Essendon VFL is back on the winner’s list after downing North Ballarat by 22 points this afternoon at Windy Hill.
A seven-goal-to-one first term ultimately set up the win for the Bombers, with the contest tightening considerably in the final three quarters of the match.
“We knew they were a good team, so we come out in the first quarter and really got our game plan underway which contributed to the scoreboard pressure," VFL Coach Hayden Skipworth said.
“We really set the game up in the first half.”
Leading by 49 points at the half, seemingly cruising towards a comfortable win, the Roosters stunned the Dons after the break as they kicked the first four goals of the term to close within 31 points at the final change.
“We knew they were going to come because they had been playing really good footy,” Skipworth said.
“So we just really stuck to our structures, stuck to our game plan and we got a little bit of a man-on-man focus in the third quarter.
“We got back to playing team defense and team offense and I think that helped us in the last quarter get the win.”
In remarkable scenes, play was halted during the first quarter after North Ballarat called a headcount. Failing to prevail on their suspicion of an extra Essendon player on the field the Bombers were awarded a shot on goal.
Big man Jonathan Giles is firming towards playing his first game in the red and black at AFL level after a brilliant display.
“That was comfortably his best game for the year,” Skipworth said.
“He took a lot of marks around the ground and he dominated against two pretty good ruckman, so he’s certainly put his name up for selection.”
Kyle Hardingham continued his invaluable role as the team utility shifting to attack and booting four goals.
“He had played forward earlier in the year and kicked a lot of goals, then we needed him in defense the last four weeks due to personnel reasons,” Skipworth said.
“But for him to go forward and kick four goals and look really lively was a fantastic result for us.”
Essendon VFL face Geelong next weekend at Simmonds Stadium- the second time the two teams will meet this season.
“They’re a good outfit,” Skipworth said.
“We caught them at an unlucky time, they were pretty depleted with injuries when we played them at Etihad.
“Obviously down there they will be really hard to beat. They’re a great club as everyone knows, they’re well drilled, they players certainly know the game plan well and they generally win more games than they lose.”
“We’re going to have our work cut out for us but this win will give us some confidence and hopefully we can replicate the form going into next week.”
Essendon 15.5 (95) defeated North Ballarat 11.7 (73)
Goals
Essendon: K.Hardingham 4, J.Thompson 3, J.Giles 2, J.Schroder 2, K.Aylett, S.Heavyside, J.Langford, S.Tagliabue
North Ballarat: R.Nahas 3, L.Thomas 2, L.Kiel 2, T.Dumont, O. Stephenson, N,Rippon, A.Hooper
Best
Essendon: J.Giles, B.McNiece, J.Polkinghorne, J.Thompson, D.Coghlan, J.Schroder
North Ballarat: M.Sewell, J.Tippett, T.Lockyer, R.Nahas, L.Kiel, L.Thomas
