Essendon edge back? Dons blitz Dogs; Bont clamped amid curious selection calls: 3-2-1
Essendon has surged to a powerful 29-point win over the Western Bulldogs, 15.6 (96) to 9.13 (67), under the Friday night lights.
The Bombers put the game away with a run of six-straight goals between the third and fourth quarters in one of the club’s best ever wins under Brad Scott.
With it, Essendon improved to 3-2 on the season and responded to its disappointing Gather Round defeat to Port Adelaide, while the Dogs fell to 2-3.
It came in a game Sam Durham impressed, following Marcus Bontempelli (17 touches) all night and restricting the superstar Dogs skipper’s influence. Elsewhere, Xavier Duursma kicked two goals from 20 disposals, while Jye Caldwell (23 touches) and Zach Merrett (27 possessions) also led the way way in the midfield
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The 3-2-1 (via Jack Jovanovski) ...
3. ESSENDON EDGE BACK? DONS DELIVER STIRRING WIN
Is the Essendon edge back?
The Bombers put away the Bulldogs on Friday night in stirring fashion, answering questions about their ball movement issues in one of the club’s most impressive outings under Brad Scott.
Indeed, it was a massive win for the Bombers, who entered the bout having lost nine of their last 10 matchups against the Bulldogs while emphatically responding to last week’s 69-point loss to Port Adelaide.
Even more impressively, the Dons also looked like they were about to roll over at one stage in the second term – when the Dogs had all momentum – before responding in a big way including kicking six-straight goals in a hot run between the third and fourth terms.
The Bombers’ difficulty transitioning the ball this season had been a hot topic of discussion, with Fox Footy’s David King lamenting midweek that Brad Scott’s men “can’t move the ball”.
Going into Friday night’s contest, the Bombers ranked 17th in the AFL in defensive 50 to inside 50 rate, shining an unwanted spotlight on their transition issues.
However, against the Dogs, Essendon showed promise moving the Sherrin as it often opted for a slower, uncontested approach against Bulldogs interceptors Liam Jones and Buku Khamis.It proved an effective strategy and it was aided by accurate goalkicking.
Collingwood great Nathan Buckley told Fox Footy that the Bombers’ disposal put them in good stead to win the game, adding that they got things going “over the top” to spur their offence.
“The ball use is giving them a fair chance (to win),” Buckley said at half-time.
“One thing I was impressed with; when they couldn’t get through for about 10 minutes in the second quarter – it looked a little bit Port-like – they went over the top to Sam Draper, who was able to mark (and went) long again to (Kyle) Langford.
“So, it showed that there were some learnings from last week.
“Essendon has performed above expectations, in my opinion, for the personnel that they’ve got on the park.”
The important victory moves Essendon to 3-2 on the season as it begins to strengthen its finals credentials.
2. DOGS UNDERWHELM, BONT CLAMPED AMID CURIOUS SELECTION CALLS
The Western Bulldogs underwhelmed on the Friday night stage in a game they went in as favourites.
Questions will now come hard and fast on the club and its prospects after it fell to 2-3.
It came in a game Marcus Bontempelli (17 disposals) was unusually well beaten by Sam Durham in a big win for Essendon. Bombers ruckman Sam Draper even admitted on Fox Footy post-match his side put extra work into nullifying the Dogs skipper and Tom Liberatore.
“I’m a bit disappointed with the (Bulldogs) midfield,” Brisbane Lions legend Jonathan Brown told Fox Footy.
“Spluttering at times, good in other areas. They’ve (had) to be ruthless at stoppages like Port Adelaide (was when it) bashed up Essendon last week – I didn’t see it enough.
“We saw it a bit early in the second quarter, but the Bombers bounced back.”
A few Luke Beveridge selection calls also raised eyebrows – and not for the first time this season (or in general).
It included a surprise call to make 2021 All-Australian Bailey Dale the sub – a week after Jack Macrae was demoted to the role – following fellow senior defender Caleb Daniel’s omission during the week.
Daniel notched 26 disposals and three tackles in Friday’s VFL clash with the Dons’ reserves.
Furthermore, exciting first-year midfielder Ryley Sanders was curiously substituted out of the game for a second time this year after being removed from the Dogs’ Round 1 loss to Melbourne.
It came after Beveridge explained the call to make Macrae sub against Geelong was due to the evolution of his team and to expose its younger talent like Sanders to bigger roles.
