Like most in the footy world, I had a pre-game expectation that the Bombers would run over the top of the Eagles, get an easy win, gain percentage, and quietly move onto North Melbourne next week. However, what unfolded after half-time was an absolute gem of a match with a hectic finish, some brilliance, some heroics, and of course, some controversy.
In the clear light of day, the day after the Bombers’ great escape, their season is still alive in 2023, and no matter how small the winning margin, a win is still a win and hope is still alive for an unexpected finals appearance. While some Essendon supporters (I know quite a few) lament the nature of the win, this win, which was in part ugly, can be the catalyst for an exciting finish to the season for the club.
So how did Essendon get into a position where Adam Simpson’s team were in front with one minute and forty seconds left to play?
The Pressure Gauge versus Real Pressure
Forty seconds into the second half, Peter Wright slotted his first goal of the game and Essendon jumped out to a near five-goal lead and everything was going according to the script after Kyle Langford tore the game apart in the second quarter with four goals. A couple of minutes after Wright’s third quarter goal Essendon’s pressure gauge, according to Fox Footy, was ‘212’ while the Eagles were somewhere near ‘140’. David King was talking about the Bombers’ total domination of the game and bemoaning the effort of the Eagles.
In real terms, physically watching the ebb and flow of the game and not some artificial intelligence meter, yes Essendon were dominating, but they were not putting it on the scoreboard. The West Coast midfield, led by Tim Kelly, and their defence led by Jeremy McGovern, kept repelling the Bombers who were dogged by bad forward entries. For nearly half a quarter the Eagles held against the Bombers’ onslaught and restricted their scoring to a mere point.
Essendon should have been further ahead midway through the third quarter when all the ‘pressure gauges’ suddenly went berserk, and against the flow of play, Jamie Cripps slotted a goal from the boundary from a free kick and shortly thereafter Jack Petruccelle kicked another to put the Eagles right back into the match.
Forget about AI ‘pressure gauges’ as the Bombers were now under ‘real pressure’ and ‘real pressure’ can make even the most dominant of teams seem vulnerable. While the bombers still dominated the third quarter general play, they could not capitalise on that and put it on the scoreboard.
Heroes, More Heroes and a Villain
Going into the last quarter Essendon still held a comfortable 17-point lead and for part of the last quarter it looked likely they would prevail by around that margin until Elliot Yeo came to life and found Tim Kelly on the wing, who played on immediately to Jack Darling who did a one-two with Jamie Cripps and kicked a spectacular goal.
The Eagles were suddenly playing like the Eagles of yesteryear (I mean 2018 Eagles) with the run and dash led by the old heads, especially Kelly, Duggan, Cripps, Yeo and everybody’s one-time favourite villain, Jack Darling.
After dominating play for three and half quarters, but not being able to put on the scoreboard, the Bombers were shellshocked and the Eagles kept piling on the pressure. As good as Tim Kelly was playing, Essendon Captain Zach Merrett was playing just as well the other way for the Bombers and his brutal tackle on Luke Edwards led to a typical Mason Redman running goal midway through the term to put the Bombers back in the box seat to play out the game.
While a superb Jamie Cripps running goal feeding off a desperate handball from Jack Petruccelle pulled the margin back to 11-points with 10 minutes to go, Essendon looked set to ice the game a minute later when Andrew Phillips had a set shot from 15 metres out, basically straight in front. However, somehow he missed the opportunity, and it was game back on. (If Essendon had lost then Phillips would have been the villain, but winning covers over many sins.)
The unlikely hero of the Eagles late comeback was mid-season recruit Ryan Maric who had a stellar final few minutes of this game, firstly when he showed cool composure when he pulled a kick, instead of just blazing long, and passed the ball to Jamie Cripps who found Jack Darling thirtymeters out, and secondly when he led up perfectly to running pass from Tim Kelly and slotted the goal that put the Eagles in front with under two-minutes to go. Maric proved he can perform under pressure, and he has ensured yesterday he is part of the West Coast’s long-term plans.
Oscar Allen is going to be a big game player and his goal to put the Eagles within a point with a few minutes to go displayed his strength to lose his man on the lead, take a strong mark, and to also to kick a clutch goal from 50 meters out. He has kicked 45 goals this year – I would like to see his output when this team is firing.
While praise is being heaped on the Eagles players, it should be noted that the performances of Dyson Heppell and Mason Redman in defence, along with Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish and Nick Hind kept the Bombers in the game until the dying minutes when the Bombers were calling out for a hero or two of their own.
Good players do not accidentally find themselves in the right position to be the hero, rather they create the scenario for them to ply their heroics. Kyle Langford – the Iceman, kept his cool in the dying minutes when Jye Menzie ran onto a chaos kick running towards goal. He allowed Menzie to draw two Eagle defenders to come at him while he did not follow his man – the result, he received a handball over the top from Menzie and put the Essendon back in front.
While Merrett will rightfully be hailed as the Bombers’ hero, two young players and a mature cool head probably saved the game with seconds left on the clock. Brandon Zerk-Thatcher took what look liked an uncontested mark in defence with 28 seconds left on the clock, which is heroic unto to itself in a high-pressure situation, but what many did not notice was Nik Cox impeding the run of Oscar Allen, without giving away a free kick. Mason Redman did a similar job on Ryan Maric. The efforts of Cox and Redman did not rate a mention by the commentators, but I am sure their strength and poise under pressure will be celebrated by the Essendon fans and brains trust.
Great game of AFL footy and congrats to Essendon.
So, Who Was the Villain?
The villain of the last quarter was not a player, even though Andrew Phillips is lucky the Bombers won, but the umpire who threw the ball up with just under a minute and a half to go in the game. I couldn’t quite catch his number to name him, but he threw the ball up in an arch motion which went over the ruckman’s heads and the ball landed in the hands of an Essendon midfielder. The ball then went to Parish who got the ball to Laverde, who chaos kicked it to Menzie and Langford’s match-winning goal. At no point could the ruckman have contested that ‘Barry Crocker’ of throw up/out/over.
If a centre bounce, or a shallow boundary throw-in can be recalled, then why can’t a bad throw-up?
Tim Kelly and Zach Merrett
Tim Kelly and Zach Merrett are just made for the big time and it is to be hoped they get to play deep into September action one year soon as both look like the type of the player could tear a finals series apart.
Kyle Langford and Oscar Allen
Kyle Langford and Oscar Allen have both kicked 45 goals this year and with three games to go both should register over 50 goals for the year.
Langford has probably been “the accidental hero” given the early season injury to Wright and the lack of Stringer form, but his performance nonetheless has been outstanding and an AA selection would not surprise.
Allen’s 45 goals on a team which has really struggled this year has been exemplary, and while he doesn’t get the recognition on the east coast as some other full forwards, he is a super player. If yesterday is any guide, he can step up to the big pressure moments.
Dyson Heppell and Jack Darling
Dyson Heppell (232 games) and Jack Darling (274 games) have both been great servants of their clubs, while at times also being the scapegoat of their supporters when the going gets tough. In the tense moments of yesterday game when leaders where required, both stood up and led the way and played their role well. Based on what I have seen this year, both should be required players for a couple of years to come as the two clubs climb up the ladder.
From Here to Bombers Eternity
A close win, a lucky win, an ugly win, no matter how it is described, it is still a win. In the case of the Bombers yesterday’s win means their season is still well and truly alive.
One win and a small percentage separate the Bombers from the Giants who they play in two weeks’ time if they don’t suddenly implode against North Melbourne next week. The Giants game is shaping as the defining game of the season for both clubs as the winner will live to dream for at least another week.
(I won’t mention Collingwood in Round 24 – just yet.)
Adam Simpson Finally Smiled
Not many coaches are seen beaming from ear to ear after a narrow defeat, but Adam Simpson was all smiles after the siren yesterday. Normally, I would think such behaviour is a bit creepy, but after suffering a soul-crushing defeat by over 170 points a couple of months ago this team has bounced back with a shaky win over fellow cellar dweller North Melbourne last week, and now an AFL expected standard performance, albeit a narrow loss, against the Bombers.
The dark days of 2022 and 2023 are finally over for the Eagles and the climb from mediocrity has begun – Simmo is the right man to lead the charge.
I sniffled and coughed my way through most of this match and had to watch bits it again overnight as I was not well yesterday (thus it is late being published), but I think most of the important bits are covered, even if little mention is made of the first half – have your say below.