AFL Round 18 Melbourne v Essendon: All the analysis and news as Bombers drop back to the pack

Toughness and smarts have been question marks at Essendon for the best past of two decades – and Saturday night didn’t answer any of those queries, writes JOSH BARNES.

Josh Barnes

@Josh__Barnes

4 min read

July 14, 2024 - 12:24PM

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Essendon had second place on the ladder in its hands when the ball bounced to start Saturday night’s game.

And the wet Sherrin slipped right on through as the Bombers just weren’t up for the contest against a brilliant and battle hardened Melbourne team.

There could hardly be a better time to meet and beat the Demons – with Max Gawn watching from the coaches box and Christian Petracca watching from the couch.

But it was the Bombers who stood back and didn’t take the chance, bringing Brad Scott’s team right back into the pack in the race for the top eight.

Kysaiah Pickett and Koltyn Tholstrup celebrate a goal against the Bombers. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

To start a fourth-quarter avalanche, Jake Melksham’s goal early in the fourth quarter told the tale.

Essendon had hands on the ball first but couldn’t find a way forward only for Melbourne jumpers to close the space, force two errors from Ben McKay and allow Melksham a long bomb that slid through.

It was simple stuff from Melbourne – pressure the opponent and get the ball forward.

It was poor stuff from Essendon – inviting the heat and wilting when it came.

The Bombers hit back late in the final term, but it was just too late.

After fading badly in wet conditions in the second half against Geelong two weeks ago, Essendon put the same record on and pressed play.

Much of this season has been two or three steps forward and one back for the Bombers, but this was a giant leap backwards.

“We had some defensive lapses on a night that just called for pretty simple footy,” Scott said.

“We got beaten by what we knew, which is the first time I’ve said that in a long time – poor execution, didn’t adapt to the conditions very well in the first quarter even though the game was going OK for us.

“I thought Melbourne were quicker to the ground ball than we were around contest, even though it was a pretty convincing win in pressure, on the numbers, it didn’t look like that live. “It was all too little, too late.”

They had Clayton Oliver under the thumb at quarter time, when he had just one disposal in an inexperienced midfield, but watched as he ran loose afterwards, finishing with 25 touches.

Oliver was ably supported by Trent Rivers (29 disposals) in the middle.

Like a plodder of a racehorse praying for rain, whenever the heavens opened and the track got heavy at the MCG, the Demons chugged ahead.

It was Melbourne players who were willing to put their heads over the ball, beeline the contest and surge the game forward.

The conditions were so tough, even Zach Merrett sprayed two kicks forward in the second term.

It was Essendon players who fumbled, made the wrong position and didn’t take metreage at the right times.

“Number one, we got to the contest and won the ball. The method we wanted to move the ball inside 50 given the conditions, we just didn’t adhere to, which was the most disappointing part for me,” Scott said.

“That should be pretty simple, and we just didn’t do it. It’s the first time I think I can say that in 18 months.”

Nic Martin booted four in the loss. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The finer parts of footy have held Melbourne up when it has mattered in recent Septembers as the Dees struggled to find enough class under big pressure.

But there have been no real questions about the toughness of Simon Goodwin’s team and the ability of its defence to set up the ground and clog an opponent.

This was a seriously good win, with a number of younger players – Caleb Windsor, Daniel Turner, and Judd McVee – standing tall when needed.

Steven May was in vintage imperial form denying Melbourne again and again and for a period in the middle quarters, Essendon managed just two goals from 30 inside-50s.

“I loved how we defended for a large part of the game. Our contest game was strong all the way up until the last 10 minutes,” Goodwin said.

“You combine that with the younger players continuing to evolve in our footy club and some of the leaders stepping up as well … it was a good night for our footy club.

“I hope our supporters leave the MCG tonight proud of their group, because they played the right way.”

And he had an equal at the other end in the third quarter, with McKay’s intercept game at a truly elite level.

Toughness and smarts have been a question at Essendon for most of the past two decades and Saturday night didn’t answer any of those queries.

Clayton Oliver finished with 25 disposals. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Thankfully for Essendon, the fixture should help them right the ship, with a home clash against Adelaide on Friday night followed by a meeting with St Kilda.

For Melbourne, a serious test beckons against Fremantle in Perth, a side that smashed the Dees 92 points only last month.

Dons fans have been wondering not about making finals but winning finals as their team surged in recent weeks.

Now the thoughts of those wearing the sash will return to trying to make the top eight, not what happens beyond that.

It was wetter than most finals on Saturday night but the Bombers were handed a warning that their game may not be up to scratch when it really matters.

“We’ve spent a bit of time on wet weather footy. It hasn’t been a forte for us last year, so we spent some time working on that, and I thought we adapted to the conditions really well,” Goodwin said.

“Not winning a lot of hit-outs was challenging, but I thought the midfield group did a great job enabling us to get some territory from that part of the game.”