Essendon’s revival has continued with a 27-point victory towards AFL flag fancies Melbourne because the Bombers declare their greatest scalp beneath new coach Brad Scott.
With rucks Sam Draper (three objectives) and Andrew Phillips (two objectives) logging career-best scoring returns, the Bombers triumphed 15.14 (104) to 11.11 (77).
Midfielders Darcy Parish (33 disposals) and captain Zach Merrett (35 touches) had been standouts in Saturday’s Gather Round encounter at Adelaide Oval as Essendon, broadly tipped pre-season to be also-rans, banked a fourth win from 5 begins beneath Scott.
“I’m really proud,” Scott stated.
“You don’t always get reward for effort and today we did so that was really pleasing.
“If we offer that stage of effort and good system, I feel we will be aggressive towards good sides.”
Essendon’s Dylan Shiel (28), Sam Durham (25) and Andrew McGrath (24) were other prolific ball-winners while Kyle Langford, Nick Martin and substitute Nick Hind all booted two goals.
Melbourne’s Bailey Fritsch, Jake Melksham and Kysaiah Pickett kicked two majors each and Cameron Oliver (41 disposals, eight clearances) and Jack Viney (27) were shining midfield lights.
But after leading by nine points 10 minutes into the second stanza, the Demons conceded the next seven goals.
“They had been working more durable contest to contest and that was just about the story of the sport,” Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said.
“They impacted once they went inside 50 and their forwards beat our backs fairly comfortably and hit the scoreboard.”
Essendon, with Draper kicking two goals and Parish gathering 13 disposals, led 5.4 to 4.2 at quarter time.
Melbourne’s Fritsch, without his fellow forward Ben Brown who was a late withdrawal because of a back injury, kicked two goals for the term.
One Fritsch major followed a 50 metre penalty when he was clipped in the head by a Jayden Laverde forearm, which will attract match review scrutiny.
Essendon’s lead disappeared in a second-quarter seesaw as the Demons scored the initial three goals before the Bombers regained ascendancy with the next four to start their burst of seven consecutive majors.
Essendon held a 17-point halftime advantage, 9.10 to 7.5, and the Demons lost Charlie Spargo to concussion late in the second term when he ducked into a Mason Redman tackle and copped a blow to the head.
Melbourne’s plight worsened as rain fell in the third quarter when Bomber Jake Stringer goaled and, three minutes later, his teammate Langford skidded a long-range major.
And when Bomber Archie Perkins converted from a tight angle soon after, the margin blew out to match-defining 36 points.
Essendon’s triple treats got here whereas Melbourne may muster solely two behinds for the quarter because the Bombers dished out a second lack of the season to the Demons.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
