AN INSPIRED Essendon upstaged Carlton at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, winning its fourth match of the AFL season by 35 points.
Essendon held off a gallant Carlton fightback to win 20.16 (136) to 15.11 (101), with Matthew Knights’ young side showing they might just have the mettle to go with their talent in coming years.
After being headed in the final term – despite going into the last quarter with a 25-point lead – the Bombers responded magnificently to ensure Dustin Fletcher celebrated breaking the AFL record for matches played by a father-son combination.
Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola booted seven goals and looked like he might single-handedly lift the Blues to victory, before the Bombers rallied to record their best win of the year.
The final margin did not accurately record the closeness of the contest, as Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd had only regained the lead for his side in the 17th minute of the final term.
From then on it was a Bomber blitz.
David Hille, Angus Monfries (four goals), Lloyd, Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton were among Essendon’s best, while Fevola was the Blues’ main danger all day.
In a see-sawing and free scoring final term, the Blues managed to pull back a four-goal deficit at the last change and snatch the lead.
However Lloyd took a superb mark and kicked truly to ensure the Bombers would not fold.
Andrew Lovett booted three late goals to join the red and black party as Essendon celebrated a memorable victory in front of almost 60,000 fans.
Earlier, it was all Essendon as a shell-shocked Carlton took a full 30 minutes to find its feet at the MCG.
Matthew Knights’ side got off to a dream start when skipper Matthew Lloyd goaled inside the first minute, and Lloyd was involved again a few minutes later with his opposite number as the game’s intensity lifted.
Five minutes into the match Fevola collected a brave Henry Slattery as the young Bomber ran back with the flight of the ball, but it was the bone-rattling clash between Lloyd and Blues captain Chris Judd that showed just how committed both men – and teams – were to the round-13 contest.
Perhaps Lloyd’s show of strength inspired his men, as Essendon booted seven first-quarter goals. Ruckman David Hille helped his team dominate the clearances, despite the Blues seemingly having an edge around the stoppages.
Lloyd and Angus Monfries were lively while the Blues struggled to get their hands on the footy.
By the first change the Bombers were well in control, leading 7.5 (47) to 1.2 (8).
Things soon changed in the second term. Fevola only needed a few touches to get his tail up and, once he did, he quickly caught fire.
Three second-term goals to Fev and once to Andrew Carrazzo got Carlton back into the contest, although at half-time they still trailed by 23 points.
Andrew Welsh was doing a terrific run-with job on Judd, while the Bombers’ smaller men were more-then matching the Blues’ big-name midfielders.
Carlton was always going to come hard in the third term, although the sight of Judd starting in the goal square didn’t bode well for the Blues.
The match-winner soon retreated to the interchange and, while he did return to the field, his output was limited.
Essendon, however, kept on keeping on and looked capable of answering each challenge the Blues mounted, despite Fevola notching his fifth during the quarter.
Monfries was everywhere, booting his third after some superb vision from Kyle Reimers, and later in the term he kicked his fourth to extend the margin back out to six goals.
However two late Carlton goals to Nick Stevens and Marc Murphy got Carlton back to within 25 points at the final change – well within striking distance.
In the final term the Blues came out and threw everything at their rivals – taking only 12 minutes to cancel out Essendon’s advantage with goals to Kade Simpson, Fevola, Stevens and Carrazzo.
Six goals straight gave Carlton a two-point advantage, but Lloyd snatched back the lead with his great mark and goal from 45m.
Brad Fisher gave Bomber fans a final heart flutter, before veteran Scott Lucas, Lovett’s hat-trick and a second to Reimers secured the premiership points.
CARLTON 1.2 5.4 9.6 15.11 (101)
ESSENDON 7.5 8.9 12.13 20.16 (136)
Goals
Carlton: Brendan Fevola 7, Nick Stevens 2, Andrew Carrazzo 2, Eddie Betts, Marc Murphy, Kade Simpson, Brad Fisher
Essendon: Angus Monfries 4, Matthew Lloyd 4, Andrew Lovett 3, Jay Neagle 2, Kyle Reimers 2, Mark McVeigh, Leroy Jetta, Adam McPhee, Jason Laycock, Scott Lucas
Best
Carlton: Brendan Fevola, Nick Stevens, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite
Essendon: David Hille, Angus Monfries, Matthew Lloyd, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton. Kyle Reimers
Injuries
Carlton: Chris Judd (concussion), Andrew Carrazzo (concussion)
Essendon: Henry Slattery (fractured cheekbone)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McLaren, Chamberlain, Armstrong
Official crowd: 59,177 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
