After eight rounds of hearing about the ‘Essendon Edge’, the Bombers have finally claimed a big scalp in 2024, exploding on Saturday evening to emphatically beat the highly-touted GWS Giants – in the process removing their ceiling.
And their next few weeks could see them skyrocket into the very top tier of the league ladder.
Dissecting their breakout game for 2024 on Fox Footy’s First Crack, dual North Melbourne premiership player David King was relieved to see their best football on display against the competition’s best.
Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
“Finally, this version of Essendon over the last 4-5 weeks is the most defensively sound version of Essendon I’ve seen for a long, long time,” King opened by saying.
“You have to give credit to the coaching staff, the playing unit – they’ve clearly been working through some teething issues over the first month of the season.”
Brad Scott’s 20-point win over the Giants came as a surprise to most pundits, but perhaps showed doubters that maybe, just maybe they can make an elusive finals run.
“To me, this model gives them the best chance to win finals, to win a final firstly – get that monkey off the back – and then get rolling,” King continued by saying.
“We all know the 7,000 days plus that they’ve gone without winning a final.”
Under fire in the first month of this season, Essendon’s defence has suddenly turned itself from a tattered old blanket to a concrete wall.
Despite near slip ups against the Crows and West Coast, there’s no doubt they have improved significantly from their leaky start that saw them concede two scores over 110 points in the first four rounds.
“They were able to stop the best offensive ball movement team in the competition yesterday; and it wasn’t just the fact that they kicked 62 points – it was the way they did it,” King explained.
“They completely shut down the most lethal ball movement program in the AFL right now, and I think you have to recognise it.
“It’s a big if, it’s a massive if, but if, if they can keep this defensive model intact – and they’ve got (Jordan) Ridley to come back, arguably their best defender – then away they go.”
It wasn’t just the defensive efforts of their back six that were praised, with King pointing out an unheralded midfielder on the weekend for his defensive efforts, after a quiet game by his standards on face value.
Darcy Parish had a season-low 16 disposals, but was applauded for his strength in areas not always seen on the stat sheet.
“Parish’s defensive work was undersold; I thought we was outstanding,” King said.
“Their pressure was 195 for the game, and it had an impact – the Giants felt the pressure of Essendon, and they couldn’t handle it.”
Despite some rightful scepticism at the beginning of the season, King finished his analysis with a plethora of hope for Bombers fans who have been deprived of success for so long.
“Who knows what the limit is, and who knows what the scope is for this group – we were told to be patient, don’t be patient anymore; the patience is over baby!”
Fellow First Crack panellist and St Kilda champion Leigh Montagna highlighted their generous draw in the coming weeks, which could see them end at the very top of the ladder.
“The draw they’ve got to come – North Melbourne, Richmond and Gold Coast – they’ll be sitting top two after 12 rounds of football you would expect,” Montagna explained.
“If they’re sitting top two at the halfway mark, they’re absolutely playing finals – and they’re a genuine chance to finish in that top four.”
The Bombers face North Melbourne next Sunday afternoon at Marvel Stadium, with the high chance of ending Round 10 with seven wins.
Source Agencies
