Dons score again over old foe.

I wasn’t feeling too optimistic about  Essendon’s chances against Carlton on Saturday night, I had just returned from an entree at Princes Park where I saw Essendon seconds (Bendigo Bombers) get a thumping from Preston, now called Northern Bullants and when I checked the Amateurs results,I found out MHSOB got a great grandmother of a thrashing in their first game of the B season, so when I jumped on the bike for the ride to the “G” confidence wasn’t too high.

At least it was a great night for a ride and I was pleasantly surprised to find there was plenty of seating available in my favourite spot. The Dons have selected a couple of new lads for the team in Colyer and Melksham, although I wasn’t too happy  that Davey and Prismal had been left out.

The game started at a frantic pace, plenty of tackling, hand passing and short kicks, but early on I felt that Carlton’s skill level was down, they continually missed their target both with hand and foot whereas the Don’s looked a superior act. Nathan Lovett-Murray was having a great 100th game and celebrated mightily with his team mates after he kicked a very unusual banana goal in the first quarter.  Carlton kicked two quick goals late in the last quarter to O’hAilpin due to comical mistakes by the Essendon defenders. Not much in it at quarter time, Carlton probably should have been further in front but their skill had let them down. due in no small part to the great Essendon backline of Fletcher, Dempsey and Lovett-Murray. In the second term Jobe Watson was in everything but was let down by the inability of the Don’s forwards  to kick goals from easy shots, two culprits come to mind, new comer Melksham and Gumbleton should have put the Don’s further in front . By half time there was only 10 points in it.

Eddie Betts playing his 100th was a bright light for Carlton as was Chris Yarran , both kicked goals for for the Blues. Up the other end Essendon got a couple  from Gumbleton and Hocking but a number of easy shots were  missed so by the orange break the Dons were only two goals up. Bad goal kicking by both sides continued in the last quarter and this was compounded even further by the terrible kicking skills of Carlton.  It amazes me that top rate footballers are let down by by what should be the basic skill of the game ,not only around the ground but especially goal kicking. But then again, as a below average country footballer who played about 30 forgettable games, who am I to make a comment on skills?

So in the end the Don’s got home by 20 points, a late goal to Reimers and  a couple to Mark Williams put the game beyond doubt and I was a happy bloke heading home, the Don’s had got their first 4 points for the season against the old enemy, Carlton.

Best for the Don’s ,Watson,Ryder,Hille,Lovett-Murray ,Fletcher  Dempsey and new comer Melksham impressed on the night Next week a trip to Perth for a Friday night game, let’s hope the Don’s spirit is still strong.

Comments

  1. Sir Roderick
    this is a fantastic website!! thanks for sticking with me on this. it is truly grass roots footy and reporting- just like the (good) old days!1
    JC

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