Essendon took it up to back-to-back reigning premiers the Darebin Falcons for three quarters before fading late in Round 11.
Although just five Bombers had ever played in a side that had beaten Darebin, their pressure denied the Falcons the width to move the ball quickly inside their forward half and limited the ease with which they could kick on goal at Bill Lawry Oval. Trailing by two straight kicks at the final change with the wind at their backs, the Bombers steeled themselves for a shot at knocking off a highly-fancied opponent. However, a quick goal to Falcon ruck Lauren Pearce made the task ominous before a long bomb from Lauren Szigeti carried the pack and snuffed out the Bombers’ hopes. The final scoreboard saw Essendon 27 points in arrears, 2.2 (14) to 5.11 (41).
Essendon displayed its best football across the second and third quarters when it first played sharp, direct football to win the second quarter (with Monique De Matteo’s spectacular bouncing goal on the run a crowd-thrilling highlight) and then shut Darebin down when kicking against the wind.
Returning from duties at the Under 18 Youth Girls’ National Championships, Molly Warburton displayed a surety in winning the ball and clearing out of defence in just her second senior match while Danielle Ponter’s strong hands and lethal right boot combined not only for her second-quarter goal but
Essendon heads into its second bye round next weekend and coach Brendan Major says his side has come on leaps and bounds since its first bye five weeks ago.
“We’re heaps better,” he declared. “We’ve improved structurally, we’ve improved defensively, we’ve improved all over.”
After its Round 12 bye, Essendon will play ladder-leaders Collingwood at RAMS Arena on
Essendon 0.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 (14)
Darebin 2.1 3.5 3.8 5.11 (41)
Best – (Ess) MacDonald, Caruso, Hardy, De Matteo, Madden, Williams.
Goals – (Ess) Ponter, De Matteo.
– (D) Pearce 2, Mouncey, Szigeti, Mithen.
