Best Win Since 2000 No. 35
Round 2 2016 vs Melbourne
| Essendon | 2.2.14 | 7.7.49 | 8.10.58 | 11.14.80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 1.4.10 | 6.4.40 | 7.7.49 | 10.7.67 |
Context
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Essendon were expected by many to not win a game all season after the bulk of the 2012 playing list were suspended for 12 months. The Bombers had suffered a 61 point loss to Gold Coast to open the season.
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Essendon fans marched from Federation Square to the MCG to show their support for the club and the 34 players banned as a result of the supplements scandal.
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The Bombers simply had no hint of a hope to win this game despite carrying a fair bit of experience in its 22. Only 14 of the 22 players on the day were on the list the previous season, and 8 of those 14 players had played < 25 games for the club. 4 top-up players (signed after the bans in January) took the field.
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Melbourne had won their first game of the season against GWS by 2 points after a last quarter comeback at the MCG.
Why it’s on the list / key moments
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Despite the close scoreline, the Bombers didn’t lose a single quarter. It was a full 4 quarters of effort, emphasised by the Dons winning the uncontested possessions 313-179.
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Melbourne kicked 4 goals in a row to take a 6 point lead halfway through the 4th quarter. It would have been understandable to think that the Bombers had run out of legs, but instead they found a second wind to come roaring home with the last 3 goals.
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Joe Daniher took a 1-on-3 hanger halfway through the 1st quarter.
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Moment of the day was undoubtedly Darcy Parish’s goal on the run to all but seal the victory in only his second game.
Extra notes
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Michael Hartley’s debut for Essendon (including his only goal for the club).
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Zach Merrett’s first time winning 3 Brownlow votes. He’d collect 19 in a 3-win season.
What happened next?
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Essendon had to wait until Round 21 for their next victory, despite some honourable losses along the way. They finished 18th but ended the year with a win against Carlton that suggested that 2017 would provide long-awaited excitement.
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Melbourne won 2 of their next 3 games but laboured to 11th on the ladder.
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