ETIHAD DREAMTIME

by the Oracle

I feel sorry for Essendon coach Matthew Knights and his team of Bombers.

They ventured out to Etihad Stadium last night with a well prepared game plan which they executed properly with all the necessary due skill, enthusiasm and a winning attitude. The team played well, dominated the first and third quarters of the game, coasted in the last and even ticked most of the boxes with the umpires who obligingly handed them the first three goals on a silver platter and generally looked after them well during the game. After two and a half hours of blood, sweat and very few tears, they took home the four premiership points on offer, grabbed a place in the top eight at the expense of the reigning premiers and had some much-needed momentum to take with them in the run home to the end of the season and possibly into the finals.

So why is it that I feel sorry for Essendon?

Because, basically the Bombers would have absolutely no idea after last night's game as to where they stand in the AFL scheme of things. The team they beat, Melbourne, is certainly not the sort of opponent you can use as a measuring stick when your next opponent is a lean, hungry opponent like Carlton which is desperate for a win. In other words, if you want to test your strength and ability, you simply can't do it against a disorganised rabble playing with seemingly no purpose and no discipline.

The Demons can trot out their excuses - their youth, injuries, swine flu, tiredness, the umpires etc. The fact of the matter is they are a long way off being even competitive or up to the standard of the competition.

After a relatively competitive first half, the third quarter, known by many as "the premiership quarter", demonstrated Melbourne's ineptness. Essendon controlled the play at will while their opponents stood around like stale bottles of you know what. The Bombers had three goals in the first five minutes of that term while the Dees took an extraordinary and shameful 16 minutes to venture into attack for the first time. Luckily, a very tired looking Russell Robertson was able to manage a goal on that occasion; his team's only score for the quarter. The final term was all junk time and afforded Demon fans plenty of time to head home early. I for one was not prepared to hang around or find refuge in Etihad's overpriced bars and food stalls.

While the Bombers had veterans in Scott Lucas and Matthew Lloyd (three goals each) and Dustin Fletcher (close to best on ground), the Demons had youth and that was simply not enough.

Debutant Liam Jurrah stirred up some excitement both at Etihad and Yuedumu and should have had three goals on the board by the second quarter and not just the one. He showed a few glimpses of the magic he's capable of producing and left Demon fans licking their lips at the prospect of seeing more in the future.

Jack Grimes and Jack Watts also managed to produce the opening goals of their careers. The latter might have scored more had there been some rules or a system in place mandating that you pass the ball to the forward who's in the clear and has made position nicely. Presumably, they have such things as game plans and team rules at Brighton Grammar. Apparently, at the MFC they do not.

James Frawley continued to show improvement with a rock solid game. He managed to quell Lloyd's influence after a purple patch and was a shining light in defence. Stef Martin did well plugging gaps all over the place but Cale Morton, Jamie Bennell, Kyle Cheney and Neville Jetta were disappointing. Sadly, they didn't have too many older and wiser heads to show them the way.

Of the more established Melbourne players, one of the few entitled to hold his head high was Brad Green who showed great skill and courage and looked a footballer in beating the dangerous Andrew Lovett. Others in Aaron Davey, Cameron Bruce, Brock McLean, Brent Moloney and Colin Sylvia were adequate but not world beaters.

Aside from that, Melbourne's performance was highlighted by a distinct lack of pressure on the opposition, the usual high number of turnovers, skill errors and poor decision making.

And if you asked me for one word that would best describe the whole mess, you would have to be dreaming if it was anything other than "abysmal".

Melbourne 3.2.20 8.3.51 9.3.57 13.5.83

Essendon 6.3.39 10.7.77 17.13.115 19.17.131

Goals

Melbourne Bate Miller Robertson Watts 2 Bruce Grimes Jetta Jurrah Martin

Essendon Lloyd Lucas 3 Davey Lonergan McVeigh Monfries Skipworth 2 Hooker Watson Winderlich

Best

Melbourne Green Grimes Frawley Davey Bruce Sylvia

Essendon Fletcher Watson Lucas McVeigh Prismall Dempsey Hooker

Injuries Nil

Changes Nil

Report M McVeigh (Essendon) reported for striking J Rivers (Melbourne) by field umpire McLaren in the third quarter

Umpires McLaren Ryan James

Official Crowd 45,470 at Etihad Stadium