ESSENDON lost the game but won universal respect when it went down to the Western Bulldogs, 19.14 (128) to 14.14 (98), in a pulsating Telstra Dome clash.
Leading by 10 points at the final change, having trailed by 26 at quarter time, Essendon’s charge bravely ended in the final term as injury and the Dogs conspired to take control.
Having worked so hard to rest the momentum off the Dogs after a tardy start, the Bombers were severely restricted in the final term when Sam Lonergan and Mark McVeigh, who to that point had been best on the ground, limped from the ground nursing torn hamstrings.
Two men down, and without the necessary rotations required to run out the game, the Dogs kicked six goals to none in the final term to maintain their unbeaten record in 2008.
Daniel Cross, Ryan Griffen, Jason Akermanis and Adam Cooney lifted when it counted most to lead the Dogs out of trouble and to a hard-earned victory against a side playing with the passion and commitment not seen for some time at Bomberland.
The Bulldogs could not have scripted a better start. Mitch Hahn kicked a freak goal 33 seconds in, while two minutes later, Griffen added another after he burst through the 50-metre arc to set the Bombers back on their heels.
The run, intensity and precise disposal that was such a feature of the Dogs’ round three win over St Kilda had seemingly carried over.
Griffen, Akermanis, Brad Johnson and Cross were alight as the Bombers, without skipper Matthew Lloyd and dual best and fairest Scott Lucas, looked all at sea early doors. Only the efforts of experienced duo Dustin Fletcher and Mark McVeigh kept the quarter-time margin to 26 points.
Needing to find their feet or suffer a similar fate to the one it suffered against Geelong, Essendon coach Matthew Knights looked to steady the ship.
Jason Winderlich’s move from defence into the midfield paid instant dividends when he ran into the open goal seconds into the second term to give his side some life.
It was just the tonic the young Bombers needed against a Bulldog side looking to continue its unbeaten run.
With McVeigh and Fletcher leading the way the likes of Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson, Bachar Houli and ruck duo David Hille and Jason Laycock lifted.
The run, spirit and speed that was a feature of the Bombers win over Carlton returned.
If not for an elementary mistake by defender Mal Michael that handed direct opponent Scott Welsh a gift goal with seconds remaining in the half, the Bombers would have been within two kicks at the main break.
As it was the 17-point deficit gave the side a real sense of belief.
What transpired in the remaining 60 minutes was the very reason the game was invented.
The third term had everything including a McVeigh cameo that netted two goals in as many minutes, Griffen’s second long goal on the run, an Alwyn Davey three-bounce run and goal, a Dustin Fletcher finger tip save and a Paddy Ryder screamer over Daniel Cross.
The result was seven goals to three in favour of the Bombers to turn a three-goal deficit into a 10-point lead at the final change.
With all the momentum, run and importantly winners across the board it was hard to see how the Dogs could get back.
Through an ounce of luck, good fortune and a will to win, they did.
The game-shaping moments came at the one and two minute marks of the final term when Essendon duo Sam Lonergan and inspirational acting skipper McVeigh limped to the bench with badly torn hamstrings.
In such a high-pressure running game, the Bombers were always going to struggle with two men down for the entire final term.
The Dogs, sensing the vulnerability of the opposition, pounced.
After an eight-minute arm wrestle the Dogs kicked three goals in five minutes to take an eight-point lead. It was one they would not surrender despite continued tenacity from the red and black.
Will Minson led the charge with two goals in the final stanza while Akermanis, Griffen, Cooney, Cross and company kept the pressure on.
The Dogs now sit atop of the ladder at 4-0 while the Bombers can take plenty from the contest despite dropping to 2-2.Essendon 1.2 7.7 14.12 14.14 (98)
Bulldogs 5.4 10.6 13.8 19.14 (128)
GOALS
Essendon: Stanton 3, McVeigh 2, Hille 2, Davey 2, Winderlich, Lovett, Lovett-Murray, Reimers, Laycock
Bulldogs: Welsh 3, Akermanis 2, Minson 2, Griffen 2, Harbrow 2, Giansiracusa 2, Cooney, Johnson, Hahn, Eagleton, Lake, Murphy
BEST
Essendon: McVeigh, Fletcher, Stanton, Davey, Hille
Bulldogs: Akermanis, Griffen, Cross, Minson, Lake, Cooney
INJURIES
Essendon: Lonergan (hamstring), McVeigh (hamstring)
Bulldogs: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Head, McLaren
Official crowd: 47,641 at Telstra Dome
