IT WON'T be remembered as one of the most attractive games of the season but for Essendon it didn't matter. In a contest riddled with skill errors and turnovers, the Bombers finished 25-point winners over Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers didn't make it look easy though. They recorded significantly more inside 50 entries, had more disposals, won the contested possessions and led in tackles. Yet the Bombers, due mainly to some scratchy possessions going forward, could only win 16.15 (111) to Port's 13.8 (86).
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The Bombers lost David Hille (calf), Nathan Lovett-Murray (hamstring) and David Myers (hamstring) to injuries, with all three set to miss at least three weeks. Essendon coach James Hird said he was "happy" to have won but noted that the club's skills needed some work.
"Certainly our kicking, in terms of goalkicking, has got to improve," Hird said.
"If we had have kicked straighter then the game might have been dead earlier but really, with the injuries we had, I still consider it a really good effort by our players."
Despite Essendon's ascendancy in the key areas, Port never looked out of the contest. The Power's recent history against the Bombers suggests it is usually the way: before Saturday's game the Power had won 12 of their last 14 meetings with the Bombers.
Even without promising tall forward John Butcher, Port's key men up front were always threatening.
Jay Schulz (four goals) and Justin Westhoff (three) helped peg back Essendon's four-goal lead early in the third term, but the Bombers' consistent midfield, including Brent Stanton (25 disposals) and Jobe Watson (25), pushed the game Essendon's way in the last term.
Port coach Matthew Primus said his side was lucky to have been in the game at such a late stage given the Bombers' early command.
"I thought they were terrific in the first half apart form their finishing," Primus said of the home team. "I thought it could have been all over then.
"I spoke to the players at half-time and said that because of their lack of finish they've given us the opportunity to still be involved in he game. To our players' credit they were able to believe in that and get involved."
Primus' assessment was about right.
Scores were even at the first change but it was clear the Bombers, although wasteful, were the better team. In similar fashion to their round one win over North Melbourne last week, they were dominating possession without making the most of it.
They pumped the ball inside 50 20 times to Port Adelaide's nine in the first quarter, but often shots at goal were rushed, and entries hopeful rather than precise. Calmer heads and cleaner disposals were required.
The loss of Hille midway through the first term to a calf injury meant the Bombers needed to restructure their attack. Patrick Ryder (46 hit-outs) moved into the ruck and Jake Carlisle shifted forward, with the pair beating Port duo Jarrad Redden and Daniel Stewart.
The scrap continued in the second term until Brent Stanton earned a free kick, and a subsequent 50-metre penalty, to hand the Bombers a certain goal and regain a two-point lead.
Courtenay Dempsey followed it up immediately with a brilliant running goal from outside 50, and the Bombers entered half-time having kicked five of the last six goals and holding a 21-point advantage.
The second half continued in the same vein, with neither team able to take complete control of the game for a sustained period. David Myers strained a hamstring in the last quarter leaving the Bombers with only two players on the bench.
They looked out on their feet but held on for the win, with Stewart Crameri kicking a goal and then, minutes later, passing to Michael Hurley, who sealed the win.
The Bombers left with the four points, but also with the knowledge they need to sharpen up several areas to remain unbeaten for much longer.
Essendon 5.2 10.6 11.13 16.15 (111)
Port Adelaide 5.2 7.3 12.5 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Essendon: Jetta 4, Crameri 3, Stanton 2, Carlisle, Dempsey, Hille, Howlett, Hurley, Monfries, Zaharakis
Port Adelaide: Schulz 4, Westhoff 3, Ebert, McCarthy, Redden, P.Stewart, Thomas, Wingard
BEST
Essendon: Stanton, Jetta, Ryder, Watson, Dempsey, Monfries, Hardingham
Port Adelaide: Boak, Cornes, Westhoff, Schulz, McCarthy, Cassisi
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: David Hille (calf) replaced by Sam Lonergan in the first quarter
Port Adelaide: Chad Wingard replaced by Matthew Broadbent in the third quarter
INJURIES
Essendon: Hille (calf), Myers (hamstring), Lovett-Murray (hamstring)
Port Adelaide: Wingard (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Ritchie, Armstrong
Official crowd: 34,118 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
