‘Haven’t seen a capitulation like it’: AFL world stunned by Bombers loss

Essendon’s finals hopes took a significant hit on Saturday night in a display that left those watching on in sheer disbelief.

MELBOURNE, AUGUST 10, 2024: 2024 AFL Football - Round 22 - Essendon Bombers V Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium. Ben McKay of the Bombers rues the loss. Picture: Mark Stewart

Essendon’s finals hopes took a significant hit on Saturday night – and you sense the blow was predominantly self-inflicted.

The Bombers squandered a gilt-edged chance to bury some demons and keep their September hopes burning, with a stinging one-point loss to Gold Coast at Marvel Stadium.

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It was the third time in three seasons that Essendon had lost a match via a kick after the siren, following Magpie Jamie Elliott’s feat in 2022 then Power defender Dan Houston’s epic bomb last year.

Adding salt to the wound for the Bombers was the fact that they had victory well within their grasp in the final quarter. They had control and momentum and peppered the goals, but a diabolical 1.9 prevented them from shutting the door on the Suns.

The Bombers only have themselves to blame. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

And after taking a spectacular pack mark with 20 seconds left, Sun Mac Andrew made Essendon pay the heftiest of prices with a clutch post-siren goal.

The Bombers had more inside 50s, but their appalling goalkicking, especially in the crucial final quarter, brought them unstuck, with Jake Stringer (0.3) and Sam Draper (0.2) the main culprits for the Bombers after three-quarter time.

In ugly scenes, Essendon fans threw drinks bottles on the ground after Andrew kicked the match-winner.

Following Ess is a tough caper https://t.co/UrrEZZ6z4O

— Jake Niall (@JakeNiallTHEAGE) August 10, 2024

The most Essendon loss EVER!! #AFLBombersSuns

— Brad Klibansky (@BradKlibansky) August 10, 2024

Essendon continues to be a mid-table side at best because the guy in charge of their recruitment keeps recruiting bang average players. A team filled with inconsistent players will be an inconsistent team. It's not rocket science. #AFLDonsSuns

— Chris De Silva (@cdesilva23) August 10, 2024

Just when you think Essendon couldn’t humiliate themselves more than they did against Crows & Saints, they top themselves by ending Gold Coast’s 17-game road losing streak after the siren to extinguish what little hope they had of making finals. Utterly pathetic #AFLDonsSuns

— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) August 10, 2024

“1.9 to Essendon in the last quarter – I don’t know if I’ve seen a capitulation like it,” dual premiership Kangaroo David King told Fox Footy post-match.

“They just couldn’t take their opportunities … They had countless opportunities. They had them absolutely on the rack.

“And you know what? That’s what Brad Scott has been talking about: Handling the pressure of the moment, the pressure of these sorts of games – and they haven’t been ready for it over the last six to eight weeks.

“Essendon should’ve won this game by four to five goals, but in the end they didn’t take their opportunities, they didn’t handle the pressure.”

Triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt added: “The Essendon edge is well and truly gone for that football club.”

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Haven’t seen a capitulation like it’: AFL world stunned by Bombers loss