Round 1 – Essendon v Hawthorn: Hawks swoop as Bombers crash!

After a couple of invigorating days in Melbourne doing the rounds of bookshops, enjoying a good coffee or two, the Footy Almanac lunch, and catching up with family members, I headed to the MCG full of anticipation expecting to see a ‘new’ Essendon in action against the the Hawks.

 

Like all Bomber fans in attendance the realisation became apparent about half way through the second quarter this was not to be. The cream of the Hawthorn side by then had risen to the surface, and the occasion, and started to embarrass the Essendon team with fast moving, positive football.

 

Up until then the Bombers we holding their own. Blakiston was playing well in the ruck, Merrett was getting a ton of kicks and driving the Bombers forward, supporters nodded their heads in acknowledgement, yes, this is a different team from the one playing last year, and things looked on the up.

 

Then, the wheels more or less fell off and it was back to the Bombers of old much to the dismay of all the supporters. Although Blakiston worked tirelessly in the ruck, his tap outs were either snared by the Hawks’ mids or easily disposed from the Bomber mids by the bulldozing tackling of the relentless Hawks. Essendon began to be smashed in the clearances.

 

Chatting with my mate during half time we made the point of how much bigger bodied the Hawthorn players looked in comparison to the Essendon team. Essendon were easily out bustled, worked out of position by much bigger, stronger and quicker opponents.

 

Our forwards struggled to get into the game. Forward forays were without any precision usually long bombs and marked with ease by Sicily, Barass and others then rapidly rebounded. Unfortunately, the younger, in-experienced players on the forward appeared overawed by the occasion.

 

Down Essendon’s backline, evergreen Jack Gunstone kicked 5 goals for the match and looked a much revitalised player and important cog in the Hawks’ forward line. Like a good wine Gunstone continues to improve with age.

 

As with the Bomber forward line the backline, especially the younger, inexperienced players, struggled to find their feet and get into the game. Ben McKay battled hard but the backs were overwhelmed by the quick moving, slick machine the Hawthorn forward line is.

 

I suppose a positive for the Bombers was Dylan Sharp kicking 2 goals on debut and looks a player of the future. Blakiston in the ruck justified his position but I think Essendon need to look at playing a second ruckman instead of using Wright. Wright is expected to be a major goal kicker for the team and that is where his concentration should be.

 

Hawthorn were very impressive and look to be a top 4 team.

 

There will be a lot of soul searching for the Bombers during the week but hopefully lessons and the experince from the match will benefit the team. Supporters can only hope so!

 

Thankfully it was only a short walk to my accomodation In East Melbourne rather than the long trip back to Colac by train and car.

 

ESSENDON      4.3    6.3    9.5   13.5 (83)
HAWTHORN   5.4    12.11    18.14   21.19 (145)

 

GOALS
Essendon: Durham 2, Sharp 2, Duursma 2, Merrett, Fiorini, Caddy, El Achkar, Perkins, Wright, Caldwell
Hawthorn: Gunston 5, Watson 4, Macdonald 2, Reeves 2, Weddle 2, Chol, D’Ambrosio, Moore, Nash, Ginnivan, Newcombe

 

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Prior, McGrath, Duursma
Hawthorn: Gunston, Macdonald, Watson, Newcombe, Ward, Reeves

 

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

 

Crowd: 71,384 at the MCG

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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