Finishing off your work
With 39 seconds left in the third quarter the Bombers were down by 20 points. They'd kicked the last four goals of the match and had all of the momentum going into the final quarter. But the Crows kicked two goals in the last 39 seconds of the third term, including one after the siren as Josh Jenkins stretched the margin back to 32 points at the last change.
Aerial advantage
The Crows dominated in the air from start to finish. The visitors took 27 of the first 30 marks in the game and by quarter time led the marks 36-11. By the final siren the Crows had taken 22 marks inside 50 to Essendon’s eight.
Forwards Josh Jenkins (11 marks), Tom Lynch (eight marks) and Taylor Walker (seven marks) led the way in attack for the Crows.
Hooker’s third quarter burst
Adelaide looked set to run away with a comfortable win but Cale Hooker had other ideas. The All Australian ignited Etihad Stadium with a brilliant purple patch in the third quarter.
Goals on the run and from long range were all part of the show as Hooker helped get the Bombers back in the game.
His three goals in the third quarter together with a goal to Jobe Watson had the Bombers back in the contest.
After his four goal haul, Hooker is now up to 39 goals for the season. That return would have been enough to win seven of the last eight leading goal kicker awards for the Club.
McGrath shows why he’s the Rising Star
The number one draft pick Andrew McGrath restricted Eddie Betts, one of the best small forwards of recent times, to just one behind and seven possessions. At the same time, McGrath had 25 touches of his own, as he sacrificed none of his playmaking ability in curtailing the brilliant Crows forward.
It’s just the second time Betts has been kept goalless in his last 33 games and his lowest possession count since 2014.
Surely any questions over who should win this year’s AFL Rising Star award have now been answered?
Watson's farewell tour
The first phase of Jobe Watson's farewell to football had some memorable moments. His goal in the third quarter triggered a huge response from the Essendon crowd in attendance. The fourth minute of the fourth quarter also saw the crowd rise to their feet to 'cheer the champ'.
What next?
The Bombers remain in contention for the final eight but need to win their last two games against Gold Coast and Fremantle to be any chance of featuring in September.
Selection will be interesting this week with Mark Baguley, Zach Merrett and Tom Bellchambers all a chance to return for the trip north to play the Suns.
The VFL side also had an impressive win against top of the table Box Hill. Craig Bird, Kobe Mutch, Michael Hartley and Josh Begley were influential in the six-point win.
