Essendon has stormed to victory over Hawthorn at the MCG, 19.10 (124) to 9.11 (65) - capped by heartwarming moments for both Alwyn Davey Jnr and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti.
The Hawks led by three points midway through the second quarter, but an Essendon avalanche from that point on saw nine unanswered goals kicked, breaking the opposition’s resolve.
It was capped off by Davey Jnr’s first goal in the AFL, while McDonald-Tipungwuti booted a goal in his first match in 588 days.
QUARTER-BY-QUARTER MATCH REPORT
It was tight and tough to start the contest with plenty of big tackles and repeated stoppages, while both sides missed opportunities going inside 50.
Mason Redman made good on a long bomb from outside 50 in the first major of the day.
“Just hit that beautifully,” former Cats skipper Cameron Ling said on Channel 7.
The Bombers’ pressure was hot early as the Hawks could barely get possession.
“Hawthorn just can’t get any composed possession ... that’s why they’re kicking at 35 per cent because it’s all under pressure,” former Hawk Campbell Brown said on Channel 7.
Jye Caldwell kicked another for the Bombers, with Channel 7’s Luke Darcy calling it the “ideal start.”
Playing in his first game for the club, Fergus Greene finally got the Hawks on the board with a goal on the run as he got mobbed by teammates in celebration.
“Wonderful moment for Fergus Greene (after) five years out of the system,” Channel 7 caller Jason Bennett declared.
Darcy said of Greene: “Just a wonderful story of perseverance.”
The Hawks continued their push, getting a textbook clearance to set up an epic Chad Wingard goal of the year contender, winding between two Essendon defenders and kicking truly.
“We know he’s a special talent. He’s had to deal with a range, of injuries, at his best he does things only others can dream of. That was a Wingard special,” Darcy said.
Former Melbourne skipper Nathan Jones called Wingard’s goal “special” and “magical play.”
Luke Breust added another and suddenly the Hawks led by 16 in a shock turnaround as Sam Mitchell’s side owned the second half of the opening period.
Hawthorn took a 10-point lead into quarter-time, 4.5 (29) to 3.1 (19).
Essendon responded by dominating contested ball and clearance to start the second quarter, getting six of the first eight inside 50s, with Sam Draper kicking the first goal of the period with a nice snap finish from a set shot.
Harry Jones made it two in a row with a brilliant set shot right on the 50m arc as the Bombers regained the lead.
Both sides had chances to score but couldn’t make good on their attacking opportunities, with Darcy noting the game was “being played at a frenetic pace.”
Changkuoth Jiath finally broke the deadlock, galloping through the centre of the MCG with a huge run and kicking truly as Hawks fans erupted.
“How good was that!?” Darcy exclaimed.
“What a sight that is, such a free-flowing and graceful player to watch. You saw the moment he got ball in hand he was going goalward.
“Brilliant stuff, you love the way the Hawks play, always take the game on.”
Sam Weideman however steadied for the Bombers with consecutive goals before missing a third shot in a purple patch from the key forward.
“It’s all about confidence, consistently and opportunity for him. Trust me, his best is very good,” former Dees teammate Jones said of Weideman.
After missing his first couple of opportunities, debutant Alwyn Davey Jr. kicked his first goal right on half-time as all of his teammates celebrated the moment with him, while the cameron cut to Davey Sr. also losing it in the stands.
“Kicks his first goal in the big time, and have a look at dad!” Darcy said.
“Every Bomber player on the ground comes to celebrate that moment. First of many ... what a joyous moment that is.”
Davey Jnr’s goal helped the Bombers take a 16-point lead into the main break.
It was an Essendon avalanche in the third quarter, kickstarted by new recruit Will Setterfield in the opening couple of minutes.
Defender Jordan Ridley got involved and then back-to-back goals from Archie Perkins truly broke the game open, extending the lead to a game-high 40 points.
Buoyed by rock-solid defence, the Bombers continued to tear the Hawks apart on transition, with Sam Draper getting in on the action too with his second goal.
When Mason Redman kicked a goal in the 25th minute, the Bombers had booted nine consecutive goals.
It led to a 53-point lead at the final change.
The final quarter was effectively one of celebration for the Bombers, with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti subbed into the match.
At the 10-minute mark of the quarter, McDonald-Tipungwuti marked and kicked truly from the 50-metre arc, leading to huge celebrations on and off the ground.
