Essendon defender called out over ugly act on downed Lions player

An Essendon defender has come under fire from one legend of the game over an inexcusable act he did on his opponent on Saturday.

Jake Kelly kicks Eric Hipwood

The Lions have celebrated Joe Daniher’s 200th AFL appearance with a 20-point win over Essendon that ensured Brisbane will host an elimination clash in the first week of next month’s finals series.

However, accuracy remains a problem for the Lions, whose failure to convert several chances on Saturday night at the Gabba led to the scoreline of 11.20 (87) to 10.7 (67) being tighter than what Brisbane would have liked after leading by 47 points late in the third-quarter.

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In his milestone match, former Bombers star Daniher had a mixed night against his old club, but again showed enough to prove he will be a key part of Brisbane’s September finals’ assault.

However, teammate Lachie Neale was brilliant with 40 disposals, including a goal.

For the fast-finishing Bombers, who kicked the game’s final five goals, their sixth loss in seven matches brought to a frustrating end what at one stage seemed a season destined to include finals football after they were still perched in the top four in Round 18.

The defeat also wasn’t the farewell to football retiring Bombers great Dyson Heppell was hoping for in his 253rd and final appearance.

Having been recalled to the Essendon line-up, 32-year-old Heppell – whose performance included 34 possessions ­- received a pleasant surprise before the game when he was greeted by his brother Jamin, who returned to Australia for the first time in two years to watch his sibling’s last dance of a career that started in 2011.

The Lions got back on track. (Photo by Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

— with NCA NewsWire’s Marco Monteverde

The 3-2-1 ...

3. ‘KICKED HIM!’ BOMBER’S BIZARRE ACT RAISES EYEBROWS

Early in the third quarter, Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood nearly clunked a screamer over Essendon defender Jake Kelly.

Hipwood couldn’t quite hang onto it, and upon dismounting, Kelly — who clearly wasn’t overly impressed with his opponent’s mark attempt — gave the Brisbane forward a kick for his troubles!

“Jake Kelly just turned around and kicked him when he was on the ground!” exclaimed Seven commentator Luke Hodge in disbelief.

“He took exception to it!” added fellow caller Luke Darcy, laughing.

Hodge added: “The reaction from Jake Kelly … he’s turned around and kicked him! Mate, you’ve almost been postered, and you turn around and do that!”

The Match Review Officer will almost certainly deliver Kelly a sanction for the bizarre act, but in all likelihood, it will be a fine, considering the minimal impact.

Regardless, the rogue act certainly raised eyebrows.

Jake Kelly kicks Eric Hipwood after he failed to complete a mark.

2. LIONS LOCK IN GABBA FINAL, FIND VALUABLE ‘EXTRA LAYER’

The Lions were the more switched-on outfit from the outset on Saturday night, building on their half-time advantage to win by 20 points at The Gabba — after a slightly nervy ending.

It started from the first bounce, with the home side accruing five more inside-50s but holding just a 12-point lead at the first change.

“It’s what we expected, we expected Brisbane to come out (strongly),” Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon told Fox Footy.

The Lions quickly added to their advantage in the second term, beginning to really damage the visitors with their threatening turnover profile — they kicked six goals from Essendon turnovers to the Bombers’ two in the first half.

They were led by burgeoning midfielder Will Ashcroft, who is quietly building strongly into the season after returning from a knee reconstruction — and perfect timing with a crucial finals campaign upcoming.

“I’ve really loved the work of Will Ashcroft in the first half tonight,” Western Bulldogs icon Brad Johnson told Fox Footy at half-time.

“(He’s had) 19 disposals … His return to this Brisbane line-up has been a steady build. Round 17 he was back into the line-up, and the last couple of weeks he has gone 29 (disposals), 26, and 19 at half-time (tonight).

“So, all of a sudden, that extra layer that he is providing and effectiveness around the footy is really starting to take shape for the Lions.”

The Lions locked in their finals spot. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

While the 20-year-old Ashcroft was asserting his influence between the arcs, a pre-eminent Brisbane forward was damaging inside the forward arc.

