The battle of the contenders has gone the way of the Demons on points. While it looked at times as if Melbourne would land a knock out blow on Essendon, the Bombers finished the match strong to improve the scoreline, and finish with some respectability.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Essendon Bombers 10.12.72
Melbourne Demons 16.12.108
Round 6 carries on this Sunday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, as the Essendon Bombers play host to the Melbourne Demons, with both sides eager and desperate to get back into the winners’ circle. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match starting from 1:10pm AEST.
Preseason must seem like a lifetime ago for these two sides. Leading into Round 1 of season 2018, Essendon and Melbourne were the up and coming teams to watch out for.
They were the big improvers, with Essendon having recruited for quality, and Melbourne having learned the lessons of last season’s heartbreak in missing finals.
Yet here we are in Round 6, and suddenly, each team is desperate for a win. How on earth did that come about?
The Bombers have had a short, but intense, turnaround from their match on Anzac day, a lot of air-time given to Brendan Goddard’s in-game blow ups. There is an argument though that the way they’ve been playing lately, who can blame him?
Joe Daniher will have been happy with the distraction from his poor kicking at goal.
And as for Melbourne, granted, a skewed Max Gawn kick against Geelong and their record would look better, but suddenly, that kick was detracting from a fair few deficiencies.
Now really is the time for the likes of Christian Petracca, Michael Hibberd, Jayden Hunt, Jesse Hogan, Dom Tyson, and countless other Demons players with all the potential in the world to start clicking, and there is no better opportunity than today, against a fellow top-8 aspirant.
Prediction
It will be a case of Bombers pace versus Demons quality, and I’m backing the Demons cream to rise to the top. Bombers won’t be easy, but the quality across the park for Melbourne should be enough to thwart the pace and attack of a misfiring Dons outfit.
Melbourne by 26
Joe
Guest
Probably the same reason the coach continues to play a game plan that clearly is not working and is not suited to his players
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time The battle of the contenders has gone the way of the Demons on points. While it looked at times as if Melbourne would land a knock out blow on Essendon, the bombers finished the match strong to improve the scoreline, and finish with some respectability. The match saw two pre-season contenders touted as teams to watch coming in with less than attractive 2 and 3 records, the loser of today's match with all the work to do for a finals spot. It was Essendon who started the stronger, however they simply could not land the killer blow on the score board to put the game out of the reach of the hard playing Demons. Some early yips in front of goal for Max Gawn gave a scare to Melbourne fans of the portents to come, however Essendon's own inaccuracy only had them 6 points ahead at half time. The second half was all Melbourne, as Bayley Fritsch helped himself to 3 goals for the match, ably assisted by Mitch Hannan and Jake Melksham, who himself had 2 goals to his name. For the bombers, they just never really clicked, and once Melbourne got their act together, the bombers just could not keep up. Jake Stringer, with only 9 disposals, had 3 goals for a good output. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti played well also, but aside from those two players, the bombers did not have enough contributors to mount an attack to take the game. So Melbourne will enjoy a 50-50 record going into the next round, with winnable games before them. As for Essendon, a tough contest awaits up next against Hawthorn, an occasion that is always a hard affair, and no doubt the bombers will lift for that one. Meanwhile, Charlie Spargo, continuing a long line of family to play for the Dees, had a good day out, with 18 disposals and 2 goals. Essendon: 72 Melbourne: 108
Mark Toner
Guest
A forward who can't kick goals isn't a forward. Why does the Essendon coach persist with Joe Daniher as a forward? He should play as a back in the VFL for a while. Meanwhile Essendon keeps losing...
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 30' - Into the last minute, and Dees take a mark at the half forward. 25 seconds left, this should be the last kick of the game for Fritsch. Nails it. Essendon: 72 Melbourne: 108
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 28' - And now Goddard lines up, but lays it off to Zaharakis. he goes back for the set shot. And from a tighter angle. No problem, works back for the goal. That's three in a row for the bombers. Finishing strong. Essendon: 72 Melbourne: 102
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 27' - Now Stringer gets in on the show, some nice lead up play for Essendon there getting the ball to the front man. He shoots straight as an arrow. Dees have switched off to be honest. Essendon: 66 Melbourne: 102
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 25' - McDonald-Tipungwuti races through, shoots, and hits the goal post. Another point to the total, but he should have shot straighter there. Just cannot believe the inaccuracy on show. Essendon: 60 Melbourne: 102
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 24' - Bombers get a consolation through Smith. Nice pressure, good kick. Shame they waited until 3 minutes to go to put that on. Essendon: 59 Melbourne: 102
perry cox
Roar Guru
Goal 22' - Dees just attacking at will here. They'll line up for another from in front, with a relatively easy inside-50 incursion. Dom Tyson walks back, lines it up, shoots, and ... misses right. That's a shame, that deserved a goal Essendon: 53 Melbourne: 102
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 21' - Dees have outscored Essendon 10 goals to just 2. That's the whole story right there this match. Essendon: 53 Melbourne: 101
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 20' - Melksham has landed a banana style set shot from the left pocket, and nailed it. Would have thought a Bombers player was ont he goal line to stop it, but still, absolute class from the Dees' player there. Essendon: 53 Melbourne: 101
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 19' - Dees are able to halt a Bombers attack, force a holding free. They send it long, and take some strong contested mark and footy gathering. Midfield tussle ensuing. Essendon: 53 Melbourne: 95
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 17' - McDonald-Tipungwuti will get a free down the field after Smith cops a push in the back. 25 out, in front, straight through, Bombers get a much needed goal. This is beyond them now, surely. Essendon: 53 Melbourne: 95
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 16' - Dees hit the goal post, another point for them. Essendon: 47 Melbourne: 95
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 15' - Chalk up another for the Dees, after strong attacking pressure. The ball finds McDonald in the goal square, Bang, that's a goal to the Dees. Essendon: 47 Melbourne: 94
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 13' - Stringer with a set shot, but he's cut it left, he too can only get a point. Bombers need to start nailing these. Essendon: 47 Melbourne: 88
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 12' - Daniher over the shoulder, but hooks it a tick too much, can only manage the point. Essendon: 46 Melbourne: 88
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 9' - Pinpoint lead up play gets the ball into Hogan's hands in front. He goes to play on, but insttead goes back for the set shot. Absolutely nails it. Dees starting to turn this one into a steamrolling. Essendon: 45 Melbourne: 88
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 7' - Hannan with a frebie, the spoil from Daniher sends it into the goal square, and Hannan is very thankful for the gift as he sends it through. Essendon: 45 Melbourne: 82
perry cox
Roar Guru
When an irresistible force (Dees ordinariness at protecting a lead) meets an immoveable object (Bombers' ordinariness).