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With 13 seconds to go, I was sure we had it in the bag.

The Essendon fan tears are what make this a great win.

I watched Brisbane make a statement as they pressured Geelong into submission on Thursday night. It is the business end of the season now and it is up to us show the oppo why we are sitting on top of the ladder. It starts with Essendon . They now have a sniff of a place in the eight. Let's knock that on the head today. Make a statement.

I haven’t been following the footy for long enough( because I immigrated not because I’m young) so haven’t got the deep hatred of certain teams of fans that normal dees supports have developed. But after tonight the Bombers can go and get stuffed( for want of a stronger word). The dirty cheating shower of cheats. Their fans were awful tonight. How about you cheering on your own team instead of booing the opposition for the whole game.

We need BB in ASAP Keep him in the side for a month Let him settle

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooo What a bunch of drug ****edd supporters, Hirdy is god. Boooooooooooooo FLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOGGGGGGGGSSSSSSS

Great to beat the bombers. Suck it up you druggies Typical Melbourne win. Defence to the fore. May superb and BOG. Lever rock solid. Salem back on form. One of Hunts best games. Trac stood up when we needed him to and kicked those crucial goals Play of the game. Double 50 leading to jordons goal. Thanks umps. Forward set-up not working. We’re not getting full value for our dominance. Goal kicking, our perennial problem, will cost us. If we are to end our wait for a flag we have to get BB fit and firing somehow. Looking forward to a Saturday afternoon game at the G next weekend Go Dees

Seriously, the Bombers supporters are shocking.

The umpires were disgraceful, fortunately they were favouring the Dees tonight.

Yep, it was pretty loud. And every time we had a set shot they booed. I knew when they were booing Trac's second set shot he'd kick it. He feeds off that stuff. Incidentally, Trac's two goals were absolutely clutch. Big time player. And I called Sparrow's goal too. He's a nice penetrating kick, and when the rest of the players on the ground struggled to kick the distance from 50, he made it easily. Ripper!

System, baby. We'll keep winning with this system. We strangle sides and absorb pressure like a top team, even when we're not playing well. Sign of a very good team. We're still the best team in the comp. Essendon were playing for a finals spot and they couldn't have played any better and we still beat them.

His best game this season. Was very important tonight. As you say shut tippa down, but also ran off him at every chance

Ben Brown needs to play. I think we can all agree that Tmac needs to play as a high leading forward and Fritsch at full forward won’t get us many marks or goals. We need to give Brown a solid run in the seniors.

I hate these guys with an unhealthy passion. Growing up as a kid most of my mates in school - who I'm still mates with today are Essendon. Throw in 2000 and their sniping. Throw in the drug saga and the lack of ownership to accept responsibility and be accountable. Throw in Sheedy. Throw in Jobe Watson and his inability to string two words together in commentary. Throw in my mrs and all her family are Essendon. I don't have kids yet and I haven't seen a Dees premiership yet so I haven't been to the pinnacle of true joy but beating these dogs tonight and keeping them outside the 8 where they belong would bring me no greater joy. Turn up and get the job done Dees!

Saw that the MFC website is celebrating Simon Goodwin's 100th game coaching the MFC: https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/964238/top-10-wins-goodwin-s-road-to-100-games?fbclid=IwAR3fzwVcO3jl0ljBvcdpsNuV4_ruiWr8k4dQ4PU4lZsw82DxzHpDamXqTJM Lesser noted, it also just happens to be Clayton Oliver's 100th consecutive match in the red & blue. Simon has never coached a Melbourne team without Clarry in it. Surely that has to be some sort of quirky record? Trac has also played in all but one of those matches as well, including the last 72 straight.

A much celebrated comment from Bombers Bigfooty: Stinger was eyeballing ump 14 at the end of the game then What's he gonna do? Cheat on his missus with him?

Players walking off the ground with commentators still in the box... "ONLY 2 MORE GOALS AND YOU"VE GOT THIS BOMBERS "!! FO Essendon FO Commentators. Bank the 4.

Boooooooooo!!!!!!

"Stop yelling at me, Devon!"

V happy with hunts game tonight Shut Tippa down and stopped a lot of fwd thrusts

Carp win. But I'll take it Thank God for Steven May

It's now completely run out. A two week full lockdown. And a reasonable question is should they have locked down a week ago as we did in Victoria at the equivalent stage of the outbreak. I'm not bagging the nsw government. They have to make tough calls. But the fact remains that our decision on lockdown and the staged lifting of restrictions has brought our outbreak to heel. The government was criticised heavily for that decision, particularly from the all powerful Murdoch Mafia. We now have a direct comparison of two approaches. Of the 29 cases announced today 12 were out and about in the community WHILST infectious. That suggests contract tracing lagged. And would not have occurred if tbey had been in lockdown. And the vic fella who went to a party in nsw would not have had a party to go to. And would not have risked creating a new outbreak in Victoria just as we were getting on top of our outbreak. By the by that risk is still very much there. Given the numbers in nsw, and the approach they have chosen to take, there is a very strong chance a two week lockdown will not be enough. So do the maths on the economic impact of the approach they have taken. And compare it to that of Victoria of our latest outbreak. The situation in nsw is awful for tbe whole country. I'm sick of the lack of a federally coordinated respons to all of this, including lockdowns. And I'm sick of how decisions such as when and how to impose restrictions and lockdowns are often overly informed by ideology and political considerations,. And the Murdoch Mafia has a lot to answer for in this regard. Maybe Peta credlin can go to some pressers in nsw and ask about how it escaped in the first place, how it spread so quickly and how effective or otherwise their gold standard contract tracing has gone.

Have just returned home after breakfast out with the family. We were seated right near the whole Viney clan, including Jack and Todd - will take that as a good omen. Dees by 148.