THE 3-2-1
3) WEIDEMAN, OTHERS ‘STAND UP’ TO FILL WRIGHT VOID
There were question marks over Essendon’s forward line going into the contest following a brutal injury blow to Peter Wright.
But Sam Weideman - among others - stepped up in our first look at the Bombers’ attack without their star forward.
Weideman booted two goals - both in the third quarter - and missed another to make his mark for the club in his first game in the red sash after crossing from the Demons.
Struggling for consistent senior opportunities at Melbourne, not only will Weideman get a great run at things at Essendon, he’ll now be a key pillar up forward it’ll lean on.
As Weideman’s former Demons teammate Nathan Jones said during the Channel 7 call, “it’s all about confidence, consistency and opportunity” for the 25-year old.
He wasn’t the only Bomber to step up in Wright’s absence though, with Archie Perkins (three goals) and Sam Draper, Jye Menzie and even defender Mason Rodman (all two goals) also chipping in.
“We spoke before the game about: where are their goals going to come from? Weideman stood up, Draper, Harrison Jones and Davey Jr too,” Carlton and Adelaide great Eddie Betts said on Fox Footy.
“They have got firepower now.”
Former Bulldogs skipper Brad Johnson added: “It’s a good point in terms of Wright out and they’ve got four goals in that quarter from their talls … it was good for Weideman, even another set shot off a tackle and pressure in that forward half was pretty impressive.
“Weideman got himself in the game as a real target up forward.”
2) SPECIAL MOMENT FOR DAVEY FAMILY, TIPPA
Like father, like son.
Debutant Alwyn Davey Jr. set the MCG alight with his first goal on the half-time siren as Bombers fans, his teammates - and even Davey Snr. - celebrated accordingly in one of the highlights of the day.
It came after Davey had a couple of earlier chances in front of goal in the first half he couldn’t make good on as there was a feeling of anticipation for the young gun to finally put one through the big sticks.
When he finally did, it made for a great scenes in a special moment for the Davey family.
“He had his opportunities and he almost got there. But it was good to see him get one, get the cobwebs off the back,” Indigenous legend Eddie Betts, who has links to the Davey family, said on Fox Footy.
Betts quipped: “He’ll tell us about that too, he’ll say he’s got a better kick than his father! It’s great to have the whole family down there to watch him play.”
Bulldogs great Brad Johnson added: “It was a great goal, he had three attempts and Eddie’s been up all three times and he finally got to celebrate,” he said.
It was one of the most thrilling debuts of the weekend, with the electric Davey providing great energy in Essendon’s forward half and making things happen when he touched the ball.
And while he only finished with one goal, it’ll no doubt be the first of many, many more.
There was more touching moments later, too, when, firstly, Anthony McDonald-Tipunwguti - in his return game after over 500 days on the sidelines - subbed on in the fourth term to get a huge applause and standing ovation from the Bombers faithful.
And then when McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked his first goal back in the largest pop on the day. It‘s great to have the cult hero back.
1) HAWKS’ GOAL OF THE YEAR CONTENDER, HIGHLIGHTS AND POSITIVE SIGNS
While the Hawks didn’t get the four points, there were little wins on the day - and that’s arguably more important for the young team in their current development stage.
Hawthorn’s exciting band under Sam Mitchell was on full display, with Chad Wingard and Changkouth Jiath both kicking highlight goals in the first half - Wingard’s in particular.
“Just to have the poise and composure,” Betts said of Wingard’s brilliant goal on Fox Footy where the small forward ducked and weaved past two Bombers defenders inside 50.
“Chad just made it look so easy in slow motion. I put it down for an early goal of the year contender.”
Finn Maginness - after successfully negating Collingwood’s Nick Daicos in the practice match - continued to show he’s going to be a real problem for opposition star midfielders, successfully shutting down Zach Merrett for most of the first half before Sam Mitchell eased the tag later in the game.
Meanwhile young guns Will Day (22 disposals), Josh Ward (24 disposals) and Cam Mackenzie (17 disposals) as well as James Worpel (29 disposals) all produced strong performances leading the very inexperienced, new-look midfield.
Coming off a promising pre-season, Worpel’s bounce back performance in particular was a great story after a few down years.
“He would’ve learned a lot last year Worpel,” Geelong great Cameron Ling said of Worpel on Channel 7.
“just found it tough at times last year to find that consistency. By all reports he had a big off-season to prepare himself to jump back in that midfield.”
