NORTH Melbourne’s 2008 AFL season hit an early snag when the Kangaroos ran into a pumped-up Essendon at Telstra Dome on Easter Monday.
Despite looking the goods early in their round one contest and leading by 27 points early in the second quarter, North Melbourne faded badly to eventually go down by 55 points, 19.8 (122) to 9.13 (67).
It was a disappointing day for the Kangaroos as the match had been in the balance at half-time.
But seven goals to one to the Bombers in the third term put the game out of North’s reach, with Essendon taking a commanding 44-point advantage into the final change.
The Kangas hit the post a staggering six times on the day, but they could not blame that for the loss as they were outplayed by their opponents on a day when North had few winners.
Shannon Grant and Adam Simpson tried hard, debutante Scott Thompson impressed while forward Nathan Thompson (four goals) made a great return to AFL football from his knee injury.
Essendon utility Mark McVeigh took home the Archer-Hird Medal, awarded to the player who best personified the qualities the two former champions displayed during their illustrious careers.
McVeigh picked up plenty of the footy for the Bombers and used it well when he did gain possession.
But Essendon had plenty of winners across the ground. And it was important the Dons gained a team effort after they had earlier suffered the loss of key forward Scott Lucas with a serious knee injury.
In the opening term it seemed as though the Kangaroos’ form of last year had carried through to 2008, as they looked a class above a new-look, younger Essendon outfit.
Despite Corey Jones having to leave the field early after copping a heavy knock, Dean Laidley’s men made all the running.
The lively Lindsay Thomas kicked the game’s opening two goals and when Thompson booted his first the Bombers looked shell-shocked.
Grant was using the ball well while debutante Thompson was providing drive from defence.
It took Essendon until the 17th minute to open its account, that coming courtesy of a Lucas long bomb.
However the dangerous Bomber’s afternoon was to come to a premature end shortly after when he copped a heavy knock to a knee just minutes later and one wondered if Matthew Knights’ team could muster a winning score.
When Nathan Thompson added another, showing he was well over the knee injury that robbed him of his 2007, the Roos were 15 points clear.
But somehow the Bombers grinded their way back into the contest.
Matthew Knights’ side re-energised itself, kicking the next six goals to storm to the main change with a seven point lead and cap a remarkable comeback.
Matthew Lloyd became the traditional spearhead and responded with three second-quarter goals while for the Kangas, if it wasn’t Thompson up forward, they were perhaps struggling for options.
While the margin was only seven points at half-time, it was quickly extended to 26 within five minutes of the resumption as Kangaroo shoulders slumped.
David Hille slammed one home to make it nine goals in a row for the red and blacks, but when Thompson booted his fourth the Roos seemed to get a sniff again.
Aaron Edwards was unlucky not to be paid his early attempt for mark of the year, and had he not grassed his bid North might have been back in it.
But four more Essendon goals for the term put paid to the Roos’ chances.
The final term was merely a procession, as Lloyd kicked his sixth in the opening minutes to put the issue beyond doubt.
North did manage to kick a couple of goals to add a little respectability to the scoreline, but the coach has plenty of work to do with his men before they tackle Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
Essendon 2.0 8.2 15.5 19.8 (122)
GOALS
Essendon: Lloyd 6, Lovett-Murray 4, Lucas, Ramanauskas, Laycock, Johnson, McVeigh, Hille, Watson, Davey, Fletcher
BEST
Essendon: McVeigh, Lloyd, Watson, Fletcher, Ramanauskas, Houli, Dempsey
INJURIES
Essendon: Lucas (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Nicholls, McInerney
Official crowd: 48,100 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
