Essendon defender Jake Carlisle was the early tip for this year's All Australian full-back, but his best value for the Bombers may yet be as a forward. Unable to contain Jarrad Waite on Friday night, Carlisle was sent forward in the second half, and played a key role in dragging the Bombers back into the match. The rangy key position player took six marks in the third quarter as Essendon started its run, and he saved the game with a stunning contested grab in defence inside the final minute.
2. Daniher steps out
On the 140th anniversary of the Bombers' first official game, and in the same week champion full forward Matthew Lloyd was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, the debut of Joe Daniher was another highlight for the Dons. The son of Anthony – and the sixth Daniher to pull on the Essendon jumper – Joe showed promise with 15 possessions and five marks. Early in the second quarter, the teenager pushed onto a wing and marked, wheeling onto his left foot and hitting a leading Michael Hurley on the lead with a 50-metre pass. He was heavily involved in the final term, taking two set shots but failing to convert. "We'll certainly be playing him again," coach James Hird said post-match. "I thought he was reasonable tonight."
3. The Waite show
Between the 21-minute mark of the first quarter and the 19-minute mark of the second, there were five goals kicked, all from the boot of Jarrad Waite. The Carlton spearhead ignited Friday night's match in a thrilling burst, leaping early and marking everything that came his way. He saw off in-form opponent Carlisle with his first three goals, continued his run against Cale Hooker, and kicked his sixth (a career-high) on Michael Hurley. He was the Blues' only multiple goalkicker.
4. Garlett’s 'goal'
The question must be asked – why was the goal review system not used after Carlton forward Jeff Garlett appeared to convert as he fell to ground halfway through the first quarter? After marking in the goalsquare, Garlett decided to throw the ball onto his boot as he fell to ground under pressure. Replays showed he had kicked a goal, but the goal umpire ruled he had fumbled the ball over the line. Before a review could be called, wily veteran Dustin Fletcher played on from the kick in and the Blues were left short-changed. In what became a five-point loss, expect the lack of a review to be a major talking point in the coming days.
5. Letting them play
Hird rightly pointed out that the winning coach is rarely unhappy with the umpiring, but his praise for the whistle-blowers on Friday night was more about their decision to let the game go. There has been a shift in recent weeks that has seen less free kicks paid, and the Essendon coach likes it. "We spoke to the umpires two or three weeks ago, most clubs, and [they said] they're going to pay the more obvious free kicks and probably let the game go a little bit," he said post-match. "I thought the game was umpired really fairly and the obvious free kicks were given. That's how we want the game umpired."
