The Wrap Up | R13 V Essendon Bombers
MATCH SUMMARY:
It was the Bombers 150 year anniversary, and they chose the perfect opponent to take on for this great milestone. Carlton vs Essendon at the MCG, Friday night, 60 thousand plus in attendance. And after the pomp and pageantry that the Dons put on for the pre-game show, it was sure to be a fiery affair as these two heated rivals go to battle one last time.
After the scary huddle that Dyson Heppell and co were able to conjure up in the moments before the bounce, it was surprising to see Carlton walk the ball out of defensive 50 with relative ease and hit Jack Martin on the chest for the first goal of the game 40 seconds in. The Blues then got the second after another transition from defensive 50 found Matt Owies in an acre of space, as he hit Harry McKay on the lead, who went back with his trademark kick and secured the Blues their second. The Blues pilled on a third not long after, as Owies won a free kick tucked up deep in the Dom Sheed pocket. He lined up and hit it to absolute perfection, giving the Blues the perfect start. The Bombers did get back into the game through goals from Harry Jones, Sam Draper and a long bomb from Dylan Shiel to give them the lead. However, Matt Cottrell hit Charlie Curnow lace out on the siren, as he went back and gave the Blues the lead back heading into the first change.
The Blues continued their good form as Harry McKay got his second for the day, but it was quickly cancelled out by a scrappy soccer from Harry Jones to get the Bombers back within a goal. The Blues then got two in a row, first from their spiritual leader Jack Silvagni. Before their actual leader, the skipper Patrick Cripps earned a free-kick in the goals square and snapped through his first goal. Draper got his second through a flying shot at goal before Cottrell scrapped through his first of the day. Harry McKay got his third and the Blues took a 24-point leading heading into the half.
The Blues needed to start the second half like a house on fire after two slightly disappointing last games in this quarter, and when Curnow got his second and Zac Fisher snapped through his first, it was all but game over. Ben Hobbs snuck in a goal for the Bombers, but another defensive transition goal, this time for Matt Owies, who kicked truly for his second of the night. Heppell got a cheap 50-metre penalty and scrapped through the last goal for the quarter, cutting the margin to 28 points heading into the last change.
To put it bluntly, the Bombers cowardly way of playing led to one of the worst quarters of footy in a long time. No goals, no highlights, the Blues saw out a 26-point win against a poor Essendon side.
The Story From The Match:
Gate Crashers:
Happy Birthday, Essendon! Carlton has developed a clear habit of spoiling the party for many clubs, whether it be Collingwood or Essendon, you don’t want to play Carlton when it’s your anniversary. We turn up to the occasion, as Essendon found out on Friday night. For all the pomp and celebration that they had in the prolonged pre-amble to the game, the first 3 goals to start the games, that's how Carlton responded. We do our talking on the field, so if any club is having a birthday time soon, give Carlton a ring, they'll make it a glorious night.
The Best
Sam Docherty, Nic Newman, Patrick Cripps, Matt Kennedy, Adam Saad, Sam Walsh, Harry McKay.
Final Scores
Essendon: 3.2 (20), 5.4 (32), 7.8 (50), 7.12 (54)
Carlton: 4.1 (25), 9.4 (58), 12.6 (78), 12.8 (80)
