Essendon v Western Bulldogs: Bombers made to suffer in chase for finals security
Ugly Essendon’s finals hopes are hanging in the balance after the Bombers surrendered 21 unanswered goals in their clash with the Western Bulldogs, turning the blowtorch back on their coach John Worsfold.
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Forget the query on whether Essendon’s brand can stand up to the searing heat of September, the Bombers’ current pressure rating is as frigid as the arctic snap that froze the state this weekend.
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Was it a ‘coach killer’? Only time will tell, but it might have delivered a body blow to the club’s aspirations of playing finals.
After kicking the first goal of the game 21 seconds into the game, the Bombers not only gave up the next 21 goals (yes, that’s not a misprint) in what was one of the most lamentable performances of Worsfold’s tenure.
Essendon has been struck down with injuries to key players — as other clubs have — but manpower wasn’t the biggest issue in their 104-point mauling from the Western Bulldogs.
Last night’s debacle was much more about a lack of work ethic, desire and accountability.
As Leigh Montagna said on Triple M as the avalanche of Bulldogs goals rolled on, “This is a team that is meant to play finals … this isn’t the Gold Coast Suns. The blowtorch will definitely be on Essendon.”
His partner on air, Nathan Brown, was just as brutal: “If you were a Bombers’ supporter, I reckon it would drive you to drink.”
With games against Fremantle in Perth and Collingwood at the MCG to come, the Bombers could conceivably close out the season with four losses in a row.
The coach was a relatively composed figure under pressure, but must have been seething inside.
The Bulldogs are now only one game behind Essendon — with far superior percentage — with matches to come against Greater Western Sydney (in Sydney) and Adelaide (in Ballarat).
Their finals ambitions are alive; Essendon’s hopes are teetering on the brink,
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THE GOAL STREAK
A hungry Geelong reeled off 23 goals in a row last year to sunk Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium — a record that some figured might never be broken.
But the Bulldogs gave it an almighty shake last night.
They kicked six in a row in the first term after Essendon’s opening-minute goal, four to nil in the second term, and six more in a row in the third term
Five more came in the first half of the final term, as the Bulldogs took their consecutive tally to 21 goals in a row to the 20-minute of the last quarter.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti broke the Essendon goal drought when he finally nailed a major 21 minutes into the final term, prompting boos from the Bulldogs’ cheersquad and some Bronx cheers from the Essendon fans who hadn’t gone home.
BEST MIDFIELD OF THE NEXT DECADE?
Marcus Bontempelli is a Rolls Royce, but he’s surrounded by a veritable showcase of prestige vehicles.
It begs the question of where the Bulldogs midfield sits in the engine room echelon right now.
Josh Dunkley is a possession winning machine. Since his more permanent switch to the middle of the ground, he has racked up almost cricket scores in SuperCoach rankings with influence on the Bulldogs’ return to form critical.
Jack Macrae pushed his way off Bombers stagger Dylan Clarke with relative ease, Lachie Hunter is in fine form, and Bontempelli is … well, he’s still Bontempelli.
DYSON UNDER DURESS
You can’t blame Dyson Heppell for last night’s debacle. He gave his all under duress.
The Essendon captain is carrying a genetic foot and it won’t get better before potential surgery at the end of the season.
Bombers footy boss Dan Richardson insisted on 3AW Heppell can’t do any further damage, admitting it was a “delicate” situation.
But he bristled at suggestions there was anything sinister in the recruitment of Richmond assistant coach Blake Caracella to support Worsfold next year.
“It is purely being seen as a strong assistant (to Worsfold) who can help us next year,” Richardson said.
SCOREBOARD
ESSENDON 1.1 1.3 1.7 4.9 (33)
d
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.3 10.3 16.6 21.11 (137)
GOALS
Bombers: Baguley 2, Shiel, McDonald-Tipungwuti,
Bulldogs: Dickson 3, McLean 3, Dale 3, Schache 3, Hayes 2, Naughton 2, B.Smith, Dunkley, Johannisen, Lloyd, Macrae
GLENN MCFARLANE’S BEST
Bombers: Heppell, Redman, Merrett
Bulldogs: Dunkley, Macrae, Bontempelli, Hunter, Lipinski, McLean, Naughton, Smith, English, Suckling, Dale
GLENN MCFARLANE’S VOTES
3 — Josh Dunkley (WB)
2 — Jack Macrae (WB)
1 — Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
INJURIES
Bombers: Nil
Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Margetts, Stephens, Hosking
Official crowd: 41,816 at Marvel Stadium
DOGS ‘CROOK’ OVER LATE DONS’ LET-OFF
—Tim Michell
The response from the Western Bulldogs’ defenders said it all.
After ruthlessly dismantling Essendon, booting 21 consecutive goals on their way to a 104-point trouncing, the Bulldogs’ defence was visibly frustrated when Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked the Bombers’ second major 22 minutes into the last quarter.
Essendon would record the last three goals of the match, denying Western Bulldogs the greatest winning margin in their history.
But it was the disappointment etched on the Bulldogs’ faces when McDonald-Tipungwuti goaled which told a story of a team hungry to capitalise on its late finals surge.
“They were pretty crook on themselves for letting the last three goals through and that’s a good sign,” coach Luke Beveridge said.
“You mention the word ruthless. It’s a very difficult thing to be ruthless in any sport. We don’t talk about that.
“I think West Coast are quite ruthless at the moment.
“They’re a very ruthless team. They’re a strong team. They set a fine example in all parts of the game and we are aspiring to move up there.
“We kept our eyes on what was important and managed to do it. I think we kicked the next 21 goals after the first one and it was tremendous.”
Beveridge said the Bulldogs had been realistic about the importance of the clash against the seventh-placed Bombers to their finals prospects.
Lose, and it was officially curtains for 2019.
After such a commanding victory, Dogs supporters will be daring to dream.
The Bulldogs lifted their percentage from 95.8 to 102.2 and Essendon’s crashed from 100.1 to 93.8.
That swing leaves the Bombers precariously placed as they cling to a top-eight spot but presents a huge boost to Western Bulldogs’ finals prospects.
Beveridge said the magnitude of the victory would count for little if his side failed to beat GWS Giants and Adelaide in the last two rounds.
“You know it’s there but I’m not sure the percentage is going to matter,” he said.
“Ultimately, I think for us to get in, two teams need to falter.
“I just think we need to win both games and rely on teams to lose.
“I’m not sure percentage is going to help us at the end of the day. I think we need to win both.
“As much as it’s there, you can make an argument it’s possibly an eight-point type of a game for us, because it does get our noses up there a bit percentage wise.
“But in the end circumstances will tell us whether or not it mattered at all.”
HERE. WE. GO!
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 10, 2019
Showtime at @marvelstadiumau 🎬#AFLDonsDogs #MightyWest pic.twitter.com/So8JcmQSaI
Only person who’s had a good couple of weeks @essendonfc is the hair colorist 👱#theblondeleadingtheblonde #AFLDonsDogs
— Nick Giannopoulos (@NikGiannopoulos) August 10, 2019
Last week was bad.
— Joshua Kay (@js_kay) August 10, 2019
But this is worsfold.#AFLDonsDogs
*DJ Khaled voice*
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) August 10, 2019
Another one. 🶠by 50 points.#AFLDonsDogs #MightyWest
Dylan Shiel leading the Dons B&F voting at half time in tonight’s game! First minute goal the only highlight! #AFLDonsDogs
— Matthew Sullivan (@MattSull67) August 10, 2019
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