Bombers ANZAC Day Disgrace

The word disgrace is bandied abound at will on the internet these days. But disgrace is the only word that come correctly sum up Essendon’s ANZAC Day performance against Collingwood at the MCG on Friday afternoon.

Essendon coach Matthew Knights used the words ‘dismal’ and ‘unacceptable’ to describe his sides record 73 point ANZAC Day loss against the Magpies in front of 88,999 spectators but ‘disgraceful’ would also have been on the tip of his tongue.

“It was a very disappointing day; it was unacceptable the way we played,” Knights said after the game. “We were dismal in our efforts at times.”.

“I just thought they monstered us around the stoppages, they were just too big and strong and once they got the ball going their way it was difficult for our backs to cope with their decision-making and their execution of skills.” Knights added.

“When it did go into our forward half, it was just coming out like a pinball machine, it was coming out too quick and the Collingwood mids could break to the wings and hurt us.”

“It’s a lesson as a coach I’ve got to learn, that maybe we should have gone in with a slightly smaller line-up and I’ve got to take responsibility for that”

The match started off as a classic in the making with an action packed first quarter with both sides scoring five goals in the first quarter and a one point Collingwood lead at the first break, but a run of eight unanswered Pies goals over the second and third terms turned the match into a Magpie rout and saw Bomber fans hitting the exits at the three-quarter time break.

The Pies led by six points at the 12-minute mark of the second quarter after a Kyle Reimers goal, but with goals in 15 minutes the Magpie lead blew out to 31 points at half-time before running away with the game in the second half.

On the stat sheet the Magpies had 18 more scoring shots, and a staggering 74 more possessions and 27 more entries inside 50 which summed up the Bombers dismal day.

Dustin Fletcher, who surprisingly played in the forward line was amongst the Bombers best until he joined the Bombers long injury list, limping off with a groin injury late in the third term.

Jobe Watson (30 possessions), Jay Nash (23 touches and a goal), Nathan Lovett-Murray and Henry Slattery were also serviceable while skipper Matthew Lloyd booted two early goals and three for the game.

The loss leaves the Bombers nursing a third-straight defeat and 2-4 record and the likelihood they will slide into the bottom 4 by weekend’s end with a AFL Round 7 Sunday twilight game against Port Adelaide next on the agenda.

Posted 25 April 08 in News Match Review