Rejuvenated Essendon can dream of finals again after win against Hawthorn

AFTER the pain, torment and the wasted seasons, came pure joy. And with good reason — this was the first glimpse Essendon could be good this year, writes JAY CLARK.

Josh Green jumps on Joe Daniher. Picture: Michael Klein

THERE has been the pain, the torment and the wasted seasons.

But when the siren sounded on Saturday night on a famous Essendon victory, and tens of thousands of Bombers’ fans stood to applaud, we saw also saw the pure unbridled joy.

MATCH CENTRE: FULL STATS AND SUPERCOACH

LIVE BLOG: ‘YOU COULDN’T WRITE A BETTER SCRIPT’

This 25-point win over a patchy Hawthorn at the MCG will live long in players and fans’ memories for their flying start, for their courage to run late in the contest despite the full impact of cramp, and for the belief this must now give a club and its fan base, after four seasons in the wilderness.

Finals? The red and black army can now dare to dream. This was the first glimpse that Essendon could in fact be good enough this year.

Jobe Watson enjoys singing the song for the first time in 671 days. Picture: Michael Klein

From the first quarter, it was crystal clear the new Essendon would be a significantly improved version on the youngsters that won only three games last season.

Clearly, there was always going to be a charge of adrenaline with the Bombers’ suspended players back in the fold. And whether it was Orazio Fantasia’s sublime goal nous or Cale Hooker tugging his jumper after a clever early snap, the Bomber army were given compelling reasons to jump from their seats in an explosive opening.

But perhaps what we didn’t see coming from this much improved Essendon team was the cleanness of their disposal. And the boldness of their play.

Essendon turned into the middle and funnelled the ball up through the centre corridor at every opportunity, opening up the field for their forwards like a can of tomatoes.

If Joe Daniher has been frustrated by slow delivery last year, and being ganged-up on in the marking contest, this year he is clearly going to get a truckload more one-on-one marking opportunities, if the midfield delivery is going to continue to come in this quickly.

And it’s no one-man band. When this game was still in the balance early in the last quarter it was Hooker who outmarked James Frawley deep forward, reading a perfectly-weighted Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti pass beautifully.

Jarryd Roughead is mobbed after kicking his first goal in his comeback game. Picture: Michael Klein

Playmakers Brendon Goddard, Darcy Parish and Zach Merrett, in particular, showed they are going to flourish and hurt the opposition now they can work more on the outside around Dyson Heppell and Jobe Watson.

There were lesser lights, too. Mark Baguley impressed with his courage across half-back, debutant and No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath looked assured and selfless, and Travis Colyer took the wind out of Jaeger O’Meara’s sails after a golden pre-season in the brown and gold.

And swarming around Daniher were Fantasia and McDonald-Tipungwuti, whose sets of brightly coloured boots are going to fill up a swathe of highlight reels this season.

For a No.55 draft pick, Fantasia is looming as one of biggest bargains of recent years. He sharked his fourth goal reading the ball off-hands in the goal mouth scramble and then slammed the Sherrin on to his boot and over his shoulder. The flashy forward posed a constant threat.

Josh Green and Joe Daniher celebrate. Picture: Michael Klein

While Essendon fans were in overdrive, the Hawks have worries, and will indeed face a genuine fight to take their customary place in the finals this season. They are still learning to play together.

Onballers Tom Mitchell and Will Langford were excellent stepping in for Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell in the engine room, giving the Hawks the ascendancy in the stoppages throughout the bulk of the match.

But Tyrone Vickery missed some crucial set shot attempts in the third term and Cyril Rioli appeared hobbled, with heavy strapping around his left thigh. Isaac Smith started slowly and they seemed to miss the run of new Docker Brad Hill on the wing.

Remember, this is a new-look Hawthorn as well and the club is expecting some turbulence in the transition period. And it’s unclear whether will boast the same silken ball movement that has made them one of the greatest sides of the modern era.

Coach Alastair Clarkson went down to the boundary line in the third term after going spare in the coaches box, as Essendon surged ahead.

Heppell ran 100m to mark in the goalsquare and Daniher added a second major in as many minutes with a quick snap to steal all the momentum.

When McKernan lobbed one home from 55m near the boundary line, putting John Worfold’s men 10 points up heading into the last change, it was looking increasingly likely that the comeback story would be off to a dream start.

JAY CLARK’S VOTES
3. Dyson Heppell, 2. Zach Merrett, 1. Tom Mitchell

Essendon best:

Heppell, Merrett, McDonald-Tipingwuti, Goddard, Fantasia, Baguley

Hawthorn best:

Mitchell, Langford, O’Meara, McEvoy, Smith,

Originally published as Rejuvenated Essendon can dream of finals again after win against Hawthorn