It will be a performance that will have fans rightly frustrated and Essendon coaching staff scratching their heads – wonderful one week, woeful the next. Essendon coach Matthew Knights was livid with his players after they went in to the first break trailing by 23-points and he had every right to be annoyed.
Essendon started the game well but squandered opportunity after opportunity inside their forward 50m. There was simply no poise under pressure and Essendon could only manage one goal from 10 entries. Matthew Lloyd, Jason Winderlich and Paddy Ryder on two occasions all missed gettable opportunities. Brisbane on the other hand made the most of their forward 50m entries finishing with five goals from 11 entries.
Jonathon Brown was dominant for Brisbane finishing the first quarter with seven possessions and four marks. Simon Black and boom youngster Daniel Rich both had eight touches as the Brisbane midfield asserted its authority. Jobe Watson was the stand out for Essendon with 11 touches.
Winderlich gave the Bombers some reward for effort early in the second quarter kicking two goals. The Bombers were again dominating possession but could not create enough scoreboard pressure. Henry Slattery and Leroy Jetta added their names to an ever growing list of players that were unable to convert relatively easy opportunities.
Goals to Brown, Justin Sherman and Luke Power restored Brisbane’s lead but it was not indicative of the general flow of play. Essendon players will have been kicking themselves at half-time trailing by 36-points despite having had just one less scoring shot.
There were too many Essendon players simply having no influence on the game – most notably Sam Lonergan and Angus Monfries who had five possessions between them at half-time. The Bombers needed a more consistent effort across the board if they were to turn the game in the second half.
The third quarter started well with Lovett goaling but a midfield turnover resulted in a goal to Power and the good work had been quickly undone. The only real highlight of the third quarter came 16-minutes in when Matthew Lloyd kicked his 900th career goal. It drew the Bombers to within 32-points.
At three-quarter-time Essendon had gone inside 50m 40 times compared to Brisbane’s 37 yet trailed by 36 points. It was a glaring statistic that highlighted Essendon’s inability to do the business in front of goal.
The final quarter started brightly with Lloyd kicking a goal inside the first minute. But inaccuracy again cost the Bombers any chance of putting pressure on Brisbane. Lloyd sprayed a tough shot from 50m before Monfries missed a relatively easy set shot from 35m out.
The ball was transferred down the other end and Brown kicked a very good goal from 50m on a tight angle and therein lies the story of the night. You must take your opportunities in this game or you get your right whack. That is what the Bombers copped tonight at the Gabba.
The news from the Bomber camp got even worse post-match. Dustin Fletcher’s 300-game milestone was further soured by a leg injury that could sideline him for next week’s clash with Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. Fletcher left the ground at the end of the game to go to hospital to have x-rays to assess if there is a fracture, which will determine how long he will be on the sidelines.
View the full match report here
