Round 5 – North Melbourne v Essendon: A Very Good Friday.

North Melbourne Vs. Essendon.
By Caspar McLeod.
19/4/2019.

 

 

This is a day of many firsts in the AFL. The first time that the AFL have a double header (or at least from memory) on a Friday night. And the first time that Essendon play on Good Friday. And the first time that the AFL have scheduled a Victorian power house against North after trialing the Dogs and the Saints on Good Friday.

 

I am pumped. Essendon is on a roll, and North bounced back last week against the Crows. They always play us tough, and we always play them tough. The last two matches between the teams featured scores of over 100 points from both of them on both occasions. I hope it’s more of the same today. But mostly, I just want a win.

 

My plans to watch it on the TV are ruined by a showing of Moana, so to the radio it is.

 

First quarter. The commentators are not impressed with the first free kick of the night, although I am hardly complaining as it leads to a goal for my beloved Bombers. They are impressed by Heppell’s clearing kick out of defense. This, unfortunately, doesn’t lead to a goal for my beloved Bombers. Essendon are missing chances we should take. Luckily, so are the Roos. Andy McGrath kick a goal. Much better. We have two. North are yet to find the middle of the posts. We are letting them off of the hook. That is not good. Jasper Pittard kicks the first for the boys in royal blue. Dang it! Bombers by 6. Joey Daniher kicks his first goal in just under a year. Welcome Back, Champion! Siren Sounds. We lead by 10 points. I feel like it should be more, and yet I also feel like we are lucky to be in front by so much.

 

Second quarter. The commentators state that 46,000 people are at the match. Wow, what a crowd! It’s a game of mistakes early in the second. Orazio kicks his second. Yes! Walla is off the ground and in the rooms. No! Hopefully it’s nothing serious. Zurhaar responds for North and starts a long discussion from the commentators about where his name originates. A long goal drought follows from both teams. We are lucky that North don’t capitalize. Suddenly, McGrath kicks another with a snap that sounds magnificent. Walla nails one and Essendon have six. North still have two. Never mind; Brown (Mitch) adds another for the Red and Black. Fantasia kicks another! It’s a Red and Black party! The Wifi connection is struggling as are North. The Kangaroos do get their third through Polec to make the score line a little more flattering. Stringer responds to extend the lead once more. Essendon have dominated the second term. We lead by 36. That’s better.

 

Third stanza. We get another two early, one to Fantastia, and one to Walla. We sound… better than hot. We sound… dangerous. Ambrose unleashes a long bomb straight through the middle. We can do no wrong. Mitch Brown kicks another. Bellchambers stuffs up an opportunity for another, (ok, so, turns out we can do things wrong but not a lot). Ben Brown kicks his first, and North’s first of the term. At the siren, we lead by 53. It is turning into a very Good Friday.

 

The last term. Stringer kicks the first of the last as the Kangaroos look “lacklustre” (the commentators word, not mine). Joey kicks a brilliant goal from the center square. It’s great to have him back. Tom Boyd who? Buddy Franklin what? Ben Brown kicks a good goal to bring the margin to 57. The Roos miss a couple more. His Bomber namesake kicks his third. We lead by 61. Cunnington adds a junk time major. Ahern kicks another for North and it is clear that Essendon has let the foot off of the pedal. The final crowd number comes in as between 48,000 and 49,000 people. New Bomber Brayden Ham gets in on the goal kicking action late. The Bombers get around him. Siren Sounds. Commentators mention how it’s been a very good Friday for us. I agree. Jeez we have a great song, don’t we?

 

Essendon by 58.

 

NORTH MELBOURNE  1.6   3.7   4.12    7.16 (58)
ESSENDON                 
3.4   9.7  13.11  17.14 (116)

 

GOALS
North Melbourne: B.Brown 2, Pittard, Zurhaar, Polec, Cunnington, Ahern
Essendon: Fantasia 4, M.Brown 3, McGrath 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Stringer 2, Daniher 2, Ambrose, Ham

 

BEST
North Melbourne: Dumont, Atley, Cunnington, Anderson, Macmillan, Polec
Essendon: Shiel, Merrett, Heppell, Fantasia, McGrath, M. Brown, Guelfi

 

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Ahern (finger)
Essendon: Clarke (calf) replaced in selected side by Daniher, Zaharakis (infection) replaced in selected side by Ham, McDonald-Tipungwuti (quad)

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Hay, Meredith, Findlay

 

Official crowd: 48,278 at Marvel Stadium

 

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About Caspar McLeod

Third Culture Kid at Heart. Grew up in Asia, discovered footy at age 9. AFL has since been my burning passion. Ask me who were the winners all the grand finals between 1938 and last year's decider, and I'll be happy to tell you. I'm a footy nut with a passion for writing and acting. All though I love writing and acting, during the footy season, AFL is my true passion. Waiting ever so patiently for the day when Essendon Next win the flag.

Comments

  1. Colin Ritchie says

    Yes, it was a fabulous win Caspar. Everything appears to have fallen into place as we were expecting. Shiel was terrific in the middle as was Merrett and Heppell. Getting lots of run from the backline, McKenna and Saad were in their element today, and Redman and Ridley improving with every game. The test will be Anzac Day of course but the Dons do go into the game with a lot of confidence. Go Dons!

  2. Congrats, Caspar.
    Far too good for North

  3. Hey Caspar, are you a ghost writer and very friendly?

  4. Nice one Caspar, now for the pies!

  5. Caspar McLeod says

    Thank you guys for your comments. And Fisho, to answer your questions: (lol)Yes I am (Lol).

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