Essendon taught Melbourne “an absolute lesson” at a wet Adelaide Oval as they recorded a shock 27-point win on Saturday night.
The 15.14 (104) to 11.11 (77) victory ensured the Bombers jump into second place on the AFL ladder, with South Australian Sam Draper (three goals) putting on a show in front of family and friends.
Draper and fellow Bombers’ big man Andrew Phillips kicked five first-half goals between them as they exposed Demons’ star Brodie Grundy’s “D-grade defence”.
While Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was able to sort the early ruck “headache”, he couldn’t quell Essendon’s ability to hit the scoreboard – as the Dees went goalless in a horror third term.
Melbourne’s loss was further soured by confirmation Charlie Spargo was concussed seconds out from half time, and will now miss next week’s clash with Richmond.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
With Kysaiah Pickett starting in the middle, it was Melbourne able to go forward with ease.
But Essendon’s backs were on top early in the light drizzle as first Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and then Jayden Laverde secured big wins against their Demons opponents.
When Kyle Langford caught Melbourne’s defence “asleep” to set up Will Snelling, it was the Bombers who scored first.
Big Andrew Phillips cashed in on a dubious holding free kick to ensure his side was off to a fast start.
Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon said it was clear Essendon’s defenders were on top.
“They’ve been tested early and stood up every time,” he praised of the Bombers’ backline.
“They are all over Melbourne.
“The Demons haven’t been able to get their hands on the footy.
“One-on-one defenders had really good clear wins in their back 50 and were able to rebound.”
But the match quickly soured when Zerk-Thatcher went down clutching at his right ankle.
Replays showed the Bomber got his legs caught with Pickett, and he immediately went down before being assisted from the field.
Without Zerk-Thatcher out there, the Demons started to find their rhythm.
Pickett snapped the first before Bayley Fritsch capitalised on a 50-metre penalty from some “clumsy” postmark contact by Laverde.
Big Sam Draper put Essendon back in front when he was awarded a free kick, and then subsequent 50m penalty to bring him to the goal line.
When Steven May spoiled his own teammate, Nic Martin pounced to snap truly from 35m to open up a seven-point advantage.
“They are starting with (Adam) Tomlinson on the big ruckman (who is resting forward) and it’s been a challenge,” Lyon lamented.
When Draper added a second goal – this time from a big contested mark in the goalsquare, it was clear Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had a “headache” from Essendon’s rucks.
“This is the headache Simon Goodwin has. He’s going to have to deal with this at quarter time,” commentator Jason Dunstall said.
“The height issue – the two talls in Draper and Phillips pushing forward is troubling Melbourne.”
“(Essendon coach) Brad Scott’s manufactured something really special in this bit (with the size advantage forward),” Lyon added.
By quarter time, it was Essendon leading by eight points.
Jake Melksham added his second goal in promising signs for the Dees to start the second term, after he was the late inclusion for injured big man Ben Brown.
Pickett’s second goal from a lazy coathanger-like tackle ensured Melbourne had kicked four straight goals.
Jake Stringer could have broken the Bombers’ goal drought but was caught unaware by Demon Ed Langdon who ran him down.
But just as Melbourne were building, it was Essendon’s big men who once again turned the match in the Bombers favour as they reaped the benefits of dragging Brodie Grundy forward.
“You wouldn’t stand like that as a defender,” commentator Mark Ricciuto criticised Grundy as Phillips took an easy grab and goal inside 50.
“When you get back there, you’re playing as a defender – get on him!
“That was a terrible defensive effort by Grundy – he was nowhere near him.
“That was D-grade defence by Grundy.”
Lyon said the Demons were “all at sea” late in the second term as Essendon dominated at the contest, while allowing too many marks inside 50 to leave defenders “filthy”.
Charlie Spargo was a late injury concern for Melbourne after he copped an accidental head knock from Mason Redman in the centre of the field.
Spargo was clearly wobbly on his feet seconds out from the main break.
At half time, it was Essendon leading 64-47.
James Jordon was injected as sub for Melbourne with confirmation Spargo would not return, but the third term belonged to Essendon as rain pelted down at Adelaide Oval.
Jake Stringer stole the footy from Adam Tomlinson to drive it home from the goalsquare before a moment of Kyle Langdon brilliance saw the Bombers open up a 29-point advantage.
That prompted commentator Garry Lyon to call on coach Simon Goodwin to change up his line up.
“The back six has been a mess since the start of the game,” Lyon lamented.
“The forward line is not working either.
“It’s time to swing a few changes.”
When Archie Perkins got on the end of a chain of chip kicks, suddenly the margin was out to 37 points.
“They are having a day,” Dunstall praised.
“Everything is going right.
“Every tactic they’ve employed has been a big tick.”
The only downside for Essendon in the term was Harrison Jones being subbed out with an ankle issue.
The Demons finished goalless in the third term as Essendon carried an 85-49 lead into the final term.
After almost an hour, Christian Petracca broke Melbourne’s goal drought while Kade Chandler gave the Demons some hope with his first for the day.
But as had been the story of the day, Essendon just wanted it more.
Big man Andrew Phillips summed that mindset up when he dived his 2m frame over a Steven May attempted exit from 50.
Bombers sub Nick Hind added two last quarter goals to ensure it would be Essendon going home with the four points.
“They’ve outworked Melbourne,” Lyon said.
“They’ve given them an absolute lesson.”
Melbourne managed the final two goals of the game, but it was all too little too late.
THE 3-2-1 …
3. DONS’ ‘AMAZING DAY IN THE COACHES BOX’
This AFL season has thrown up some unexpected results and seen some shock bolters emerge across the first five rounds.
