AFL 2023: Kyle Langford five-goal haul propels Essendon to win over Gold Coast

Essendon was without two talls up forward against the Suns, and an unlikely hero stepped up to the plate. Can he help solve their forward woes?

Kyle Langford celebrates a goal. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images

A career best five-goal haul to Kyle Langford has propelled the Bombers to a stirring 28-point win without their three main forward targets.

Essendon lost Sam Weideman before the first bounce and were already missing Peter Wright and Jake Stringer, but their forward mix was too potent for the Suns as they broke away with five goals to one in the final quarter after neither side could be split at the final break.

Makeshift full-forward Langford proved the difference between the two sides as he booted three second half goals, proving too quick for his opponent Charlie Ballard on the lead and kicking with deadly accuracy.

Essendon’s midfielders came out on top of the Suns following a seesawing battle, where the Bombers won the first six centre clearances of the game but for periods could not stop the damaging work of Touk Miller and Matt Rowell around the stoppages.

Langford starred up forward for the Bombers. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Andrew McGrath’s speed was vital for the Bombers, with the vice-captain involved in important chains running from deep in defence to the other end of the ground.

Lachie Weller racked up 24 disposals on a wing in an impressive return from an ACL injury, but the Suns were found out in the final quarter as they ran out of the run and clever ball use from halfback that had helped them match it with the Bombers.

SUNS STILL CAN’T TACKLE HIM

Gold Coast has an unfortunate knack of letting Sam Draper get up a full head of steam, and coach Stuart Dew would have been experiencing flashbacks when the Essendon big man chased a ball out the back of a pack into the forward pocket before turning on a dime and running full speed back towards the goal.

In scenes reminiscent of his famous 2022 Goal of the Year, the full-pelt Draper easily swatted away the first defender who tried to tackle him and looked like he was willing to take on more, before he handballed to Nic Martin to send him into an open goal.

Sam Draper and Nic Martin celebrate a goal. Pic: Michael Klein

BIG TICK FOR MACPHERSON SWITCH

A move to halfback is bringing out the best of Darcy Macpherson, who spent three seasons on the fringe of the Gold Coast side while trying to nail down a spot as a pressure forward.

The 25-year-old made the shift to defence in the final three rounds of last season and now looks to have found a home, impressing with his speed and decision-making as he had 16 kicks for 437m gained.

Gold Coast tried to offload Macpherson in a salary dump deal at the end of 2021 but will now be extremely relieved he stayed, as he is already a crucial cog in the back six.

Darcy Macpherson’s move down back is looking like a success for the Suns. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)

PLAY TO THE WHISTLE

Both sides contributed to a head-scratching moment midway through the second term when Jye Caldwell abruptly came to a halt in possession of the ball just 10m out from Essendon’s goal.

Caldwell thought the umpire had paid holding the ball against McPherson, but no decision had been made.

The Suns defenders around him stopped as well, with more than half a dozen players stopping to look at the umpire before they were told to play on.

Similar scenes occurred twice in Thursday night’s match between Geelong and Carlton – do the players need to be reminded who is in charge?

BOMBERS 3.4, 7.6, 11.6, 16.12 (108)

SUNS 3.2, 6.8, 10.12, 11.14 (80)

BOURKE’S BEST Bombers: McGrath, Setterfield, Shiel, Langford, Merrett, Parish. Suns: Miller, Rowell, Anderson, Weller, Macpherson, Lukosius.

GOALS Bombers: Langford 5, Shiel 2, Menzie 2, Guelfi 2, Davey, Perkins, Martin, Phillips, Setterfield. Suns: Casboult 2, King 2, Lukosius, Hollands, Jeffrey, Ainsworth, Fiorini, Witts, Sexton.

UMPIRES Browne, Bryce, Dore, Fleer.

INJURIES Bombers: Zerk-Thatcher (ankle). Suns: None.

CROWD 32,913 at Marvel Stadium

BOURKE’S VOTES

3 W. Setterfield (Ess)

2 D. Shiel (Ess)

1 A. McGrath (Ess)

STRINGER MAKES SUCCESSFUL RETURN AT VFL LEVEL

— Chris Cavanagh

Essendon star Jake Stringer has put his hand up to face St Kilda next weekend after making a successful return from injury through the VFL.

Stringer was lively across three quarters for Essendon’s VFL side in its clash against Greater Western Sydney at Tullamarine on Sunday afternoon.

He split his time between midfield and forward roles and gathered 22 disposals as well as snapping a nice left-foot goal in the opening quarter.

Stringer was team-first with his ball use and was involved in multiple score involvements in addition to his own goal.

He also won some clearances through the midfield.

It was the 28-year-old’s first match since suffering a hamstring setback at training last month.

Bombers coach Brad Scott had said last week that he wanted to ensure Stringer had ticked all the necessary boxes before making an AFL return.

Stringer celebrates a goal. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“He will attract some attention when he comes back in,” Scott said.

“I just don’t think it’s the right thing to do to bring a player of his calibre when he’s not 100 per cent and (has had) a really good prep.”

Rebounding defender Nick Hind was a standout across halfback for the Bombers with a game-high 41 disposals and 11 marks, while young midfielder Ben Hobbs also impressed with 34 disposals and two goals.

LATE CHANGE: BOMBERS LOSE ANOTHER TALL

– Dan Batten

Essendon has been dealt another blow to its key forward stocks with trade recruit Sam Weideman a late withdrawal for its clash with Gold Coast.

The 195cm forward was in a moon boot earlier this week after he stubbed his toe in his two-goal display against Hawthorn in round one.

Brad Scott said on Friday that the Bombers would give him every chance to face the Suns, but the Bombers have opted to replace him with crafty small Massimo D’Ambrosio.

D’Ambrosio has been named as part of a mosquito fleet forward line with 19-game Bomber Harry Jones as the main spearhead.

Forward Matt Guelfi has been named as the substitute.