VFL 2018: Port Melbourne claims five-point win over Essendon in remarkable finish

PORT Melbourne kept its top-four hopes ticking with a five-point win over a hard-finishing Essendon in a VFL thriller at North Port Oval.

THE last minute was a blur. Danny Younan will tell you that.

With Port Melbourne clinging to a six-point lead against Essendon late in the final term at North Port Oval on Saturday, the Dons took the ball in their backline and speared it through the middle.

CLASSIC MELBOURNE FOOTY GROUNDS

SAM COLLINS PUSHING FOR SECOND AFL CHANCE AT WERRIBEE

Jackson Merrett received it and passed to Younan.

He marked from about 25m out, pretty much straight in front, and chose to play on. Port skipper Jordan Lisle was in pursuit but was never going to catch him.

But, to his despair and the astonishment of the crowd, Younan’s kick from about 15m hit the post. The siren went soon after. And so what was almost certainly going to be a drawn match ended with a five-point victory for Port Melbourne, 12.10 (82) to 11.11 (77), keeping on the boil its hopes of a top-four finish.

Essendon speedster Nick Hind on the charge.

Poor Younan. Pinging around the forward line like a pinball, he’d been an excellent player for the Dons, kicking three goals to take him to 30 for the season. When the siren went he dropped his head and put his hands to his face; Essendon skipper Heath Hocking was quick to console him.

It had been quite a match. With Matthew Leuenberger and Jayden Laverde arriving late (they were presumably at the MCG acting as emergencies for the AFL team), the Bombers started it with three players on the bench. But, kicking into a breeze to the Williamstown Rd end of the ground, they peeled off the first four goals, the last of them from Younan when he played on from a free kick and nailed a 45m shot.

“Wake up Port!’’ came the cry from a Borough supporter in front of the Norm Goss grandstand.

For the next 60 minutes the hosts were roused, registering four goals to none in the second quarter and four to three in the third.

Port’s Guy Dickson and Bomber Matthew Leuenberger in a ruck contest.

They moved the ball better than Essendon, often through the corridor, and with pressure hounded the Bombers into mistakes.

There were some highlights-package Port moments too. In the third quarter Blake Pearson hoofed the ball out of mid-air and through the goals, a spectacular effort that will put him in goal-of-the-year contention. It was Jack Steven all over. A bit later ruckman Lachie Waddell took a fantastic mark on the wing, and when he kicked the ball on teammate Guy Dickson snaffled a strong grab too.

DANNY YOUNAN ENJOYING CAREER-BEST VFL SEASON

NICK HIND - THE PLUMBER WHOSE AFL CAREER IS NO PIPEDREAM

In the same term Port’s first-gamer Tom O’Sullivan took a star turn. Yes, Tom O’Sullivan. The former Oakleigh Charger, the son of Kyneton president Karen O’Sullivan, joined Borough vice-captain Tom O’Sullivan in the team and was the 2000th player to represent the club at senior level. He made an impression by catching Jake Long cold and steering through a goal from 35m.

Port’s lead got out to 28 points with Pearson’s strike, but Essendon fought back with goals from Jordan Houlahan and Alex Boyse before three-quarter time.

And it kept pushing despite Lisle, marking close to goal, slotting a goal for Port early in the final quarter.

Laverde made a tight set-shot and Trent Mynott converted a more straightforward chance. And then Michael Hartley’s booming kick-out resulted in Josh Green nailing a goal on the run that cut Port’s lead to six points at the 26-minute mark.

A gripping finish unfolded. Port had the ball deep in its forward line but first-gamer O’Sullivan couldn’t score. Then came the Younan miss, the little dasher’s kick hitting the post low as Lisle trailed behind.

Borough coach Gary Ayres rouses his troops.

The four points were vital to the Borough, who went into the match seventh on the ladder at 8-6.

They were boosted by the return of premiership defender Damian Mascitti for his first match of the season, and it was a reassuring sight to see him darting out of defence. Waddell came into the team for his first appearance since Round 4.

But Anthony Anastasio suffered a hamstring strain.

After the match Port coach Gary Ayres spared a thought for Younan.

“Amazing end to the game, wasn’t it?’’ he said.

“Essendon come screaming down the corridor, Danny Younan gets it, plays on, hits the post. Tough situation for him. He’s a really good player. But a little bit before that Tommy O’Sullivan could have iced it for us. That’s footy.’’

The Dons (7-8) not only lost the match, they lost the emerging Jordan Ridley to an ankle injury in the first quarter. He was in a moon boot at half time.

Essendon gave a VFL debut to tall forward Edyn Sibbald, a 22-year-old from St Bernards, and he showed impressive agility and skills.

Fellow first-year VFL players Joe Harrison and Jamieson Sheahan did their bit too.

Port newcomer Tom O'Sullivan (left) with vice-captain Tom O'Sullivan. Picture: Jenny Tserkezidis