Round 5 – Essendon v Fremantle: Bombed and docked!

 

For me, the turning point in the game came as Nic Martin ran into an open goal about 10-15 metres out, acute angle but kickable from that distance. Unselfishly, he decided to pass to a player he thought in a better position. That player, caught by surprise, fumbled the ball, Freo rebounded with lightning speed and pinpoint accuracy to their scoring end for a goal.

 

Instead of the Bombers being 4 points down, the turnaround put the Dockers 16 points in front, the biggest margin in the game at that stage, and from then on they slammed on further goals, and the game was over.

 

Heads dropped, despondency crept in, and the efforts from the team became woeful and embarrassing.

 

It was clear the Dockers had a game plan for the Bombers, noticeably to play our main avenue to goal, Peter Wright, closely, force him under the ball, and a team mate ably assisting. Wright hardly had a mark or kick let alone score any goals for the match. Without any other decisive direction to goal it quickly became apparent it would be difficult to kick goals.

 

Like many supporters, I was frustrated by the lack of intent to play into the corridor and down the middle, instead it was mainly a long bomb down the boundary to smaller players usually outgunned by taller opponents. There was very little running to space to create opportunities. It was as though each Bomber had their own prescribed space, and there they were to remain.

 

Obviously injuries are hurting the team but unfortunately some of the younger players we were expecting big things from were rather pedestrian. Cox appears to have lost confidence in his kicking, and to run and use his pace, Perkins had a shocker, Draper just isn’t doing enough, Ridley has lost form, and oppositions have worked out Hind negating his run and carry.

 

I suppose the good thing to come out of the games is the continuing form of recruit Nic Martin, who will be a star in time, and the continued improvement of Matt Guelfi.

 

The Anzac Day match against Collingwood will be a crunch match for the Dons, some changes will have to be made, and hopefully, the team embarrassed by their poor performance will respond positively and come out a different team to one we saw against Freo.

 

It’s a long way home on the train and in the car after a severe defeat, far too long to reflect on the negatives of the match, considering the what could have beens and if onlys. It’s time to reflect on a good win, and hopefully that will be Anzac Day.

 

Go Bombers!

 

ESSENDON     1.4    5.8    5.10     8.11 (59)
FREMANTLE   2.2    6.5    12.8   16.11 (107)

 

GOALS
Essendon: Martin 2, Waterman 2, Caldwell, Cox, Draper, Guelfi
Fremantle: Taberner 7, Banfield 2, Darcy 2, Frederick 2, Switkowski 2, Brayshaw

 

BEST
Essendon: Parish, McGrath, Heppell, Caldwell, Martin
Fremantle: Taberner, Brayshaw, Brodie, Darcy, Serong, Clark, O’Driscoll

 

INJURIES
Essendon: Phillips (hamstring)
Fremantle: TBC

 

MEDICAL SUBS
Essendon: Tom Cutler, replaced Andrew Phillips in the first quarter
Fremantle: Darcy Tucker (unused)

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

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