Injury crisis overshadows Essendon's crucial Dreamtime at the ‘G win
Essendon have secured an unconvincing 23-point Dreamtime win over Richmond at the MCG on a night when their AFL injury crisis deepened.
After being smashed by 91 points last week, the Bombers responded by handling the rebuilding Tigers, who were without premiership stars Toby Nankervis, Tom Lynch, and Noah Balta.
In a match filled with turnovers and skill errors, Essendon had enough experience to run out winners 11.15 (81) to 8.10 (58), with 18-year-old debutant Angus Clarke kicking a match-high three goals.
The Bombers kept the Tigers goalless in the last quarter until Hugo Ralphsmith put through a major as the siren sounded.
Versatile Bomber Nic Martin was awarded the Yiooken Medal for his two-goal, 35-possession match.
But the Bombers are counting the cost of losing more key players after forward Kyle Langford (quad) and key defender Zach Reid (hamstring) failed to finish the match.
Langford, a two-time leading goal-kicker at Essendon, has already missed six games this season due to a knee injury.
The 28-year-old went off in the second quarter, while Reid hobbled into the rooms late in the third term.
After enduring an injury-plagued start to his career since being drafted in 2020, Reid has emerged as a key pillar for Essendon in defence this season.
The Bombers have already had four season-ending injuries this season, including ruckmen Sam Draper and Nick Bryan, while important talls Jordan Ridley and Harry Jones are sidelined long-term.
But Essendon were thrilled with the debut of Clarke, who slotted his three goals from a wing.
The hard-running teenager could have finished with four majors but slammed another shot into the post in the final quarter.
Clarke kicked two of Essendon's first three goals to inject some much-needed spark into a stadium that was lacking energy, despite there being 76,051 fans in the crowd.
Richmond didn't escape unscathed, either, after No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor was taken off in the last quarter with a hamstring injury.
Playing as a deep forward, Lalor kicked two goals from both of his possessions in the game.
Midfielder Thomson Dow had already been subbed out for the Tigers after damaging his knee in the third term.
Essendon, momentarily, find themselves in the top-eight after moving to a 6-4 record with their sixth win from their past eight matches.
Richmond slump to 3-8, but are better placed than many thought they would be pre-season amid dire predictions of a winless year.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
6 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘You can't have 10 inside midfielders': Dons to blood rookie pair while Tsatas, Hobbs wait their turn
The versatile Jones and in particular strong-marking Reid were enjoying good seasons before their setbacks, while Nate Caddy – who is carrying a big load in attack with Langford sidelined, and when Peter Wright goes into the ruck – Archie Roberts and Isaac Kako have also impressed McPherson. However, it has been more challenging for midfielders Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas. Essendon dropped Hobbs, the No.13 pick in 2021, on Thursday night, while Tsatas, the fifth selection in 2022, has played just one of the Bombers' past five games. Hobbs' centre-bounce opportunities had dwindled before his axing, and he was playing almost exclusively as a forward, even before All-Australian onballer Darcy Parish's return on Sunday night. Tsatas continues to rack up disposals for Essendon's reserves, but his kicking efficiency – the biggest knock on him – is barely above 46 per cent, and he is handballing far more. Neither player making this week's team despite Durham's absence, veteran Dylan Shiel remaining in the VFL since being dropped a month ago, and captain Zach Merrett being used at half-back is an indication of their place in the midfield pecking order. 'The unique nature of our injury list is they are essentially all talls and key-position guys, so the players that Elijah and 'Hobbsy' are battling for spots are fit and healthy,' McPherson said. 'Our core group of inside midfielders are experienced, high-quality players. You look at Parish, Caldwell and Merrett – and Setterfield's done some terrific jobs the last few weeks. 'We brought in two guys this week, but they're tall because we need some height and reinforcement in that area, so that takes away a couple of spots outside the centre bounce … you can't have 10 inside midfielders.' McPherson said it would be 'great for them and us' if Hobbs and Tsatas re-established themselves in the AFL by season's end, but that team balance was the priority. The Bombers are keen to have more A-grade talent around Merrett, but McPherson was confident a number of their players were 'trending' towards reaching that status. Essendon are scouring rival clubs' lists to help that pursuit, meaning they could be active in free agency and the trade period, while they are armed with their own and Melbourne's first-round pick in this year's draft. 'Our list and recruiting guys are on the lookout, and getting to work on who's available, who's a possibility, and whether they fit with us,' McPherson said. 'But at the same time, we think there's potential for a few of our guys to continue to improve and elevate to that level.' Loading McPherson said having multiple first-round selections meant the Bombers would have 'flexibility' in the player movement period as they explore the potential of trying to lure a top-liner to Tullamarine. They also must decide how hard they will work to retain unrestricted free agent ruckman Draper, who has interest from Adelaide. 'We're not closed off to anything. You never say never,' McPherson said. 'You go into these sorts of deals and discussions with your best interests at the forefront, so it has to be something that we're really comfortable benefits us.'
