Essendon knock off North Melbourne as Conor McKenna cops COVID-19 taunt
Conor McKenna copped a COVID-19 themed taunt in his return to the game as Essendon got the better of North Melbourne.
North Melbourne’s Luke McDonald has taunted Essendon’s Conor McKenna by covering his face during a spiteful clash last night.
McKenna was playing his first game for the season after testing positive to the coronavirus last month which forced his club into lockdown.
During a push and shove between the two teams McDonald covered his face in front of McKenna as the two exchanged words.
The confrontation was captured by Channel 7 cameras with social media melting down about McDonald’s gesture.
McKenna had the last laugh, playing a pivotal role in Essendon’s 14-point win over the Kangaroos.
Luke McDonald covered his face in front of Conor McKenna 😷 pic.twitter.com/6oZvvHZDbB
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 11, 2020
Day of highlights. What were yours??
— Campbell brown (@Browndogg_30x) July 11, 2020
Mystery shot 🇠💨 @NicNat 📱 brilliant @ryanpapenhuyzen try ðŸƒâ€â™‚ï¸âš¡ï¸
Luke McDonald sledge 😂😂😂
Luke McDonald is an A grade tosser https://t.co/YvicVYedeZ
— Maddy (@madsssss__) July 11, 2020
ZAHARAKIS LEADS DONS TO TRIUMPH OVER ROOS
The jungle drums were beating loud around David Zaharakis during the week.
Unfortunately for the Bombers veteran there was good reason given the 30-year-old touched the ball just two times against Collingwood and had averaged just nine touches per game this season.
But the Essendon hierarchy stuck fat with their man and Zaharakis repaid them in spades by playing a starring role in his side‘s fourth win of the season.
On a greasy night at Metricon Stadium where goals were difficult to come by, Zaharakis kicked three from 20 touches to continue his club‘s torment of North Melbourne.
The Kangaroos have now lost five straight against their arch rivals but more importantly this was their fourth loss in a row this season.
Apart from ruckman Todd Goldstein‘s domination, there wasn’t much to like about Rhyce Shaw’s team who struggled without midfield general Ben Cunnington, skipper Jack Ziebell and Jed Anderson who was a late withdrawal.
Zaharakis wasn‘t the only Bomber to enjoy a “comeback” game with Irishman Connor McKenna impressing in his return to AFL football after a tumultuous off-season.
McKenna slotted into halfback and bounced around for 18 possessions.
TIPPA ON FIRE
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s amazing journey has been celebrated by many except North Melbourne fans.
Every club seems to have a player that without fail comes back to haunt them and for the Roos it‘s the Essendon livewire.
In Round 19 last year he kicked the winning goal – his fourth of the night – in the final 30 seconds.
This time around he was again clearly the most dangerous and dynamic player on the ground in the first half with his skills shining out on a night where so many struggled with the conditions.
McDonald-Tipungwuti had 12 possessions and a goal in the first half with his forward pressure also setting up teammate Will Snelling for an important late goal in the third quarter
MCDONALD CLAIMS ANOTHER SCALP
Luke McDonald‘s reputation as a tagger continues to be enhanced with Dylan Shiel his latest scalp.
Shiel was best-on-ground last week against Collingwood but he was taken out of action by McDonald who has shone since switching from the backline to a run-with role.
Five touches each was the sum of the battle at halftime with the Bombers playmaker dealing with a leg issue which delayed his return in the third quarter.
Shiel finished with just 12 touches and an anxious 24 hours given he will come under scrutiny for a front-on bump on North youngster Curtis Taylor which forced him off the field in the third term.
While the move was a win for North, there were a number of Shiel‘s teammates willing to take up the slack including youngster Darcy Parish who had 14 contested possessions from his 20 touches and Andrew McGrath (25 disposals).
BROWN’S LEAN SPELL CONTINUES
Ben Brown was the hero for North in that Round 19 clash last year.
He took 12 marks and kicked six goals but unfortunately the Kangaroos spearhead is nowhere near that form at the moment.
After six rounds he only has 7 goals with his only major last night coming from one metre out after his opponent Cale Hooker fell over.
The Roos tried something different to help Brown with rarely used ruckman Tom Campbell brought in to play alongside him but the dewy conditions didn‘t help the twin towers.
Saturday’s results
Fremantle 12.7 (79) def. St Kilda 11.7 (73)
West Coast 10.7 (67) def. Adelaide 5.4 (34)
Melbourne 12.8 (80) def. Gold Coast 9.9 (63)
Essendon 9.13 (67) def. North Melbourne 7.11 (53)
The Herald Sun
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