Job done. What a stain on the competition the Bombers are, everything about them is so gross

Great game from Gus tonight. Hunt did a great job on Tippa as did Hibbo on Stringer. JJ and Sparrow continue to impres.The forward line needs a rethink.

This is like the Sydney game. So many on here were fearful going in. Now that we've won, so many are criticising the win. Someone said we're being "picked apart". Which is just the most ridiculously bad take from this game you could have. We conceded 8.9.57, so that's 17 scoring shots. That's the second least Essendon's had all season (their lowest was 6.9 against Brisbane) and it's their second lowest score all year (again, Brisbane their lowest). The main reason this game was close was our forward half inefficiency in the first and third quarters. Had we converted our inside 50s and time in forward half when we were on top, we'd have won by more. Which is a frustrating concept, but one mainly within our control. If TMac, Fritsch and/or Harmes kick even one of their set shot misses late in the third, the oomph could easily have gone out of it for Essendon. This wasn't our defence, which yet again stood up on the wide expanses of the G. Lever and May were outstanding, just exceptional again. Hunt took AMT out of the game and Salem was strong and rebounded. If you weren't at the game I don't know if it was clear but Brayshaw was brilliant on his wing (as was Langdon but I'm sure he was noticeable on TV). Brayshaw's two-way running was phenomenal. Oliver's lift in the second quarter helped get us going, and Gawn gave Draper a complete bath in the ruck. Clearly though the delivery inside 50 and the forwards themselves need work. I felt for most of the game we needed another tall forward. I'm sure we were high on forward half pressure acts but for much of the game I felt we were crying out for someone else to offer a marking option, particularly when TMac was up the ground. On the umpiring - the overwhelming majority of the decisions I'm seeing complaints about online, and heard complaints about at the ground, were correct. Stringer hit Jordon in the head late in the second. Harmes didn't have prior and attempted to kick it late in the fourth (which is not HTB). These are important wins. They're built off system, and we know it works because 12 times this year our opponent has struggled to score, and that includes the four highest scoring sides other than us we've played (the Dogs, Brisbane, Essendon and Sydney). Oh, and it's so satisfying beating that mob.

I thought Nate Jones didn't do a lot wrong in his 302nd game...

Like many others, I hate the Bombers with an intensity that is disturbing. There must be a stronger word than hate. Send then to Manus Island and throw away the key.

In previous years we’ve allowed one loss to turn into a slump. We’ve found different ways of winning this year and that’s very important. At this stage of the season I’ll take 4 points any which way. Thankfully we were surrounded by MFC supporters. Instead of sheep I’ll have to count boos to fall asleep. Our best tonight are obvious but special mention to Gus and Hunt for working their absolute backside off defensively.

Young Kozzie needs to be told that every time he touches the ball it doesn’t need to be a highlights reel play. Sometimes just doing the simple things gets the job done. Once again, far too many hit and hope/Hollywood handballs from players when laying the boot into the ball is a better option.

...singing the song in masks.....thats like showering in a raincoat..or....

Job done !! Backs - terrific! Forwards - Needs tweaking !! Highlight - The double 50 - I nearly wet myself laughing !!!!!

Boo all you want you flogs ?

been watching Hunt, he's been really putting in.

Steve May is BOG by an absolute daylight

I really like Devon Smith. No wait sorry, it’s Devon Scones I like. Always get them confused.

I just popped into Bomberblitz for a laugh. Now I feel dirty. Not enough hand sanitizer for that. All about the umpires and how bad we are. Ha ha! Suck a sav you loser booing clucks.

reminded me of the win over swans - just grinding away til we got the 4 points

Not being smart but which teams are picking us apart? Leaving the crows and pies out of tbe discussion - because in both games our defensive run, all team defence and pressure were miles off - no other team has been able to put scoreboard pressure on us. Not picking us apart at all. The bombers are one of the form sides atm and one of the most offensive, highest scoring teams in the AFL. And in perfect conditions could only manage 57 points. Our Achilles heel is way too many missed shots for goal. Agree on blokes being down though. Kozzie was poor tonight as was Fritter. I thought Jackson was average too.

Bombers fans on Twitter calling for an inquiry into umpiring. Couldn’t agree more. Let’s begin with the round 10 Crows game shall we?

We got a great run with umps tonight, but we’ll take it. Was it just me or were a lot of players struggling to make the distance with their shots. Time for Ben Brown to get a run.

As we learned last night - never underestimate the opposition!

The heat on Oliver in this thread is quite unexpected. 3rd best on ground for us after May and Langdon IMO.

I will spew if that smug show pony Stringer has a day out. I hope someone grinds his face into the dirt. You may get the feeling I don’t like him.

And hate Collingwood too! Long story, but just trust me..

Essendon were fantastic tonight. So tough to penetrate their forward line, but we got it done. Tough win. I hope this makes the club realise that wins aren’t going to just come. We have to work hard for them and we did. If we make the grand final, I hope the game is not like this. My dad’s heart can’t take it

I think that was a very determined win by our boys. Essendon are a side that’s playing with a lot of confidence, and I feel like we are a bit down on it. To do the hard things well and get the win was very important, and shows a good deal of maturity. Our kicking for goal is infuriating, but it’s not a pattern yet so let’s not over think it. I really enjoy knowing that Spargo, Brayshaw, Langdon and Jordan are going to put their body on the line when it matters. It’s not about being a superstar, it’s about maintaining intensity and going when it’s your turn. I feel like that’s the most pleasing thing about our season to date. The setting of standards.

Take it and run. Also eat a bag you salty loser Essendon drug injecting cheats.

Are they Booing or saying Boo-urns?

The most important game of the season as far as I'm concerned. If we make an example of anyone this year, let it be these plicks.