Round 7 - Kangaroos Match Review

Not even a last quarter comeback could plaster over the fact that Essendon once again suffered a self-inflected meltdown as they went down by 22 points to the Kangaroos at the Phone Dome in AFL Round 7.

The loss, the third in a row for the Bombers since ANZAC Day will only put more pressure on coach Kevin Sheedy who is struggling to retain his job for 2008, as the Bombers lose touch of the AFL Top 8.

A 31 point three-quarter time lead to the Roos blew out to 42 after Drew Petrie and Leigh Brown scored early in the final term, before the Bombers decided to put together their best sequence of the match beginning with Alwyn Davey kicking two goals in two minutes.

For the first time in the match, the Bomber midfield began to get first use of the ball and ‘had run’ and the margin was back to 22 points midway through the last term after Brent Stanton slotted home his second goal for the night from a tight angle.

Scott Lucas had the chance to close the gap even more minutes later but failed to convert and the Roos rushed the ball up the other end of the ground as David Hale marked and goaled from 50 out to stretch the margin back to a comfortable 28 points entering time on to put the final nail in the Bomber coffin.

Essendon’s wastefulness in front of goal during the first quarter setup their loss as the dominated the opening term with double the inside-50 incursions but could only register 2.9 on the scoreboard as the Roos kicked four goals straight to lead by 3 points at the first change.

From the start of the second term, the Roos began to get on top and unlike the Bombers in the first quarter took their opportunities with Aaron Edwards and Leigh Brown kicking three of the Roos four second quarter goals as Patrick Ryder and Dustin Fletcher struggled to contain their opponents to let the Roos head into the main break with a 12 point lead.

The Kangaroos unrelenting pressure saw the Bombers wilt during the third term as the Bombers were exposed with no half-forward targets and the Roos small forwards in Brent Harvey and Shannon Grant putting their mark on the contest, with Grant kicking two in the term as the Roos piled on six goals to the Bombers two in the third term to take a comfortable 31 point lead three-quarter time lead.

Scott Lucas returned to form after a quiet few weeks with a five goal haul while veteran James Hird, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson and Jason Winderlich were the Bombers best in a night best forgotten by all.

Sheedy in his after-match spin session claimed the loss against the Roos was not as bad as last week against the Hawks.

“We ran better and came through the corridor better. We got the ball inside our 50 more often than we had previously” he said. “We let them get away in the third quarter and we need a bit more discipline related to free kicks, especially the one in the first minute which is not on.”

The Bombers have another Phone Dome date next week in AFL Round 8 as Brisbane come to town as the Bombers look to stave off their fourth loss in a row in yet another ‘must-win’ game.

Posted 11 May 07 in News