Essendon has ran excessive of Gold Coast in a decent five-point win at Austworld Centre Oval that was deserted early on the opening day of the AFL’s match simulations.
The Suns regarded the superior aspect over the opening two intervals, with a 16-point lead very a lot flattering the Bombers, earlier than Brad Scott’s aspect kicked 5 targets to none within the third time period to surge forward and take management of the sport.
It was an arm wrestle for the remainder of the competition because the Suns fought again earlier than each golf equipment determined to scale back the fifth interval to 10 minutes – then calling an finish to the sport on the finish of the quarter as Essendon claimed the victory.
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QUARTER-BY-QUARTER RECAP
Bombers recruit Sam Weideman wasted no time having an affect at his new membership, booting a snap aim within the first couple of minutes of the sport.
Sam Flanders in the meantime made his mark on the different finish of the bottom, booting the following two targets together with a superb volley main from point-blank vary.
“Is that a Daniel Wells? That is a great goal – let’s get excited for pre-season!” Fox Footy’s Ben Dixon exclaimed.
Ben Ainsworth stored issues rolling for Gold Coast by changing an aesthetic end inside 50 – the Suns’ third aim in a row to go up 19-15 in a promising begin for Stuart Dew’s aspect.
Essendon’s Jye Menzie additionally impressed early with two first interval targets.
The Suns led 4.1 (25) to three.5 (23) on the first change.
Gold Coast continued its sturdy begin with the opening two targets of the second time period each via Mabior Chol to go up 38-23.
Dixon was impressed with the Suns’ ball motion within the second interval.
“You can see the patience and this is the maturity – they’re playing the best team right now in this period – the maturity to take their time, open the space up and give the forwards a chance to have a run and jump,” Dickson mentioned.
Kyle Langford had an opportunity to kick a aim after the siren from the boundary line, however his snap kick went throughout the face of targets.
Gold Coast led 6.4 (40) to three.6 (24) after the second interval.
Sam Draper entered the sport and had a right away affect, successful the hitout then establishing Menzie’s third aim for the day to get the Bombers inside 10 factors.
Mason Redman then kicked a spotlight long-range bomb to make it only a three-point sport.
“I feel like Gold Coast have had all the play, and Essendon just haven’t really got going, yet they’re only three points down,” Dixon mentioned. “Pleasing that they’re still in the game and it hasn’t clicked for them just yet,” Dixon mentioned.
In an exhilarating sight for Bombers followers, Alwyn Davey Jr. kicked a one-step aim because the son of a gun draftee was mobbed by teammates to proceed Essendon’s surge – its third straight aim for the interval to take the lead.
“That is just a little something special from Alwyn Davey Jr., snap off a step,” commentator Sam Hargraves famous.
It was all Essendon within the third interval in a shock turnaround – maximising the aspect with the wind – with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti hitting the scoreboard or the primary time in his return match with an aesthetic end after roving a pack entrance and centre completely.
“Welcome back to the sash, exactly what they were missing all of last year,” Hargraves mentioned of McDonald-Tipungwuti.
Dixon added: “It‘s so good to have him back … he’s got some unfinished business.”
The Bombers kicked 5 targets to none within the third interval to take a 16-point lead.
Essendon obtained the primary aim of the fourth interval via Patrick Voss, whereas McDonald-Tipungwuti pinned Alex Davies with an enormous deal with for holding the ball as all momentum was with Brad Scott’s aspect.
“They are absolutely mauling the Suns when the ball hits the ground,” Dixon mentioned.
Voss additionally took a brave mark working again with the flight in one of many highlights of the sport.
The Suns nevertheless fought again together with two targets to James Tsitas in what grew to become an arm wrestle within the fourth interval.
Essendon obtained two late two targets to take an eight-point lead, 11.10 (76) to 10.8 (68). It was revealed on the finish of the fourth interval that each golf equipment agreed for the fifth and sixth intervals to be decreased from 25 minutes to 10 minutes.
Alex Sexton kicked a pleasant aim on the surface of his boot to open the fifth interval to get the Suns inside two factors.
Tex Wanganeen had an opportunity to reply on the different finish of the bottom, however he couldn’t make good on a working aim from level clean vary.
Both golf equipment in the end as an alternative determined to tug the pin on the sport after 5 intervals, with Essendon successful 11.14 (8) to 11.9 (75).
3. BOMBERS’ ROUND 1 BOLTER EMERGES
There was a number of thrilling moments from Essendon’s younger weapons on the day together with dazzling targets to Alwyn Davey Jr. and Tex Wanganeen.
But arguably no younger Bomber impressed greater than Jye Menzie to nicely and really put his hand up for a Round 1 berth to proceed his promising pre-season.
The plucky Menzie kicked all three of his majors over the primary two and a bit intervals, offering a spark in assault with nice aim sense and profiting from nearly each alternative that got here his means.
The 20-year outdated medium sized ahead joined Essendon in final yr’s mid-season draft and performed two video games for the membership late within the marketing campaign.
However simply if you questioned whether or not Menzie had gone previous Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti within the ahead pecking order, the veteran kicked an aesthetic aim whereas roving a pack throughout the Bombers’ third-period surge and later laid an enormous deal with as his frenetic stress was key.
It’s honest to say Brad Scott can have some wholesome choice dilemmas up ahead within the coming weeks ready on the sector additionally boosted by Sam Weideman, who was energetic early.
2. WHY BOMBERS FANS HAVE REASON TO BE OPTIMISTIC
It may’ve taken a while, however when the Bombers obtained going, they regarded ominous. And endurance may nicely be the important thing theme for Essendon followers beneath Brad Scott.
Trailing by 16 factors after two intervals as they regularly welcomed extra of their skilled gamers into the sport, a 5 aim to nothing third interval blitz from the Bombers was probably the most electrical footy performed on the day.
Essendon gained confidence as the sport went on and moved the ball faster as they shook off pre-season rust.
Former Hawthorn sharpshooter and Fox Footy caller Ben Dixon believes the group regarded extra organised within the midfield and usually noticed a number of encouraging indicators in Scott’s first unofficial sport on the helm.
“They didn’t play their strongest early, they slowly loaded their team up and got the fruits of it,” Dixon mentioned.
“Brad Scott already has his finger prints all over this because they had some great structure around the ball.
“I was actually really impressed and Bombers fans should be in their first look at their team with a new coach. It’s onwards and upwards.”
Originally printed as Bombers R1 bolter dazzles in shock comeback towards Suns
Source: www.news.com.au
