The Bombers' makeshift pre-season line-up began its campaign against St Kilda with a 50-point loss in Morwell on Saturday afternoon for the NAB Challenge clash. Although scrappy, defensively minded and largely uneventful, the contest will go down as one of the more remarkable in the modern game.
It was always going to be the case. Three weeks ago, most of the Bombers' 13 top-up players were strangers to each other – and the Essendon list.
But in front of nearly 6000 local fans and under dimmed lights, they began their unlikely stint as teammates. And although they lost – the Saints' winning 0.15.11 (101) to 0.8.3 (51) – it was not a matter of effort.
Wearing jumper No.72, Clint Jones, playing against his old team, showed he could still find the ball, gathered 22 disposals and offered a hard body inside the contest. Marcus Marigliani, who played two games for the Bombers in 2010, also found 22.
In defence, former Cat Mitch Brown competed well and offered a calm presence (he took 10 marks and had six rebound-50s), while ex-Demon James Magner was tough and hard when the ball was there to win.
They showed the Essendon coaching staff they were there to help the inexperienced and youth-filled squad, which had 21 of its 2012-listed players unavailable as the club awaits the verdict of the AFL's Anti-Doping Tribunal, which is expected later this month.
Another handful of recent recruits, including Goddard, Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett, were on hand to support in the crowd after not being selected.
The Saints did what they needed in a game they had to win. After a tight first term they kicked four goals to one in the second quarter to open a lead, and from there they maintained it and held off the Bombers, who pressed in the third quarter.
Alan Richardson's developing side slammed on six goals to one in the final term to claim its first win after a close defeat to the Brisbane Lions last week in Townsville.
It was the usual suspects rather than the new faces who shone in the defensive arm wrestle. Jack Steven found his zip and had 22 disposals, including three centre clearances, while veteran midfielder Leigh Montagna led the way with 27.
Stand-in captain Jarryn Geary was solid, and second-year midfielder Luke Dunstan was also able to have an influence in his first game of the season after missing last week with an ankle injury. Dunstan limped from the field with a leg complaint in the third but returned in the fourth term and helped set up a goal for his team.
The diagnosis was less positive for midfielder Seb Ross, who left the field in the third term appearing to have injured his hamstring.
He walked dejectedly from the ground to the interchange bench, continuing the club's recent spate of hamstring injuries that have claimed Jack Billings and Farren Ray.
ESSENDON 0.2.2 0.3.2 0.7.2 0.8.3 (51)
ST KILDA 0.2.3 0.6.5 0.9.6 0.15.11 (101)
SUPERGOALS
Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
GOALS
Essendon: Edwards 3, Giles 3, Ashby, Kavanagh
St Kilda: Bruce 2, Minchington 2, Steven, Shenton, Lonie, Ross, Acres, Membrey, Saad, Sinclair, Bruce, Holmes, McCartin
BEST
Essendon: J.Merrett, Brown, Giles, Edwards, Jones, Ashby, Chapman
St Kilda: Montagna, Steven, Weller, Newnes, Lonie, Shenton, Geary
INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Seb Ross (hamstring), Luke Dunstan (knee)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Mitch Clisby replaced Sam Tagliabue in the third quarter; Aaron Heppell replaced Jordan Schroder in the third quarter.
St Kilda: Jack Sinclair replaced Sean Dempster in the third quarter; Tom Hickey replaced Jason Holmes in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Official crowd: 5542 at Morwell Recreation Reserve
