Round 9 – GWS v Essendon: Giants fight back against wasteful Dons

 

Round 9
GWS v Essendon
Saturday 9 May 2026
Engie Stadium, Sydney

 

For the second time within a few weeks Essendon has fallen at the last hurdle relinquishing a possible victory into a defeat, this time at the hands of the Giants.

 

What this highlighted for me is that good teams with very good players come to the fore in times of need, and that was the case with the Giants. We could not match them once their flowing game brought results and the confidence they needed. Good players like Lachie Whitfield, Toby Greene, and Finn Callaghan you cannot keep down for the entire game, and they rose to another level when it was required.

 

After leading for a majority of the match the Bombers just could not maintain that pressure when it counted allowing the Giants in with easy goals while the Bombers missed shots on goal when the majority of times they should be kicked by professional footballers. This has been an issue for the Bombers for most of the year – wasted shots on goal!

 

Although it was another loss for the Bombers they displayed a further improvement across the board, especially with the continued performance of our younger players, in particular, Archer May, Sully Robey, and Dylan Sharp. Unfortunately for Sharp he injured his shoulder and left the ground depriving the team of drive they were receiving from him at centre bounces and around the ground at a vital stage in the game.

 

Archie Roberts with 40 plus possessions must be well and truly in the umpires’ eyes and scoring a few Brownlow votes. It was another polished exhibition from this young man with an exciting and long career ahead of him.

 

Except for Kako and Nic Martin, this is probably the best side we have fielded for some time. Cox looked more at home on the wing, Perkins had a good game making the most his opportunities and played like he wants to stay in this side. The return of Redman added experience and drive from the back line, and Blakiston looked comfortable down back.

 

Wright had another good game. With Bryan back in the side it takes some pressure off Wright and allows him more time up forward. He kicked 3 goals 3 behinds which could have easily been 5 goals.

 

The Bombers did not take enough advantage when they went forward. They had possession on their forward line for more time than GWS did but wasted opportunities. After battling to retain possesion on the forward line it was disappointing when against the flow of play the Giants moved the ball from down back to their forward line with a Bomber touching the ball with ease. It happened too often.

 

The Bombers are heading in the right direction, they are gaining more confidence in their own individual abilities as well as being a contributing factor to the team game, once they can put that altogether for the full 100 minutes then the turnaround we are expecting will be forthcoming and with the results we are expecting.

 

 

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY          4.0     5.2     11.5     16.7 (103)
ESSENDON                                      3.2     7.5     11.7     13.11 (89)

 

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Stringer 3, Greene 3, Riccardi 2, Gruzewski 2, Gothard 2, Daniels 2, Himmelberg, Cadman
Essendon: Wright 3, May 3, Duursma 2, Caddy 2, Redman, Perkins, Parish

 

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield, Greene, Callaghan, Stringer, Ash
Essendon: Roberts, Wright, Merrett, May, Perkins

 

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
Essendon: Sharp (shoulder)

 

Crowd: TBC at Engie Stadium

 

To read all Round 9 match reports click HERE

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

 

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