Australian Football Association of North America

 By Kim Densham for AFANA from Melbourne.

An undermanned Bomber unit was missing its two key forwards--for The first time in 9 years Essendon was without Lucas (hamstring) or Lloyd (calf) in the team. Also out were Jetta (hamstring) and Monfries (virus).

Despite a great start to the year, Essendon were the underdogs facing a confident Doggies outfit looking to make it four in a row to be 4-0 for the season. Within the opening minute of the first quarter the Bulldogs scored and continued the pressure. At the quarter time siren Eagleton had 2 and the Western Bulldogs led 5.4-34 to Essendon 1.2-8.

The Bombers were shell shocked.

An animated coach Knights motivated his players in the quarter time huddle , a rejuvenated "Dons" scored within 30 seconds of the bounce with a sensational Jason Winderlich running goal to get Essendons second for the match. Three minutes later when Jason Laycock squeezed one behind ...the Essendon home crowd was restless.

Minutes later when Jason "Akker" Akkermanis gave a way a 50m penalty and Stanton kicked the Bombers third , the crowd started going off. Brett Stanton, wearing the famed no.5 Guernsey of Hird and Daniher, was inspired and kicked the Bombers 4th to the delight of the home ground faithful.

Henry Slattery kept the 300 game champion Brad Johnson quiet in the 2nd quarter. When after 2 behinds, Lovett sparked an exciting run through the midfield and goaled from a tight angle in the forward pocket, the crowd nearly raised the Telstra Dome roof.

The Bulldogs fought back and "Akker" linking up with a Johnson pass goaled on the run from outside 50, keeping up the pressure. Then David Hille scored on the 27 minute mark, and the running Bombers were within 1 goal. 7.6-48 to the Doggies 8.6-54.

Johnson and Akker combined on the wing, taking advantage of an Essendon infringement, worked the ball, roving close to ground, a looping handball found Cooney unmarked and the Dogs led by 2 and in a see saw second half, Scott Welsh scored another - Dogs by 3 goals.

The Bulldogs drew first blood in the third term. The next few minutes play left the Essendon fans frustrated and booing. Stanton then stepped up and scored his third, a couple of minutes later Laycock took his first and the margin was 9 points. The next 8 minutes saw football played at a frenetic pace. Essendon and the Bulldogs traded goal for goal and when McVeigh stepped up and scored his second, the Bombers led by 5 and closed out the third term leading by 10 points. The crowd was ecstatic and expected the resurgence to continue in the final quarter.

The Essendon staff working at a furious pace in the huddle dispatched treatment left right and center. Jobe Watson had his faced re-stitched and Mal Michael received some serious calf treatment. The troops were patched, the crowd rallied and the final quarter started with the Bulldogs fans sitting in stunned silence.

But not for long, within a couple of minutes of the start Essendon lost McVeigh and Lonergan to hamstrings. The Bulldogs midfield took control to romp home. A one way traffic quarter, where the Dogs reasserted themselves and dominated, much to the disgust of the Bombers fans and to the delight of their own supporters, who cheered them home to a famous come from behind win and continue the unbeaten run.

Essendon managed just two points in the final term. The wild Dogs piled on 7 unanswered goals to run out victors by 30 points.

Man of the match was Fletcher and Paddy Ryder took the spectacular ("specky") mark of the game.