Port Adelaide hands Essendon a finals wake-up call
The formguide was thrown out the window after Essendon crashed to a heavy defeat against Port Adelaide that could have finals ramifications for the Bombers.
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Was it a false form line?
Essendon went into the Round 20 clash with Port Adelaide having won five straight and with a finals berth staring them in the face. Port Adelaide had lost three on the bounce.
The dream of an elusive September slot is still very much alive for the Bombers.
But in just over two hours the Power, the Jekyll and Hyde of the AFL, had delivered a sobering wake-up call.
Port’s stunning win, 19.12 (126) to 9.13 (67), over the seventh-placed Bombers might not cause John Worsfold to push the panic button just yet.
But the footy world, and especially those still doubting the Bombers after close-run wins over the likes of Gold Coast, is again raising its eyebrows.
Port was terrific, looking every bit the team that just six weeks ago knocked off the top-of-the-ladder Cats.
But it simply wasn’t Essendon’s day as the speedier, more-energetic Power showed the Marvel Stadium tenant a clean pair of heels.
Cale Hooker started and played forward but couldn’t get near it.
The Bombers’ characteristic run and flair off half-back was more sporadic than emphatic.
Heck, even Dylan Clarke roosted the footy 50m the wrong way — deep inside Port’s attacking 50 — in the final term.
That topped off a forgettable day for the sizeable home crowd.
The full cost of the loss might yet be felt. Was this the day the Bombers threw away a home final?
Asked what went wrong, Bombers coach John Worsfold said: “Quite a lot.”
“We were well off the level that we’ve been playing at,” he said.
“Mind you last week we were a bit off. But a lot further off this week.
“We got beaten around the ball — clearances, contested possession, ground balls, didn’t take our opportunity early in the game when we could have put some more heat on them … but it really came down to that third quarter.
“We fell away and didn’t match them at all.”
For Port, the competition’s great enigma, the convincing win further confounded their own.
Finals remain a possibility.
If only they could produce this week in, week out.
SLOW START BURNS AGAIN
Going in, Essendon hadn’t won a first term in any of their previous three wins.
By quarter-time, that unwanted streak hit a fourth week — and they were again playing catch-up.
The Bombers went inside 50 more times than Port in the opening 30 minutes but couldn’t take a mark inside the arc.
At the other end, Port rebounded to a wide, open front half and reaped the rewards.
You can be sure Worsfold will be having a hard look at his side’s pre-game routines.
GRAY IGNITES
Robbie Gray should be free to play next week but his damage at Marvel Stadium wasn’t restricted only to the scoreboard.
The electrifying Port forward was the most influential player on the ground as he gave John Worsfold and the Essendon box a major headache.
But it was Orazio Fantasia holding his head after a second-term incident fired up the Bombers and the mob.
Fantasia was grounded after he shepherded a chasing Gray, but as the Bomber started to get to his feet he copped some more treatment from the Port superstar.
This time a groggy Fantasia stayed down and then exchanged words with Gray as he was helped from the field.
A replay on the scoreboard incited the home crowd and gave the Bombers a better understanding of why their man was off.
Mason Redman couldn’t help himself, felling Gray just as Travis Boak was preparing to shoot from 45m. The Port veteran was marched to the goal line and banged through another one to make Essendon’s job that much tougher.
And this week, there would be no coming back.
THE BOW AND ARROW IS BACK
You’ve got to love youthful exuberance.
Xavier Duursma was the talk of the footy world a fortnight ago as some questioned the timing of an eye-catching goal celebration.
This time, with his team three goals clear, the impressive first-year runner again seized his moment in the spotlight.
After threading a banana from hard-up on the boundary line, Duursma seemed to sense the theatre as he paused, surveyed the sea of red and black in the stands, and brought out his now-trademark bow and arrow.
A fortnight earlier Ken Hinkley said he’d advise his rising star about the appropriateness of timing his celebration.
But as cameras panned to the coach the smile was wide.
“There it is … good boy,” Hinkley appeared to say.
BOMBERS FACE BIG CONCERN
The team sheets pre-game suggested it might be a problem area.
And the ruck battle was just that for the Bombers, who must be counting the days until Tom Bellchambers is out of the medical room.
Paddy Ryder was booed early by his old fans, and while he didn’t dominate he did have a significant impact.
The same can’t be said for Bomber Zac Clarke, who tried manfully as he was forced to go it alone against Ryder and Peter Ladhams.
But if the Bombers aren’t to make up the numbers in 2019, they need their main man back.
INJURIES FORCE RESHUFFLE
The pre-game loss of Shaun McKernan (illness) did thwart plans to play Hooker in defence.
Worsfold said the swingman would have again played in the back half but with Clarke forced to shoulder the ruck load, things changed.
Hooker had five marks but didn’t hit the scoreboard as Port looked far more potent transitioning from the back half.
“McKernan normally gives us a bit of back-up there,” Worsfold said.
“Bellchambers is working really hard to get back and available as soon as possible, but that’s still a few weeks away I’d guess.
“We’ve just got to back Zachy in and get McKernan out there. That helps with keeping guys in their positions
The in-game injuries to Darcy Parish — who didn’t return after a heavy bump forced him from the field in the second term — along with Aaron Francis (concussion test) and Adam Saad (tight hamstring) required some “juggling” but the Bombers failed to cope with a Power side with far more spring in its step.
SCOREBOARD
ESSENDON 2.4 5.7 8.10 9.13 (67)
PORT ADELAIDE 5.2 8.5 14.9 19.12 (126)
GOALS
Essendon: Fantasia 2, Snelling 2, Stringer 2, Shiel, Merrett, Francis
Port Adelaide: R.Gray 4, Marshall 3, Rozee 2, Houston 2, Amon, S.Gray, Sutcliffe, Butters, Boak, Duursma, Ryder, Powell-Pepper
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Shiel, Snelling, Stringer, Ambrose
Port Adelaide: R Gray, Houston, Duursma, Byrne-Jones, Rozee, Boak, Amon, Clurey
INJURIES
Essendon: McKernan (illness) replaced in selected side by Hartley, Parish (concussion)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stephens, Meredith, Williamson
Official crowd: 42,940 at Marvel Stadium
BEN BROAD’S VOTES
3 — R Gray (PA)
2 — D Houston (PA)
1 — X Duursma (PA)
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