then he just sprays an awful kick miles in front of Neal-Bullen. This is calamitous attacking footy from the Dees. Shocking.
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.7 (13) Melbourne - Melbourne look like drilled Navy SEALs without the ball, and like drunk elephant seals when they get it. They’ve already butchered an extraordinary amount of ball in attacking positions and it doesn’t look like the wastefulness is changing anytime soon. They’re lucky May is on his game at fullback or Essendon’s counterattacking style would have them well clear.
Updated
Q2: 14 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.6 (12) Melbourne - Play is starting to open up a fraction, which suits Essendon and their preference for the corridor. However, a long bomb can only find the meaty palms of that man May again, standing like a lighthouse above the clouds.
Q2: 16 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.6 (12) Melbourne - And in role reversal, Melbourne break, down the right wing, and this time there is an end product with Fritsch finding Pickett in shooting range. The set shot is weak and a Bomber thumps it behind.
Q2: 17 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.5 (11) Melbourne - Essendon have their tails up now and are swarming all over Melbourne who can’t clear their lines defensively. Two to three minutes of repeat entries and relentless pressure. Somehow Melbourne survive, thanks in no small part to two intercept marks from the imperious May.
Q2: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.5 (11) Melbourne - Melbourne begin the quarter on the front foot following another centre clearance. Petracca bombs deep but Essendon’s backline holds up. It’s all bit frantic for a while there until the Bombers nick the turnover and immediately belt through the corridor at breakneck speed. Stringer again launches from range but this time there’s a Melbourne hand near the goal-line. However, the touch isn’t decisive enough from Hunt and Jones does miraculously to gather the bouncing ball and slap it onto his foot before crossing the line. Thrilling goal for Essendon.
I’m not sure what to make of that. Melbourne have superb defensive structure, plenty of endeavour, and no shortage of ball, but they look devoid of inspiration (and no little class) going forward.
Essendon have ridden their luck somewhat, but their commitment to the corridor with Parish, Stringer, and especially Merrett, to the fore, makes them look incredibly dangerous, even with only a counterpuncher’s volume of possession.
QT: Essendon 2.3 (15) v 1.5 (11) Melbourne
Seconds from the siren Waterman does superbly a ground level to scrap for possession near the arc. Essendon keep the ball alive until Merrett spots the vertical pass and feeds Smith in space. The former Giant kicks his side in front after the siren.
Long distance delivery from Jake Stringer 🙌#AFLDonsDees pic.twitter.com/1jYfYDZkSJ
— AFL (@AFL) June 26, 2021
Q1: 0.30 mins remaining: Essendon 1.3 (9) v 1.5 (11) Melbourne - Another centre clearance from Melbourne, but again they can’t craft a smooth chain of possession and find only a behind off hands.
Essendon are denied an easy exit but with the ball in no-man’s land on centre wing Stringer busts a tackle and generates momentum. Langford sends the ball forward and after it comes to ground McDonald-Tipungwuti marks in space but his set shot from an acute angle goes across the face.
Q1: 3 mins remaining: Essendon 1.2 (8) v 1.4 (10) Melbourne - Now it’s Spargo’s turn to make a mess of an entry. After laying a superb tackle on Parish to earn the free-kick he hurries his decision and kicks to an intercept mark. Essendon rebound at pace, and for the first time in an age punch a hole through Melbourne’s chainmail defence. It’s Stringer in possession and he unloads of miles out, hoping for a favourable bounce. The Sherrin skids on but slides into the post.
Barely a minute later there’s a near instant replay, the Dons in transition, Stringer in possession, and this time, the kick is spot on. Essendon back level on the goals tally.
Q1: 5 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 1.4 (10) Melbourne -Another point Melbourne’s way after a hopeful Spargo set shot from range came off hands. The Demons have won both centre bounces so far, nullifying one of Essendon’s major weapons.
Q1: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 1.3 (9) Melbourne - Now it’s Oliver’s turn to slice an entry inside-50, but McDonald keeps it alive, Brayshaw cleans up, and he chips to Harmes who drills home the set shot from 40m out directly in front, for the opening goal of the game.
Q1: 7.30 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.3 (3) Melbourne - Melbourne’s defensive organisation is superb. Essendon are being aggressively suffocated. There is no space anywhere for the Bombers. The Demons have not been able to convert their pressure into goals though.
Q1: 9 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.3 (3) Melbourne - The Demons have Essendon pinned in their defensive half for a spell and the pressure causes another turnover. This time a Melbourne forward is found in space, but Jackson can only go back and hit the post.
Q1: 10 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.2 (2) Melbourne - Another frenzied Melbourne attack, another failure at a crucial moment, this time Petracca, snapping across the face when he had time to hit the target. Jordon follows up with a point.
Q1: 11 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.1 (1) Melbourne - Melbourne have butchered a series of key kicks - Pickett and Jackson the latest culprits. Both had time and space to deliver inside 50 but both missed targets. Fortunately the defensive work behind them has denied Essendon rebound opportunities. This is a hardworking contest so far, but one lacking polish in the final thirds.
Q1: 14 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.1 (1) Melbourne - Redman misses his target coming out of defence, inviting Melbourne to kick to a huge pack. The ball’s brought to ground and the Demons keep it alive for a serious of contests until Neal-Bullen shows superb vision and composure to find Brayshaw in space to his left. From 45m on a bit of an angle the behelmeted midfielder drags his set-shot wide.
Q1: 16 mins remaining: Essendon 0.1 (1) v 0.0 (0) Melbourne - It’s still yet to settle down with neither side conceding any space. Merrett almost set the Bombers away but Jackson did superbly to cut out the killer infield kick. Essendon continue the pressure and eventually bust a hole through the Demons’ defence. Merrett sprints through but with his sixth disposal he kicks just wide.
