Young guns fire

With David Zaharakis out of the line-up more attention was going to descend on Zach Merrett.

But the 20 year old responded in style.

He picked up 36 possessions and was the driving force in the Essendon midfield.

Fellow young guns Orazio Fantasia (three goals), Kyle Langford (21 possessions), Darcy Parish (21 possessions) and Michael Hartley (kept Josh Bruce to one goal) also produced encouraging displays.

Walla’s move forward

John Worsfold has shown he’s not afraid to throw the magnets around this season.

Mark Baguley, Patrick Ambrose and Orazio Fantasia are some of the players who have experienced a positional change at some point this season and against the Saints it was Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti’s turn.

The first year player made the move look like a masterstroke ending the game with two goals, four goal assists and six inside 50’s.

Wise heads show the way

When the ball was bounced to start the game, just eight Essendon players had more than 50 AFL games experience.

Two of those players, Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett, still sit firmly in the young gun category.

Adam Cooney, Brendon Goddard and James Kelly spent most of the game in the midfield where they gathered 77 possessions between them. 

Craig Bird (19 possessions) is becoming more comfortable in his new colours and provided grunt in the contest, while Courtenay Dempsey and James Gwilt marshaled the defence.

Tactics taking shape

The Saints are known for their pace, but for much of the match, their running game was shut down.

Courtenay Dempsey said after the match the Bombers had focused on not allowing the Saints to switch the ball when they were coming out of defence and instead force them to kick down the line.

The tactic seemed to work with the Saints only able to take 63 marks, compared to Essendon’s 91.

Daniher’s grab

Surely there is a new clubhouse leader in the Mark of the Year stakes.  Joe Daniher’s towering leap and mark midway through the final term brought the crowd to its feet.

Daniher finished the day with 16 possessions, seven marks and two goals.