Essendon has held on to a thrilling six-point win over West Coast, with skipper Zach Merrett leading the way with a brilliant three-goal display in Perth.
The Bombers survived an Eagles fightback in the final term to come away with a 11.11 (77) to 11.5 (71) victory at Optus Stadium.
But it was a case of what could have been for West Coast after coughing up three goals directly from horror brain fades – the biggest coming from veteran Jamie Cripps in the final term.
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With Jake Waterman lining up for goal, Cripps was “sucked in” to the push and shove by Bomber Nic Martin that saw the shot on goal overturned.
To add insult to the result, star Eagle Elliot Yeo suffered another groin injury and didn’t see out the match while Noah Long was subbed out with a leg injury.
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
The Eagles were forced to make a late change with veteran Dom Sheed given a reprieve when Ryan Maric was ruled out of the contest through illness.
Neither side could find an early avenue to goal amid some “sloppy” skills as the two teams deployed a loose man down back.
“You can’t go quick in this instance – otherwise you are kicking to their spare. That’s why it’s a bit of an arm-wrestle right now,” commentator Will Schofield said.
Bomber Peter Wright broke the deadlock after more than 14 minutes before Jake Waterman’s rich vein of form continued down the other end for West Coast moments later.
Commentator Matthew Pavlich said the Eagles were left to “hang on” as Essendon found their rhythm – but just couldn’t put it on the scoreboard with 2.5 at the first change.
Elliot Yeo put West Coast in front early in the second term in game 200 – but the Bombers had the instant reply when Jack Darling was caught holding the ball at half back.
Two-metre Peter then drifted across the pack just 20m out directly in front to push Essendon’s lead to double digits.
When Jake Stringer found himself in the perfect spot, he snapped truly as the Bombers started to pull away.
Pavlich lamented the fact young Eagle Harley Reid was “being taught a lesson” by opponent Sam Durham who was able to drift forward and snap Essendon’s fourth straight goal.
By half time, it was Essendon holding a 48-26 lead.
A “clumsy” slap at the footy by Todd Goldstein saw opponent Bailey Williams walked inside 50 to give West Coast the first goal of the half.
“A massive penalty to pay for Todd Goldstein and the Bombers,” Pavlich said.
“It’s a bit harsh,” Schofield added.
“Todd Goldstein would be disappointed with that. It’s gifted West Coast a goal.”
When Jake Kelly failed to rush the footy through on the goal line, Campbell Chesser pounced to get a toe to it and close West Coast to 15 points.
Jack Williams took a big contested grab to really give something the home fans to cheer about when he nailed his second goal.
And when Harley Reid landed a double fend and helped Jack Darling to his first for the contest… suddenly the Eagles were down by just four points.
Merrett silenced the crowd with his brilliant snap from the boundary as the intensity lifted another gear late in the third.
Young Eagle Noah Long limped off the field and went straight to the rooms after a heavy Matt Guelfi tackle where his leg was caught awkwardly underneath.
When Jack Petruccelle coughed up a horror turnover, the Bombers pounced and pushed the margin back out to 15 points at the final change.
And the match became a thriller in the final term when the result went on the line.
The Eagles were charging but a “dumb” reaction from star Jamie Cripps saw Jake Waterman’s shot on goal overturned – a shot that would have closed the margin to just four points.
And from there, Essendon held on for a six-point win – despite the resounding boos that drowned out the final siren.
3-2-1
MERRETT’S THE MAN
He’s the man with more career Brownlow Medal votes than club great James Hird – but Zach Merrett is still continuing to find ways to better his game in his 11th AFL season.
The Bombers skipper was inspirational for his side against West Coast on Saturday night as he racked up 29 disposals and three goals.
“Zach Merrett, gee he’s leading from the front this year,” Fox Footy’s Will Schofield said.
“He’s gone to a new level and that’s difficult given the heights that his career has already seen.
“He looks the sort of leader who at times or in games or in seasons and he knows someone needs to lift and he does. That’s what you want in a captain.
“I couldn’t be more impressed with what he’s done this year.”
Merrett led an impressive Bombers midfield brigade that dominated the first half – opening up that four-goal advantage.
TURNOVERS HURT
West Coast only have themselves to blame for coughing up repeat goals.
Jack Petruccelle gifted the Bombers a goal in the third term when he bit off too much with his midfield kick. Bailey Williams coughed up a goal when he failed to hit the target coming out of defence.
But none was worse than Jamie Cripps’ “dumb” reaction where he pushed over Bomber Nic Martin to see Jake Waterman’s shot on goal reversed into an Essendon free kick.
All three actions resulted directly in Essendon goals.
“We’ve seen some clumsy tackles this game, some ill-discplined acts and in a tight game, that’s what makes the difference,” Fox Footy’s Will Schofield said.
Speaking Cripps’ brain snap, Schofield said: “That’s just dumb!”
“That’s completely dumb by Jamie Cripps. He’s been in this league a long time.
“Nic Martin sucked him in there. You’ve got a forward having a shot at goal … what are you doing?”
Waterman could have closed West Coast to within four points had he goaled.
Petruccelle coughed up his horror moment with just minutes to go in the third term in what Matthew Pavlich described as a “crucial error” when he opted to go to a three on one.
And Williams gifted Zach Merrett his first goal when he kicked to “no one” coming out of defence and Merrett was left alone inside 50.
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“A really poor turnover,” commentator Adam Papalia said.
“Holes everywhere. Bombers couldn’t believe their luck.”
Schofield said the gift goals were “really disappointing” from West Coast’s point of view.
“You’ve got to do better than that from Bailey Williams,” Schofield said.
“You have to take care of it coming out. This was going to nobody.”
REID V DURHAM
Harley Reid is the whiz kid who is lifting West Coast out of their darkness.
But on Saturday night, Fox Footy’s Matthew Pavlich said he was “taught a lesson” by opponent Sam Durham who finished with 25 disposals.
Durham took Reid forward at every opportunity, forcing the first year star to defend time and time again.
And it paid off for Durham in the second term when he burst through the pack and snapped a brilliant goal.
“He’s been outstanding,” Pavlich said of Durham.
“They’ve been matched up a fair bit – Reid opens the gate there and Durham says thank you very much and walks straight through it.
“At this point in time, Harley Reid is being taught a lesson.
“Sam Durham has been huge in this match.”
“When you’re in your defensive 50, you must be man on – you can’t drift around watching the footy,” former Eagle Will Schofield added.
“We saw it last night with Nick Daicos kicking a goal late. You must be goal side, you must be man on – Harley Reid wasn’t there and Sam Durham kicks a great goal.”
Despite Durham’s dominance, it was Reid who sparked the crowd with two big don’t argues in the third term.
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