Q1: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 0.0 (0) v 0.0 (0) Melbourne - Petracca gets first use of the ball but his punt forward is mopped up across halfback by Essendon and after some nifty handballs through the corridor the game slows down as Melbourne’s impenetrable defence sets up. After a series of sideways kicks the Demons intercept. Rebounding, Melbourne are more direct, but Stewart intercept marks near the goalsquare to snuff out any danger.
Opening bounce!
Here we go, can the Bombers fly into the eight?
This was a genuine accident - Essendon looked lively and buoyant heading up the race - but now you point it out, I can see how you’d reach a different conclusion.
Now here come the Dons, in their familiar black uniform with the famous red sash. They were much the livelier coming up the race, whooping and hollering encouragement. Plenty of pep in the Essendon step.
Out jog the Dees in their clash-ish guernsey that’s a lighter shade of blue than usual, white shorts, red socks.
Jack Viney will “inspire his team around the contest,” according to Simon Goodwin, who shares that Melbourne have to deny Essendon ball in the corridor. Sounds sensible.
Already today we’ve seen Fremantle hold off a dogged Collingwood, and North Melbourne heap further misery on Gold Coast.
Port Adelaide are narrowly ahead of Sydney deep into the final term at Adelaide Oval, and look to have the four points sewn up despite a late-career Buddy masterclass.
I’m not a punter, and I’m reluctant to bring odds into the blog, but I just saw on TV that the line for this match with one agency is 22.5 points. With Essendon’s form, Melbourne coming off a loss then the bye, that seems extremely lopsided to me.
Maybe I’m scarred by years of Melbourne underachievement?
Meanwhile, over at Adelaide Oval, Lance Franklin has kicked 3.1 so far in the final term to make it a nail-biting finish between the Power and Swans.
THIS MAN. THIS QUARTER. #AFLPowerSwans pic.twitter.com/H0sskAlJMg
— AFL (@AFL) June 26, 2021
OH BUDDY what a chase down! #MonsterMoments | #AFLPowerSwans pic.twitter.com/0aCYgygZZV
— AFL (@AFL) June 26, 2021
Genuine Buddy brilliance 😤#ColesGoals | #AFLPowerSwans pic.twitter.com/Mxhp8BjsRb
— AFL (@AFL) June 26, 2021
Jack Viney in on the telly talking about his return to action following a lengthy spell out with his toe injury. He didn’t say anything of note, but he’s sporting an excellent beard, so that’s something.
Last weekend was dominated by a few questionable on-field acts. Scott Heinrich’s column generated plenty of debate. I wonder if the storyline of the round will emerge from tonight’s four quarters?
It is chilly at the G tonight with temperatures unlikely to top 10C, and there’s a northerly breeze to keep an eye on. So far so winter, but conditions could worsen later on with the prospect of showers. Hopefully they’ll hold off until after the final siren.
Following Melbourne’s short lockdown it’s great to see fans back at the footy.
Been a while since I’ve sat this close to the action but at least I’m here. Go Bombers!!! 🔴⚫️🔴⚫️ (@ Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) - @mcg in Melbourne, VIC) https://t.co/wkRLKW3kRt pic.twitter.com/Vx4D27WONo
— Julian C. (@JulianC31) June 26, 2021
Melbourne XXIII
B: Hunt, May, Lever
HB: Hibberd, Petty, Salem
C: Jordon, Viney, Langdon
HF: Pickett, Fritsch, Sparrow
F: Neal-Bullen, McDonald, Spargo
FOLL: Gawn, Oliver, Petracca
I/C: Harmes, Jackson, Brayshaw, Rivers
Sub: Jones
IN: Viney
OUT: Weideman (omitted), Chandler (sub)
Essendon XXIII
B: Laverde, Stewart, Ridley
HB: Hind, Redman, Heppell
C: Langford, Merrett, Guelfi
HF: Perkins, Jones, Smith
F: Stringer, Hooker, McDonald-Tipungwuti
FOLL: Draper, Parish, Ham
I/C: Zerk-Thatcher, Cox, Waterman, Wright
Sub: Zaharakis
IN: Waterman
OUT: Cutler (sub), Cahill (omitted)
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Essendon v Melbourne from the MCG. This round 15 clash gets underway at 7.25pm.
At the beginning of the season you’d have received some funny looks if you announced this fixture would be among the most interesting - and potentially decisive - of the midseason rounds. But here we are, with the Demons a game clear on top of the ladder, and the Bombers just one win outside the top-eight.
Melbourne are back in action after a bye and they will doubtless have spent the time off figuring out what went wrong in their last outing, a Queen’s Birthday humbling at the hands of Collingwood. They were impressive victors over contenders Brisbane and Western Bulldogs before that, so there’s no reason to overplay an isolated loss, but they will be eager to bounce back and reassert their flag credentials nonetheless.
Essendon have been inconsistent in 2021, but they have shown enough positive signs to suggest they are putting together a group with a very high ceiling, one that isn’t far away from competing in the top half of the ladder. Jake Stringer has hit his straps, Darcy Parish is enjoying a breakout season, and Zach Merrett is finding plenty of the footy.
Richmond’s unexpected decline has opened the door to a side bubbling under the top-eight to sneak into the finals race, and the Bombers are well-placed to take advantage. Two of their next three fixtures are against North Melbourne and Adelaide, so a win tonight would really set the cat amongst the pigeons in the race for the finals.
If you want to join in tonight’s action, fling any thoughts to me by email, or send tweets to @JPHowcroft.
