The Blues were held goalless in the first term and never worked their way back into the match, failing to win any quarter to go down by 69-points.
Daniher opened the match with confidence and nailed the first two majors, although the Blues defence held the young forward and Scott Gumbleton to just three more goals for the game.
Carlton listed backman Matthew Watson took several intercept marks in the defensive fifty, while his Blues teammates Sam Rowe and Nick Duigan combined well to account for the Bombers’ twin towers.
While contested marks were a rarity in the Bombers forward line, efforts to bring the ball to ground were invaluable as Dell’Ollio and Alwyn Davey were able to snag opportunistic crumbing goals.
Carlton big man Shaun Hampson limped off the ground mid-way through the first stanza, damaging the dynamics of the Blues forward line.
Kyle Hardingham and Ariel Steinberg were able to mop up in defence in his absence, building a six goal lead going into half time for Essendon after kicking five goals to none in the first.
The intensity lifted in the third term as both sides struggled to break the shackles, exemplified by David Hille and Blues big man Robert Warnock who were having a tiresome dual in the ruck.
Matthew Firman finished with 28 disposals for the match at half back and combined with skipper Ben Duscher to clear the ball well in the third term, while Nick O’Brien put his hand up for senior selection with 27 disposals and 11 marks through the midfield and across half forward.
Two majors to Carlton draftee Troy Menzel brought the Blues to life as the Blues defensive trio continued to intercept the Bombers lofted forward thrusts, conceding only two more points for the term to trail by just 37-points at the last interval.
Essendon veteran Nathan Lovett-Murray finished the game with a classy 26 disposals and put the nail in the Blues coffin early in the last quarter.
Dell’Ollio kicked his third early after Lovett-Murray opened his account minutes into the term, going on to kick his second before the six-minute mark to rule out a Blues comeback.
Davey, Dell’Ollio and Daniher extended the lead further in a disappointing day for the Blues who weren’t able to go forward on enough occasions to win a game of football, putting their star defenders under immense pressure.
Hille capped off his resilient effort in the ruck with a strong mark and goal to snap late in the match, snapping his sides two game losing streak.
Leroy Jetta was also impressive for the Bombers with 30 possessions, and Daniher’s four goals and four marks from 11 touches was admirable after contesting with multiple opponents in the air throughout the match.
The victory has kept the Bombers in finals contention, however, they face a tough opposition in VFL ladder-leaders Casey after the upcoming bye.
Essendon 18.10.118
Northern Blues 6.13.49
Goals: Daniher 4, Dell’Olio 4, Lovett-Murray 2, Davey 2, Gumbleton, Coghlan, Hille, Hunter, Duscher, Dalgeish.
Best: Dalgleish, Jetta, O’Brien, Hardingham, Hille, Kavanagh, Firman.
