Bombers Stink It Up Out West

Essendon’s entire 2009 AFL Season now comes down to one match – next week against Hawthorn with a finals berth going to the victor, after the Bombers crashed and burned on Sunday afternoon in Perth going down by 54 point to the Dockers in AFL Round 21.

Needing just one more win against the 15th-placed Dockers to guarantee their first finals’ appearance since 2004, the Bombers were blown away in the second and third quarters as the Dockers kicked 11 goals to six to register a 21.15 (141) to 13.9 (87) win.

The Bombers began the better with Jobe Watson scoring the opening goal of the game as his side had the bulk of possession in the first quarter but could not find a forward target. The Dockers capitalised via youngster Clancee Pearce, who snuck forward for two goals in early in the first before Angus Monfries brought the scores level. Luke McPharlin, playing his 150th AFL game gave the Dockers a six point quarter time lead with a late first term goal.

With Docker Aaron Sandilands dominating in the ruck, Paul Duffield and Kepler Bradley both converted running goals from beyond the 50 metre arc as the home side took control. Sandilands himself went forward and goalled to open up a 28 point lead. Brent Stanton reduced the margin with consecutive goals. But they would be the only Bomber goals for the second term as the Docks added five of their own with McPharlin converting near half time to open up a 27 point half time lead.

With their finals hopes on the line, one was hoping that the Bombers would come out firing to begin the second half … but the opposite happened as the Dockers slammed on the opening three goals of the third term as the margin blew out to a match winning 44 point lead with the Bombers steadying late in the term to reduce the margin to a still formidable 39 points with a quarter to play.

The Bombers got a minor sniff to begin the final term with goals to Michael Hurley and Nathan Lovett-Murray before the Dockers got on another roll with a six goal final term to end up embarrassing the Bombers by a full 9 goals and leave them licking their wounds after another pitiful performance in Perth.

Ricky Dyson (26 possessions) and Brent Prismall (25) along with Andrew Lovett all tried their hearts out but with Watson’s influence limited after an ankle injury, the Bombers lacked any midfield drive.

“We failed today and we’re disappointed in our efforts – that’s probably all there is to it,” Essendon coach Matthew Knights said after the game. “They were a lot more efficient (and) they were a lot more fluent when they had the ball. They got momentum out of the stoppages, and he (Sandilands) was just too much for us to handle today. 

“I spoke pretty candidly to the group about how we attacked today and how we were beaten quite convincingly in so many areas of the game.

“The only positive out of today is we’ve got another opportunity next week to nail that final eight spot against a very good opponent in Hawthorn, who had a very good win against Richmond.”

Essendon remains in eighth position on the AFL ladder courtesy of its draw with Brisbane in Round 19, but is only two points ahead of Hawthorn and Port Adelaide in ninth and 10th respectively after results earlier this weekend.

The Bombers now look forward to a virtual elimination final next Saturday afternoon at the MCG as the Bombers take on reigning AFL Premier Hawthorn with a finals berth for the winner and six months holiday for the loser.

Posted 23 August 09 in Match Review