Round 10 – Essendon v Richmond: What a cracking game!

 

Wow! That was a great win for the Bombers, and what a relief to finally win a close one. Well done Essendon!

 

I must admit I leapt nearly as high as I did after Michael Long kicked that goal in the ’93 Grand Final when Sam Durham marked and kicked the goal to put the Bombers in front by a point with seven seconds to play. I cannot remember witnessing and being a part of such a passionate and emotional display of ecstasy and joy by supporters for a very long time after Durham’s goal. It was an exhilarating and  sensational feeling!

 

Zac Merrett was a worthy recipient of the Yiookin trophy for best player on the ground. Leading  from the front all day, his leadership and inspirational play were pivotal in the Bombers win.

 

It was a tense game to watch, but one played in great spirit by both teams, and it was all  set up by the inspiring celebration of the Indigenous players and their culture in the pre-match ceremonies. Well done AFL!

 

Like many Bomber supporters I was apprehensive before the match. With all our injuries and then the late withdrawal of Dylan Shiel all the odds were seemingly against the Dons.  However, as I said to my footy mates on the train to the match, after thirteen straight losses against Richmond, the law of averages suggest a win is due, so why not the Dreamtime match?

 

My main concerns coming into the match  was our lack of height in defence and the running game of Richmond. When they run and move the ball quickly they can cut you to pieces which they did on occasions.

 

Shai Bolton started the game in ripping form and Dusty looked as though he was back to his old self,  their influence on the game was very ominous as the match progressed. Their respective opponents did well to later quell or limit their influence on the game.

 

Our back line did a magnificent job. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher must be the most improved player in the Essendon side, he just gets better each and every week, and Jordan Ridley was sublime as always with his intercept marking and attacking kicking to position. Mason Redman also had an excellent game, his run and carry always a concern for the opposition. You just have to love ‘Red Dog’!

 

When we were three goals down in the fourth quarter – the largest lead by either side at that stage I thought we were in trouble. It was then the  x-factors  came into play. Stringer who’d been fairly quiet for most of the game did what only Stringer can do. Bursting  from the centre pack (can’t remember if he had a bounce or not), then his long booming kick to score a goal was team lifting, inspiring, and badly needed to say the least. You could feel the energy levels of the crowd rising a notch and flowing over to the team  after Stringer’s goal. Menzie’s goal after a lucky bounce left us five points down, and then Stringer again, a kick to Durham who marked in the goal square and consequently goaled. Seven seconds of play later and it was all over, Bombers by a point, and weren’t players, supporters relieved while at the same time absolutely ecstatic.

 

 

 

ESSENDON      4.1     5.7     6.10     10.11 (71)
RICHMOND     3.5     6.6     8.10     10.10 (70) 

 

GOALS
Essendon: Weideman 2, Durham 2, A. Davey, Snelling, Menzie, Langford, Stringer, Menzie
Richmond: Bolton 2, Mansell 2, Martin 2, Ryan, Taranto, Graham, Clarke 

 

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Ridley, Redman, McGrath, Durham
Richmond: Taranto, Bolton, Martin, Ross, Rioli 

 

INJURIES
Essendon: A.Davey (shoulder)
Richmond: Nil

 

LATE CHANGES:
Essendon: Dylan Shiel (injury), replaced in selected side by Will Snelling
Richmond: Nil

 

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Massimo D’Ambrosio (replaced Andrew Phillips at three-quarter time)
Richmond: Judson Clarke (replaced Thomson Dow in the third quarter)

 

Crowd: 78,300 at the MCG

 

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE