E
Essendon Fan
Guest
Well done Essendon.
Was a deserved win.
Fought hard and played hard.
WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Essendon has taken a significant step towards earning a finals spot this year with a hard-fought eight-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome – their first win over the Lions in three years.
In a wonderful encounter, the Bombers secured the 14.10 (94) to 12.14 (86) victory with a terrific second half, outscoring their opponents by eight goals to five.
It is Essendon’s first victory against Brisbane since round eight, 2000 – the same season the Bombers powered to the premiership. Of course, the Lions went on to defeat Essendon in the 2001 grand final and secured back-to-back premierships last year.
The win moves the Bombers to an 8-8 record with games against Melbourne, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Fremantle and Collingwood still to come.
The Lions had every opportunity to keep their winning streak against Essendon intact when Brad Scott goaled less than 30 seconds into the final term but it proved to be a false dawn.
Three Essendon players – David Hille, who was superb all night, Matthew Lloyd, who finished with five goals and Mark Bolton – were able to hold down strong marks inside 50 in the final term and kick accurately.
Brisbane full-forward Alastair Lynch goaled deep in time-on, but it was too late, the Lions missing a chance to move into second spot on the ladder.
While the match was far from the ‘no rules’ affair promised of previous clashes between the sides, it was memorable for the wonderful individual contests across the ground.
Starting in the middle, there was James Hird’s battle with Brad Scott. Both men roamed far and wide of each other in a test of will and character. Hird produced a 17-touch first half, with Scott not too far behind with 11 possessions.
The Essendon skipper played as expected for someone who knew the season was well and truly on the line, providing the target running out of defence and delivering with precision into the forward line. He ended a memorable contest with 31 disposals and six marks.
Scott was a major component of Brisbane’s engine room, often providing a target through the middle. He collected 23 damaging touches.
There were other battles worthy of top billing. Dustin Fletcher on Lynch was an enthralling clash of two strong men, with Lynch finishing the night with four goals.
It was a fast and furious opening, the Lions kicking three straight goals midway through the term before conceding an eight-point lead to the Bombers courtesy of two late Essendon goals.
The second term was memorable for a wonderful passage of play from Lions skipper Michael Voss. He gave the team a six-point lead with a pin-point pass to Lynch after gathering the footy and evading the tackle of an airborne Mark Johnson.
Lynch made the hard work count, making no mistake from inside 50. It was the last goal of the term, the visitors taking an eight-point edge into the long break.
The third term saw Essendon break the game open with five of the first six goals. That passage yielded the home side a 15-point advantage, but the Lions goaled twice before three-quarter-time.
With Simon Black and Voss both missing relatively simple shots on goal inside 50 during the term, the Lions could have been in ahead instead of four points adrift at the final change.
Next week, Essendon takes on the Demons at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, while the Lions host Port Adelaide at the Gabba that night.
ESSENDON: 4.4 6.4 11.8 14.10 (94)
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.2 7.6 10.10 12.14 (86)
GOALS: Essendon: Lloyd 5, Bolton 2, Hille, Jacobs, J.Johnson, M.Johnson, Misiti, Ramanauskas, Richards
Brisbane Lions: Lynch 4, Power 2, Bradshaw, Brown, McRae, B.Scott, Shattock, Voss
BEST: Essendon: Hird, M.Johnson, Ramanauskas, Lloyd, Peverill, Bolton, Lucas, Solomon
Brisbane Lions: Voss, Power, B.Scott, Pike, Lynch, Copeland
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Leppitsch (right shoulder)
CHANGES: Essendon Alessio replaced in selected side by Cupido
Brisbane Lions: Lappin replaced in selected side by McGrath
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Coates, Rosebury
CROWD: 47,744 at Telstra Dome
afl.com.au
GO DONS!!!
Was a deserved win.
Fought hard and played hard.
WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Essendon has taken a significant step towards earning a finals spot this year with a hard-fought eight-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Telstra Dome – their first win over the Lions in three years.
In a wonderful encounter, the Bombers secured the 14.10 (94) to 12.14 (86) victory with a terrific second half, outscoring their opponents by eight goals to five.
It is Essendon’s first victory against Brisbane since round eight, 2000 – the same season the Bombers powered to the premiership. Of course, the Lions went on to defeat Essendon in the 2001 grand final and secured back-to-back premierships last year.
The win moves the Bombers to an 8-8 record with games against Melbourne, Carlton, the Western Bulldogs, Richmond, Fremantle and Collingwood still to come.
The Lions had every opportunity to keep their winning streak against Essendon intact when Brad Scott goaled less than 30 seconds into the final term but it proved to be a false dawn.
Three Essendon players – David Hille, who was superb all night, Matthew Lloyd, who finished with five goals and Mark Bolton – were able to hold down strong marks inside 50 in the final term and kick accurately.
Brisbane full-forward Alastair Lynch goaled deep in time-on, but it was too late, the Lions missing a chance to move into second spot on the ladder.
While the match was far from the ‘no rules’ affair promised of previous clashes between the sides, it was memorable for the wonderful individual contests across the ground.
Starting in the middle, there was James Hird’s battle with Brad Scott. Both men roamed far and wide of each other in a test of will and character. Hird produced a 17-touch first half, with Scott not too far behind with 11 possessions.
The Essendon skipper played as expected for someone who knew the season was well and truly on the line, providing the target running out of defence and delivering with precision into the forward line. He ended a memorable contest with 31 disposals and six marks.
Scott was a major component of Brisbane’s engine room, often providing a target through the middle. He collected 23 damaging touches.
There were other battles worthy of top billing. Dustin Fletcher on Lynch was an enthralling clash of two strong men, with Lynch finishing the night with four goals.
It was a fast and furious opening, the Lions kicking three straight goals midway through the term before conceding an eight-point lead to the Bombers courtesy of two late Essendon goals.
The second term was memorable for a wonderful passage of play from Lions skipper Michael Voss. He gave the team a six-point lead with a pin-point pass to Lynch after gathering the footy and evading the tackle of an airborne Mark Johnson.
Lynch made the hard work count, making no mistake from inside 50. It was the last goal of the term, the visitors taking an eight-point edge into the long break.
The third term saw Essendon break the game open with five of the first six goals. That passage yielded the home side a 15-point advantage, but the Lions goaled twice before three-quarter-time.
With Simon Black and Voss both missing relatively simple shots on goal inside 50 during the term, the Lions could have been in ahead instead of four points adrift at the final change.
Next week, Essendon takes on the Demons at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, while the Lions host Port Adelaide at the Gabba that night.
ESSENDON: 4.4 6.4 11.8 14.10 (94)
BRISBANE LIONS: 3.2 7.6 10.10 12.14 (86)
GOALS: Essendon: Lloyd 5, Bolton 2, Hille, Jacobs, J.Johnson, M.Johnson, Misiti, Ramanauskas, Richards
Brisbane Lions: Lynch 4, Power 2, Bradshaw, Brown, McRae, B.Scott, Shattock, Voss
BEST: Essendon: Hird, M.Johnson, Ramanauskas, Lloyd, Peverill, Bolton, Lucas, Solomon
Brisbane Lions: Voss, Power, B.Scott, Pike, Lynch, Copeland
INJURIES: Brisbane Lions: Leppitsch (right shoulder)
CHANGES: Essendon Alessio replaced in selected side by Cupido
Brisbane Lions: Lappin replaced in selected side by McGrath
UMPIRES: Vozzo, Coates, Rosebury
CROWD: 47,744 at Telstra Dome
afl.com.au
GO DONS!!!
