That's a wrap from Marvel Stadium, scroll down to recap a huge day for the Bombers and follow SuperFooty for all your footy scores and news across the Easter weekend.
Essendon blitzes North Melbourne on Good Friday to set up Anzac Day epic
Essendon famously displayed the 'Speed Kills' message on their jumpers in the 1993 and 2000 premierships. A blast-from-the-past sponsorship could be in order as they buck the boring footy trend and set up a mouth-watering Anzac Day clash against Collingwood.
Essendon famously displayed the 'Speed Kills' message on their jumpers through a successful period which included the 1993 and 2000 premierships.
Judging on today's blistering Good Friday win over a listless and now under-the-pump North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium, it might be time for the Bombers to lock into a blast-from-the-past sponsorship deal with the Transport Accident Commission.
For while speed on the roads is rightly frowned upon, particularly on the Easter long weekend; on the football field, acceleration can make a massive difference.
The Bombers had it in spades.
RECAP ALL TODAY'S ACTION IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW
In contrast, the Kangaroos looked totally devoid of confidence and energy, which must have frustrated the hell out of Brad Scott as much as it did the fans. Their season already appears shot at 1-4, with the heat certain to be turned up on Arden St this week.
In a season in which scoring has been reduced to a trickle and coaching initiatives have lacked spark, the Bombers are bucking the trend. And it might just bring about that long-awaited, elusive next finals win.
The convincing 58-point win - which came off the back of a midfield dominant display from Dylan Shiel, Zach Merrett and Dyson Heppell and four goals from Orazio Fantasia - sets up a mouth-watering Anzac Day clash against Collingwood on Thursday.
ROOS LOSE
North Melbourne fans were challenged to turn up - thankfully they did - but, metaphorically at least, it seemed as if the players didn't.
Now the heat will come on the Kangaroos to retain their Good Friday fixture for a fourth successive year in 2020, despite the crowd of 48,278 being a record for the day.
The Roos supporters were filthy with what happened, and past greats were just as frustrated.
Dual Kangaroos premiership player Corey McKernan tweeted: "For a fierce @NMFCOfficial person to watch this served up on a day that we fought for and a time slot we used to own is hard to watch. When does the time come the club decides to DO something rather than accept what is being dished up and we are expected to swallow."
Today was a significant crowd increase from last year's Kangaroos-Saints game (33,966) and pushed beyond the Roos-Dogs clash (42,814) in 2017.
Both clubs did a superb job of selling the game during the week. It's just a pity the Roos couldn't follow that up during the game, and their lack of intensity and tackling pressure remains a mystery.
SECOND-TERM DOMINANCE
Essendon's midfield brigade has copped its fair share of criticism in recent seasons, but their performance today, and specifically in the second term, showed how effective they can be.
Although they led on the scoreboard at quarter-time by 10 points, the Bombers were trailing 1-4 in the centre clearances.
Fast forward an hour, and an eight-to-one centre clearance quarter transformed the game.
Shiel had a massive amount to do with that, pushing more than 400m gained in half an hour, taking his halftime tally to a whooping 540m. He ended a total of 866m, while Merrett had 359m and Heppell 511m.
The trio were all on 18 touches by halftime as the margin jumped out to 36 points. Game over.
JOE'S BACK
It's understood North Melbourne wasn't totally surprised when news broke early today that Joe Daniher was going to be a late inclusion.
Given the big Bomber wasn't in the 25 named - including emergencies - Essendon can expect a fine of up to $20,000 coming from AFL House.
Let's hope the bean-counters at AFL HQ do the right thing and don't put the money into consolidated revenue, but instead making it a late contribution to the Royal Children's Hospital Appeal. Anything less just wouldn't seem right.
Daniher finished with two goals, including a monster 65m roost in the final term.
Glenn McFarlane's votes: 3 Dylan Shiel, 2 Zach Merrett, 1 Dyson Heppell
BEST
ESSENDON: Shiel, Merrett, Heppell, Fantasia, McGrath, Brown, Saad, Hurley, Guelfi.
NORTH MELBOURNE: Dumont, Atley, Anderson, Macmillan, Cunnington, Polec, Pittard.
WORSFOLD DEFENDS LATE DANIHER MOVE
Essendon coach John Worsfold says he had little choice but to bring Joe Daniher into the Bombers’ squad for today's Good Friday clash with North Melbourne after fellow big man Zac Clarke pulled out late just hours before the game.
Essendon faces a substantial fine from the AFL over the late change, with Daniher having not been listed in the club’s broader squad as an emergency.
Worsfold explained Clarke hurt his calf at training on Tuesday and phoned club medical staff this morning saying his calf was “really sore, it’s sore to walk on”.
Clarke attended the club’s Tullamarine headquarters before being officially ruled out of the clash just after 10am.
Daniher had been slated to play VFL on Saturday but was instead thrust into the AFL line-up and kicked two goals in his first match since Round 7 last year.
“I thought he played his part for us,” Worsfold said of Daniher.
“He came in to play as a target forward and a little bit of ruck work and I was really pleased with the way he got through that.”
Midfielder David Zaharakis also failed a fitness test this morning but Worsfold said he was “really confident” he would be fit to take on Collingwood on Anzac Day after having an infected cut on his knee that disrupted his training this week.
Devon Smith, who was rested for the clash with the Kangaroos, is also set to return for the blockbuster clash against the Magpies after training well yesterday.
Worsfold said he was proud of the way his side has responded since being “shell-shocked” by Greater Western Sydney in Round 1, the Bombers now having won three games on the trot against Melbourne, Brisbane and North Melbourne and scored more than 100 points in each.
“It’s a credit to everyone for the way they stayed focused on what we were really about,” Worsfold said.
Chris Cavanagh
Recap all today's action and drama in the blog below
Updates
Joe Daniher gets through the game unscathed and reveals after the match he was training with the VFL side this morning when he got a call from John Worsfold to say he was a late in. Picture: Michael Klein
Full time: Bombers by 58
Final score: Essendon 17.14 (116) d North Melbourne 7.16 (58)
Bombers move up to fifth on the ladder with a huge win. They've totally turned it around after two terrible games to start the season. North in all sorts.
Official crowd: 48,278
Brutal … but hard to argue
Will Brad Scott feel the heat?
North currently sitting second-last on the ladder with a percentage of 66.7
North Melbourne has kicked 0.7 from set shots (and 5.16 for the match).
STAT ALERT
North Melbourne has kicked 0.7 from set shots (and 5.16 for the match).
Joe Daniher goes loooooong
How's this effort from inside the centre square?!
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