Essendon demoralises West Coast by 61 points to show the future is bright

AFTER a couple of painful years the future is bright at Essendon as the Bombers bagged another top-eight scalp, dismissing a putrid West Coast after another awesome display from Joe Daniher.

Jobe Watson sings the club song with Josh Green and Michael Hurley. Picture: Getty Images

THE chorus of boos echoing around Etihad Stadium for Sam Mitchell were a reminder of recent reality for the Essendon faithful.

Think the kind of hellish Groundhog Day Richmond fans were enduring on Saturday, except lasting for four long years without respite.

As the fans reminded us, they haven’t forgot Mitchell’s “needle” taunts or becoming the butt of football’s jokes for so long.

Essendon hinted it might well prove themselves to be an exceptional football team given time this season.

What is already in no doubt is they are an intoxicatingly exciting one.

Question: If you are a kid with a vacant number on the back of your Essendon jumper, whose number do you choose?

Because if days like Sunday are anything to go by, those long-suffering fans are about to go on a heck of a ride.

Joe Daniher flies for a mark over Jeremy McGovern. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Do you choose the No.6 of Joe Daniher, who was simply awesome with five goals straight.

He snapped unbelievable goals, soared high for skyscraper marks, did his bit of ruckwork in the centre and treated West Coast as his plaything.

Or Anthony McDonald Tipungwuti, who drew roars of pleasure with chase-down tackles, dancing feet and bullocking tackles.

Perhaps Brian Taylor’s favourite “OraAAAAAAzio” Fantasia, found kicking freak left-foot snaps and taking hangers on Andrew Gaff.

Or either of brilliant midfield tyros Dyson Heppell or Zach Merrett, who at 25 and 21 respectively are solid choices if you don’t want to swap that jumper any time soon.

Those five players and more were given a standing ovation at halftime after a 12-goal blitzkrieg against flaky West Coast.

At that stage Essendon was 55 points up, Etihad Stadium was rocking, and Mitchell had just six effective possessions.

Talk about payback.

Josh Green celebrates a goal with Orazio Fantasia. Picture: Getty Images

Jobe Watson knows the fans’ pain and was thrilled they could bask in a contest which finished with them waving their jackets in joy.

“We had 36,000 fans for an interstate team on a Sunday. We have 65,000 members and I didn’t see the jacket waving but no doubt the Essendon faithful would have done it given the history,’’ he told the Herald Sun.

“Sometimes you get an interstate team and it can be a quiet atmosphere but people are enjoying coming to the footy and the guys are enjoying playing in front of them.

“Hopefully they are enjoying the way we are playing.”

So who would Watson put on the back of his back if he were a fan?

“My niece is wearing my number. But kids love goalkickers, so if it wasn’t me it would be Fanta ... Razzle dazzle.”

Jobe Watson and Joe Daniher wrap Andrew Gaff in a tackle. Picture: Getty Images

Watson looked spent at times earlier in the year but after 30 possessions looks to have his bounce back.

“Yeah, I am feeling good. We had a pretty tough schedule so Anzac Day always provides some challenges. Rest, come back and play.

“The last two weeks we have played mor like a team we want to be. I still think we will be playing better footy in the second half of the year than the first.”

On a historic day for football, female umpire Eleni Glouftsis contributed a mixed bag with several recalled bounces and contentious free kicks.

By the second half she was throwing the ball up in the centre square, perhaps sounding the death knell for the bounce as we know it. She will be better for the run.

But how do we excuse a battle-hardened and experienced Eagles outfit.

West Coast was putrid.

Daniher finished with five goals. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

They had won three of the past four at this venue but transferred their MCG form across the city in an insipid effort.

Jack Darling’s five points didn’t help, but in the decisive second-term burst they lost nine consecutive clearances and allowed Essendon to move the ball at will.

Essendon kept Elliott Yeo accountable in defence, Jamie Cripps and Mark LeCras were unsighted and they looked resigned to their fate way too early.

Mitchell racked up 33 touches against the Dogs last week, but form and his ankle injury mean his season has been solid at best.

ESSENDON 5.2 12.8 16.10 19.11 (125)

WEST COAST 2.4 3.7 5.13 8.16 (64)

GOALS

Bombers: Daniher 5, Fantasia 3, Green 2, Hooker 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Parish, Dea, Colyer, Leuenberger, Stewart

Eagles: Kennedy 4, Vardy 2, Darling 2

BEST

Bombers: Daniher, Merrett, Hurley, Zaharakis, Hooker, Goddard, Watson, Heppell, Fantasia

Eagles: Kennedy, Masten, Gaff

INJURIES

Bombers: Nil

Eagles: Nil

Reports: Nil

Official crowd: 36,403 at Etihad Stadium

Originally published as Essendon demoralises West Coast by 61 points to show the future is bright