Essendon have pumped life into their finals dream with a shock 97-84 win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
Entering the clash with their September hopes hanging by a thread, Essendon knew they’d need to be near flawless to knock over the ladder-leading Dogs, and they just about were.
Channel Seven’s Brian Taylor described the result as the “biggest scalp of the year” at the final siren, and it was almost certainly the side’s best win under rookie coach Ben Rutten.
Despite trailing the inside 50 count 60-39, the Bombers were able to make the most of their entries, namely due to a career-best performance from Peter Wright.
The big forward kicked seven goals straight in a performance that will have Dons fans hopeful that he can become what many thought he would be when he was drafted in the top 10 of the 2014 draft.
Wright was supported by prolific midfielders Zach Merrett (30 disposals) and Darcy Parish (28 disposals, one goal) as they continue their outstanding seasons.
For the Dogs, Jack Macrae (38 disposals) and Marcus Bontempelli (34 disposals, one goal) found plenty of it in a losing effort.
While neither injury subs were used, Bulldogs fans will be holding their breath as Josh Bruce looked to hurt his knee on the final siren.
Here’s everything you need to know!
Lopsided streak snapped in emphatic fashion
Essendon fans couldn’t have been blamed for fearing the worst before the first bounce.
With six consecutive losses at an average margin of 54 points, the Bulldogs well and truly have had the wood over the Dons in recent memory.
While the turnaround in performance has been obvious under Rutten in 2021, this win feels like it solidifies the fact that the Bombers are a completely new outfit from what we’ve seen in seasons past.
If they can keep up this level of play, they might just feature when the whips are truly cracking in September.
Career-best haul the Wright call for Dons
Peter Wright had the best and most important performance of his 84-game career on Sunday.
While the seven goals speak for themselves, to do it in a game with so much riding on it should be what pleases him the most.
Having been traded for a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, the big-man could be a genuine steal for the Bombers as he’s just 24 years of age with his prime theoretically ahead of him.
While consistency is the key, this looms as the performance that could kick-start the second coming of Wright’s career at the top leve.
What’s next?
Essendon face a must-win game against the Suns on the Gold Coast while the Bulldogs are scheduled to play Hawthorn in Launceston in Round 22.
FULL SCORE
Western Bulldogs: 3.3, 6.5, 8.11, 12.12. (84)
Essendon: 1.2, 7.2, 11.4, 15.7. (97)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 3, Naughton, Bontempelli, English, Liberatore, Ugle-Hagan, Duryea, Johannisen, Treloar, Wood
Essendon: Wright 7, Francis 2, Smith, Waterman, Draper, Guelfi, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Parish
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Williams, Josh Bruce
Essendon : Peter Wright, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Jordan Ridley, Tom Cutler
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