ETIHAD scrap fest as North take honours over Dons
NORTH MELBOURNE 17.13 (115) def ESSENDON 9.16 (70)
Essendon and North Melbourne were greeted with a closed roof on Saturday afternoon, but it was the Kangaroos who took control of the game in the first the term.
The Bombers, plagued by the ongoing and tiring ASADA investigation, started strong in the first quarter but never looked in it afterwards, soundly beaten by 45 points.
Daniel Wells and Drew Petrie stepped it up a notch, kicking seven goals between them respectively as they continually punched through a modest Essendon defence. Levi Greenwood was in the mix too, racking up 38 possessions and laying five tackles as North Melbourne took charge at Etihad.
Jake Melksham (three goals), skipper Jobe Watson and Brendon all worked hard to keep the Bombers in the fight, but there was no answer to the firepower that the Kangaroos mustered.
Small forward Lindsay Thomas got the Kangaroos on the board in the first two minutes, after North forced the ball forward into the attacking 50. Neither side could really establish a command, the ball in a constant stop-start motion before Daniel Wells kicked his first.
Melksham opened the goal account for the Dons with a lovely long kick from 55, but that was the only highlight of a slow first quarter for the red and black.
Matters turned sour when key Essendon defender Dyson Heppell sustained a foot injury, bringing substitute Leroy Jetta into the match. When the game eventually opened up, the Kangaroos found their targets with almost pinpoint accuracy. Petrie caused plenty of headaches for Dons defenders, but Michael Hibberd wanted his own say, finishing with 26 touches.
A six goal to two third quarter was the game killer. North Melbourne fired up, Daniel Wells kicking two of his four goals. Not to be outdone, veteran Brent Harvey chimed in, pouncing on Essendon errors to deliver into the forward 50.
Drive through the midfield was shared, with Watson and Goddard the standouts. Unfortunately, slip-ups gifted the Kangaroos several goals and effectively knocked the Bombers out of the game early in the third quarter.
Hard attacking footy was seemingly invisible from the Bombers, despite the multiple efforts to string opportunities together. A Daniel Wells running goal just 20 seconds into the third term shut down any sniff of a comeback.
Nathan Grima celebrated his first AFL goal in fine style, floating one through the big sticks and being subsequently mobbed by his team mates.
North kept their slim finals hope alive with the win at Etihad. Potential sanctions could see the Bombers stripped of points in season 2013. If this occurs, the Kangaroos will jump up one spot, meaning the remaining two rounds are must win games.
There can be no doubting the toll that the situation the Bombers are currently in. Morale is fluctuating, and the Bombers have taken a beating with four losses above 40 points in their last four games. However, the red and black army continue to be as defiant as possible, and Watson continues to lead his charges with determination.
Carlton loom as very tough opponents next weekend for the Bombers, after they triumphed by 10 points over Richmond. North Melbourne face an even more arduous ask against top of the ladder Hawthorn.
Here are the match highlights:
ESSENDON 1.3 4.8 6.12 9.16 (70)
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.3 7.6 13.10 17.13 (115)
GOALS
Essendon: Melksham 3, Bellchambers 2, Davey 2, Hardingham, Kommer
North Melbourne: Wells 4, Petrie 3, Tarrant 3, Bastinac, Cunnington, Gibson, Grima, Macmillan, Thomas, Wright
BEST
Essendon: Melksham, Watson, Hibberd, Hardingham, Goddard
North Melbourne: Petrie, Greenwood, Wells, Wright, Hansen, Cunnington
INJURIES
Essendon: Dyson Heppell (foot)
North Melbourne: Jack Ziebell (ankle), Scott Thompson (soreness) replaced in selected side by Will Sierakowski and Levi Greenwood
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Leroy Jetta replaced Dyson Heppell in the first quarter
North Melbourne: Will Sierakowski replaced Leigh Adams in the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Hosking, Jeffery
Official crowd: 34,102 at Etihad Stadium
You can follow Davis Harrigan on Twitter @Davis_Harr
