Essendon dynamo Jake Stringer has exploded into kind to spark the wasteful Bombers to a 13-point win over GWS and a 3-1 begin to the AFL season.
The Bombers appeared at risk of letting Sunday’s conflict at Marvel Stadium slip after an unsightly opening half, the place they kicked simply three objectives together with 10 behinds and 5 pictures that missed altogether.
Instead, Essendon flicked the change late within the third quarter and kicked away early within the final to seal an 11.22 (88) to 11.9 (75) victory.
Stringer booted 4.6, together with nailing an superior barrel on the run whereas spurning a number of good alternatives in a efficiency that virtually summed up the Bombers’ day.
Long-kicking working defender Mason Redman (26 touches) was excellent and Zach Merrett (28 touches) and Darcy Parish (30 disposals, seven clearances) racked up the ball at will.
Brilliant Giants ballwinner Tom Green (34 touches) was usually prolific and Josh Kelly (28 touches, two objectives) additionally impressed, whereas Harry Himmelberg booted three objectives and Nick Haynes was busy down again.
Brad Scott’s Bombers made a weird late staff change, dropping ex-skipper Dyson Heppell, whose kind had been beneath fireplace, for ruckman Andrew Phillips.
Heppell was named the substitute and returned to the fray within the second quarter when Sam Weideman needed to go away the sport with concussion after he was clattered by Haynes in an aerial contest.
Key ahead Weideman’s exit pressured the Bombers to swing Kyle Langford ahead.
But the place the Bombers had butchered their probabilities, with Jye Caldwell additionally among the many essential culprits, GWS largely discovered a solution to convert theirs and led by 10 factors on the essential change.
Bombers coach Brad Scott regarded in disbelief when Jye Menzie sprayed by Essendon’s twelfth behind, their tenth off the boot, late within the half.
Skipper Merrett stopped the rot when he snapped actually firstly of the third quarter and it turned the match into an arm wrestle.
Alwyn Davey Jr had some checks on his proper arm shortly after and went down into the rooms.
The teen returned to the sector halfway by the quarter and confirmed good poise in teeing up Stringer to place the Bombers in entrance.
GWS regained the lead however when Draper drew the Bombers stage once more late, it kicked off a run of 5 consecutive Essendon objectives.
Redman kicked a objective on the run to offer Essendon a six-point lead on the remaining change.
Stringer’s monster objective from 60m out early within the remaining time period pushed the margin past 4 objectives and whereas the Giants surged late, they had been unable to overrun the Bombers.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
