Essendon’s VFL side has fallen short of a first-round win by just a single point in an agonising loss to the Sandringham Zebras this afternoon.
The Bombers had most of the play for the afternoon and looked to be the better team, with missed opportunities coming back to haunt them late in the game.
Coach Hayden Skipworth was frustrated with the result after holding the lead for most of the match.
“It was disappointing. To have the lead in the last quarter with four minutes to go and go down a few rotations, we just ran out of legs today.”
The Bombers stretched the margin out to three goals during periods of the match, and still Sandringham never seemed to go away. The Zebras always finding an avenue to stem the flow of the Essendon momentum and grind their way back into the match.
Skipworth credited his team for adjusting for what Sandringham threw at them, but admitted they were the better side on the day.
“We just wanted to play our own way. We wanted to take what they gave us, they gave us a lot of hit up options, so we encouraged to boys to lower their eyes, but in the end they were more effiecent going forward.”
Will Hams was easily the Bombers’ best on. The youngster was brilliant, as he played fearlessly– happy to get his hands dirty, he did a mountain of contested work.
The midfielder conceded he was shattered with the way the game unfolded in the last quarter.
“It was a very contested game and a small ground, so bodies were going everywhere, but it’s always disappointing when you have a one-point loss,” Hams said.
“We had a pretty strong breeze blowing against us which made it difficult to move the ball forward so we were pretty much just trying to get the ball on and hold on for as long as we could but unfortunately it didn’t pay off.”
Hams has put together consecutive stand-out performances, revealing his body is back to full health.
“The body is holding up pretty well, it’s all feeling good,” he said.
“I’m just trying to get back into it and get some good form. Hopefully a few more weeks in the VFL and I’ll try and start pushing for senior selection.”
Skipworth was harmonious in his thoughts on Hams.
“Last week he was probably our best player for us and this week the same. He’s in good form and it’s now about putting the runs on the board and putting pressure on the senior guys.”
Jonathan Giles was dominant in the ruck for the Dons, as he covered the ground quite well getting back the help the defenders as well as pushing forward and booting two goals.
“His ruck work was excellent,” Skipworth said.
“His follow up is getting better and better each week, and if he can string a few more performances like that together he will be pressing for senior selection.”
Tayte Pears played predominantly out of the goal square as a key forward. He booted three goals and was lively, adding to the long list of Essendon swingmen.
Skipworth declared that the move was a plan to help develop his game and chance for senior selection.
“We’re trying to add some flexibility to our talls, we’ve got Hurley and Carlisle that can go forward and back, so we know Tayte can play backline very well, so we’re trying add another string to his bow.”
The VFL Bombers have a seven-day break before they face Collingwood next Sunday in the annual ANZAC Weekend clash at Windy Hill, their first home game of the season.
Sandringham 12.11 (83) defeated Essendon 12.10 (82)
Goals:
Sandringham :M. Brown 4, T. Dennis-Lane 2, C. Jones , D. Minchington , T. Hickey , S. White , Y. Zijai , K. Ong
Essendon: T. Pears 3, J. Giles 2, K. Hardingham 2, J. Polkinghorne , S. McKernarn, S. Edwards , J. Long , L. Dalgleish
Best:
Sandringham: T. Lee , C. Jones , M. Brown , T. Hickey , D. Minchington , D. McKenzie
Essendon: W. Hams , A. Steinberg , J. Merrett , C. Dempsey , T. Pears , J. Polkinghorne
