Second chances rarely come around in sport. A third is rarer than a comment from AFL House admitting tanking exists. But that is what has been afforded to Essendon after a remarkable nineteenth round of AFL football.
The Bombers should, for all intents and purposes, be firmly out of the running for September action.
In the first 15 rounds this season, Matthew Knights’ side had impressed critics with a hard-running, high-pressured game style that had trumped the likes of Collingwood, Carlton (twice) and Hawthorn.
Even many Essendon fans were surprised at how their side had fared.
If the Bombers could keep it up, they were firmly on track for an unlikely September campaign.
Sadly for hoped-up Dons fans, they couldn’t.
Since beating Sydney in Round 15, the Bombers are now winless in four games.
But miraculously, despite having won eight of 19 games, they are still a genuine chance to make finals.
They are just two points outside the eight. Even losses to Richmond and West Coast and Sunday’s draw with Brisbane have failed to sweep Essendon from the finals picture, as fellow aspirants Port Adelaide and Hawthorn careened into disappointing results of their own.
All three have intriguing runs home. Inconsistent Port play Carlton (home), Brisbane (away) and North Melbourne (home); the just as untippable-Hawks face Adelaide (home), Richmond and the Bombers; Essendon plays St Kilda, Fremantle (away) and the Hawks.
The unpredictable way the results have fallen, it would not be too inconceivable for the Bombers and the Hawks to be playing for that eighth and final spot in finals.
For Essendon, a finals campaign would represent a huge accomplishment, not at least because it would come at the expense of the reigning premier.
But the Bombers have been already been offered more lives than a cat. As promising – at times – as Essendon’s season has been, it is time they took one.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Beating the cheats twice and scum once. I'll take that. Next year I expect us to win 13 games.
Redb
Roar Guru
Yeah who'd have thought 9th was worth tanking for - Richmond jealousy that's what it is. :-) Redb
Wug
Guest
What a topsy turvy season. It's great to see the finals race going down to the wire
Jazzman
Guest
What a terrible time of the year for us Dons to completely switch off. Can't believe we're still in the old Karmichael Hunt. We should be gone like last week's pay, but Hawthorn and Port Power are just as bad as us at laying concrete, it would seem. At least we beat the Blues twice this year, so regardless of the outcome ... we're on the up!
Redb
Roar Guru
Yeah well it's great that we still have chances but failed miserably by losing to Richmond and West Coast - very disappointing. Bit unlucky against the Lions last week and showed better form but we needed the Richmond and WC wins to offset likely losses like St Kilda this week. As much I hope for a win I just cant see how with an injury depleted side we can knock off St Kilda at full strength with rested stars. We could easily lose against Freo at Subi and the Hawks game may well be a non event anyway. Carn the Dons. Redb
Jim of Altona East
Guest
Much the same could be said about Hawthorn. I can't believe that side still in the finals race. But again, which side is more likely to shake the tree come September? If the Hawks get numbers back by round 22, you would have to go with them. Although, the Bombers with a nothing-to-lose attitude could be more dangerous.
Coach
Guest
If the Bombers make the finals they could really give some teams some headaches, once the ground fastens up, ball drys out and it heats up I wouldn't be surprised if they won a few finals?!