Essendon young guns making big impact amid surprise finals challenge
From sloppy to sublime with a dash of luck, Essendon’s win over Richmond had it all and two young guns are having a major impact.
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Essendon coach Ash Cavigan has credited young paceman Musa Hussain and opener Isaac Willett has having the biggest impact on the club this season.
Hussain and Willett played major roles in the Bombers’ seven-wicket win over Richmond on Saturday as they battle for a place in the Premier Cricket top eight.
Hussain finished with remarkable figures of 3-3, bowling four maidens in five overs, before Willett scored 53 to anchor a successful chase at Central Reserve.
Cavigan said the pair’s growth this season had been a joy to watch.
“Musa’s performances this year, I could say have nearly had the greatest impact on our team, which is amazing for a young guy,” he said.
“He’s been a surprise packet for us this year, the way he’s come into the team and performed at the level – it’s been great to watch.
“He and Isaac Willett – Isaac’s form and ability to cement himself in the team – the way they’ve played their roles has been massive.
“It just reminds you there’s always someone in your group that given the opportunity and circumstance they can step up and deliver and it’s really changed the dynamic of our team.”
After a “sloppy start” with the ball James O’Donnell (2-28, 10 wides) and Hussain tore through the Richmond top order, reducing the Tigers to 5-46.
O’Donnell removed Jake Fraser-McGurk for a third-ball duck with a floating yorker that fooled Victoria young gun.
Wil Parker (28) launched a rescue mission but luck was on Essendon’s side when the state contracted all-rounder smashed a sweep straight into Farzan Chowna’s helmet at short leg, the ball ballooning up and caught by Connor Poulton.
Young Wil Parker was batting well for Richmond in @vicpremcricket yesterday. Then this happened against Essendon. pic.twitter.com/WNViAfsl9R
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) February 27, 2022
Liam Bowe finished with 3-35, moving to the top of the competition’s wicket-taker charts, and the Tigers were all out 132.
“We didn’t start great to be honest … (but) it’s funny, it can change quick, we went from looking sloppy to having them 5-40-odd,” Cavigan said.
“We talked about it after the game, from a bowling point of view, you can bowl some ordinary balls but then you bowl a good one, get a wicket, and it changes the game.
“Young James O’Donnell was a good example of that, a young bowler trying to find his game at the level and fill a big responsibility opening the bowling.
“You can bowl some bad ones and then you can bowl a good ball and get a guy like Jake Fraser-McGurk out early in the game.
“Full credit to the bowling group, after a sloppy start they really pulled it together, and then we had a little bit of luck as well.
“Young Wil Parker was batting really well, really well actually, and for him the way to get out the way he did (was harsh).”
Willett and Bombers skipper James Seymour (42) made a strong start, combining for their third 100-run opening stand of the campaign.
Parker threatened to turn the game again when he took three quick wickets, triggering a 3-3 collapse, before Michael Hill (20 not out) and Ryan Stingel (five not out) finished the job.
The victory brings Essendon within six points of Richmond in sixth and just a point ahead of Geelong in ninth.
The Bombers weren’t expected to challenge for finals this season as they rebuilt after the loss of Aaron Ayre, Matt Doric and Donovan Toohey.
With two games left in the regular season – against Ringwood and Melbourne University – the team isn’t losing focus.
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“It’s going to be pretty tight, we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing,” Cavigan said.
“Of course you want to make (finals) but at the moment it’s more about the team we’re building and the way we’re playing our cricket.
“We’ve purposely tried not to focus on results because we knew we were going to be young, it was about getting the right group of guys together.
“It’s great to be in the mix and hopefully the boys keep enjoying their cricket and we sneak in.”
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