Plenty to smile about for Suns in Bombers defeat
ESSENDON’S reinvigorated fleet of small forwards was a constant source of excitement as the Bombers overcame a messy start to beat Gold Coast by five points on Thursday night.
The Bombers deployed a mixed side throughout the scratch match, which was cut short to consist of four 25-minute periods and a final 10-minute term at Austworld Centre Oval.
Sam Draper and Dylan Shiel were held back until the third period by Essendon coach Brad Scott, while Gold Coast played its best available 22 in the first three periods before sending out a secondchoice side for the remaining minutes. The ball lived in the Suns’ forward half during the first two periods as Essendon appeared unsettled by the home side’s relentless forward pressure and slick stoppage work led by Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson.
But the Bombers looked significantly more dangerous every time they came close to goal, leading by 16 points at the main break and playing more consistently during the shortened second half, winning 11.14.(80) to 11.9.(75).
TOP PERFORMERS
Sam Flanders showed he is ready to cement a place in the Suns’ side in his fourth season, with the powerful midfielder-forward the clear standout in the first two periods as he kicked two goals including a stunning volley as he roamed a pack. The 21-year-old covered the ground well when he spent time in the middle and on the wing, positioning himself well and taking an impressive intercept mark running back into the hole.
THE RECRUITS
Alwyn Davey Jr’s performance will excite Dons fans the most, with the father-son selection impressively working his way into the game following a quiet first period.
He nabbed his first goal in red and black during the third term.
Tom Berry was the standout among Gold Coast’s new recruits, applying frantic pressure up forward and working well in tandem with Ben Ainsworth and Nick Holman as the Suns won several holding-the-ball free kicks in their forward 50.
Ben Long looked composed across half-back, where he was locked in an intriguing battle with Davey Jr, winning a crucial free kick against the youngster to prevent a certain Bombers goal.
TOP PICK DANGEROUS
Top 10 pick Bailey Humphrey was fairly quiet but found himself in dangerous positions in the forward half several times, with a set shot from the arc just dropping short due to a strong breeze and a snap from the pocket forcing a desperate lunge from Jordan Ridley on the goal line.