But surely even the most optimistic, rusted-on Essendon supporter wouldn’t have expected their team to steamroll flag fancies Melbourne in such emphatic fashion.
The footy world had been waiting to see how the Bombers would fare against a genuine flag contender after wins over Hawthorn, Gold Coast and the Giants. On Saturday afternoon, Brad Scott’s men proved they can’t be underestimated this season.
As well as showing their trademark rebound and dash from halfback, the Bombers’ workrate was outstanding and their defensive accountability a far cry from previous season.
“I think Brad Scott is having an amazing day in the coaches’ box,” triple Coleman Medallist Jason Dunstall told Fox Footy.
“Everything is going right and it’s working beautifully. Every tactic they’ve employed has been a big tick, kicks that are just landing in certain spots are finding a red jumper, they’ve worked hard, they’ve deserved the luck that’s come their way, but they’re taking the opportunities when Melbourne have been unable to.
“It just shows you what can happen when a group gets confidence. Maybe they had a soft-ish draw coming into the 2023 season, the Bombers, but you get wins under the belt and the group grows in confidence – and they’re playing like it.”
Perhaps Essendon’s most impressive quarter was the third. Despite kicking just three goals for the term, the Bombers held Melbourne 0.2 from 15 inside 50s.
Will Setterfield, Will Snelling and even Jake Stringer – who was lauded for a run-down tackle by the Fox Footy commentators – set the tone defensively, while Dylan Shiel and Zach Merrett had 19 disposals for the quarter between them.
“The pressure has been elite too. They’ve been confronted, Melbourne, every time they get the ball by an Essendon jumper,” five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“They’ve been able to find their way through what’s historically been a really tough team to score against.
“I think we’ve all been waiting for the test to show they’ve improved their defensive stuff and wanted to see how they go against a side that’s played finals footy – and we’re getting some answers here.
“This group is playing as good a team footy as I’ve seen from them for a long time.
“It’s been one of the really good days for Essendon in recent times. You’ve got to measure your performances against the quality of your opposition – and Melbourne have been poor because Essendon have made them be poor.
“They’ve pushed them (the Demons) around.”
Asked how far the Bombers could go in 2023, Lyon said: “If you make your assessment on today, they’ve got a fantastic chance of being in and around the eight. But they’d be thinking ‘let’s keep improving’.”
2. DEES ‘A MESS’ DOWN BACK AS STAR ‘EXPOSED’ WITH ‘D-GRADE DEFENCE’
As breathtaking as the Bombers were, Melbourne was just as disappointing.
The Demons came into Saturday night’s game as the clear favourites to win after a strong start to their 2023 campaign.
But Simon Goodwin’s troops were taught a lesson by a hardworking Essendon outfit.
Granted Melbourne fought the game out until the final siren, but it was a classic case of too little too late as the team was held to its lowest score of the season.
Most concerning, though, was the fact the Demons conceded 100 points for the first time this season. Fox Footy commentators put that down to a stark lack of workrate, as well as disorganisation behind the ball.
“They’re not really that interested,” Demons champion Lyon said. “They think they’re working hard the other way, but Essendon are giving them a lesson. They’re not working for one another.
“Steven May’s looked a little bit out of sorts. The whole back six has for Melbourne, truth be told.
“That back six has been a mess since the start of this game. They (the Demons) are all over them forward of centre.”
It was a mixed night for Brodie Grundy, who after an impressive couple of games without Max Gawn was dealt a reality check on Saturday night.
Grundy had more disposals and clearances than any other ruckman on the ground. But his poor workrate at times essentially personified the Demons’ effort.
Fox commentators were left particularly disappointed by Grundy’s defensive running in the second term when opposite number Andrew Phillips pushed hard forward to take a contested mark inside 50.
“Defensively he‘s been exposed a bit, Brodie Grundy,” Lyon said.
“Pushing forward, Draper was the deepest and he had the (Adam) Tomlinson match-up. Phillips pushes forward on Grundy and it’s a big win. They’ve identified defensively he hasn’t got much of a clue
“They are going to get forward at every opportunity and ask the question. The ruckmen are exposing Grundy when they go deep.”
Lyon added: “Seven out of 10 of Grundy’s game has been superb. His work around the ground has been outstanding. It’s the defensive stuff that’s really hurt.”
Adelaide legend Mark Ricciuto labelled Grundy’s effort in the second term “D-grade defence”.
“They’d be filthy with that effort. Did not want to chase hard and get back. Needed to run back hard, get behind him and throw a fist to stop him – but he didn’t even try,” he told Fox Footy.
1. DON’S MASS TICKET GIVEAWAY PAYS OFF AS RUCK DUO DOMINATE
South Adelaide product Sam Draper gave away 40 tickets to fans from the Reynella Wineflies for his side’s Gather Round clash against Melbourne.
And the big fella, as well as his Essendon teammates, delivered quality entertainment, giving the Wineflies folks a night at the footy to remember.
Draper sparked the Bombers early with three first-half goals as he pushed forward to stretch a Melbourne defence missing Jake Lever.
He was also influential around the ground, with nearly half of his hit-outs going to the advantage of an Essendon teammate.
Draper had terrific support from Andrew Phillips, who added two goals in the first half.
Both players took three contested marks for the game as they suggested they could both play in the same team long-term.
“He (Draper) has really pushed them (the Demons’ backline),” Ricciuto told Fox Footy. “Harrison Petty, May down back have been really stretched, Tomlinson’s given away a few free kicks just worried about the height.
“He’s going really well … but Phillips too has been pushing forward and been fantastic. The coach would be more than happy with that.”
