Essendon have moved up three spots on the AFL ladder to fifth after a statement 115-97 win over Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.
With the Crows seventh and Bombers eighth ahead of the clash, the game was billed as what some call an eight-point game, with the result set to be crucial in the make-up of who plays finals.
While many expect a tight tussle, the game quickly developed into a shootout from the outset, with Essendon kicking a whopping 48 points in the first quarter as the Crows converted well to keep the margin to just 17 points.
The goal-kicking didn’t slow down in the second term, with the Dons kicking five goals to the Crows’ two in that quarter to take a 37-point lead into the main break.
While the Bombers would have been happy with a solid lead, it could have been so much for as they picked up a +21 inside 50 differential across the opening two terms.
After being on the back foot for the first half, the Crows began to get the game on their terms more in the third but couldn’t capitalise in front of goal as the Bombers won the term by a point.
The only thing that wasn’t going swimmingly for the Dons at that point was a knee injury to star defender Jordan Ridley, with the interceptor appearing to hyperextend his knee in the third term.
While he’d return to the field later in the quarter, he was eventually subbed off for Dylan Shiel as he looked proppy when he was back on-field.
With the game all but tied up, the Bombers coasted late as the Crows kicked six final-term goals to bring some respectability back to the eventual 18-point margin.
AFL Nation’s Brenton Sanderson credited Essendon’s win to their aerial dominance.
“I thought Essendon were so good in the air today,” Sanderson said.
“Behind the ball defensively, they were terrific one-versus-one.
“But even ahead of the ball, I thought they were strong inside 50, they found a lot of marking duels they were able to win.
“They were super … Essendon excelled, I thought they were fantastic for four quarters.”
Brad Scott and the Essendon coaching group will look back on the performance and know that their win in uncontested possessions (270 - 181) and inside 50s (58 - 53) was crucial to them holding sway as they were matched somewhat in the clearance count (40-39).
With a glut of inside 50s - particularly early - Essendon were able to dominate aerially, taking 16 marks up forward to Adelaide’s eight.
As for individual performances, skipper Zach Merrett (one goal, 39 disposals) and his running mate Darcy Parish (39 disposals) were smooth in transition all game, while Nic Martin (two goals, 28 disposals) continued to push his cash for an All-Australian blazer.
Up forward, Peter Wright (three goals), Kyle Langford (three goals), Matt Guelfi (two goals), Nic Martin (two goals) and Jye Menzie (two goals) all kicked multiple majors.
For Adelaide, Jordan Dawson (28 disposals, eight tackles) stood up in defeat, while Mitchell Hinge (27 disposals) mopped up in defence.
The result now means Adelaide are 1-6 in games away from the Adelaide Oval in 2023.
Adelaide heads home in Round 18 where they’ll face a tricky matchup against a GWS side that also holds an 8-8 record on Saturday night.
As for the Bombers, they head down the highway in a clash with huge finals implications against Geelong also on the Saturday night.
FULL SCORE
Essendon: 7.6, 12.9, 14.13, 17.13 (115)
Adelaide: 5.1, 7.2, 9.5, 15.7 (97)
GOALS
Essendon: Wright 3, Langford 3, Guelfi 2, Martin 2, Menzie 2, Stringer, Hobbs, Kelly, Merrett, Redman
Adelaide: Walker 2, Rankine 2, Keays 2, Pedlar 2, Fogarty, Jones, McHenry, Murphy, Sloane, Smith, Thilthorpe
BEST
Essendon: Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish, Nic Martin, Peter Wright, Andrew McGrath
Adelaide: Jordan Dawson, Mitchell Hinge, Rory Laird, Chayce Jones
INJURIES
Essendon: Jordan Ridley (knee)
Adelaide:
CROWD: 39,606 @ Marvel Stadium