By Peter Ryan
Essendon’s Massimo D’Ambrosio won’t want to hear this but he has mastered the sub role.
He became the match winner against North Melbourne when he used his piercing left foot to kick a goal with a little more than two minutes left.
Massimo D’Ambrosio and Sam Draper (left) celebrate the matchwinning goal Credit: AFL Photos
“It came off the boot nice. I was pretty happy with that,” D’Ambrosio said.
D’Ambrosio has been the Bombers’ sub in the past three rounds, using his pace and long left foot to trouble tired opponents. On Sunday, he was in the right spot at the right time when Andrew Phillips flicked out a handball to give him a chance to score amid the chaos.
It followed five disposals as the sub in the last gasp win over Richmond in round 10 and the eight disposals as they ran away from West Coast.
“[Being the sub] has its moments but you just have to stay in the moment as best you can and [senior coach] Brad [Scott] is talking about the sub as being someone who has to play their role right and have an impact,” D’Ambrosio said.
“I just wanted to stay in the moment and I thought I did that well.”
His reward, of course, was to run laps of Marvel Stadium under fitness coach Sean Murphy’s eye long after 40,488 spectators had vacated the venue to ensure his body remained primed if he is selected to play against Carlton at the MCG for the first time.
D’Ambrosio had only just joined the Bombers via the mid-season draft when they played the Blues last season in front of 65,440 supporters.
Such is his gratitude for the opportunity he was reflecting with his parents Louie and Nadia about his rise as another mid-season draft unfolded last week.
“It’s crazy it has actually been a year already. It feels like it was yesterday,” D’Ambrosio said.
On Sunday, the winning Bombers also included other mid-season draft selections Jye Menzie and Will Snelling, players who have established positions in the line-up as pressure forwards. The club chose Perth’s Jaiden Hunter at last Wednesday’s call.
Meanwhile, D’Ambrosio is just doing what is asked of him, confident that his time will come, having run on to the wing on Sunday to replace Dylan Shiel.
“I will find somewhere where I will fit for the team…I want to fit into the team where I can contribute week in and week out. Once I find that I will get a bit of continuity into my game. Hopefully I can just keep building from here,” D’Ambrosio said.
At every turn, like a left footer trying to get back on his left, D’Ambrosio tried to divert the attention back to the team’s win but the grin appeared when he pushed to relay his thrill.
“They got around me the boys. It’s a good feeling when everyone gets around you. I have always dreamt of kicking the winner on the big stage,” D’Ambrosio said.
How Kangaroos’ hearts were broken
D’Ambrosio’s goal broke North Melbourne hearts as the Kangaroos looked to end a nine-game losing streak.
Essendon hung on to win by six points but the ’Roos showed they have a midfield group with big futures in a brilliant game under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
Zach Merrett handballs for the Bombers in their nailbiting win over the Kangaroos.Credit: Getty Images
Two pressure acts from Jake Stringer when scores were level – as he smothered the ball and then laid a tackle – gave D’Ambrosio the chance to throw the ball onto his boot to kick the matchwinner.
Despite the loss, North have plenty to be excited about, with Will Phillips backing up his recent form with a best-on-ground performance, while George Wardlaw, who plays like he was raised in an abattoir, attacking every contest like a rodeo rider. Harry Sheezel was strong also as the Kangaroos hit back after Essendon’s fast start.
North Melbourne caretaker coach Brett Ratten said the team had to learn to win those tight games, with some mistakes late providing them with opportunities to learn. Although Jack Ziebell’s kick out of the bounds on the full was costly, Ratten did not individualise – saying it was more about little errors relating to how they connected out on the ground.
“The effort was full of merit,” Ratten said. “The part that was frustrating was the way we started the game.”
That start was inspired by Essendon skipper Zach Merrett. It’s hard to remember a more dominant quarter from an individual this season than Merrett’s opening stanza. At the first break he had 16 disposals, five clearances, two goals and six contested possessions as the Bombers jumped to a 20-point lead.
Sam Draper celebrates a goalCredit: Getty Images
By contrast, North Melbourne lost one of their co-captains Jy Simpkin at the first break due to concussion after he clashed heads with the Bombers’ Sam Durham.
