By Frank Ienco reporting for AFANA from the Sydney Cricket Ground
Essendon has presented themselves as a genuine finals contender after claiming their biggest scalp of the season, downing the Sydney Swans by a solitary point at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The win is the Bombers third on the trot and now lifts them into the AFL top eight. However the dramatic 11.8 (74) to 11.7 (73) win came with controversy, with a number of debatable second half incidents going against the home side, capped off by a late goal to Essendon’s Jarred McVeigh which replays subsequently showed should not have been given.
While the season has yet to reach its half-way point the battle between eighth and ninth, separated only be percentage, already appeared to be a match that would have a large bearing on the make-up of the competition ladder. While both sides had won their last two matches to re-energize ailing seasons, the Swans held a distinct advantage during recent tussles against their opposition having won four of their last five meetings in Sydney by an average of 31 points. Once again, however, after the SCG clash was declared another “sell-out”, at least one quarter of the seats remained empty, meaning some fans may have missed out needlessly on tickets.
Sydney’s earlier defeats this season had shown taking the game to the Swans and playing attacking football was the best way to beat the Grand Finalists. The Bombers obviously heeded this advice early and came out all guns blazing with a scintillating opening to the match. The visitors had the early running when their second foray into attack found Andrew Welsh free inside attacking 50 to give the Bombers the opening goal within two minutes. Welsh was in the thick of the action again moments later when his handpass off the ground following a boundary throw in found Mark Johnson, who snapped a goal within close range. Essendon were prepared to move the ball quickly and kick long, with Matthew Lloyd and Jarred McVeigh the next to reap the rewards. Within the opening nine minutes of the match, the Bombers had slammed four unanswered goals.
Sydney’s 150th gamer Nik Fosdike finally opened their account with a major in the 12th minute, but the Bombers still looked on top. Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes had been found wanting in defence early for Sydney and when he gave away a free kick to Mark Bolton for a nudge in the back, the Bombers had another. The Swans efforts to push forward were being stifled as the Bombers moved large numbers back into defence, while their midfield was struggling to dominate possession in the centre of the ground. With the end of the quarter near, the Swans finally found some space and football to work with. Sean Dempster goaled on the run from 50, before Nick Davis kicked a freakish snap to further close the deficit. By quarter time Sydney had made significant inroads into the Bombers lead, the score at the first change 5.1 (31) to 3.2 (20).
The eleven point margin did not belie Essendon’s dominance in the early stages of the match and they appeared to have wasted their chance to blow the Swans away. But the Bombers began the second term just as they did the first, with Jobe Watson grabbing a goal within the first minute of the second quarter. Lloyd then ran into an open goal square to kick his second and Essendon’s lead was extended back out to 23 points.
Sydney’s forwards, meanwhile, were continuously frustrated as the Bombers continued to push numbers behind the ball, with poor skill errors entering the forward 50 again plaguing the home side. Full-forward Barry Hall was regularly manned up by two opponents for most of the first half, as he was kept quiet for most of the night. Hall had written an article a day before the match in one of Sydney’s major newspapers bemoaning the death of full-forwards kicking big bags of goals, as teams have now changed tactics and push players back into defenses back, with full-forwards now regularly double-teamed. It was the same fate that bestowed him tonight.
The Swans finally made an impact on the scoresheet when Davis goaled from 50 midway through the term. But it wasn’t until Paul Bevan kicked a major from point blank range at the start of time-on that Sydney began to regain the ascendancy again. The home side’s pressure began to force mistakes into the Bombers game and late goals to Adam Schneider and Michael O’Loughlin saw the Swans incredibly lead at the main change, 7.4 (46) to 7.2 (44)
The third quarter would become an intense and exhilarating affair as both sides struggled to shake the shackles of their opposition. The Bombers again began the term on the ascendancy, but their failings would come in front of goal, as they had ample opportunities to build a surmountable lead. Two uncharacteristic misses to the usually reliable Matthew Lloyd failed to capitalize on Essendon’s dominance across the midfield. Minutes later Adam McPhee missed a difficult long-range effort from 50; and those misses were compounded when Goodes goaled on the run mid-way through the term in what would ultimately be the only goal, and Sydney’s only score outright, for the entire third quarter.
