Nathan Brown catches McKernan high with a misaligned spoiling attempt. From about 35m on a 45-degree angle, McKernan pulls it left for a minor score. (Q1 2:19)
Following some sloppy play from both teams on the wing, the Bombers work it forward. Fantasia roves a pack on the 50 arc and strides in toward goal. His running shot misses right. (Q1 6:17)
At the other end Membrey has an opportunity to slot one. His set shot from 40 on a slight angle also misses. Scrappy start. (Q1 7:49)
Bruce plucks a strong mark on the HFF and quickly plays on. His centering pass finds Newnes who spills the mark, recovers, shoots and then misses. (Q1 8:49)
Myers’ attempt to spot up McGrath in the defensive 50 is poor. Steele does well to intercept, yet his shot on goal is wide. (Q1 11:49)
We’ve finally got a goal! Parker stretches to mark on the HFF, then launches the footy to a contest inside 50. Bruce roves the pack and snaps truly on his left from 35. (Q1 15:15)
With an around-the-body kick, Newnes sends it inside the Saints’ 50 where it lands with Sinclair. From about 45, directly in front, Jack misses right. (Q1 17:06)
Merrett tries to switch the footy to Hurley, but shows way too much of it to Membrey. Tim knocks it to his own advantage but can’t capitalise with his running shot from 50. (Q1 18:28)
The Saints continue their attacking onslaught with a 9th consecutive inside 50. This time it’s Membrey with a set shot from 49. With so real angle, his shot is sound. Goal! (Q1 19:16)
Francis kicks it straight into the back of his teammate. Newnes lays the tackle, Steven picks up the footy and snaps from 15m. Straight into the woodwork. (Qtr Time)
Bomber fans are getting vocal, but it’s mostly in frustration. St Kilda dominated the first quarter while the Bombers lacked intent – a continuation of round 1. (Qtr Time)
Mitch Brown marks on the lead just on the Bombers’ attacking 50. He feeds it to the hot spot where McKernan launches to take a strong pack mark. He hits the post… (Q2 1:26)
Fantasia has another opportunity for his team’s first goal. His set shot from just inside the 50 pushes right for a minor score. (Q2 2:37)
Webster cannons it from half back to Gresham on the wing. He launches inside 50 where Bruce joins the seagulls in the sky with a massive hanger! He goes back and slots the goal. (Q2 6:53)
Newnes then Steele, who hands the Sherrin off to Dunstan on the run. Luke finishes beautifully from 50. (Q2 8:19)
Stringer recognises that someone needs to stand up. In a solo effort, he crumbs the footy, pirouettes a couple of times, and snaps the first Bomber goal of the day! (Q2 10:07)
Gresham puts his head over the footy and centres it from the pocket to Parker in the hot spot. With nobody manning the mark, the second gamer dashes toward goal and celebrates. (Q2 12:09)
The Saints go BANG with another. Lonie sticks a huge tackle on Hurley on the wing. The Saints work it forward and Kent finishes it all off with a goal. (Q2 13:04)
Bombers fans have something to cheer about as Devon Smith kicks it out in front of Baguley running toward the goal. His banana from the pocket is flawless. (Q2 14:26)
Hurley kicks to Fantasia on the HFF who sends it inside 50 where Stringer marks strongly. He elects for the banana from 30 (somewhat unnecessarily) and sprays it OOTF. (Q2 19:09)
Acres marks in the center square between 3 Bombers. The Saints work it forward where Bruce eventually receives the holding free against Hurley. He misses poorly from 30. (Q2 21:07)
Newnes could have gone all the way but prefers to pop it over the top to Kent. His set shot from 40 on a 45-degree angle misses to the near side. (Q2 23:25)
The Bombers work the footy through the corridor thanks to some good work from Fantasia. Mitch Brown launches a set shot from 50. After a score review, it’s a behind only. (Q2 25:38)
Lonie assumed he had goal-line pressure on him… but there was none. The umpire calls a deliberate rushed behind. Devon Smith then kicks the easiest of goals. (Q2 30:05)
Following a boundary throw-in in the pocket, Gresham provides a quick response with a nice sidestep and classy snap on the outside of his boot. Goal. (Q2 32:10)
Shiel and McGrath work the footy from the centre bounce into the forward 50, resulting in a set shot for Myers. His kick is true and the Bombers bite back just before HT. (Half Time)
Baguley roves the stoppage and releases to Heppell. On his left, Dyson snaps the much-needed captain’s goal to make it 4 of the last 5 majors for Essendon. (Q3 7:12)
It’s HTB against Shiel deep in his defensive 50. Membrey takes advantage of Sinclair’s hard work and snaps the quick goal from directly in front, 20m out. (Q3 10:17)
Merrett has a chance at the other end for a quick reply, but his running shot from 50 is through for a minor score. (Q3 10:48)
Fantasia snaps over his shoulder from the pocket, but it doesn’t bend quite far enough. Behind only. (Q3 12:33)
Some strong Essendon pressure results in Parish kicking to the goal square in search of Bellchambers. The big man marks, plays on, and kicks the major from point blank. (Q3 19:08)
Newnes can’t finish off his running shot from 50, thanks to some Bomber pressure which forced his kick wide. (Q3 20:02)
Mitch Brown clunks the chest mark just inside the 50. From the paint, he strikes it perfectly and the Bomber fans love it! The momentum wears red and black. (Q3 21:48)
Shiel dances around his opponent, takes time to compose himself, but then just misses his 45m shot on the run. (Q3 23:17)
Ambrose puts on some crucial last-minute pressure to impact Kent’s shot wide for a minor score. (Q3 25:43)
Here’s another opportunity for the ex-Demon. This time with a 40m set shot on a 45-degree angle, Kent’s kick is across the face for a behind. (Q3 26:41)
The footy flies over a few players in the Bomber’s attacking zone. Orazio picks it up but can’t finish the relatively simple running shot from 40. (Q4 1:40)
Stringer roves the boundary throw-in in the forward pocket, steps around a couple of Saints, but can’t quite bend his snap enough. Minor score. (Q4 3:39)
Bruce is the benefactor of an over-the-shoulder free against Hurley in the marking contest. His set shot from 40 on a slight angle is average. Through for a behind. (Q4 9:39)
A centering St Kilda ball is crumbed by Gresham who gives to Parker who dishes to Acres. Blake’s shot hits the inside of the post. (Q4 12:30)
Sinclair outbodies Zaharakis to clunk a crafty mark in a dangerous position. His set shot from 35 is flawless, stretching the margin out to 17 points. (Q4 13:47)
Jake Stringer tries to reel in the margin but his set shot from 52 pulls left for a minor score. (Q4 15:05)
Heppell takes a brave, crucial intercept mark running back with the flight. His shot from 40 doesn’t make the distance – out of bounds in the forward pocket. (Q4 19:22)
Bruce can’t hold the diving mark but proceeds to shovel the footy out to a running Gresham. He kicks the goal on the run from 20 and all but seals the game for the Saints. (Q4 25:54)
It’s a holding the man free kick 30m out in front of Essendon’s goal. Heppell slots the goal through the middle. Bombers need 3 goals in 2 minutes. (Q4 27:05)
McKernan gets a consolation prize with a long goal with 5 seconds to go. Too little, too late. (Q4 30:01)