There’s a bit to sort out down at Whitten Oval.
1. JAMARRA HEROICS NOT ENOUGH
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s heroics weren’t enough for the Western Bulldogs ... but boy did he look good.
Ugle-Hagan booted 3.3 and provided a consistent dangerous option forward of the ball for the Bulldogs, flying high on multiple occasions to cause havoc for Dons defenders.
While it wasn’t enough to drag the Dogs over the line, he did a few special things to again show he’s well and truly on track to being a bona fide superstar, perhaps even the game’s premier forward.
Fair to say, whether watching on TV or seeing him live, Ugle-Hagan is a must-watch AFL phenomenon right now.
GAME UPDATES
There were no late changes, with Bailey Dale (Western Bulldogs) and Nick Hind (Essendon) named the starting subs.
The call to give Dale, who was All-Australian in 2021, the vest is another bold call from Beveridge to one of his stars after dropping Daniel and making Jack Macrae sub last week.
The Bombers got off to the ideal start after Todd Goldstein drew a free kick in front of goal to put his team on the board, but Aaron Naighton, who was held goalless last week, instantly responded at the other end.
“A real confidence booster for that man,” Channel 7’s Brian Taylor said of Naughton.
Playing in his 50th game, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan took a highlight one-handed grab and put through the Dogs’ second goal of the night.
Both teams had exciting moments in the opening term in a hot, see-sawing start at Marvel Stadium.
Having kicked his first goal minutes earlier, Rhylee West missed another golden chance at full forward after drawing a free kick for high contact.
Nic Martin made it four goals straight for the Bombers after sneaking forward and converting a set shot from distance.
Ugle-Hagan kicked his second goal for the night in a promising start for the emerging star forward, with Channel 7 caller James Brayshaw noting the former No. 1 pick is “just getting better and better.”
After Alwyn Davey Jr. marked deep in the forward line, the Dogs conceded a 50m penalty further up the ground to make it a certain Bombers goal.
Essendon led 5.0 (30) to 4.2 (26) at quarter-time.
Laitham Vandermeer kicked the oping goal of the second term as part of a strong run from Luke Beveridge’s side, missing several more chances.
A costly Bombers turnover led to West putting through his second major to extend the Dogs’ lead to a game-high nine points.
The Dogs forced the game into more of a contest in the second quarter to make it hard for Essendon to get out in space and utilise its running game.
Just when the Dogs looked like getting on a roll, Essendon bounced back.
Xavier Duursma nailed a tough set shot from the boundary line – before pulling out the bow and arrow celebration – followed instantly by a Jake Stringer goal against his old side.
Jye Menzie meanwhile appeared to be bothered by a shoulder issue, but played through the setback.
Kyle Langford and Stringer added two more goals for the Dons in a huge turnaround from the start of the second term, while Langford missed another shot late in the period to further extend their lead.
The Bombers led 8.2 (50) to 6.6 (42) at half-time.
“That was the Essendon edge that last 15 minutes,” Lions champion Jonathan Brown said on Fox Footy.
It was a tight and tough start to the second half including Ugle-Hagan nearly pulling down an epic one-handed grab.
That was until Harrison Jones made it four-straight Essendon goals to push its lead out to a game-high 14 points.
Ugle-Hagan wouldn’t let his next opportunity go by, taking a big contested grab and kicking his third goal to to get the Dogs back within eight points.
Jones laid a huge run-down tackle on Richards but couldn’t convert the opportunity and ideal response for his side.
Stringer drew a free kick deep in the forward line and Langford took the advantage to pile more pain onto the Dogs, opening up a 15-point lead.
The Dogs used their sub, with Ryley Sanders coming off for Dale.
“The Dogs under enormous pressure at the moment,” Taylor noted.
Essendon led 10.5 (65) to 7.9 (51) at the final change.
Jones extended Essendon’s lead out to 19 points to put the Dogs seriously under the pump, while Gresham added to make it near game over.
The Bombers started to really turn up the heat in the fourth quarter, with Duursma kicking another epic goal followed by Stringer to balloon their lead out to 43 points
It meant Essendon had kicked 10 of the last 11 goals, with Channel 7 caller James Brayshaw noting the Dogs were “a bit shellshocked.”
The Dogs kicked the last two goals to make it a most respectable scoreline, but Essendon ultimatley walked away with the all important four points.
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