AFL 2021 round 15: Melbourne Demons hang on to down Essendon Bombers – as it happened
Essendon #Essendon
8.10am EDT 08:10
Melbourne march on at the MCG with their 12th win from 14 outings. It wasn’t a classic by any stretch but they demonstrated plenty of character to rebound after the defeat to Collingwood, and the bye, and stick to their task throughout, despite a spirited Essendon performance.
Steven May was immense, with Jake Lever and Michael Hibberd not far behind. That backline has become a phenomenal unit, superb in the air, on the ground, one-on-one, setting up structurally, and clearing the press. There was plenty of effort, but not much cohesion ahead of them, which is reflected on the scoreboard. Christian Petracca stood out in the third quarter, when the game was effectively won for the Demons.
Zach Merrett did not deserve to be on the losing side and his 41 touches included some of the finest of the night. Darcy Parish turned in another strong performance, but it was the third man in the emerging Essendon triumvirate, Jake Stringer, who held the key to the result. He was largely shackled, like most of his teammates, but when he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, as he did in bursts, he threatened to wrest the game the Dons’ way. Those moments were too few however, and Melbourne clung on.
Richmond’s slip-up against St Kilda goes unpunished, for now, but a GWS victory over Hawthorn tomorrow will see the misfiring premiers out of the eight after 15 rounds. Melbourne have no such worries, and with this defensive solidity will back themselves to stand up in September.
That’s all for now, let’s do this all again soon.
7.55am EDT 07:55
Essendon 8.9 (57) lose to Melbourne 9.14 (68)
A very hard earned four points for the ladder leaders. A spot in the top-eight will have to wait for Essendon.
7.54am EDT 07:54
Q4: 1 min remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – Melbourne win a stoppage in midfield and hammer the ball forward to gain territory. Brayshaw then claims a superb intercept mark from Essendon’s clearance and the clock continues to tick down.
7.53am EDT 07:53
Q4: 2 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – Brilliant from Lever. Stringer has plenty of open field in front of him and the ball in his hands, but he overcooks his entry inside-50 and Lever mops up, calmly hitting the boundary and nailing a long pass down the line to Gawn. And exhale.
7.52am EDT 07:52
Q4: 3 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – The Demons are hanging on gamely but Essendon have a head of steam. Time and again Melbourne just release in time, the crowd urges the umpires to blow their whistles, and finally they do when Pickett was caught in possession.
7.50am EDT 07:50
Q4: 4 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – Melbourne have locked the ball on centre wing near the interchange gate for repeat stoppages. Locked until Stringer again comes in to bully it away and streak into the distance. He launches a huge roost but there are enough Demons to smuggle the ball to safety.
7.49am EDT 07:49
Q4: 5 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – Essendon win the centre bounce, Stringer muscles his way through, Merrett finds Waterman on the lead. The momentum is building. Then Lever intercept marks.
Melbourne can’t clear their lines though and the ball comes back. Suddenly there’s some frantic energy in the G. Another entry, and another, repelled time and again by the Dees. Gawn this time is somehow in the right place at the right time. The Bombers are coming.
7.47am EDT 07:47
Q4: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 8.9 (57) v 9.14 (68) Melbourne – Merrett is a magician. He is like Phil Mickelson with a lob wedge, weighting his delivery into the space in front of Hooker, above Lever’s fingertips, with incredible precision. Hooker goals. The Dons are alive still.
7.43am EDT 07:43
Q4: 9.30 mins remaining: Essendon 7.9 (51) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne – Another centre clearance win for the Dons but Rivers takes front position and intercepts superbly. The clearance comes straight back though but another entry is picked off, this time by Lever. They are such a difficult side to prise open.
7.41am EDT 07:41
Q4: 10 mins remaining: Essendon 7.9 (51) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne – Free-kick to Essendon at the centre bounce sets up the immediate reply and Wright does just that, snapping neatly after the ball came to ground.
7.40am EDT 07:40
Q4: 10.00 mins remaining: Essendon 6.9 (45) v 9.13 (67) Melbourne -Essendon are seeing plenty of the ball now but Melbourne are so hard to break down. Stringer tries to do it with brute strength, but to no avail, and Melbourne clear. The Dees resume their unfocussed kick-mark downfield until it ends in the hands of the leading Sparrow on the 50m arc. He takes plenty of time off the clock then hammers through the best set shot of the night to probably clinch it.
7.37am EDT 07:37
Q4: 12.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.9 (45) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne -If it was a scrappy game before, we’re down to the shreds now with Melbourne nursing their way home.
They come unstuck though, losing possession on the edge of attacking 50 and Essendon storm through the corridor with enough speed to isolate Stringer inside 50 with May caught downfield. A crucial, gettable, set shot slides wide. Stringer needed to nail that one from bang in front.
