NEALE AT IT AGAIN AS DONS WILT
ESSENDON lost the match with a dismal first half in round 1.
This time, it was the second term and the Bombers’ arch-nemesis Lachie Neale which ultimately brought their downfall, with a hot start pegged back in a matter of minutes by a sixgoal run from Brisbane as a wasteful Bombers side went down by 22 points at Marvel Stadium.
Having racked up eight Brownlow votes in his last three outings against the Bombers, Neale (41 disposals, 22 contested possessions, two goals) is certain to poll maximum votes after a monster third term, where he almost single-handedly took the game away from the Lions when the game was in the balance.
Neale was there at every turn thwarting the Bombers, tallying 13 disposals, four clearances and kicking a goal. His goal in the dying minutes of the final term was the icing on the cake of another best-on-ground display.
A late fightback had the Bombers in with a sniff late but the damage was already done – some of it self-inflicted as the Bombers wasted numerous gettable chances on goal, in stark contrast to the opportunistic Lions.
After being smashed out of the centre against Geelong, the Bombers won the first seven centre clearances of the match and thoroughly outplayed the Lions early on the back of a resurgent response from key forward Peter Wright.
Chris Fagan’s side amped up the pressure and the Lions’ prime movers came out roaring after their firstquarter wake-up call, where they laid just five tackles, to take the lead as the Bombers seemingly had no answers.
Wright (three goals) was the major positive with an emphatic opening term, while Merrett’s response – tallying 31 disposals, seven inside 50s and kicking a goal – was also strong after copping heat for his lack of influence with his disposals last round.
The Bombers face an enormous task to avoid being 0-3 next round, coming up against Melbourne on Friday night.
Essendon coach Ben Rutten said the effort and intent was clearly better after a horror round 1 showing against Geelong, but the side was left to rue a lack of polish.
“Overall, I thought our inability to make the most of our opportunities (was costly),” Rutten said.
“Our set-shot goalkicking in particular, compared to Brisbane’s, that was a key factor of the game.
“Also the other little opportunities throughout the game we just need to keep getting better at. The attention to detail to little parts of our game is just so important.”
A staggering coach killer from defender James Stewart just about summed up the Bombers’ day after halftime. With all the time in the world, Stewart jogged over to the last line of defence as a rushed snap out of congestion from Zac Bailey bounced over the goal line.
The score review showed the ball just missing his hand in a horror error which put the Lions three goals up on the cusp of three-quarter time.
“That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about,” Rutten said. “If we can put that beyond doubt, that saves a goal.
“Sometimes our little contests on the wing that we don’t quite get right and it ends up in a goal against or an inside-50 against.
“There’s just lots of little moments throughout the game where we think we can be better at.”