Round 9 2017

Essendon v West Coast
Round 9, 2017

Darling struggles to shake off an opponent. Photo: aflphotos.com.au

Date

Sun, 21 May 2017 (1.10pm EST)

Venue

Docklands

Attendance

36,403

Result

Lost by 61

Score

ESS 19.11.125 - 8.16.64 WCE

Brownlow

3 Z,Merrett (ESS)
2 J.Daniher (ESS)
1 D.Zaharakis (ESS)

Ladder

4th

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West Coast were shell-shocked by a rampant Essendon, who had the game won by halftime after piling on seven goals to one in the second term. The visiting Eagles were beaten comprehensively around the contest and did themselves no favours by squandering a number of relatively simple shots in front of goal. Spearhead Josh Kennedy worked hard to finish with half his team's eight goals and Luke Shuey battled inside to record 12 contested possessions and 26 overall.

Summary

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
Essendon		5.2.32		12.8.80		16.10.106		19.11.125
West Coast		2.4.16		3.7.25		5.13.43		8.16.64

Goals: Kennedy 4, Darling, Vardy 2

Best: Kennedy, Priddis, Vardy

Injuries: Wellingham (ankle)

Milestones: Mutimer final appearance

Named sides

	West Coast				Essendon
B:	5.Sheppard	37.Barrass	25.Hurn	B:	49.Dea	18.Hurley	12.Baguley
HB:	26.Butler	20.McGovern	6.Yeo	HB:	47.Kelly	36.Hartley	11.Zaharakis
C:	3.Gaff	11.Priddis	7.Masten	C:	3.Parish	7.Z.Merrett	9.Goddard
HF:	4.Sheed	27.Darling	2.LeCras	HF:	17.Stewart	26.Hooker	32.Colyer
F:	36,McInnes	17.Kennedy	14.Duggan	F:	43.McD-Tipungwuti	6.Daniher	45.McKenna
R:	19.Vardy	1.Mitchell	13.Shuey	R:	22.Leuenberger	21.Heppell	13.Fantasia
I:	8.Redden	12.Wellingham	15.Cripps	I:	1.McGrath	4.Watson	15.Green
	38.Mutimer				23.Myers
E:	21.Petrie	30.Nelson	33.Hill	E:	2.Bellchambers	20.J.Merrett	24.Bird

In: Cripps

Out: Hill

Quarter by quarter

Both sides went in as named. With fine weather in Melbourne, the Docklands roof was left open.

From the coach

"It was terrible. We've got to give a fair bit of credit to Essendon for their attitude and their mindset, but we were well off in all areas. It starts with your leaders and how you respond when your back's against the wall in that second quarter. Converting opportunities, beaten on the inside, beaten on the outside. It probably shows you where we're at at the moment.

"Probably the second quarter [was as bad as I've seen], and the lack of response. The second half we probably had more scoring shots. But I think they kicked 10 goals in a row. Our inability to change momentum - it's pretty big in the competition at the moment, the momentum side of things. If you make the most of it you can do some serious damage, but we've got to be better than that.

"...We're bitterly disappointed in everyone, so we reflected on a few things that we'll keep in-house. We've got some work to do and, like I said, we're an average side. That's where we're at. We've got to be honest."

From the papers

The West Australian

"Michael Hurley reigned supreme in defence for the Bombers, who were also well- served by midfielders Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell, Travis Colyer and Jobe Watson.

Spearhead Josh Kennedy toiled hard and was rewarded with four of the Eagles’ meagre total of eight goals.

But to add to West Coast’s many woes, a couple of other members of their much- vaunted attack were extremely wasteful in front of goal.

Jack Darling finished the day with 2.5 and Mark Le Cras - whose career-high tally of 12 majors came against the same opposition at the same venue seven years ago - booted 0.3."

The Age

"The template for this match was set in the first part of the second quarter thanks to Essendon's frenetic attack on the ball and their opponents.

Daniher's third major after two minutes precipitated a run of five straight goals for the Dons. When, at the 13-minute mark, Orazio Fantasia snapped beautifully on his left foot for his second goal in as many minutes, the lead had jumped out to 47 points.

With Zach Merrett dominating and David Zaharakis, Michael Hurley, former skipper Jobe Watson and Dyson Heppell also all having a strong impact, the game was as good as over.

By half-time the margin was 55 points, the contested possession count was plus 32 for the Bombers and Essendon fans were already rejoicing in a 5-4 win-loss record after round nine."

East Perth report

Round 10 (20 May)

East Perth won a nail-biter over South Fremantle at Fremantle Oval, fighting back from 22 points down early in the final term to hit the front in the last minute and holding on to win y a point. Luke Partington racked up 32 touches and Tom Lamb kicked three goals. Meanwhile Willie Rioli kicked four goals in the reserves in his first appearance for the year.

Appearing for East Perth: Cole, Giles, Gorter, Hutchings, Jetta, Karpany, Lamb, MacKenzie, Nelson, Partington, Petrie (*first East Perth appearance), Rotham, Schofield, Venables. Reserves: Bayok, Rioli, Snadden.

Injury list

In the leadup to the match the following players were listed as injured:

Player		Injury		Expected duration
Waterman		Foot		Indefinite
Naitanui		Knee		Late 2017 season		(On LTI list 21/3/17, replaced by Petrie)
Lycett		Shoulder		3 weeks		(On LTI list 21/3/17, replaced by McInnes)
Cripps		Ankle		Test
Nelson		Wrist		Test
Rioli		Hamstring		Test
Tunbridge*		Knee		4-6 weeks
Watson*		Ankle		3-4 weeks
Petrie*		Hand		Test

References

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2017/9/ess-v-wce

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2017/051820170521.html