Best Win Since 2000 No. 13
Round 20 2009 vs St Kilda
| Essendon | 3.3.21 | 10.6.66 | 16.9.105 | 16.14.110 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Kilda | 4.2.26 | 7.4.46 | 11.10.76 | 16.12.108 |
Context
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Essendon looked to have blown another shot at the finals under Matthew Knights, coming into the game on the back of two losses and a draw. The losses were to mediocre Richmond and West Coast sides, so no one gave the Bombers a chance against an undefeated St Kilda team.
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St Kilda needed one more win to equal Essendon’s famous 20-match winning streak set in 2000. Top spot was practically sewn up with 3 games to go.
Why it’s on the list / key moments
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The Bombers flipped the game on its head after the Saints jumped to a 19-point lead after 8 minutes.
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Jobe Watson and Angus Monfries were causing the Saints all sorts of issues. Monfries kicked 4 goals in the 1st half while Watson collected 37 disposals, 8 tackles and a goal of his own.
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Paddy Ryder juggled a very questionable centering ball by Nathan Lovett-Murray late in the 1st quarter. He was then tackled to the ground and awarded a 50m penalty. Ryder converted the set shot to turn what looked like a horrendous turnover into the Bombers’ 2nd goal of the match.
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Dustin Fletcher launched a trademark drop punt bomb from well inside the centre square to cut the margin to just 5 points at QT.
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Essendon proceeded to dominate the next 45 minutes of football. Brent Prismall’s lofty checkside goal midway through the 2nd quarter was an indicator of how well the match was going for the red and black.
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Jobe Watson’s disguised kick to a leading Angus Monfries late in the 2nd quarter was a thing of beauty. At the next centre bounce, Watson’s fake handball sent St Kilda’s Stephen Milne for a trip to the shops. His kick then found Brent Stanton who himself delivered a perfect pass of his own to Monfries, who converted yet again. The football was beautiful to watch.
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Bomber Jarrod Atkinson ran from just behind the centre circle to the 50m arc before launching a scruffy kick towards the square. It was shepherded through by Ryder to give Essendon a 31 point lead early in the 3rd quarter.
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When Ryder roved the pack to snap a ripping goal from the pocket, the Bombers looked unstoppable. The margin reached 43 points before the Saints started to wrestle back control of the game.
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Essendon went goalless in the 4th quarter. The Saints kicked 7 goals in a row against the tiring Bombers to cut the margin to 1 point. Andrew Lovett then missed a gettable shot from just inside 50 to make it 2 points. Brent Prismall should have finished the game off with 45 seconds to go, but he found a way to miss from 35m on a slight angle. St Kilda immediately worked the ball inside 50 and Leigh Montagna’s long kick landed in the arms of Nick Riewoldt. The siren rang as Riewoldt went back to take the kick. The collective groan throughout the stadium had to have been from both sets of fans. Luckily for the Dons, Riewoldt’s kick sprayed out to the right, and Essendon hung on.
Extra notes
- Essendon won the disposal count 379-296.
What happened next?
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Essendon predictably lost to 3rd-last Fremantle by 54 points at Subiaco the following week. A win against Hawthorn in Round 22 ensured that the Bombers played finals, where they were demolished by Adelaide at Football Park.
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St Kilda lost again at Docklands against North Melbourne a week later. They won both their finals to set up a Grand Final clash with Geelong, which they lost in heartbreaking fashion.
Click here to go to best win #12.