Melbourne has secured a 17-point win over Essendon, holding firm despite a few last-quarter jitters.

The Demons jumped out to a 41-point lead halfway through the final term, before the Bombers threw caution to the wind and kicked the final four goals of the match, just falling short in the 13.6 (84) to 10.7 (67) result.

Aside from the first quarter – and that nervy run in the final 10 minutes – the Bombers were unable to make any real headway in attack, struggling to move the ball with dare and pace, and didn't capitalise on Sam Draper's dominance in the ruck. 

06:55

Rd 18 | Match highlights

Watch all the highlights from the Demons and Bombers clash in round 18.

The normally disciplined defence of Melbourne was at sixes and sevens in the first term, getting caught too high up the ground with the Bombers taking their pick of free targets out the back. But they were unable to take full advantage, kicking 3.3 for the term.

The second term opened at the same time as the heavens as most of the quarter turned into proper, old-school wet-weather football.

04:41

Rd 18 | Scott post-game

Watch Essendon’s press conference after round 18’s match against Melbourne.

Essendon rallied somewhat after the main break, managing to stem the flow of goals and evening up the contest, with Ben McKay holding firm across the half-back line for the first 10 minutes of the term.

It took a Kozzy Pickett shrug and spin around two tacklers to break the deadlock, spotting Melksham and eventual goalkicker Ed Langdon free in attack. 

Brad Scott made the call to inject the speed of Nick Hind into the game halfway through the third quarter, replacing Peter Wright, and as conditions dried, the move appeared to have breathed some life into the Bombers.

 

AFL: Round 18 v Melbourne

All the images from Melbourne v Essendon at the MCG.
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But an unlikely, skidding Melksham bomb from outside 50 put paid to any thought of Essendon overhauling Melbourne in the final term, and the Demons put the foot down from there, pushing out to a 41-point lead until the Bombers trimmed the margin.

After a very slow start (one disposal in the first quarter after starting on the bench), Clayton Oliver was a force around the stoppages in the slightly slower, wet conditions, while Melksham provided stability and smarts to Melbourne's attack, opening it up for the forwards, and Caleb Windsor ran the much taller Nik Cox off his feet on the wing.

Jordan Ridley took 10 marks in soggy conditions, while the versatile Nic Martin finished with four goals for the Bombers. 

Costly Bombers loss in September quest

In a round of upsets, Essendon blew a golden opportunity to shore up a spot in the top four, and possibly the top eight. It's one of the closest seasons in memory, and a win would have seen the Bombers finish the round in second spot, but instead, they could finish as low as seventh. Percentage is also an issue, dropping from 99.9 to 98.8, currently one of only two sides in the top 12 with a percentage south of 100. 

MELBOURNE     3.2     6.6     8.6     13.6     (84)
ESSENDON        3.3     4.5     5.7     10.7     (67) 

GOALS

Melbourne: Turner 3, Fritsch 3, Melksham 2, Pickett 2, Chandler, Windsor, Langford
Essendon: Martin 4, Langford 2, Duursma 2, Durham, Jones 

BEST

Melbourne: Rivers, Oliver, Langdon, Melksham, Windsor, Pickett
Essendon: Ridley, Martin, Merrett, McKay, Shiel 

INJURIES

Melbourne: Nil
Essendon: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES

Melbourne: Taj Woewodin (replaced Moniz-Wakefield in the fourth quarter)
Essendon: Nick Hind (replaced Peter Wright in the third quarter) 

Crowd: 52,866 at the MCG