Essendon did what they were supposed to do. It wasn’t a game for the ages. It was a far cry from the 52-goal shootout between the two clubs in 2001. After the comeback and last ditch win at the Adelaide Oval, the controversial finish at the MCG, the mauling at the Gabba, the demolition in Darwin and the masterclass at the SCG, it was all very much by the book. The Bombers’ opponents were young and willing but couldn’t go the distance. A bit sluggish early, the Dons gradually found their groove.
The win moved them to outright second on the ladder. Discounting the opening round last year, when they thrashed Hawthorn by 10 goals and sat atop the table for four days, they haven’t been in this position since the early months of the supplements scandal.
