1. Regime takes another hit
Essendon's fitness regime looks likely to receive further criticism, with Michael Hibberd suffering a quad injury on Saturday. The Bombers' training tactics have been questioned all year, with a host of players sidelined with soft tissue injuries. Despite briefly testing his leg on the sidelines, Hibberd was subbed out of the match for Nathan Lovett-Murray. He joins Angus Monfries, David Zaharakis, Brent Prismall, Patrick Ryder and Michael Hurley on the injury list - all out with soft tissue complaints.
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2. Welcome back Gumby
Scott Gumbleton made his much-awaited return to senior football on Saturday, having last played in round 18, 2010. The 23-year-old looked lively up forward, finishing with three goals, 14 disposals and five marks. Coach James Hird probably would have been pleased to have just seen the injury-prone forward get through the match, but for him to have such an impact would have pleased everyone involved with Essendon.
3. Bombers flex
Despite the Power being around the mark for three quarters, Essendon shook them off with ease in the final term on Saturday. The Bombers finished the game in outstanding fashion, booting eight unanswered goals, six of which came in the last quarter. Given Essendon's injury worries, many gave Port a chance heading into the match, but even without a host of stars the club was simply too good. One stat line said it all; 20 last-term inside 50s to the Power's five.
4. Not rucking good enough
For two weeks in a row now the Power's ruck department has been shown up by the opposition. Last week it was Adelaide's Sam Jacobs who dominated the middle, on Saturday it was Essendon's Tom Bellchambers. The big Bomber finished with 34 hit-outs to the Power's combined 31, but his work around the ground with 13 disposals and two goals furthered the advantage. While their midfield sharks well off opposition taps, the Power need more out of their ruckmen on a weekly basis.
5. Confidence is everything
When the Power moved the ball quickly they looked capable of running away with the game on Saturday. But too often they held the ball up, didn't take the first option and eventually turned the ball over. The classic example was at the start of the second term, when the Power's Darren Pfeiffer had the ball 60m from goal. With nothing on, he kicked backwards to Danyle Pearce, who then turned the ball over with a short kick. Essendon raced the ball down the other end and Cory Dell'Olio finished. The Power look a promising side when they play with confidence, without it, they're hard to watch.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
