You have to give it to the AFL for innovation, today they came
up with the novel idea of footy at the G on a Saturday afternoon! You know
what ,I think it could catch on, there was a very large crowd there to see
the Dons play the old enemy Carlton on this sunny afternoon, and what a
magnificent day it is after four or five days of very average weather down
here in Melbourne. There aren’t too many better sights than the “G” when the
stands are pretty near full, the grass is in top condition and mown to
perfection and the sun is shining out of a brilliant blue sky.
Being an old Don tragic and trying to keep the lid on
expectations I was quietly hoping for a win, the bigger the better but as
long as we got the 4 points I would be satisfied. A couple of things caused
me a little concern with the selection of the Don’s team on Thursday night ,
the dropping of Davey for Prismall and the preference of Bellchambers over
Hille. I reckon Alwyn Davey is fantastic and while Brent Prismall gives it
his best, he isn’t in the same league as Davey. As for Hille maybe his
fitness is not up to a full game yet.
Right on the knocker at ten passed two, the ball is bounced and
it’s the usual arm wrestle. Players are hunting in packs, tackling, bumping
and tagging, what you expect at the start of a game. The Don’s are great in
defence, the ageless Dustin Fletcher and Nathan Lovett-Murray repel any
forward movement of the Blues and then Michael Hurley gets the first major.
A couple of minutes later Jason Winderlich goes down with what turned out to
be a season ending knee injury. Play is held up as he is treated and put on
the “field ambulance”. Essendon start to move the footy in a more structured
way and Sam Lonergan and Tom Bellchambers both score majors for the Dons.
But tragedy strikes again, one of the Don’s speedy defenders Courtney
Dempsey goes down with a season ending knee injury. No “field ambulance”
for Dempsey, I guess they were still getting Winderlich off it. That’s two
Essendon footballers in about ten minutes , at this rate the Dons will be
down to four players in the last quarter ! By quarter time Carlton hadn’t
bothered to kick a goal and we had a handy three goal lead but down to
twenty fit players.
The second term starts and one of the highlights of the game
was the goal by Dustin Fletcher. Running from full back he took a hand pass
around the centre of the ground , had a bounce and banged through a
magnificent goal from about sixty five metres out. It brought the house
down, the oldest bloke on the ground showing speed , poise and skill.
Unfortunately Carlton decided to spoil the prolonged celebrations and Jeff
Garlett kicked Carlton’s first. Essendon’s back line were great especially
Nathan Lovett-Murray and Mark McVeigh and Dustin Fletcher of course. Carlton
squandered quite a few chances and kicked badly at goal. Another highlight
for me was the way Chris Yarran managed to evade about six Dons in the
centre of the ground and get the ball out to a Blue who scored a major, it
was absolutely magic. By the big break Carlton had added four goals seven
behinds to their score, to the Dons three goals one, Essendon holding on
to a six point lead. Thankfully no more serious injuries to the Dons
Carlton took charge of the of the game in the third
quarter, the seemed to get the ball moving with players everywhere,
supporting each other in the packs . They seemed to dominate, every time a
pack formed Carlton managed to feed it out to a running player. Essendon on
the other hand seemed to lose momentum. The only thing that managed to keep
the Dons in the game was because Carlton wasted so many opportunities near
goal. Waite and Curnow managed a couple of goals and I had a sinking
feeling. There are some teams in the AFL that I don’t like, and I don’t like
being beaten by Carlton!!! And that’s the way I felt at that moment. Just
before three quarter time Lonergan scored a major for the Dons, so scores
were Carlton six thirteen to Dons seven eight a lead of two points.
I watched the Essendon huddle at three quarter time,
Winderlick and Dempsey on crutches, five or six other players getting
serious attention to their legs, shoulders etc, could we hang on? Leroy
Jetta gave us a good start but a couple of defensive errors by the Dons
allowed Carlton two goals and they were back in front. Now it was Essendon’s
turn to waste chances as Angus Monfries and Michael Hurley missed getable
shots. Leroy (the excitement machine) bobbed up again with a nerve calming
goal to put us back in front, but before I could sit down again Carlton’s
Simpson had a four bounce run and goal which would have blown the roof off
the “G” if it had one. Carlton up by a point with only a minute left.
Exhausted bodies throwing everything they had to get the ball, packs and
scrimmages and tackles across the ground. It looked like cross country
wrestling. Carlton kick the ball out on the full on the Don’s forward line
and David Zaharakis snaps a behind, scores level. Siren.
A draw. I have been following the Dons for well over fifty
years and I can’t remember being at a drawn game involving the Dons. I felt
relieved, I really thought Carlton would win in the last quarter. It’s to
the Dons great credit, to their courage and fighting spirit that they hung
on for this very honourable draw.
Final Scores Essendon 11.13 79 Carlton 11.13 79.
Best players for the Dons. Dustin Fletcher,Nathan Lovett-Murray, Jobe
Watson, Brent Stanton ,David Zaharakis and the Medical team at the Dons
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There’s one other draw for the Dons that stands out in my mind, Rod. 1993, again against the Blues, and Kernahan has a kick after the siren from about 40m out on the southern flank at the Punt Road end. Scores are tied. Anything Kernahan scores will win it for the old enemy. Kernahan kicks and the ball sails, inexplicably, out on the full. Bombers faithful erupt in joy! I recall that instant when I realised the ball was going out as vividly as almost anything else in my life. It’s about the only time I can recall actual joy at a draw!
Saturday’s game was wonderful, for all the reasons you mention. Dons fans feel marginally happier at having escaped with two points after losing two players early. It’s not quite a 2009 Anzac Day experience (Hille down, Ryder steps up, Zaharakis goal), but we certainly felt better than the Blues folks.
Just realised on re-reading that Zaharakis is again the last-second hero! Coincidence? Or is he a ready-made, last-quarter sub? ;-)
Ho Rod , all, I travelled down from NSW to Vic last weekend and stopped in Shepparton to visit friends. They were going to the game and had room in their car so I jumped on board We drove to Essendon station and it was a buzz getting the train in with hoards of Essendon supporters- just like the old days on a Saturday afternoon. We were lucky to get away with a draw- but much better than a loss!