Round 2 – Port Adelaide v Essendon: Under-powered Bombers crash at Port

 

I’m forever the optimist when it comes to football, especially supporting the Bombers. However, after two floggings in the first two rounds of the season that optimism is sadly beginning to wane!

 

I really believed over the summer period Essendon would bounce back after such a shocking season last year. The vibes from pre-season training were enthusiastic with a positive and confident outlook springing back into the step of players. We seemingly recruited well, things were looking up for 2026 and all appeared positive – and, it couldn’t be any worse than last season!

 

That is until Round 1 and 2 with defeats by more than 10 goals in each match. The fans will be absolutely baying for blood, the coach the major scape goat along with some well-paid senior players. The pundits and the critics will be smirking, saying, “I told you so”! For such a young side it must be extremely demoralising for them, and one wonders where the team is heading. Unfortunately, we sit bottom of the ladder at the moment.

 

After last week’s dismal performance I expected the Bombers to bounce back, if not winning at least having a red hot go and showing some pride in themselves and their club. 

 

Unfortunately for Essendon, Port Adelaide was also on the rebound after their dismal Round 1 performance and truly wanted to make amends for that performance. There was no way known they were going to let themselves down in front of a home crowd.

 

What can I say? Nothing really, except we were basically smashed all over the ground. The Power mids were supreme – Horne-Francis and Butters had the ball on a string and did as they wished with it, as did Rozee until he was injured.

 

The big backs of Port in Aliir and Ratugolea played their opponents close, out bodying them most of the time and often sent the ball forward with ease. At the same time the Bomber backs were loose, their opponents were able to find space easily making them easy targets for the forays forward from upfield. It was frustrating the Bombers could not play tighter against the Port forwards or at least fill the gaps the opposition were running and kicking to.

 

Many of the Bomber senior players looked slow, short of a trot, and a shadow of their former selves. They must lift their game if any progress is to be made for the rest of the season. The young players need the older players to provide the leadership, guidance and support, but at the moment it is not forthcoming.

 

In times of despair I try to find positives from the game. Two shone out; Caddy kicking 4 goals and had a good second half though he missed a sitter from 15 metres out which should have given him 5 goals for the match; and Isaac Kako tried hard all day, kicked I goal 4 behinds but it could have been more if he kicked straight.

 

It looks as though Essendon have come out of the game with a couple of serious injuries to Redman and Sharp, and possibly Duursma who looked proppy late in the game. Probably at least 2 changes will be made for next week’s match against North Melbourne and I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple more make way for others.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE    6.5    10.7     15.10     20.13 (133)
ESSENDON         1.3     2.6     5.8      10.10 (70)

 

GOALS
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 3, Lukosius 3, Georgiades 2, Berry 2, Richards 2, Durdin 2, Drew, Sweet, Bergman, Watkins, Byrne-Jones, Burgoyne
Essendon: Caddy 4, Fiorini, Langford, Durham, Caldwell, Kako, Perkins

 

BEST
Port Adelaide: Butters, Horne-Francis, Aliir, Burgoyne, Rozee
Essendon: Caddy, Merrett, Caldwell, Johnson

 

INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Rozee (leg), Bergman (ankle)
Essendon: Redman (knee), Sharp (ankle)

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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