- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
This game looked to be a snoozer, but boy, what a finish. Christian Salem the hero for the Dees, marking and goaling in the last minute to get them across the line by a single point.
Brendon Goddard took the acting captaincy this week for the Bombers and was inspirational – 31 touches, 10 marks, 8 tackles and a goal, while David Zaharakis had 26 touches and kicked 4 goals, including two in a the space of a minute late in the game that put them ahead and nearly won them the match.
For the Dees there were a number of heroes: Jack Viney and Dom Tyson both did vital work through the middle, as did Nathan Jones, while Lynden Dunn was good in the backline with 29 touches. Dean Kent, James Frawley, Jack Watts and Cameron Perdesen each kicked two goals, while Christian Salem sunk the sealer.
FINAL SCORE
ESSENDON: 10.17 77
MELBOURNE: 12.6 78
In the final game of the round, the Essendon Bombers host the Melbourne Demons at the MCG. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40 PM AEST.
A quick glance at the Bombers’ recent form would show they’re in decent touch, with four wins from their last five.
Those wins have a been a little unconvincing at times though, getting up by eight points over the Western Bulldogs and Brisbane Lions, and just 15 points over the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
The Demons on the other hand have just two wins from their last seven matches, but have shown some promising form, coming within a few goals of both the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in recent weeks, and restricting Collingwood to just eight goals last week in the annual Queen’s Birthday clash.
Despite the Demons having dwelt at the bottom of the ladder almost exclusively in recent years, their record against Essendon is surprisingly positive. In 2011 and 2012 the Demons had shock wins over the Bombers, with the 2012 victory being Mark Neeld’s first-ever victory as Melbourne coach (one of only five in his career, and the only one over a non-expansion club). However in 2013 the Bombers smashed the Demons by 148 points.
The Bombers have taken a big hit, with Jobe Watson missing at least the next two months with a hip flexor injury. They’ve brought in Jason Winderlich and Michael Hurley this week, with Cory Dell’Olio dropped to make way.
The Demons have omitted Max Gawn, Jay Kennedy-Harris and Dean Terlich after all three were poor in the Queen’s Birthday loss to Collingwood. Jordie McKenzie, Aidan Riley and Dean Kent have been recalled.
After winning the Round 12 rising star nomination, all eyes will be on Joe Daniher. The second-year key forward kicked three goals against GWS and will be the Bombers’ main forward weapon against the Demons.
Can Essendon produce another win, and keep themselves in finals contention, or will Melbourne rouse some passion and notch a fourth win for the year?
Prediction
The Bombers certainly will enter as the favourites but don’t write Melbourne off. They have played some good football this year and will work hard to try and strike for an upset, knowing they’ve done it before.
Essendon by 30 points.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:40pm AEST.