The scene was set for an easy victory to the Bombers, who had taken half a dozen marks inside 50 in the first 20 minutes and looked as comfortable as a cat on the couch at the long break.
However, North Melbourne sent veteran Liam Shiels to Merrett, and he was silenced. With the Kangaroos suddenly a chance to win the ball out of the centre, their confidence lifted.
Dyson Heppell on the run for the Bombers.Credit: AFL Photos
Nick Larkey provided a good option inside 50 and the midfield teamed together well to win the territory battle. They eventually scored too, chipping away to frustrate Essendon who lost their flow without Merrett dominating.
The Kangaroos won the second quarter for just the second time this season, keeping the Bombers goalless to draw within two points at half-time. Unfortunately, experienced Kangaroo Hugh Greenwood, who was excellent in the first half, copped an accidental knee to the head from Mason Redman and was ruled out at half-time too.
It meant they were down two men to start the second half. When Merrett won the clearance it looked as though the Bombers would reassert themselves, but it wasn’t to be as Cam Zurhaar bobbed up to goal and give the Kangaroos the lead for the first time.
Essendon coach Brad Scott would say later it panned out as he expected, with the Bombers light on experience too. “Every game’s going to be a slog,” Scott said.
North Melbourne were winning key contests, particularly in defence and their midfield was less predictable. The improving Phillips began the quarter well and when he kicked the Kangaroos’ fifth unanswered goal the underdogs were playing like a team tired of losing.
Tarryn Thomas – in his first game back after being suspended for serious behavioural issues amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards woman – added their sixth goal on the trot.
The 16-point deficit suddenly awoke the Bombers and Archie Perkins hit back with Essendon’s first goal since the first quarter, with Jake Stringer following quickly. Matt Guelfi then kicked a banana goal after a brilliant solo effort to regain the lead in less than 10 minutes.
Although Essendon’s response was helped by North Melbourne’s inability to rotate with just three on the bench, it was mainly because they dialled up the pressure and Kyle Langford – who is in the top 10 for marks inside 50 – took his fifth mark inside the scoring zone to kick his third goal.
Again, the Bombers looked to breathe easily with a handy 11-point lead, but this was not a game to do that as the Kangaroos had a sniff. They kicked the first two goals of the final quarter to regain the lead.
By this time Dylan Shiel had hurt his ankle and Jy Menzie copped a knee to the head from Jack Ziebell – an accident, but one the match review officer might look at – so it was a matter of will as scores were level after 15 minutes.
Neither team lacked that will, but Essendon were in front in a head-bobbing finish when the siren went.
Scott praised Stringer’s team-oriented focus as well as Merrett’s ability to adjust and contribute while Shiels sat on him. “He [Stringer] along with Zach, when we talk about the system and the way we want to play...they are epitomising that,” Scott said. “I am not interested in reputations or the past. I’m interested in what evidence you put before us right here and right now, and right now the evidence with Jake’s really good.”
Last year’s best and fairest winner Peter Wright is a big chance to play his first game for the Bombers after a shoulder reconstruction during pre-season. Scott said they may remain conservative but there is little reason why Wright can’t return for the massive match against Carlton at the MCG. Midfielder Dylan Shiel was subbed out with a sore ankle, but Scott said he will play next week and Menzie was not concussed. He had a gash to the head.
North Melbourne will be without Simpkin and Greenwood next week against the Giants as they enter the concussion protocols. Midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke is also unlikely to play next week as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Essendon: 6.2 6.6 12.7 16.9 (105)
North Melbourne: 3.0 6.4 10.8 15.9 (99)
GOALS
Essendon: Langford 4, Merrett 2, Perkins 2, Martin 2, Guelfi 2, Stringer, Menzie, Draper, D’Ambrosio.
North Melbourne: Zurhaar 4, Larkey 2, Coleman-Jones 2, Scott, Goldstein, McDonald, Phillips, Thomas, Tucker, Stephenson
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Ridley, Martin, Caldwell, Guelfi.
North Melbourne: Phillips, McKay, Wardlaw, Tucker, McDonald, Shiels.
VOTES
Will Phillips (North Melbourne) 8
Ben McKay (North Melbourne) 8
Zach Merrett (Essendon) 7
George Wardlaw (North Melbourne) 7
Jordan Ridley (Essendon) 7
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.