Round 3 – Essendon v Port Adelaide: Lift Off!
That was a much better performance from the Bombers tonight and should keep the baying hounds quiet for a while. Afterall, once you’ve hit rock bottom up is the only way forward, and thankfully we saw lift off from there.
It was obvious from the start of the match this was a much more determined Essendon side desperately wanting to atone for their pitiful performance from the week before. They were hard at the ball, much cleaner and more direct, and utilised a more effective system with their game.
A couple of things perplexed me at the beginning. Firstly, by selecting Saad El-Hawli for his first game I thought he was a monty to be in the starting lineup rather than the sub. However his one quarter of footy was the precursor of things to come for him. His first touch, an electrifying dash into the centre feigning a handball then a bounce showed an enormous amount of self confidence in his ability before passing off to Kako who handballed to Martin for a goal was truly a match highlight lifting the side, and lit up the Bomber faithful.
Secondly, Shiel spent most of his time in the middle indicating the experiment with him running off the back line was over, and I must admit he played a very good game, he was totally spent by the end of the game but gave his all. The question is, if he is not to be played on the backline where is he to be played if in fact he is to be played?
The performance of some players supporters have been critical of in the past had good games suggesting the message is getting through to them that their position in the team was on the line. Gresham probably played his best game since coming to the club and was very lively and damaging at times. Menzies was active and made the most of his opportunities. It appears to me Scott is looking at a set up similar to Hawthorn, which many clubs are now adopting, with quick smalls on the forward line. Kako, Gresham and Menzies can only improve further as the season progresses.
Although McKay received a bronx cheer from supporters every time he marked the ball (not me) this was a confidence boosting game for him. Reid continues to find his feet and as long as he remains injury free is set for a long and important stint in the backline.
Our captain was incredible once again doing what he does best by leading from the front setting a fine example for his team mates. Archie Roberts and Ben Hobbs both also had good games and are well and truly beginning to cement their places in the team which is encouraging. Nate Caddy was good and a break out game is not far away. Draper down forward with his damaging play certainly provided a lot of support by taking a lot pressure off Caddy.
Xavier Duursma was probably our most consistent player all day and played a cracking game with his positive ball use.
The trip back home to Colac was a much better one than last Saturday!
ESSENDON 2.5 3.9 5.14 9.18 (72)
PORT ADELAIDE 3.5 4.6 7.8 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Essendon: Caddy 2, Draper 2, Gresham, Menzie, Roberts, Martin, Redman
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 2, Byrne-Jones 2, Boak, Richards, Wines, Horne-Francis
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Shiel, Durham, Draper, Martin
Port Adelaide: Georgiades, Wines, Burgoyne, Byrne-Jones, Horne-Francis
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
Port Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Saad El-Hawli (replaced Tom Edwards in the fourth quarter)
Port Adelaide: Tom Cochrane (replaced Ivan Soldo in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 25,114 at Marvel Stadium
More from Col Ritchie can be read Here
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About Colin Ritchie
Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.
Enjoy, Col.
For the neutral viewer, the game was not a very good spectacle at all.
But a win is a win is a win !
Well done your Bombers, Col. I thought that you were decidedly the better side all game, but because Port were cleaner and more precise, it looked like that they.would get away with it.
On the principle that misery loves company, I guess that I was hoping that the Dons would remain winless. After the Blues found another way to lose tonight, it seems that your mob may well start favourites against us.
Good luck and enjoy the reward of your loyalty.