Bombers Crash Back To Earth

One week is a long time in politics they say …. the same could be said for Essendon this week. Last week the Bombers were on a high and thinking of September action after a mauling of Carlton … yet 7 days later the Bombers are licking their wounds and just clinging on a Top 8 spot after a 35 point loss to Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night to begin AFL Round 14.

Adam McPhee was the leading ball winner for the Bombers with 29 touches, while Brent Prismall (28), Brent Stanton (27) and Andrew Lovett (24) were amongst the Bombers best. Scott Lucas chipped in with three goals as the Dons went down 15.12 (102) to 9.13 (67), in front of 77,699 fans.

The Bombers jumped out of the blocks at the start of the contest and had all of the play early but failed to convert their advantage. The reward for their dominance was just two first quarter goals via Scott Lucas and Alwyn Davey, but in reality they should have kicked at least another three through missed chances by Matthew Lloyd, Kyle Reimers and Brent Stanton. Despite the misses, the Bombers still held the lead at the first break – be it just a small two point advantage.

Essendon two point quarter time lead became a 34 point deficit at the main break on the back of a seven goal to one second quarter the Magpies way. Nothing went right for the Bombers in the second stanza as the Pies ran all over the Bombers with Lockyer, Thomas and Cloke doing the damage.

The Bombers held their own during the third quarter with Kyle Reimers drilling a running goal two minutes into the second half. Skipper Matthew Lloyd marked and goaled and Lucas produced a trademark left foot snap to give the Bombers some sense of hope before Brad Dick and Josh Fraser restored their Pies six goal buffer. A buffer which played out until the final siren as the final term petered out to the inevitable conclusion as both sides traded goals.

“I just think we were clearly outpointed,” Essendon coach Matthew Knights said after the game. “You run into a Collingwood team that is full-loaded, has got their ammunition in them. I thought they outworked us, particularly through the middle of the ground. I thought they spread into space really well.”

“I guess in the midfield and ruck positions, we were comprehensively beaten on the night,” Knights added. “I don’t know whether I definitely saw it coming; I thought we were quite competitive in the first quarter. They really burst into space hard in that second quarter. I think they clearly put the foot down and out-worked us and a six-goal margin in that second quarter was the telling fact.”

The Bombers, now with a 7-7 record, must regroup for Saturday’s clash against Sydney at the SCG and keep their spot in the AFL Top 8.

|_\2. Injuries & Reports|
(tr1). |Injuries|Monfries (hamstring)|
(tr2). |Changes|Nil|
(tr1). |Reports|Nil

Posted  4 July 09 in Match Review