It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing match, with plenty of errors mingled with uncontested keepings- off football.
The early third quarter was particularly frustrating for both sides as it provided a multitude of turnovers, smothers and other errors.
The Kangaroos were the dominant team of the first quarter but for a brief period in the second term, Essendon’s running players set the tone.
North Melbourne responded with a possession game that stemmed any flow the Bombers may have started.
Brent Harvey snapped out of his early season form slump with a 33-possession performance while Lachie Hansen held his own in the back half.
The first point did not come until the six minute mark of the match when North Melbourne rushed one through. It was a sign of things to come as a low-scoring, scrappy contest unfolded thereafter.
David Hale was too strong for Darcy Daniher and then Tayte Pears before Dustin Fletcher was finally moved on to him in the third quarter. By then, Hale had booted four goals and had proven to be the difference between the two teams.
Hale had a chance to really cement the lead in the first minute of the second half with a set shot from 20m out on a slight angle. He hit the post but Harvey kicked the goal for North just a minute later.
The third quarter was ignited at the 12-minute mark when Essendon made four interchanges at the same time just as Matthew Lloyd was lining up for a set shot. The Bombers were down by just ten points at the time but the ball was turned over because of an extra number on the park.
The moment seemed to galvanise both sides.
Essendon got a goal three minutes later through Jason Winderlich but North Melbourne kicked three before the final change.
Jack Ziebell showed plenty of poise with his disposal by foot, while Hamish McIntosh worked hard around the ground to get to the contests.
The close-checking Brady Rawlings had the unenviable job on the dangerous Andrew Lovett.
The Essendon speedster got away from Rawlings a couple of times but overall the Kangaroo took the points.
The Bombers needed the first goal of the final term to stay in the match and Brent Stanton provided that goal three minutes in. But Essendon struggled to get any true momentum, not kicking two consecutive goals until the final term when one was presented to them in history-making circumstances.
North Melbourne defender Daniel Pratt was taking the kick-in, was in two minds and dribbled it over for a rushed behind.
The new rule penalising rushed behinds was forced for the first time in a home and away game and Matthew Lloyd kicked a goal from point blank range.
Lloyd’s goal gave the Bombers all the momentum. The Kangaroos only led by six points and were looking shaky.
Lloyd missed another easy shot a little while later that would have given him his 900th career goal. Up the other end, Hale could have put a real dent in Essendon’s hopes but he too missed a sitter.
Sixteen minutes passed without a goal until Hamish McIntosh cooly slotted one through at the 23-minute mark to seal the game.
North Melbourne 3.3 5.5 9.7 10.9 (69)
Essendon 1.3 3.7 5.11 7.15 (57)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Hale 4, Harvey 3, Ziebell, Petrie, McIntosh
Essendon: Lloyd 3, Winderlich, Stanton, Lovett, McPhee
BEST
North Melbourne: Harvey, Hale, Hansen, Ziebell, Urquhart, Simpson.
Essendon: Davey, Zaharakis, Lloyd, Stanton, Watson
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Matt Campbell (hamstring)
Essendon: Hayden Skipworth (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Chamberlain, Pannell
Official crowd: 33,842 at Docklands
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
