ESSENDON has celebrated Dustin Fletcher's 350th game with a win, but not before an almighty scare from a gutsy Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Bombers trailed by seven points at three-quarter time, but rode home on the back of a five-goals-to-one final term to win 15.15 (105) to 13.10 (88).
Five talking points: Gold Coast v Essendon
Following Stewart Crameri's fourth goal that gave Essendon the lead early in the fourth, Patrick Ryder produced an amazing goal to give them breathing space.
After marking on the junction of the 50m arc and left-hand boundary line, Ryder casually produced an around-the-corner kick to split the sticks and give them a 12-point lead.
Essendon was not headed again.
It was a moment of magic that helped the Bombers move to a 3-0 start ahead of next Saturday's blockbuster against old foe and fellow unbeaten team, Carlton.
After cruising to a 21-point quarter-time lead, the Bombers then felt heat from the Suns for the rest of the night.
Essendon coach James Hird was relieved to escape with the four points and was full of praise for his opponents.
"I thought the Suns were terrific tonight. We kicked the first four and … it would have been very easy for the Gold Coast team to pack it in," Hird said.
"All credit to Guy McKenna … he’s under the pump and they’re under the pump and they came out tonight and took it up to us and could have won the game, as easily as we won the game.
"Although the scoreboard didn’t represent it, particularly in the third quarter, I thought we got the game back on our terms.
"We had 65 per cent of the time in the forward half after half time … in the box, from about 10 minutes into the third quarter, we were very happy with the last 40 minutes of the game.
"When we play the way we want to play and we’re hard and we contest, we’re a good team. When we want to get ahead of the ball and we all want to kick the goals, we’re not."
Inspired by Gary Ablett's phenomenal 44-disposal game, the Suns kicked five goals in each of the second and third terms to take the lead into the last.
Following his 43 and 40 touches in the opening two rounds against Adelaide and St Kilda, Ablett's effort is believed to be the first time in AFL history a player has started the season with three 40-possession games.
Of the disposals, 27 were contested and included 13 clearances.
He added two goals for good measure.
Ablett was just one reason for the much improved performance by the Suns who have been hammered after their two poor opening losses.
Coach Guy McKenna had pleaded for more effort and that's exactly what he got.
"We gave our players and our fans a sign of how we can play a game of Aussie Rules football, so that was pleasing," McKenna said.
"A lot's been said about their intent, their desire and all those things and it's really good for the boys to wind back the clock and realise the muscle we've been using the least of is the one between the ears, the brain, and they engaged that tonight and really got value for effort."
Thriving in his new midfield role, Karmichael Hunt inspired his teammates - and the crowd - with a nine-touch second quarter.
Aside from his effective work inside, he laid some bone-crunching tackles - and one enormous shepherd on Angus Monfries in the fourth quarter that left the Bomber dazed.
McKenna agreed it was Hunt's most convincing performance since switching from rugby league prior to last season.
Essendon was led superbly by Jobe Watson, who had 25 disposals, 20 of them contested.
ESSENDON 5.6 7.10 10.12 15.15 (105)
GOLD COAST 2.3 7.5 12.7 13.10 (88)
GOALS
Essendon: Crameri 4, Hurley 2, Jetta 2, Ryder 2, Watson 2, Bellchambers, Davey, Reimers
Gold Coast: Ablett 2, Bock 2, Hall 2, Brennan, Caddy, Harbrow, Matera, Rischitelli, Russell, Shaw
BEST
Essendon: Watson, Crameri, Hurley, Monfries, Howlett, Ryder
Gold Coast: Ablett, Harbrow, Hunt, Tape, Bock, Swallow
INJURIES
Essendon: Dempsey (hamstring)
Gold Coast: Nil
SUBS
Essendon: Courtenay Dempsey replaced by Ricky Dyson in the second quarter
Gold Coast: Sam Day replaced by Trent McKenzie in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Ritchie, Stewart, Grun
Official crowd: 17,069 at Metricon Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