7.35am EDT 07:35
Q4: 14 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne – Repeat stoppages on Melbourne’s half-forward flank continue to run down the clock. Essendon eventually force a turnover and try to switch flanks and exit, but they kick to a contest, and guess who’s there? Steven May, of course. Melbourne resume their slow grind, this time on the left wing.
7.32am EDT 07:32
Q4: 15 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne – Melbourne have settled the tempo down nicely. They have their structure back and they’re back in control of the centre of the ground.
Updated at 7.35am EDT
7.31am EDT 07:31
Q4: 17 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.13 (61) Melbourne – Melbourne are imprecise on the counter but Hind gifts them a free-kick and from that Fritsch is found 40m out on an angle. He can only force a point, but it keeps the game in Essendon’s half.
Updated at 7.35am EDT
7.30am EDT 07:30
Q4: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 6.8 (44) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne – Excellent contested mark from Laverde to deny Melbourne an exit. the pressure continues to pour on the Dees, and the crowd gets involved with a chorus of boos for what they thought was a holding the ball call not paid against Petracca (they had a point). The pressure continues though, and a long bomb dribbles wide for a point.
7.28am EDT 07:28
Q4: 19 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne – Essendon win the opening clearance of the quarter and tear off into attack. A Melbourne first interrupts a mark inside-50 but the Bombers remain on the front foot with repeat stoppages.
7.21am EDT 07:21
3QT: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne
Melbourne lifted their attacking game that quarter and have established a decent lead going into the final break.
7.20am EDT 07:20
Q3: 1 min remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne – The Dons try to up the tempo but Melbourne’s defensive structure and intensity is hard to penetrate. They are a tough unit to either grind through or play over. Devon Smith just got told off by one of the umpires for shouting at him. Fair to say Essendon feel they’ve not had the rub of the green tonight.
7.17am EDT 07:17
Q3: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 8.12 (60) Melbourne – The Demons reload quickly, benefit from a free-kick, and from the unsettled aftermath there’s space in the forward line. Two kicks later and Petracca is lining up a set shot from 45m on a slight angle. He nails it. Petracca’s class has shone this quarter.
7.15am EDT 07:15
Q3: 3.30 mins remaining: Essendon 6.7 (43) v 7.12 (54) Melbourne – Essendon are playing slow kick-mark footy, crabbing their way up the ground. It looks ropey, and not at all what’s required in the circumstances. But for the second time in the space of a few minutes it proves effective. The slow build precedes a huge bomb to the hotspot, the ball comes to ground, and Jones crumbs superbly to snap a second goal in quick succession.
7.13am EDT 07:13
Q3: 4.30 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.12 (54) Melbourne – Excellent by Petracca, escaping from the stoppage and finding Harmes in space just inside 50. Another miss.
7.11am EDT 07:11
Q3: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.11 (53) Melbourne – Fritsch is loose over the back and he’s found after Harmes is awarded a free-kick advantage on the burst in midfield. Fritsch hooks his set shot.
This has been a below-par attacking display from both outfits.
7.10am EDT 07:10
Q3: 7 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.10 (52) Melbourne – There haven’t been many occasions tonight where the ball has come in fast and flat to a leading forward, but Spargo was hit lace out after Melbourne won a convincing centre clearance. He eschews the shot in favour of hitting McDonald’s chest, but his set shot is very weak and Draper should mark, but opts to concede the point instead.
7.08am EDT 07:08
Q3: 8 mins remaining: Essendon 5.7 (37) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne – Essendon needing a momentum changer, and there it is, Heppell snapping truly from 25m after the ball fell kindly after a pack formed.
7.05am EDT 07:05
Q3: 9 mins remaining: Essendon 4.7 (31) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne – The Bombers finally get their hands on the pill after an age, but they don’t look full of purpose. However, after chipping the ball around midfield they engineer a couple of pockets of space, eventually finding Smith in shooting range. He lets fly but Gawn is on hand to reduce the damage by five on the line.
7.01am EDT 07:01
Q3: 12.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 7.9 (51) Melbourne – The Dees force the turnover in midfield and then piece together a scrappy chain of possession on the right wing. It ends with Petracca lining up a set shot from the boundary near enough 40m out. Chances don’t get much harder. No bother, he clips a beautiful drop punt to extend the lead.
6.59am EDT 06:59
Q3: 13 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 6.9 (45) Melbourne – Melbourne are grinding well this quarter. It isn’t pretty, but it is effective. Merrett had 26 touches in the opening half, none so far in this.
