Melbourne salvages ugly contest with superb second half to hand Essendon fourth loss in five games
AFTER an ugly first half that saw two of the most hyped teams trade turnovers, Melbourne woke up in the second half to condemn Essendon to a fourth loss in five games.
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JAKE Lever bravely revealed he has jumped off Twitter to help block out abuse.
Essendon coach John Worsfold ought to consider a similar social media detox.
The response to the Bombers’ fourth loss in five games will be savage because Sunday’s 36-point defeat to Melbourne was downright ugly.
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In a round of poor football, the first half was as putrid as it gets.
Supporters of both clubs - two of the most hyped entering 2018 - would’ve spent the 20-minute break questioning their progression, or regression.
Then, out of nowhere, the Demons woke. They laid eight tackles in the first quarter and 25 in the third quarter.
They kicked five goals from 25 inside 50s in the first half and then four from their first six entries in the third quarter.
They left the Bombers in their dust.
Captain Nathan Jones was the heart of the turnaround and ruckman Max Gawn was on the end of it, curling through two goals from the boundary after a pair of easier set-shot misses in the second term.
Gawn monstered Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck and while his Anzac eve hitouts were sharked by Richmond, on Sunday, the Demons midfield cashed in by winning the centre clearances 19-9.
That was because they were perfectly placed, with 10 palmed to advantage in the third term alone, a season record.
Jones’ third term included nine disposals, six contested possessions, four clearances, five score involvements and 200m gained.
The Bombers’ midfield was, yet again, smashed. The Bombers were, yet again, outplayed in the third term.
After Round 6 they have lost third quarters by 15, 14, 5, 4, 13 and 37 points.
On Sunday they kicked just one goal in the third term, a Jake Stringer gift which was wrapped with a bow by Christian Salem.
The Demons piled on seven in a row either side of half-time in a defining blitz.
Once again, it wasn’t Stringer’s day. Forget Neville Jetta’s three kicks, the back pocket blanketed ‘The Package’ for the most of the day.
Jetta claimed a staggering five intercept marks with many of his cut-offs triggering Demon goals.
Jetta’s neighbour, Oscar McDonald, continued Joe Daniher’s worrying slump and Jake Lever helped keep James Stewart out of it.
Draftee Bailey Fritsch cleverly positioned himself behind Michael Hurley knowing he was able to fly over him in marking contests.
The Demons’ new-look attack worked with seven forwards booting multiple goals.
A passage in the last quarter might’ve made included a contested mark by Sam Weideman, a nice grab and beautiful pass by Fritsch and then a set-shot goal from the boundary by Jake Melksham.
And then there was Charlie Spargo’s debut. The speedy little fella, who was removed from the GWS academy when it was rezoned, kept the Demons close with two first-half goals.
After a patchy start to the season the Demons can take a deep breath at 3-3 and welcome back Christian Petracca. At 2-4 the weary Bombers are precariously placed with their third match in just 11 days coming up against Hawthorn.
“It’s a long year,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin said on Saturday.
“Every club will go through little cycles where they’re in and out of form.”
It certainly is looking like a long year for Essendon.
BEST
ESSENDON: Z.Merrett, D.Zaharakis, D.Smith, A.McGrath, M.Hurley
MELBOURNE: M.Gawn, N.Jones, M.Hannan, N.Jetta, C.Salem, M.Hibberd, B.Fritsch, C.Spargo
VOTES
3. Max Gawn (Melb)
2. Nathan Jones (Melb)
1. Mitch Hannan (Melb)
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Originally published as Melbourne salvages ugly contest with superb second half to hand Essendon fourth loss in five games