THE STINGRAY barb that wounded Bulldog youngster Jarrad Grant early on Friday morning might seem mild compared with the lashing the Dogs received from Essendon in their NAB Cup quarter-final at Telstra Dome.
The Bombers swept to a 27-point lead in the first quarter at Telstra Dome, increasing their lead at every change before cantering to a 54-point win, 3.12.14 (113) to 0.8.11 (59).
Granted, this was a pre-season match and and a quartet of star Bulldogs was in the stands, but it was woeful performance from a Doggie outfit desperately trying to improve on last year’s disappointing return.
Just eight goals for the match was perhaps the most telling of stats in a game Essendon won by nine goals and had winners all over field – despite missing injured duo Matthew Lloyd and Jason Winderlich, star defender Dustin Fletcher and lively ball carriers Andrew Lovett, Courtenay Dempsey and Adam McPhee.
From early on it was apparent who was ‘on’ in front of 19,000 fans at Docklands – the Bombers.
After a confidence boosting win over the Brisbane Lions in their NAB Cup opener, new coach Matthew Knights had his charges on song, particularly youngsters Kyle Reimers, Bachar Houli and emerging midfield speedster Ricky Dyson.
Reimers’ aggression, Houli’s ball winning and Dyson’s skill and workrate were three of many positives for Knights and Bomber fans.
Others included the David Hille-Jason Laycock ruck/forward combination, Paddy Ryder’s work in defence, and later up forward, Alwyn Davey’s progression and Adam Ramanauskas’ poise across half-back.
The Bomber star, after a long and well-documented battle with cancer, looks finally ready to produce his best. His poise, dash and sure-handedness were all on display.
The highlight of the night came at the seven-minute mark of the third term when Scott Lucas showed exactly why he is a two-time Crichton Medallist.
After marking in front of opponent Andrew McDougall 70 metres from goal, Lucas wheeled round on his trademark left foot and slotted a supergoal on the run from just outside the arc. It oozed class. He did it again mid-way through the final term to signal party time for an Essendon side riding high on confidence.
However, it was Essendon’s work without the ball that equalled their precision with it.
The Bulldogs all too often were forced into error by harassing Bombers hell-bent on pressuring the ball carrier. It’s a Knights message that has clearly got through.
In stark contrast the Doggies virtually never left the back porch. In all areas they were down.
The Dogs went in without Lindsay Gilbee, Farren Ray, Tom Williams, Daniel Giansiracusa, Ryan Griffen and Jarrod Harbrow, but even in their absence a better showing was expected.
Eade trialed Will Minson at full-forward with little success, while at the same time throwing anyone he could through the midfield in a vain attempt to ignite it.
New recruit Scott Welsh, the man Eade hopes can spark his forward set-up, didn’t touch the ball in the first half. He ended with one kick but reportedly carried the flu into the match.
The few positives for Eade included a busy effort from veteran Jason Akermanis and the workrate and commitment of Adam Cooney, Daniel Cross and Shaun Higgins. Josh Hill, the side’s only multiple goalkicker along with Brad Johnson, did enough to suggest his future is bright at this level.
Eade’s other experiment – McDougall at centre half-back – fared marginally better than Minson, although his opponent Lucas ended with five goals, including three supergoals to be the game’s most damaging forward.
For Essendon, a NAB Cup semi-final beckons, while the Bulldogs will be picking Eade’s barbs out until well into next week.
NAB Cup or not, this wasn’t a performance to be proud of.
Western Bulldogs 0.2.2 0.3.6 0.5.9 0.8.11 (59)
Essendon 0.5.5 1.8.6 2.10.9 3.12.14 (113)
GOALS
Essendon: Supergoals: Lucas 3. Goals: Reimers 3, Lucas 2, Welsh 2, Hille, Johnson, Laycock, Houli, Lovett-Murray
Western Bulldogs: Supergoals: Nil. Goals: Hill 2, Johnson 2, Minson, Cooney, Street, Akermanis
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Johnson, Boyd, Cooney, Cross, Murphy, Akermanis
Essendon: Lucas, Dyson, Lovett-Murray, Hille, Reimers, Houli, Watson, Monfries
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Welsh (illness), Callan (concussion)
Essendon: Michael (hamstring tightness)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Rosebury, Chamberlain, McInerney
Official crowd: 19,831 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
