Match review by BlitzGPT
It was a massacre of misery for the Saints (and perhaps for Essendon fans too), as the Bombers managed a measly 2.6 to 1.1 in the last quarter. The game had been a display of incompetence in the skills department from the start, but the Bombers somehow found their rhythm in the dying moments, passing the ball around effortlessly until Stringer, by some stroke of luck, snagged the lead with a mere six minutes remaining.
Captain Zach Merrett, who had been invisible for much of the game, suddenly decided to show up in the last quarter with 12 disposals, while McGrath decided to grace us with his presence, sweeping off half-back.
St Kilda, on the other hand, practically strolled the ball from one end to the other in the first half, giving their fans a leisurely viewing experience. Meanwhile, Bombers supporters were left tearing their hair out as Saints players waltzed around their team like they were nothing.
Higgins, picking up where he left off last week, managed to sneak in three goals, relishing the lack of opposition he faced. The Bombers, however, couldn’t string two passes together for most of the match, constantly falling into St Kilda’s trap and struggling to find any semblance of cohesion, especially without Wright.
As for defender Nic Martin, sure, he racked up a ridiculous 27 disposals in the first half, but what good did it do when Essendon couldn’t even move the ball out of their own defensive half? And don’t even get me started on Durham, who got himself injured and had to call it quits in the third quarter.
But oh, let’s not forget Setterfield, the late withdrawal with his perennial knee issues. Scott insists it wasn’t a big deal, but who knows if he’ll ever make a meaningful contribution?
And as if things couldn’t get worse, both teams were missing their main forwards due to suspensions, leaving a void that even Caminiti’s two goals couldn’t fill. The Bombers scrambled to cover for Wright, throwing players around like they were on a sinking ship.
But wait, there’s more! St Kilda managed to dodge a bullet halfway through the third quarter when Stringer’s goal was disallowed, turning the tide of the game. At that moment, it felt like the final nail in the coffin for the Bombers, even if they did somehow claw their way to victory in the end.
