Round 1, 2018 we did this:
Essendon stuns Adelaide with incredible Round 1 comeback at Etihad Stadium
IT WAS like the first day of secondary school.
- March 23, 2018 10:49pm
- Tom Morris@tommorris32
- Source: FOX SPORTS
Josh Begley celebrates Essendon’s victory. Picture: Michael Klein.Source: News Corp Australia
Most of the kids knew each other from grade six, but there were some newbies who had to find their way. Everyone, including those familiar with one another, began by feeling each other out and even by the end of the night the result could have gone either way.
In the end, it went to Essendon, defeating Adelaide 14.15 (99) to 12.15 (87) despite a poor third quarter.
Devon Smith, Bryce Gibbs and Jake Stringer all began in the match in the centre square, while Adam Saad’s presence allowed precociously talented No.1 draft pick Andrew McGrath to roam the wing rather than half-back.
McGrath booted his second career goal halfway through the first term to emphasise a trade orchestrated last October and finished with 26 disposals and plenty of new admirers.
Adelaide debutant Darcy Fogarty joined a not-so-illustrious club when he booted his first goal with his first kick – but the fact he did so from 55 metres made it more even special. He had just two more for the evening but would have learned plenty in the process.
Fellow debutants Tom Doedee and Lachlan Murphy did enough to suggest they have exciting futures.
Even Cam Ellis-Yolman would have felt like it was his first day at school. This was his first senior game since Round 23, 2016, a torn ACL having ruled him out of the entire 2017 season.
Stringer’s first mark was a towering one… At full-back of all places. His next was equally as strong but closer to his natural habitat in front of goal. Unmistakably sporting bleached blonde hair Colin Miller would be proud of, he received rapturous applause every time he went near the Sherrin. In total this amounted to 16 disposals and no goals in a performance that was flashy but lacked substance.
But X-factor does not grow on trees and that’s why Essendon chased the ex-Dog.
This match was no oil painting but it was the errors that almost made it more watchable. Complete and utter unpredictability is attractive except for the fans of either side.
The last eight scoring shots of the first half were behinds, while even the normally slick Saad butchered a regulation kick-out which handed Richard Douglas a goal in the third term.
To three quarter-time, five of Essendon’s shots on goal had sailed out of bounds on the full. Joe Daniher, for all his talents, would hit plenty of provisional balls if his left foot was a one wood.
And in the third quarter alone, Adelaide scored 6.2 (38) from Essendon turnovers. At this point, the Dons looked cooked.
Inexplicably, Daniher had an opportunity to bring the margin back to within three points midway through the last term via a set shot. But he took longer than the 30 seconds permitted and was asked to play on. Adelaide’s defenders were switched on and Daniher rushed his kick and shanked it to the left. The Dons were lucky none of these mistakes cost them the four points, but they will on other days.
Games at Etihad Stadium are always quick but traditionally cleaner under the roof. On Friday night the roof was open and the elements took their toll, not that it bothered the Bombers, who slammed home six final term majors to Adelaide’s one.
You could be forgiven for thinking Hugh Greenwood is just a tackler given he notched his 100th career tackle during the second quarter in just his 16th match. In doing so, he became the equal quickest player to achieve the milestone.
But his left-foot check-side late in the third term was as instinctive as it was sublime. It was his first at the elite level since the passing of his mother Andree to breast cancer in October. Greenwood was barely 12 hours into a holiday in the USA with his girlfriend when he received a phone call telling him to get the next flight home.
His skilful finish extended the margin to a game-high 19 points and with the Dons one man short, the odds were stacked against them.
But the casualty ward evened up eventually when Curtly Hampton was consigned to the bench with ice around his leg early in the last term.
Hampton’s pain was Essendon’s game and it put the contest back on level pegging.
Remember the Dons began pre-season four weeks earlier than the Crows, who perhaps had one eye on Thursday night, though they would never concede it.
David Zaharakis and Dyson Heppell had 70 disposals and nine tackles between them, while Cale Hooker and James Stewart were imposing figures in the front half, each nailing three majors.
Adelaide had Rory Laird and Matt Crouch – each of whom notched 40-plus touches – but it was in a losing cause and they didn’t have too many helpers in the final quarter.
Brendon Goddard’s left-footed goal in the last term was critical and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti jumped around like his usual self.
For the Essendon newbies, this was a lesson in the Bomber spirit. A roaring crowd would not take a loss for an answer.
Gibbs and Adelaide’s three debutants will learn, but on Friday night they played second fiddle amid a red and black tsunami.