By Kim Densham in Melbourne for AFANA
A week is a long time in football, the saying goes, well try 40 years. It's about that long since the League trialled a shortened version of the game with a round robin format called the Lightning Premiership. Decades later and for the early rounds of the NAB Cup the lightning format was back.
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It was the first time ever that Brownlow Medalists coached against each other (Michael Voss and James Hird) and that twins coached against each other (the Scott brothers for Geelong and North Mebourne).
In a much hyped and anticipated coaching debut by James Hird, the Bombers, coming off a tough preseason training regime, came out guns blazing and blitzed an undermanned Brisbane Lions. In the two 20 minute quarters match format, the Lions were held scoreless until halfway through the second quarter. At the change-over Essendon went off for a break and the Saints came on to face the stunned Lions.
During the break, a charity match was played between former Essendon and Brisbane legends, a spectacle that saw Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas line up next to each other to face off against Brisbane Premiership defender and former Bomber team mate, Mal Michaels. The National Australia Bank donated cash for goals and the match jumpers were auctioned off on EBay, to raise funds for the victims of the recent devastating floods in Queensland and Victoria.
The second half brought no respite for the Lions against the Saints, who came out and applied pressure in their first hit out since losing to Collingwood in the 2010 Grand Final. Voss has some work on his hands this season, but still has a few key senior players to return. At the change the Lions took a breather and it was Essendon versus St Kilda. Once again the Bombers proved to be a bogey side and came over the top of an understrength Saints outfit which was clearly missing Nick Riewoldt and a few other big guns.
All in all it was an exciting night for James Hird, the Bombers and the Essendon faithful, with the Bombers moving through to the next round. Hird has an unblemished 100% success record, with one win from one game.
Article last changed on Friday, March 11, 2011 - 8:00 PM EST