Despite the lack of scoring opportunities, the match was still pulsating to watch as the ball flew from one end to another, with both sides willing to kick it long and quickly. Unlike many matches from recent memory, including the recent Hawthorn-St. Kilda affair, while both sides committed almost their entire squad into contests and back in defence, they were also prepared to move the ball quickly and take their chances on one-on-one contests. While some umpiring decisions had already earned the ire of Swans supporters, a couple of incidents late in the term gave an indication of what may soon come. Firstly, Hall’s goal from close range was disallowed after he was adjudged to push Bombers defender Mal Michael in the back. Then with the final kick of the quarter, a long range effort from Scott Lucas from 50 as the siren sounded was punched through the goalposts by Peter Everitt, appearing to make the ball ‘dead’; however the behind was still given. It would turn out to be crucial point as Sydney led at the last change 8.4 (52) to 7.7 (49).
As they had done for the first three quarters, the Bombers started the final term full of run and dominated across the ground. This time they were able to capitalize on their chances when Lloyd goaled from a set shot from 35 meters out. Another free kick decision against the Swans presented Brent Stanton with a goal, while Mark Bolton claimed a decisive snap goal that had the visitors visibly pumped and leading by 16 points.
Having prevented their opposition from putting their usual stamp on the game and matching their pressure and tackling across the ground, the Bombers appeared headed for victory. But Sydney have a knack for making dramatic comebacks and the stage appeared set for a grandstand finish when Davis had his third at the start of time-on. Then came the dramatic and controversial moment that will debated for days to come. A Sydney foray into attack was quickly rebounded by the Bombers who set upon launching a counter-attack. McPhee took the ball in the forward pocket and appeared to do well to keep the ball inside the boundary, before passing short to McVeigh who kicked an impressive and match-winning goal. Subsequent replays showed McPhee’s body, and crucially the ball, were certainly out, and the Swans faithful went into hysterics. The decision was even more decisive when Hall finally had his first in the game’s final stages. With seconds to go, Buchanan’s snap shot scrapped the goal post for a behind, and the Swans fell an agonizing point short.
The night took a sour note when Swans supporters booed throughout the presentation of the Marn Grook trophy, an acknowledgement of the influence of Australia’s indigenous people, and a game similar to Australian Rules, on the code. While Swans fans may feel aggrieved, and a draw may have seemed a fitting result, nothing should be taken away from the Bombers and their performance tonight. Their willingness to take the game to Sydney and beat them at their own game paid off, and they were probably the better side.
While the win gave an indication of the potential of the Bombers in season 2007, and what coach Kevin Sheedy’s younger brigade are capable of, it was their old hands that again carried them over the line. Full back Dustin Fletcher not only orchestrated Essendon’s marvelous defensive effort, but racked up an impressive 30 possessions and 12 marks. James Hird (22 disposals) was influential in what is expected to be his last game in Sydney, while captain Matthew Lloyd (three goals) was the focal point of Essendon’s attack and he again underlined his importance to his team. For the Swans, Co-captain Brett Kirk again went beyond the call of duty for his side, racking up 32 possessions.
The Bombers will aiming for four straight wins when they entertain the top-of-the-table West Coast Eagles at the Telstra Dome next Friday night. Meanwhile, Sydney will be searching for their first win of their year in Melbourne when they face Hawthorn at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next Saturday afternoon.
Final Score-
Sydney 3.2 7.4 8.4 11.7Essendon 5.1 7.2 7.7 11.8
Goals- Sydney: Davis 3, Fosdike, Dempster, Bevan, Schneider, O’Loughlin, Goodes, Hall, C. Bolton.
Essendon: Lloyd 3, McVeigh 2, M. Bolton 2, Welsh, M. Johnson, Watson, Stanton.
Best- Sydney: Kirk, Buchanan, Schneider, O’Keefe, J. Bolton. Essendon: Fletcher, Lloyd, McVeigh,
Hird McPhee, J. Johnson.
Changes- Sydney: Nil. Essendon: D Peverill (soreness) replaced in selected side by J Nash.
Injuries- Sydney: Nil. Essendon: Nil.
Reports- Nil.
Umpires- Donlon, McLaren, Chamberlain
Attendance- 26, 647 @ the SCG
Article last changed on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 9:42 AM EDT
