ESSENDON SSP hopeful Tom Edwards has produced the perfect audition, booting four goals in the second half to guide the Bombers to a 19-point practice match win over the Western Bulldogs.
He wasn't the only Bombers forward to impress, with first-round draftee Isaac Kako, Nate Caddy and Archie Perkins working well together in the first Essendon attack after Jake Stringer moved to Greater Western Sydney over the off-season.
Kako was incredibly lively across half-forward with a sharp set of hands, Caddy had a strong first half before being rotated off, while the Dons sealed their 11.11 (77) to 8.10 (58) win in four 30-minute quarters at a wet and windy Mission Whitten Oval.
Edwards, lining up in Jordan Ridley's No.14, only played in the second half, the 191cm Swan Districts product kicking two in each term, while fellow hopeful Kaine Baldwin featured down the other end of the field and marked well when the opportunity presented after half-time.
With former Sun Brayden Crossley auditioning for his own SSP spot with the Western Bulldogs, Tim English spent plenty of time in attack to allow his potential new ruck teammate as many minutes on the ball as possible.
Usually matched up against Nick Bryan, Crossley was a strong body in ruck battles, but was out-played by the more agile Bomber around the ground.
The rain came in at quarter-time, with the "feels like" temperature hovering at nine degrees, providing perfect preparation for footy (in July, rather than March).
Arty Jones was inserted after half-time and provided some pressure across half-forward for the Dogs, while Essendon key forward Peter Wright also appeared after the main break.
The Dogs rotated heavily, with most players only featuring for a half as they juggled their healthy list.
Essendon ran with Elijah Tsatas and Ben Hobbs in the midfield for much of the game (alongside the ever-impressive Zach Merrett), with Tsatas producing an eye-catching performance playing a sweeping role off the back of the contest.
Sam Darcy starred in the first quarter in the absence of Bomber Ben McKay (ankle) – his marking particularly noteworthy – but was rested in the second half. Caddy leapt well and booted a goal from 55m after the half-time siren, while Kako provided plenty of highlights.
Both squads appeared to get through unscathed, the Dogs having named a whopping 35 players to rotate through.
Not all of them featured, with Tom Liberatore's absence confirmed when he appeared on the media balcony with a cup of tea in hand.
The Bulldogs were also without Bailey Dale (rested), Adam Treloar (calf), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) and hamstrung duo Liam Jonesand Jason Johannisen. The Bombers were missing Darcy Parish (back), Jordan Ridley (hamstring), Ben McKay (ankle), Sam Durham (soreness) and Matt Guelfi (hamstring).
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.2 4.5 6.8 8.10 (58)
ESSENDON 1.1 6.5 8.7 11.11 (77)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: West, Darcy, Richards, Naughton, Jones, Poulter, O'Donnell, Vandermeer
Essendon: Edwards 4, Perkins 2, Draper 2, Menzie, Kako, Caddy
