Big goals, big marks and plenty of big plays - here are the talking points from the win over the Cats.

Joe Daniher

The roaming, tackle busting, high marking, goal kicking Joe Daniher was on show again as the 23 year old key forward picked up his second best on ground award on the big stage this season.

Daniher booted five goals including an opportunistic soccer off the ground to ignite the Bombers in the first term and a long-range running goal at a crucial stage in the last quarter.

Michael Hurley

The All-Australian may have missed out on a vote in the Tom Wills Award (see how the votes unfolded here), but he was a key figure in the Dons win.

Since ANZAC Day, Hurley has produced a string of polished performances.

Michael Hartley got the job on Tom Hawkins, allowing Hurley to zone-off to help his fellow defenders and then kick-start the Dons attack when they regained possession.

Hurley finished with 27 possessions, eight marks and eight rebounds from the defensive 50 and is surely moving into All-Australian discussions once again.

Forward structure

The match against the Cats provided the first look at a forward set-up featuring three genuine marking options. James Stewart was brought into the side to partner Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker. The trio all had a significant impact on the final outcome.

Stewart booted three goals in the first half, Hooker kicked one and pulled in six marks and Daniher was best on ground with five goals.

But it was the added options that were perhaps the biggest benefit for the Bombers. When Daniher went into the ruck to relieve Matthew Leuenberger, the Dons could still maintain two marking options in attack. In the last quarter, Hooker spent most of the match in the defensive half as the Cats made their run, but again the Bombers were able to keep two ‘talls’ inside 50.

Essendon’s marking targets kicked nine goals between them, while the small forwards (Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Josh Green were responsible for the other eight. 

David Zaharakis

In the first seven rounds last season, David Zaharakis averaged 30 possessions per game and had booted five goals. His start to this season was less prolific with the midfielder averaging 18 disposals per game, but against the Cats he was back to his best. Zaharakis ended the match with 31 possessions, seven marks and five tackles. Importantly, he also had six inside 50s.

Rested Bombers

One has played more than 200 games, the other is in his first season but both Jobe Watson and Andrew McGrath showed the benefits of a week off. Watson finished with 21 possessions, eight marks and six tackles and was an important linkman through the middle of the ground. McGrath collected the ball 12 times, but won several crucial one-on-ones and is looking more comfortable at senior level with each match he plays.

The will to thrill

Saturday night’s win against the Cats was a dream for the show reel creators. Joe Daniher was a constant highlight pulling down high marks and kicking miraculous goals.

Then there was Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s run-down on Joel Selwood and his crucial goal in the third term on the back of a Brendon Goddard contested possession.

Josh Green and Orazio Fantasia brought the house down with their expert finishing and Zach Merrett continued to stamp himself as one of the best midfielders in the game.

James Kelly

The three-time premiership player picked up 23 possessions and took ten marks in his 300th match.  At 33, Kelly is every bit the composed, tough and highly skilled player he was in his earlier years.

Kelly just comes up with the right play at the right time and for a defence featuring some young players, that quality is invaluable.