By Andrew Wu
Essendon had their hearts broken in close to the cruellest manner possible after Dan Houston sank the Bombers with a long bomb after the siren in a thrilling contest at the MCG.
The Dons came within centimetres and seconds of pulling off what would have been their best win under Brad Scott and now find themselves teetering in the eight with difficult games to come against Adelaide, Geelong and Western Bulldogs in the next three weeks.
What was shaping to be an epic victory unravelled dramatically at the death when Houston marked Nic Martin’s clearing kick from a mad scramble deep in the Bombers’ defence with just seconds left on the clock, and converted from about 55 metres out.
Dan Houston salutes the crowd.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
A goal review was required to confirm Houston had pulled off a miracle, but it was quickly evident the vast majority of the 38,957 fans who braved a wet winter’s night would leave the MCG shattered by a four-point loss - Port’s 12th victory in a row.
The Bombers were on the wrong end of another improbable after-the-siren goal last year when Jamie Elliott kicked truly from 40 metres out on the boundary line.
“I wasn’t confident that he could kick that, but I knew if anyone could Dan’s a chance,” Port coach Ken Hinkley said of Houston’s winning goal.
There was a minute and 23 seconds left after Jye Caldwell kicked his second goal in the last term to put the Dons in front after they had trailed by 17 points entering time on.
The ball was at Essendon’s end with just 68 seconds remaining after Darcy Parish missed a snap, but Port were able to sweep the ball up the guts deep into their forward 50, and keep it in there after an insufficient intent call against Mason Redman.
Dons coach Brad Scott, though, was satisfied his players had kept their heads and carried out the plans for such situations.
As gut-wrenching as the loss will be for the Bombers, they should at least draw heart from how they took the game right up to one of the leading flag contenders. They beat Port in the contest, won the clearances, and matched their vaunted rivals for pressure.
Scott had not been able to address his players before he spoke at his post-match conference as they were required for drug testing, but his message to them would likely have been positive after a game in which they had the maturity to resolve issues mid-game.
“If they’re the best or second-best team in the comp, we’re in pretty good shape,” Scott said.
“We’re pleased that we can stay in the contest and keep fighting. It ebbed and flowed in terms of who had momentum. Clearly, we’re really disappointed not to come away with a win after getting ourselves in a winning position.”
For Port, this was a win of a team that truly believes they are in the premiership hunt. They dug deep in the last quarter to turn a game that looked to be slipping away - and have stars who step up when it counts.
It capped off a big week for Hinkley, who celebrated the arrival of another grandchild. Port have not lost since club great Warren Tredrea said Hinkley’s position was untenable after two losses in the first three rounds.
“There’s something going on at the moment for us - we’re believers in hanging in and it seems to work,” Hinkley said.
“It’s just remarkable what’s going on. I said to the boys in there, there’s some sort of story getting written at the moment, and for lots of reasons, and I’m a big believer in those reasons help you out when you need them and I thought we got some help today from above.”
Connor Rozee did not have the possessions he’d normally get, but still finished with 23 to go with three goals. Zak Butters will contend for votes on Brownlow night for his 25-possession match. Houston, having a career-best season, was close to best afield for his 32 touches and, of course, the winning goal. Lower-profile types like Kane Farrell and Dylan Williams both impressed in defence.
That joyous feeling: Port Adelaide players converge on the match-winner.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
The Dons were fortunate to still be in the game at the first change after Port dominated everywhere but the scoreboard.
Well beaten at the stoppage, the Dons were hemmed in their defensive half for much of the quarter. The warning bells would have been sounding in Brad Scott’s coaches’ box as Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall loomed large.
Dixon was particularly dangerous on the honest but undersized Jayden Laverde, but wasteful in front of goal. One set shot, a left-foot snap, from 30 metres failed to make the distance.
The Bombers’ spark came from an unlikely source in Andrew Phillips, who thrived against debutant Dante Visentini not only in the ruck contests but also around the ground.
Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish followed their big man’s lead, though the latter’s disposal let him down, missing a basic kick inside 50 and an even more straightforward shot at goal in the one passage.
More importantly for the Dons, they gained the ascendancy in general play by getting the game away from the contest. They also had a more even division of labour than Port, who were not helped by quiet performances from Jason Horne-Francis and Travis Boak.
The rain that arrived after half-time should have suited Port, but it was Essendon who relished the greasy conditions with their greater will.
Port were sloppy, as seen in the first play after the break when Visentini handballed to a stationary target after winning a free kick, turning what should have been a forward thrust for the visitors into a deep inside-50 entry for the Dons. Aliir Aliir, after a strong mark, then gifted a goal to Matt Guelfi with a clanger.
Weideman testing the faith
Brad Scott again stuck up for Sam Weideman after the first-season Bomber had another quiet night, albeit in conditions that did not suit key forwards. Good players make the most of their moments, even when things are against them - and Weideman missed his. With the chance to regain the lead for the Dons in the last term, Weideman fluffed a shot from 20 metres out with little angle to speak of. Scott, though, praised Weideman for his efforts as the second ruck, saying he won some crucial contests.
Last-minute chaos
There was drama on Port Adelaide’s bench at the first bounce after ruckman Scott Lycett failed a fitness test on his knee in the warm-up, minutes before the game. Lycett was Port’s second late withdrawal after Josh Sinn was replaced by Quinton Narkle. Youngster Visentini, from the Sandringham Dragons, was in the coaches’ box when he was told he would be making his debut. Needing to be properly strapped and warmed up, he did not enter the fray until about 18 minutes into the game. Visentini’s father made a late dash to the ground from his couch to watch his boy make a most unexpected debut.
ESSENDON 2.2 4.8 7.12 10.14 (74)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.7 5.8 6.9 11.12 (78)
GOALS
Essendon: Langford 3, Caldwell 2, Guelfi 2, Laverde, Martin, Stringer
Port Adelaide: Rozee 3, Dixon, Byrne-Jones, Butters, Farrell, Houston, Finlayson, Burton, Narkle
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Caldwell, Langford, Parish, Phillips.
Port Adelaide: Houston, Butters, Rozee, Williams, Farrell.
UMPIRES
Power, Hosking, Meredith, Findlay.
CROWD
38,957 at the MCG.
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