Essendon has started the season 0-3 for just the second time in their history after a gallant defeat at the hands of Melbourne on Friday night.
In a story told many times, Melbourne simply had too many gears for their opposition, while the Bombers tried, but ultimately showed a lack of fight at the death as Melbourne kicked seven of the last nine goals.
“It was like watching a movie where you knew the ending,” Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy told AFL Nation post-match, an opinion both teams’ supporters will likely share.
The 29-point loss is a disaster for Rutten and his troops, the three losses to start the season their worst effort since 1967.
Melbourne got the hot start (again) as the Bombers kicking at goal woes looked like it was going to cost them (again) early in the contest.
However, it flipped in the second term as Essendon came back into the game. Many would have predicted Simon Goodwin’s men to waltz away with the contest, such was Essendon’s inability to move the ball early on, however the Bombers responded with three goals to one in the second quarter.
The contest didn’t get any more watchable, but Ben Rutten’s men worked their way back into the game. Andy McGrath went to tag Christian Petracca after several influential early touches from the Norm Smith Medallist, and kept him to nine touches at half time, by far his lowest count of the season to date.
However, former Saint Brendon Goddard wasn’t impressed by the lack of attention paid to Petracca’s teammate, Clayton Oliver.
Am I just seeing things?!…or is Clayton Oliver standing at most stoppages unaccompanied? 🤦🏻♂️
— Brendon Goddard (@BrendonGoddard9) April 1, 2022
Jordan Ridley also dominated down back, constantly thwarting Melbourne’s pushes up the ground with his aerial presence.
The Bombers capitalised on the momentum in the third term, kicking three kick goals to take the lead back before barely three minutes was played.
Youngster Tex Wanganeen contributed one of those, a classy snap on his left boot that marked his first goal in AFL footy.
Good luck topping this for wholesome moment of the year.
— AFL (@AFL) April 1, 2022
Tex Wanganeen kicks his first goal and his dad Gav goes off! #FootyOhWhatAFeeling | #AFLDeesDons pic.twitter.com/5n24vTkTM8
A wrestle ensued for the remainder of the term, but a ten-goal quarter certainly got fans back involved in the contest.
The Demons got the first of the last term, leaving Healy impressed with the new gear of the reigning premiers.
“They just brutalise opposition, they run hard all game,” he said in commentary for AFL Nation.
A mini-comeback was staged by the Bombers, but Ed Langdon sealed the deal when slicing a goal from the boundary with three Dons hanging off him, leaving his former teammate Nathan Jones stunned.
“Goal of the year, I’m calling it now,” Jones said.
“One of the most miraculous goals we’ve seen at the G’,” Healy added.
GET OUT OF TOWN!
— AFL (@AFL) April 1, 2022
That is actually outrageous Ed Langdon 🤯#AFLDeesDons pic.twitter.com/csQfrAk6f5
Friday night’s loss made history for all the wrong reasons for Essendon, however they’re given a chance to respond against Adelaide next week, while Melbourne will look to keep their clean sheet when taking on Port Adelaide in Thursday night footy.
FULL SCORE
Melbourne: 3.5, 4.8,9.12, 14.15. (99)
Essendon: 0.4, 3.5, 8.5, 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Melbourne: Weideman 4, Fritsch 2, Harmes 2, Langdon, McDonald, Petracca, Spargo, Sparrow, Viney
Essendon: Wright 4, Stringer 2, Cutler, McGrath, Perkins, Wanganeen
BEST
Melbourne: Oliver, Brayshaw, Langdon, Gawn, Petracca
Essendon: Ridley, Parish, Wright, Phillips, Shiel
INJURIES
Melbourne: N/A
Essendon: N/A