Former Don calls out “borderline embarrassing” Essendon as Dogs stroll to victory

The Western Bulldogs have picked up a much-needed win, taking care of Essendon 103–71 at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

The result breathes life into the Dogs’ season who are now 3-4 after seven rounds, while the Bombers adversely are 1-6 with their finals hopes diminishing by the week.

With so much riding on the clash, the Bulldogs were able to dominate field position as they controlled the inside 50 count 66-39, ultimately leading to the convincing win.

While the result was a comfortable one by the final siren, the encounter started in an arm wrestle with the two sides swapping goals in the opening term.

That all changed late in the second quarter, with the Bulldogs using their handball chains to great effect as they kicked away to lead comfortably early into the third.

As the Dogs got their game going, 2008 Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney slammed the Bombers for their inability to defend the length of the ground.

“They’re refusing to defend the exit out of defensive 50 at the moment,” Cooney said on AFL Nation.

“It’s borderline embarrassing the way that they’re defending the ground at the minute the Bombers.”

With the game played more often than not in the Dogs’ forward half, small forwards Lachlan McNeil (three goals), Cody Weightman (two goals), Mitch Wallis (two goals) and Robbie McComb (two goals) and all kicked multiple majors.

The midfield battle was also won by the Dogs with Josh Dunkley (29 disposals), Jack Macrae (27 disposals) and Bailey Smith (26 disposals) helping Luke Beveridge’s side to a 38–33 clearance advantage.

For the Dons, Zach Merrett continued his return from an ankle injury with a prolific 36 disposals, while his running mate Darcy Parish (32 disposals) also found plenty of ball.

Ultimately though, the same issues that have plagued the Dons all year in transition defence and a lack of drive with ball in hand is what handcuffed them in this encounter.

Cooney was one that called out the Bombers for overusing by hand, as the Dons had 185 handballs, only slightly less than their kicks (208).

“This is team is obsessed with handballing,” Cooney said on AFL Nation.

“That’s to players in worse positions, poorer options.”

The Dogs will hope to pick up another win when they face the Power next Friday at the Adelaide Oval, while Essendon will be desperate for their second win of the year when they take on the Hawks at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.

FULL SCORE

Western Bulldogs: 3.1, 6.3, 13.4, 16.7. (103)

Essendon: 2.3, 3.7, 6.10, 10.11 (71)

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: McNeil 3, Wallis 2, Dunkley 2, McComb 2, Weightman 2, Vandermeer, Bontempelli, Cordy, R Smith, B Smith

Essendon: Wright 4, Cutler 2, Draper, Stringer, Baldwin, Guelfi

BEST

Western Bulldogs: Josh Dunkley, Bailey Dale, Bailey Smith, Caleb Daniel, Ed Richards

Essendon: Mason Redman, Nic Martin, Zach Merrett, Sam Draper, Darcy Parish

INJURIES

Western Bulldogs: Mitch Wallis (foot)

Essendon: Nik Cox (ankle)