Essendon moves back into the top 8 with win over Gold Coast Suns
THE Bombers got the four points they needed but left some valuable percentage points at Metricon Stadium against an improved Gold Coast Suns.
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ESSENDON put themselves back into the eight but were denied a much needed percentage booster by poor conversion and an improved defensive effort by the Suns.
The Bombers had a 71-31 inside 50 advantage but a gallant Suns defence, led by a superb captains performance from Steven May kept the margin to 33 points.
The 12.18 (90) to 9.3 (57) result in front of 16, 817 at Metricon Stadium put the Bombers back into the eight.
GAME RECAP: HOW THE BOMBERS TOPPLED THE SUNS
However they are locked in a three-way battle with Melbourne and West Coast for the final two finals berths.
They need to win again next week against Fremantle and either find a way to boost their percentage or rely on their rivals losing.
Melbourne play the Brisbane Lions on Sunday and Collingwood next week.
West Coast, who lost to GWS on Saturday, host Adelaide next week.
The Bombers were heavy favourites last night and with a similar percentage to West Coast would have hoped to cash in with a big win.
They dominated possession and had clearly superior skills to the sloppy Suns but were met by a vastly improved defensive effort from Gold Coast.
Dean Solomon has said from the day he took over from sacked coach Rodney Eade that he would focus on how his side played without the footy.
They started well against Brisbane in his first game in charge, jumping out to a 22 point lead early in the second quarter, but could not sustain it.
When given space in the second half the fleet footed Lions cut them apart and ran away 58 point winners.
Solomon said this week extending that effort for four quarters was a priority.
He got his wish.
At three quarter time the margin was just ten points to the Bombers and the Suns were in with a chance.
However the weight of possession eventually took its toll and the Bombers were able to blow the game apart in the final term.
David Zaharakis got plenty of the footy for the Bombers and Brendon Goddard was another good player and Josh Begley made an impressive debut with two goals and three score assists.
May led a committed Suns defence. Adam Saad kept Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti to a solitary goal in an absorbing battle and May comprehensively beat Joe Daniher.
The last time the young Bomber was held goalless was by Sydney in Round 7 last year and he appeared destined for a repeat when he had a doughnut next to his name at three quarter time.
A free kick, which was passionately argued against by the ultra-competitive May, even though he had clearly infringed, got him off the mark.
May was not his usual reliable self with his kicking, uncustomary turning the ball over out of defence on several occasions.
But his defensive work was excellent. He sweated on Daniher’s every move but was also able to get across and crash into other marking contests.
Originally published as Essendon moves back into the top 8 with win over Gold Coast Suns
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