Essendon’s season sinks further into despair as Carlton claims first win of season

IF LAST week was quicksand, this is a sinkhole for the Bombers. Essendon has lost four in a row and seriously lost its way. Carlton, meanwhile, has two young stars to build a future around.

Carlton’s Ed Curnow celebrates his goal in the fourth quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

IF LAST week was quicksand, this is a sinkhole for the Bombers.

Bereft of confidence, this team – that was supposed to contend for finals, it was said pre-season – fell 13 points short of the Blues.

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And its season is officially on life support.

Carlton might have had its worst start to a season in history as it continues its rebuilding process, but the Blues’ first win finally came in an ugly affair between traditional rivals and in the traditional timeslot at the home of football.

But this one was more about Essendon, which has simply lost its way.

Sam Kerridge and Ed Curnow make sure Jake Stringer isn’t going anywhere. Picture: Michael Klein

Adam Cooney lashed his former club on Friday, declaring it to be playing “spiritless” and “lifeless” football.

And on Saturday, that trend continued.

This was supposed to be their way out of the mire, but the losing streak extended to four straight and questions are being asked ahead of a horror three weeks to come (Geelong, GWS, Richmond).

One Essendon fan flung a scarf from the top level of the MCG’s Northern Stand as the final siren blared. That said it all.

Where to from here?

Ed Curnow did a number on Bombers ballwinner Zach Merrett, making a case for the value of taggers – still – despite many declaring the role dead and buried.

Jed Lamb hardly left Brendon Goddard alone early in a targeted attack of annoyance – and it appeared to work, with the veteran midfielder stopped in his tracks with all the pushing and shoving of a mosh pit.

Charlie Curnow celebrates a big goal. Picture: Michael Klein

Sam Kerridge outmarks Brendon Goddard in the last quarter. Picture: Michael Klein

But it was the Bombers’ delivery that let them down the most.

Forwards clearly lacked confidence hunting the ball – and why wouldn’t they, with the way it was often sent inside 50?

Long, high, sometimes without what appeared to even be a glance.

Forwards looked tentative to try something different, their creativity stifled, while Jake Stringer’s approach – that yielded 14 disposals and one behind – left plenty of questions lingering.

Orazio Fantasia was a welcome addition in his return from injury, but couldn’t do it on his own.

After eight weeks, the Bombers are still yet to win a third quarter. Worsfold joked that “some players will have nightmares, they’ll hear sirens, wake up in sweats”. But this nightmare is recurring and no matter what they say, cannot be ignored.

THe Blues celebrate their first win in 267 days. Picture: Michael Klein

Blues young gun Charlie Curnow has been lauded – there’s nothing new there. But when the scruff of the game’s neck was there to be grabbed in the third quarter, Curnow gripped and clenched his fist.

And both were clenched in celebration as he booted a huge goal from 50m to give the Blues an 11-point lead shortly before three-quarter time before exhibiting more game-winning influence in the final term.

He is a serious player and his spirit is indicative of the future at Ikon Park.

Matthew Kreuzer showed exactly what is required from a ruck. And as for Patrick Cripps, well, there was more that makes the greats sit back in awe.

“He’s a freak,” Wayne Carey declared at one stage.

While that duo send hearts racing, the Bombers are in need of football’s equivalent of a defibrillator.

There is a pulse. But boy, it is faint.

BEST

CARLTON: Cripps, C Curnow, Kreuzer, E Curnow, Simpson, Thomas

ESSENDON: Zaharakis, Smith, Heppell, Hooker, McKenna

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