Essendon will look to consolidate its spot in the top four when it plays the winless Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
The Bombers (6-1-2, 98.3%) look the real deal in a promising season under Brad Scott, having not dropped a game since their Gather Round defeat to Port Adelaide. Dylan Shiel comes in for his first game of the season, replacing Nik Cox (illness).
It’s been another tough season for the Kangaroos (0-9, 56.3%), who’ve made wholesale changes including Colby McKercher (injured) missing and Zane Duursma returning, while three North players have been dropped.
Ben McKay and Todd Goldstein, who departed North for Essendon in the off-season, will come up against their former side for the first time.
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The Bombers pulled a big late change, with star midfielder Darcy Parish (calf tightness) withdrawn for Elijah Tsatas. Dylan Shiel (Essendon) and Eddie Ford (North Melbourne) were named the starting subs.
Luke Davies-Uniacke kicked an epic opening goal after shrugging off a couple of Bombers and snapping truly in a hot start for North Melbourne.
“Look dangerous,” Tigers champ Jack Riewoldt said of the Kangaroos on Fox Footy.
Despite a competitive start from the Roos, Essendon regained composure halfway through the opening term, with Matt Guelfi kicking its first goal.
After a long score review for a potential Toby Pink goal right on the goalline, it was finally deemed a goal to give the Roos a six-point lead. Pink had a chance to make it two in a row after a big tackle in forward 50, but he missed the set shot.
The Bombers kicked the last three goals of the quarter to take all momentum into the first change, with Riewoldt noting they’d “found their mojo and game.”
Essendon led 4.2 (26) to 2.2 (14) at quarter-time.
In a touching moment late in the first quarter, Roos fans showed love for Goldstein when he marked on the wing with a loud round of applause around Marvel Stadium.
Zach Merrett struggled in the first quarter after receiving attention from Liam Shiels, with the Bombers skipper shown talking to midfield coach Daniel Giansiracusa and Brad Scott at the first break.
The Roos struck first blood in the second quarter after Cam Zurhaar marked on the goalline from a Harry Sheezel shot that just fell short. Essendon instantly responded at the other end through Peter Wright for his second goal.
Playing in his milestone 100th game, Guelfi kicked his second goal from a tough set shot to extend the Bombers’ lead to 24 points.
Things went up a notch late in the second quarter after a few big defensive efforts from Essendon stopped the Roos in their tracks from scoring before North produced a nice chain of play from a stoppage that led to a Curtis Taylor goal.
Zane Duursma nailed a goal from a tough angle on the half-time siren to reduce the Bombers’ lead to seven points, 7.5 (47) to 6.4 (40).
A Nic Martin move forward paid dividends early for Brad Scott’s side, helping set up Guelfi’s third goal.
Ben McKay drew a 50m penalty on Nick Larkey and drilled a pass to Jake Stringer to extend Essendon’s lead.
An innocuous collision between Sam Durham and Tristan Xerri saw both players come off worse for wear, with Durham potentially hurting his neck.
Davies-Uniacke kicked another brilliant goal, dancing through traffic to get the Roos within 14 points.
Just when North was back in the game, the Bombers kicked away late in the period with goals to Alwyn Davey Jr, Jade Gresham and Wright – Wright’s fourth of the day in a big performance.
Just minutes after the Roos had subbed out Charlie Lazzaro (tactical), they were dealt an injury blow, with Miller Bergman’s day ended early with a hamstring issue.
Stringer added another goal for the Dons from a tight angle from long distance, with Riewoldt noting it was “borderline unfair” some of the impressive goals Essendon had kicked.
Essendon led 15.7 (87) to 8.4 (52) at the last change.
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