On a fast break from halfback, Schulz is all on his own to mark 35m out on a slight angle with his man Gwilt about 40m out of position. Schulz goals. (Q1 1:49)
Goddard sends a chaos ball from the HFF to the square, it squirts out to Jackson Merrett to give outside to Heppell for a snap goal from 25m. (Q1 4:33)
Jackson Merrett pounces after an O’Brien tackle forces a spillage at a stoppage, and goals with a nice volley from the pocket. (Q1 6:50)
Taking a risk in the corridor on a rebound, Gleeson runs up the centre and sends a ball long over the Port zone to Hooker in front of Hombsch 20m out in front. Hooker goals. (Q1 8:03)
Ambrose gets caught a little high by Boak in a double tackle at a stoppage 35m out on the flank, but his set shot is across the face for a throw in. (Q1 10:37)
Boak is pinged for another high tackle on Ambrose on the HFF, who gives to Zach Merrett, his snap goes to the opposite pocket for Hooker to mark. But Hooker misses. (Q1 12:10)
Broadbent picks up a very hot footy at CHF and dodges just long enough to poke a pass to the hotspot for Ebert to mark just before the cavalry arrives. Ebert goals. (Q1 15:54)
Wingard threads the needle with a set shot from on the boundary 30m out, with typically high quality finishing. (Q1 18:04)
Wingard is paid a HTB free for a dodgy-looking spear tackle on Baguley at 35m wide on the flank. This time he leaves the set shot narrow, footy gods smile. (Q1 19:50)
Long ball to the Don hotspot, Hombsch spoils Hooker but gives away a free for the buffeting he applied before the fall. Hooker goals. (Q1 21:05)
Boak runs away from the next centre bounce ahead of two chasing Bombers, but his launch from 60m bounces for a behind. (Q1 22:35)
Hooker gives to Langford on the HFF who goes short to Laverde, who plays on around Broadbent and runs into the open goal! (Q1 23:05)
The Bombers work the loose man at half forward, the last man is Goddard who has space and time to run to 50m on the flank and shoot… it’s good! (Q1 26:05)
Boak responds with a goal from a similar spot up the other end, on a fast break down the wing also using the loose man. (Q1 27:33)
Moore turns the ball over on the HBF with a kick straight to Howlett, who gives to Hurley for a big goal from 50m on a slight angle! (Q2 3:39)
Zach Merrett is front and centre for a Daniher contest at the top of the square to a long Langford ball, but his quick snap screws wide. (Q2 5:32)
Goddard runs free through CHF and shoots from 45m, but hits the post. (Q2 5:32)
Westhoff snaps truly from the pocket after Baguley drops a kick in and gets caught in possession. (Q2 9:57)
Lobbe is paid a ruck free on McKernan, rather dubiously, 30m out on a slight angle. Lobbe makes no mistake, Port back within a kick. (Q2 11:02)
Wingard Wingard puts the Power into the lead with a converted set shot from the hotspot. Port has gone bang-bang-bang after trailing badly all game. (Q2 13:34)
Good sides can do that, and the Bombers, while trying, have had to work too hard for their goals in comparison. (Q2 14:02)
Wingard almost takes mark of the year 30m out on the flank, Neade roves and somehow evades three lunging Bombers to snap truly! (Q2 14:55)
Laverde gives outside a pack to Zach Merrett who snaps a nice goal across his body off his left boot from the hotspot. (Q2 18:04)
Schulz marks 45m out on a slight angle, trots in laconically and delivers a trademark, no-frills set shot that sails right through the hi-diddle-diddle. (Q2 20:28)
Laverde tackles Schulz at halfback, no free paid and the spillage falls for Neade who shoots instinctively from 40m and slots his second goal of Q2! (Q2 23:13)
Correction, it was Moore not Schulz, and he did get a handball away. (Q2 23:28)
Stanton kicks around the corner from 40m on the flank but it’s well wide. (Q2 24:58)
Port turns it over at halfback, Zach Merrett shoots from a similar position as Stants but also misses. (Q2 25:31)
McKernan gets a ruck free at 35m on the flank, and misses. (Q2 27:43)
Howlett is paid a lucky free for a tackle on Hombsch at half forward in which the ball was knocked free. Passes go to Heppell then O’Brien, who misses from 35m on a slight angle. (Q2 29:30)
Hooker leaps and clunks a mark at 30m on the flank in between two mid-sized Power defenders in Colquhoun and O’Shea. He misses as well. (Q2 31:14)
Another turnover at halfback for Port, Daniher gives to Langford who spins onto the right boot from the hotspot but also misses. (Q2 31:52)