6.58am EDT 06:58
Q3: 14.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 6.9 (45) Melbourne – Steven May is a boss. His dominance of defensive 50 has been awesome tonight, as it has most of the season. His partnership with Lever, and their relationship with Hibberd is a major reason why the Dees are at the top of the ladder.
May’s presence bullies Hooker out of the contest and after Jordon accepts possession on left centre wing he’s soon gifted a 50m penalty for Perkins coming off the bench into the protected area. Then just as he’s nearing his new mark there’s another whistle and 50m more! Not sure what this one’s for, but Melbourne don’t care, they’re 15 points in front.
6.54am EDT 06:54
Q3: 16 mins remaining: Essendon 4.6 (30) v 5.9 (39) Melbourne – Gawn is penalised in the ruck contest so Essendon break. It’s not pretty for 70m, until Parish centres for Cox, but he can’t hold the mark. Melbourne try to break through hands but McDonald-Tipungwuti, who else, lays a superb run-down tackle. The Bombers can’t construct another decent opportunity with Melbourne set defensively and have to accept a behind.
6.52am EDT 06:52
Q3: 18 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 5.9 (39) Melbourne – The opening score of the quarter is a point, courtesy of a Harmes snap after excellent thrust from deep from Hunt.
And out of nowhere Melbourne kick the first goal! McDonald applies the smart finish – kicking the ball over his head – after Hind has an absolute shocker, failing to smuggle the ball over for a behind, taking himself out against the point post in the process.
6.49am EDT 06:49
Q3: 19 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne – Underway in the second half and Essendon win a rare centre bounce, but the bomb forward is an easy intercept and Melbourne clear to centre wing.
6.40am EDT 06:40
David emails, asking “why are Melbourne wearing black armbands?” I’m afraid I can’t shed any light on that. Can anyone help out?
6.28am EDT 06:28
HT: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne
Not much between these sides at the main break. Not a classic but plenty of industry.
6.27am EDT 06:27
Q2: 0.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 4.8 (32) Melbourne – It’s a 12-point error because Melbourne go up the other end through Langdon, receive a free-kick in the goalsquare, and Jordon kicks them back in front.
Updated at 6.27am EDT
6.25am EDT 06:25
Q2: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.5 (29) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne – It’s all Essendon for a spell and they link handball after handball, sprinting through the corridor like Geelong ‘09, but they over-possess and a certain goal turns into a Ham behind. Big opportunity missed.
6.24am EDT 06:24
Q2: 2.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.4 (28) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne – If Zach Merrett was in a Melbourne guernsey the Dees would be out of sight. His delivery in crucial areas has been superb for Essendon, and again he threads the needle to pick a target under pressure. On this occasion Perkins cannot honour the build-up and kicks a point.
6.22am EDT 06:22
Q2: 3.30 mins remaining: Essendon 4.3 (27) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne – Essendon’s intensity has dipped a fraction and Melbourne are trying to take them on with their running game, but they can’t connect adroitly enough to pierce a gap. The Bombers are slow and precise in possession but they make a chain down the right flank and the roost to the hotspot finds the massive Peter Wright swooping like an albatross to clunk the mark and drill the goal. Dons back in front.
6.19am EDT 06:19
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 3.8 (26) Melbourne – … and now the Dees are ahead. Another centre clearance win, the ball hoisted forward by Harmes, kept alive at ground level by Spargo and he snaps very smartly over his shoulder.
6.18am EDT 06:18
Q2: 6 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 2.8 (20) Melbourne – Deary me. What is going on out there? McDonald is hit on his chest on a superb lead, he wheels around and kicks to a pack, the ball falls to Jackson who… tries a cute dribble with his non-preferred that doesn’t make the journey from 20m!
Goodwin is down near the boundary-line now, presumably ready to clip a few of his charges around the ear. Jackson may be spared one for the time being. Cheap turnover across Essendon’s backline, the ball is soon shipped to the big ruck-forward and he walks home into the open goal.
6.15am EDT 06:15
Q2: 8 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.7 (13) Melbourne – Simon Goodwin has some work to do at the interval. Rivers just tore off, took a bounce, then just steamed into traffic aimlessly. What was he doing? What is the attacking strategy?
Again! This time Fritsch has time and space, jogging towards 50, then he just sprays an awful kick miles in front of Neal-Bullen. This is calamitous attacking footy from the Dees. Shocking.
6.11am EDT 06:11
Q2: 11 mins remaining: Essendon 3.3 (21) v 1.7 (13) Melbourne – Melbourne look like drilled Navy SEALs without the ball, and like drunk elephant seals when they get it. They’ve already butchered an extraordinary amount of ball in attacking positions and it doesn’t look like the wastefulness is changing anytime soon. They’re lucky May is on his game at fullback or Essendon’s counterattacking style would have them well clear.
Updated at 6.11am EDT