VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,860
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- AFL Club
- Essendon
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
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- #1
ESSENDON
Just when I think I'm out, these ****ers drag me right back in.
If you look up "Clutch" in the dictionary, you'll see a still shot of that final play from the Bombers in the final 40 seconds with the scores tied.
The Sam Draper tap directly to Zach Merrett, who sprints away from a diving tackle, handpasses it directly to Sam Durham who blasts a shot at goal from 50 metres. It misses, but it gives us the lead with 20 seconds left.
Freo bring it in from the kick in and blast it to the centre square, and the big man Sam Draper takes a huge contested mark to seal a famous win for our proud club.
It had been a horror few weeks for Essendon. We'd lost 3 games on the trot. We'd been smashed by St Kilda. Pissweak efforts across all facets.
Weak selection, weak game plan, weak efforts.
And yet, somehow, with yet another disappointing year on the horizon, we pulled it out of the fire and came away with the chocolates.
Jye Caldwell has been one of the shining lights of our season. He has come of age, is dominating games from start to finish, and is using his strength and toughness to great effect. When Phil Davis said that he'd be the player to sign to a 10 year deal, he was not wrong. He is exactly the sort of player you'd build your club around, and he's looking like the natural successor to Zach Merrett.
Darcy Parish at full flight is great to see. Whilst he may not be back to 2021 form yet, fatherhood is clearly agreeing with him.
Let's hope the same thing happens to Kyle Langford and Zach Merrett, who are both expecting too.
If Jake Stringer hadn't secured himself a new deal, he did after that performance.
I suspect it's not far off.
The dream is alive, and the heart is still beating.
It might just need a stent put in.
ESSENDON 13.12 90
def.
FREMANTLE 14.5 89
BEST: Caldwell, Merrett, Stringer, Redman, Parish, Shiel
GOALS: Stringer 4, Gresham 3, Martin, Langford 2, Draper, Caddy
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GOLD COAST
Well what looked to be a maiden finals appearance has gone up in smoke in venues all around the country.
The Suns have only won at home all year, and this looked to be their best chance at finally breaking their abysmal away record.
Enter the Jarrad Schofield-led Eagles, who had other plans.
The Eagles trailed all night in a physical, bruising encounter, but always stayed within striking distance.
Two quick goals in the final five minutes saw the Eagles climb over the Suns, and the only good version of the Eagles song blared over the speakers. They really need to ditch that Birds of Tokyo shit. It's embarrassing.
It was a season-ending blow for the Suns in their first year under the perennial whinger Damien Hardwick. The Suns have not won away from People's First Carrara Metricon Stadium or whatever it is now since Round 9, 2023.
Matt Rowell may not have hit the astronomical heights predicted for him at his debut, but he was one of the few shining lights from the Gold Coast in their shocking final term, gathering 13 touches and almost single-handedly dragging the Suns across the line.
This Mac Andrew could be anything. On his day, a dominant intercept defender, but against the Eagles, a talented tall forward who slotted 3. Crazy.
They will have copped hell for this performance during the week, if anyone in Queensland cared.
But it seems like no-one does.
WEST COAST 15.7 97
def.
GOLD COAST 13.9 87
BEST: Rowell, Anderson, Flanders, Witts, Andrew, Powell
GOALS: Long, King, Andrew 3, Witts, Graham, Fiorini, Anderson
ESSENDON OUTS: Xavier Duursma (Injured)
ESSENDON INS: Ben Hobbs
GOLD COAST OUTS: Jack Lukosius, Malcolm Rosas, Brayden Fiorini, Joel Jeffrey (All omitted)
GOLD COAST INS: Jed Walter, Alex Davies, Jake Rogers, Connor Budarick
ROUND 12, 2024
People First Stadium
2/6/2024
GOLD COAST 14.7 91
def.
ESSENDON 11.14 80
---------
GOLD COAST GOALS: Long, King 4, Lukosius 2, Miller, Ainsworth, Berry, Humphrey
ESSENDON GOALS: Cox 3, Kelly, Wright, Guelfi, Caldwell, Hind, Jones, Durham, Menzie
GOLD COAST BEST: Anderson, Long, Flanders, Rowell, Miller, Sexton
ESSENDON BEST: Heppell, Ridley, Redman, Hind, Merrett, Durham
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CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
GOLD COAST OUTS: Miller, Moyle, Lukosius, Jeffrey, Ainsworth, Fiorini, Berry
GOLD COAST INS: Witts, Johnston, Weller, Powell, Davies, Rogers, Budarick
ESSENDON OUTS: Heppell, Ridley, Hind, Wright, Perkins, Guelfi, Tsatas
ESSENDON INS: Parish, Roberts, Caddy, Shiel, Draper, Hobbs, A. Davey Jr
Who knows anymore. Gold Coast just seem to be utterly unable to win away from home, but we seem unable to consolidate a finals spot.
The unstoppable force meets the immovable object.
Heart over head. I guess.
Essendon by 21.