“(Charlie Cameron’s) positioning has been really good … He’s had a bit more space; I think their ball movement has allowed those one-on-one opportunities, and then he uses his pace and skill to get to the right place at the right time,” Johnson said of the Lions’ livewire.

Prior to tonight, Cameron hadn’t kicked three goals in a game since Round 10.

Hawthorn legend Dermott Brereton added: “This is the deepest forward he’s played for the most time in the last month or so. I reckon ‘Fages’ has come into this one and gone ‘let’s run Charlie into a bit of form’.”

Meantime, two-time league best-and-fairest Lachie Neale continued his pursuit of a third Brownlow Medal, notching 40 disposals at 83 per cent efficiency, 19 contested possessions, seven clearances, seven inside-50s and a goal — and likely three more votes.

Brisbane went goalless in the final term, allowing Essendon five unanswered goals to give cause for some concern, but it was too little too late from an Essendon perspective.

It starts and ends with Lachie Neale.

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In a negative on a largely positive night for the Lions, the kicking woes that have proved costly for them in recent weeks were again evident.

Among the early culprits were Eric Hipwood, Kai Lohmann and Josh Dunkley, who produced a shocker on the stroke of quarter-time.

While the kick was on a slight angle, Dunkley — who was heavily involved in the first quarter with 11 possessions — was left embarrassed by his shank which went out of bounds on the full.

Accuracy problems continued throughout the match, and it’s an issue the Lions must address before the start of their finals campaign.

Perhaps with criticism of not feeding teammates in good positions enough in their one-point loss to Collingwood last weekend still on their minds, the Lions also at times went from one extreme to the other in the first quarter, with their unselfishness sometimes leading to a loss of possession.

However, searching for teammates in better positions did lead to a well-crafted goal from Logan Morris, in a build-up that included clever work Lohmann and Charlie Cameron, who rather than going for goal themselves, took the right options with well-placed kicks to unmarked players.

1. ‘THE WORST TURNOVERS’: SLOPPY DONS FALL SHORT IN ICON’S GLITTERING FAREWELL

A spirited final term effort somewhat masked a disappointing display by Essendon in Dyson Heppell’s final AFL game.

After sticking around in the first quarter, the Bombers were picked apart both off turnover and by Brisbane’s devastating between-the-arcs transition.

“They’ve just been turning the ball over in their back half, and that’s giving the Lions better looks at goal than what they are getting in their half,” Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton told Fox Footy at quarter-time.

The Bombers logged six defensive-half turnovers in the first quarter as opposed to Brisbane’s tidier two.

“Brisbane is number-one at scoring from the defensive half, so if you’re going to turn it over in your defensive half, you’re playing into their hands at both ends,” Dixon said of Essendon’s untidiness.

“They’ve got a little bit to think about.”

Jake Kelly wasn't a big fan of that marking attempt from Hipwood.

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Essendon’s overly ambitious offensive approach was evident to Brereton, who at half-time lamented “some of the worst turnovers” he had seen.

“They’re not going to play finals, so it’s as if they’re saying ‘well, let’s play a game style which might take us there next year; let’s have a go at banging the ball into the corridor’,” Brereton told Fox Footy’s coverage.

“Some of the worst turnovers in the backline — not just the kicks, but I’m talking about the shot selection.

“Whoever told McKay that he can pinpoint the ball to somebody in the corridor 25 metres away when he has three opposition players around him … that, to me, says this (isn’t) engaged at the moment.

“There’s some stuff they’re just getting fundamentally wrong … They don’t want to do it. It’s going against their natural grain, and it’s getting seized upon by Brisbane.

“If it continues this way, I think Brisbane will and they drop the hammer, they’ll kick 15 in the second half.”

Instead, the Bombers fought back in the final quarter, booting five unanswered majors in the final term — but it was too little too late as they still fell by 20 points.

Zach Merrett (37 disposals, five inside-50s and a goal), Kyle Langford (25 disposals, 10 marks, five inside-50s and three goals) and the retiring Heppell (34 possessions, five marks, four inside-50s) were integral to Essendon’s cause.

Originally published as Essendon defender called out over ugly act on downed Lions player