Essendon assistant coach, Ashley Prescott, said tonight’s contest against Collingwood would provide a significant boost to the Bombers’ preparation for Round 1, despite falling 43-points short to their long-standing rivals.

Essendon played competitive football despite trailing the Magpies for the majority of the match and lifted the intensity they had shown in their previous two NAB Cup hit-outs.

“I think the game will benefit our side because it provides the opportunity for a number of our players to get another game under their belts heading into Round 1,” Prescott said.

“Jason Winderlich was able to get some more match time under his belt having been out for quite a long time as did Alwyn Davey who also played his second game.

“Michael Hurley and David Zaharakis had the opportunity to play their first game at a competitive level and they will have got a lot out of the experience.

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“It is a practice match type scenario being the NAB Cup but we still saw it as an important game and it will assist us at this stage of our program where we are working and developing players in different positions.

“There were certainly a lot of positives, it was just disappointing on the scoreboard at the end.”

Prescott said wasted opportunities cost the Bombers who might have cut the final margin had their counter-attack been on par with Collingwood.

“We got outworked,” Prescott said.
“I think Collingwood took over 100 uncontested marks which shows we just weren’t prepared to work hard enough defensively and it made it hard for our forwards with limited opportunities through some indirect play.

“I think we were competitive in the second half and didn’t allow Collingwood to blow out the margin in the final quarter. “Collingwood are certainly up and going. They looked very good for this time of the year.”

The intensity, skills and accountability of Essendon needed to be significantly higher this week if there was to be a contest against Collingwood.Essendon had numbers around the ball and moved it into the forward 50m with ease, however the problem was finishing and goals did not come easily.

No such problems for an in-form Collingwood who proved how important choosing the best option and capitalising on your chances really is.

Matthew Lloyd worked desperately to set up options in attack and John Williams showed glimpses of brilliance in a marking duel against Dale Thomas before posting a major - it was to be Essendon’s last for the quarter.

Opportunities were wasted and Essendon appeared to struggle to find a free man. When Leon Davis converted a major on the run, followed quickly by Alan Didak, Collingwood looked to be the better side.

Essendon headed into the quarter break trailing by 25-points with Ricky Dyson (10), Sam Lonergan (6), Brent Stanton (5) and David Myers (5) Essendon’s top possession winners for the term.

The Bombers started the second term the same way it finished the first, while Collingwood looked even more dangerous early.

Essendon were given a chance to cut the deficit when Patrick Ryder was awarded a 50m penalty and ventured forward to boot a supergoal.

The Bombers continued their scrappy play before Alwyn Davey took control, running down the wing to deliver a crisp pass to David Hille who posted Essendon’s only other major for the quarter.

The goals kept coming for Collingwood meanwhile, who grew their lead to 34-points by the long break following majors to Tarkyn Lockyer, Scott Pendlebury, John Anthony and Thomas.

The start of the third quarter highlighted the problems encountered in the first half. Essendon went into its forward 50m with ease but simply couldn’t find a good option or create a clean shot at goal and coughed the ball up on more than one occasion.

When Collingwood ventured into their forward 50m, a goal came easily to Anthony.

Scott Lucas gave the Bombers some hope kicking a major following a classy assist from Jason Winderlich. Dyson helped cut back the margin to 25-points with a supergoal awarded from a free kick.

But that’s where Essendon’s hopes ended, as the Pies piled on three goals in a row and boasted a 40-point lead heading into the final quarter.

The Bombers fought to claw back the margin and worked hard to make it difficult for Collingwood to create any momentum.
Goals to Tom Bellchambers and Courtenay Dempsey kept the Bombers in touch, but it was too little too late.
Collingwood’s Anthony put the final nail in the coffin when he out-marked an in-experienced Michael Hurley to kick his seventh goal for the match and seal a 43-point Collingwood victory.