Gray gets a free for a push at a stoppage by Hibberd, barrelling into his back 20m out on the flank. Robbie goals. (Q3 4:37)
Another holding free to Port, this time against Steinberg to Ryder as they wait under a long centre clearance 20m out in front. He goals as well, to boos from Don supporters. (Q3 6:07)
Jackson Merrett has Zaharakis behind the Power defence 15m out on the flank, Zaka turns, plays on and shoots as he’s tackled but it grubbers through anyway. (Q3 9:23)
Colquhoun turns the ball over in the centre by kicking into the umpire, eventually Browne passes to Laverde at 40m on a slight angle. Laverde goals. (Q3 11:08)
Long Hooker ball to the hotspot, two Port defenders go up against Heppell with Langford front and centre for the crumb, the kid snaps truly! (Q3 13:24)
Lobbe encroaches after Zaharakis marks on the wing to give away 50, putting Zaka 35m out on a slight angle. But Zaka, who has had a forgettable year, shanks it for a behind. (Q3 18:24)
Wines gives to Boak for a running snap under pressure from 40m on a slight angle, but it’s well wide. (Q3 19:39)
Gwilt gives to Zaharakis who shoots from 55m on a slight angle, does Impey get back to touch it on the line? Video review… called a behind. (Q3 22:34)
Broadbent’s short kick in is spoiled, Howlett roves and snaps blind from the hotspot but well wide. (Q3 23:25)
Port goes coast to coast on the next kick in, with Hartlett finding Schulz in front of Gwilt at the hotspot. But Schulz shanks it well wide left! (Q3 24:09)
Wines roves a pack on the wing and gives over the top to Monfries who has open space to gallop down the wing, he shoots from 40m but doesn’t even score. (Q3 27:16)
From the resultant throw in from next to the behind post, Moore roves and snaps truly! (Q3 27:37)
Langford forces Hombsch to throw the ball 40m out in front with a classic chicken wing tackle. He goals, a beautiful set shot. (Q3 28:40)
After getting a free for a slam tackle by Baguley, Wingard passes to Westhoff in the pocket just in front of Hurley 25m out. The Hoff misses. (Q4 0:44)
Boak goes long to the square, the ball goes to ground and the Bombers don’t kill it, did Ryder volley home from the line without Hibberd touching it? Video review says yes! (Q4 5:54)
Westhoff clears from the next centre bounce, Ryder snaps around the body form 40m on a slight angle, Hibberd can’t get to the fall, it bounces through! (Q4 7:06)
Zach Merrett clears from the next centre bounce to the lead of Daniher in front of Trengove at 40m on a slight angle. Daniher, who had been scoreless to this point, kicks truly. (Q4 8:22)
Baguley wears a Broadbent tackle in the pocket and gives to Browne who runs to 20m and snaps a very nice goal! Dons back within a point. (Q4 11:20)
White burns off Stanton and shoots from the HFF, off hands in the square and this time the Bomber defence is able to rush it. (Q4 11:52)
Port rebounds under pressure around the outer wing, Ryder marks and sails a long ball to space on the HFF, again White burns Stanton and Steinberg for a goal from 25m! (Q4 14:25)
Ryder sets the Don fans booing by marking unopposed in front of Stanton 25m out on a slight angle. He goals again, three in Q4! (Q4 16:27)
Ryder roves on the flank 35m out and tries for four for Q4 with a snap around the corner… drops in the square and is rushed. (Q4 17:21)
Schulz runs into an open goal after roving a Gray contest at the hotspot from a long Trengove ball. (Q4 19:35)
Hurley it was who trailed Schulz at that contest and could only watch as he put the game almost out of Essendon’s reach. (Q4 20:01)
Daniher marks a Baguley pass on the lead 45m out near the boundary. He sails the set shot over the goal umpire’s peaked cap! 6:21 to go at the next bounce. (Q4 22:45)
Browne kicks long to the flank 25m out, Hooker slings Broadbent but the ump picks out a very soft free against Hombsch for holding Hooker. Hooker goals. (Q4 24:03)
Wines uses his strength to stand in front of Baguley and mark a high Neade ball on the HFF, then goes to the pocket for Wingard 25m out. Chad swings it through! 3:45 left. (Q4 26:31)
Three goals in four minutes needed now, that’s just about the sealer from Chad there. (Q4 26:57)
Daniher marks in the pocket 25m out, even tougher shot than Wingard’s a moment ago, he hits the post. (Q4 28:45)
Boak bounces through a junk time goal under a tackle from the hotspot in the last minute. (Q4 31:50)
Edwards goals from near CHF after the next centre bounce, to limited reaction from everyone including him. (Q4 32:51)
