Paul Roos blasts Essendon’s final two minutes in loss to Sydney Swans

PAUL Roos has blasted Essendon’s dramatic effort in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, saying the Bombers’ final minute and a half was “as bad as you’ll see”.

Dejected Bomber Joe Daniher can only lament what might have been as the Swans celebrate victory. Picture. Phil Hillyard

PAUL Roos has blasted Essendon in the wake of the Sydney Swans’ incredible come-from-behind win over the Bombers.

Essendon looked assured of victory when they led by 19 points late in the match before the Swans stormed home to pinch an epic win — with Gary Rohan booting the winner after the siren.

ACCESS DENIED: ‘ROAMING BRIAN’ BLASTS SWANS

But Roos says the Swans should never have got within touching distance, highlighting some of the key errors made by John Worsfold’s men.

“That’s as bad a last minute and a half of footy as you’ll see ... they had chances to control the ball and they just butchered it,” Roos said on Fox Footy after the match.

“You could pick the holes out of that.”

Wouldn't mind watching this again... Enjoy the @Tissot last two minutes. #AFLSwansDons pic.twitter.com/jf3bJvyKrt

— AFL (@AFL) June 23, 2017

Watching replayed footage of the final, frantic finale to the Friday night epic, here’s some of the key moments where the experts reckon the Bombers fell short.

THE KEY MOMENTS: And what they said

Joe Daniher signalled to teammates to move towards the boundary but he kicks to a long bomb to a contest. Pic: Channel 7

JOE DANIHER’S KICK

The Essendon star went to defence to lend aerial support. His huge grab, in shades of Leo Barry’s 2005 grand final mark, looked like steadying things for the Bombers but Roos was critical of the kick.

“You’ve got to think Sydney cannot have manned up Essendon because Essendon has men behind the ball,” Roos said.

“That kick’s got to go wider ... at worst it should have been a boundary throw-in from Daniher’s kick.”

Buddy marks.

Buddy plays on. Pics: Channel 7

LETTING BUDDY PLAY ON

Daniher’s kick fell into the arms of Sydney intercept star Callum Mills at half back, the youngster handballing to big man Sam Naismith who found Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin just outside the 50.

Roos said stopping Buddy was a tough task, but more had to be done to let him get on the move and kick what turned out to be a crucial point.

“Hold Franklin, don’t let him play on, that milks another 15 seconds off the clock making him go back and take his kick.”

Papley smothers Goddard’s kick. Pic: Channel 7

THE GODDARD KICK-IN/PAPLEY SMOTHER

Sydney forward Tom Papley pulled off a tremendous smother when Essendon veteran Brendon Goddard kicked to himself from the kick-out.

“This is why they pay him the big bucks. In situations like this, get us over the line, find a way,” David King said of Goddard post-game on Fox Footy.

“What about just kicking it from full back? What’s he really gaining from playing on there?

“The five metres (he gained from playing on), to me, is irrelevant.”

Goddard’s former teammate Adam Cooney said he thinks Bombers officials “would’ve put the pretzels back in the cupboard before Brendon got it into the rooms”, such would have been the star’s anger with himself.

“It is a huge mistake. He probably would’ve been better kicking the ball to himself then kicking off two steps, (but) he took three or four too many. He almost overcomitted, he could’ve stepped around Papley and got another 20 or 30m on the kick,” Cooney told Fox Sports News’ Gameday Live.

There’s lots of Bombers back, but space in front of Gary Rohan.

THE FINAL PLAY

From the resulting boundary throw-in after Papley’s smother went across the line, Roos was critical of the Bombers’ set-up. Almost every Essendon player is in the defensive 50 but somehow Gary Rohan and Marty Gleeson are one-out in the goalsquare with open space between them in the contest. David King said Orazio Fantasia “fell asleep”, allowing Dane Rampe to wobble a kick to the goal line where Rohan took a superb mark.

“Someone has to be in front of Gary Rohan, you can’t leave his man one-out in the goalsquare,” Roos said.