‘Unstoppable’: Bombers star delivers absurd heroics against Suns

An Essendon star delivered a masterclass display on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne when his team needed him the most.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 26: Kyle Langford of the Bombers celebrates kicking a goal during the round two AFL match between Essendon Bombers and Gold Coast Suns at Marvel Stadium, on March 26, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Essendon needed a hero in front of goal — enter Kyle Langford, the makeshift forward who delivered in stunning fashion.

Langford was in devastating form in front of goal as he helped lead the Bombers over a gallant Gold Coast Suns outfit 16.12 (108) to 11.14 (80) under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

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Essendon lost Sam Weideman before the first bounce and were already missing Peter Wright and Jake Stringer, but their forward mix was too potent for the Suns as they broke away with five goals to one in the final quarter after neither side could be split at the final break.

The 26-year-old ended the contest with a career-high five-goals and shone bright in his role as the Bombers’ key target in front of goal.

Langford finished with six marks inside 50 as the Bombers flew home after falling behind by 14 points, the Bombers flipped the script in devastating fashion as they kicked nine of the final 11 goals of the match.

Can't see @essendonfc losing a game this season. Unstoppable@abcsport#AFLDonsSuns

— Tom Wildie (@tomwildie) March 26, 2023

Dons supporters heading to work tomorrow… #AFLDonsSunspic.twitter.com/WQZa3v7ZVt

— TAB (@tabcomau) March 26, 2023

Essendon’s midfielders came out on top of the Suns following a seesawing battle, where the Bombers won the first six centre clearances of the game but for periods could not stop the damaging work of Touk Miller and Matt Rowell around the stoppages.

Andrew McGrath’s speed was vital for the Bombers, with the vice-captain involved in important chains running from deep in defence to the other end of the ground.

Lachie Weller racked up 24 disposals on a wing in an impressive return from an ACL injury, but the Suns were found out in the final quarter as they ran out of the run and clever ball use from halfback that had helped them match it with the Bombers.

Gold Coast has an unfortunate knack of letting Sam Draper get up a full head of steam, and coach Stuart Dew would have been experiencing flashbacks when the Essendon big man chased a ball out the back of a pack into the forward pocket before turning on a dime and running full speed back towards the goal.

In scenes reminiscent of his famous 2022 Goal of the Year, the full-pelt Draper easily swatted away the first defender who tried to tackle him and looked like he was willing to take on more, before he handballed to Nic Martin to send him into an open goal.

The Bombers are flying up. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Both sides contributed to a head-scratching moment midway through the second term when Jye Caldwell abruptly came to a halt in possession of the ball just 10m out from Essendon’s goal.

Caldwell thought the umpire had paid holding the ball against McPherson, but no decision had been made.

The Suns defenders around him stopped as well, with more than half a dozen players stopping to look at the umpire before they were told to play on.

The win sets up a mouth-watering contest next Saturday night for the Bombers against St Kilda with both teams entering unbeaten. It’s the first time the sides have squared off with unbeaten records since 1992.

– with Ed Bourke, NCA Newswire