Best Win Since 2000 No. 24
Round 1 2017 vs Hawthorn
| Essendon | 4.4.28 | 5.8.38 | 12.12.84 | 17.14.116 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 2.3.15 | 6.10.46 | 10.14.74 | 12.19.91 |
Context
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Essendon were playing their first match with a full squad in over a year, as the banned 34 players from the supplements scandal were now free to play.
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Hawthorn had finished 3rd on the ladder in 2016 but lost both of their finals.
Why it’s on the list / key moments
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The joy of being able to watch an Essendon side take it up to a top team after so long. Well… we thought they’d be a top team at the time.
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Only one season had passed since Hawthorn completed their threepeat. In 2016, the Hawks had beaten the Bombers by 108 points. Beating them felt pretty good.
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Aside from the opening 10 minutes, the Hawks had the better of the first half and led at the main break. The Bombers made up for it in the second half, with 12 goals to Hawthorn’s 6.
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Orazio Fantasia had a night to remember, kicking 4.1 and collecting 2 Brownlow votes. His 2nd and 3rd goals were difficult snaps that any small forward would be proud of.
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Shaun McKernan kicked a fantastic goal from just outside 50 on a tricky angle to put the Dons ahead by 16 points late in the 3rd quarter.
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New skipper Dyson Heppell played one his best ever games, earning 34 disposals, 7 tackles and 3.0. Heppell’s 2 last quarter goals were both superb. The first of which came right at the start of the quarter - a rushed snap on a tight angle from close range. The second came after a tough contested mark surrounded by 3 Hawks, 45m out. Brendan Goddard asked for the hand-off, but Heppell told him to relax, lined up for goal and put it straight through the middle.
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Brent Stanton sealed the game after Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti dished the ball off to him around 50m out. Strangely enough, this was the 2nd time for the match that this exact sequence had taken place - the first time took place from almost the exact same position at the other end of the ground during the 3rd quarter.
Extra notes
- Andrew McGrath’s debut for Essendon.
What happened next?
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The following week, Essendon gave up a 42 point lead to Brisbane at the Gabba before steadying with the last 5 goals of the game to be 2-0. Orazio Fantasia briefly looked like he might be All Australian worthy, kicking 5 goals and collecting 2 more Brownlow votes. An embarrassing loss to lowly Carlton in Round 3 reminded everyone why the side wasn’t touted for major success. They’d show signs before eventually bowing out to Sydney in an embarrassing Elimination Final defeat.
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Hawthorn finished a mediocre 12th.
Click here to go to best win #23.