The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
‘You can't have 10 inside midfielders': Dons to blood rookie pair while Tsatas, Hobbs wait their turn
The versatile Jones and in particular strong-marking Reid were enjoying good seasons before their setbacks, while Nate Caddy – who is carrying a big load in attack with Langford sidelined, and when Peter Wright goes into the ruck – Archie Roberts and Isaac Kako have also impressed McPherson. However, it has been more challenging for midfielders Ben Hobbs and Elijah Tsatas. Essendon dropped Hobbs, the No.13 pick in 2021, on Thursday night, while Tsatas, the fifth selection in 2022, has played just one of the Bombers' past five games. Hobbs' centre-bounce opportunities had dwindled before his axing, and he was playing almost exclusively as a forward, even before All-Australian onballer Darcy Parish's return on Sunday night. Tsatas continues to rack up disposals for Essendon's reserves, but his kicking efficiency – the biggest knock on him – is barely above 46 per cent, and he is handballing far more. Neither player making this week's team despite Durham's absence, veteran Dylan Shiel remaining in the VFL since being dropped a month ago, and captain Zach Merrett being used at half-back is an indication of their place in the midfield pecking order. 'The unique nature of our injury list is they are essentially all talls and key-position guys, so the players that Elijah and 'Hobbsy' are battling for spots are fit and healthy,' McPherson said. 'Our core group of inside midfielders are experienced, high-quality players. You look at Parish, Caldwell and Merrett – and Setterfield's done some terrific jobs the last few weeks. 'We brought in two guys this week, but they're tall because we need some height and reinforcement in that area, so that takes away a couple of spots outside the centre bounce … you can't have 10 inside midfielders.' McPherson said it would be 'great for them and us' if Hobbs and Tsatas re-established themselves in the AFL by season's end, but that team balance was the priority. The Bombers are keen to have more A-grade talent around Merrett, but McPherson was confident a number of their players were 'trending' towards reaching that status. Essendon are scouring rival clubs' lists to help that pursuit, meaning they could be active in free agency and the trade period, while they are armed with their own and Melbourne's first-round pick in this year's draft. 'Our list and recruiting guys are on the lookout, and getting to work on who's available, who's a possibility, and whether they fit with us,' McPherson said. 'But at the same time, we think there's potential for a few of our guys to continue to improve and elevate to that level.' Loading McPherson said having multiple first-round selections meant the Bombers would have 'flexibility' in the player movement period as they explore the potential of trying to lure a top-liner to Tullamarine. They also must decide how hard they will work to retain unrestricted free agent ruckman Draper, who has interest from Adelaide. 'We're not closed off to anything. You never say never,' McPherson said. 'You go into these sorts of deals and discussions with your best interests at the forefront, so it has to be something that we're really comfortable benefits us.'
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Chris Scott says Geelong star Bailey Smith did all the talking in meeting with AFL boss Andrew Dillon about behaviour
Geelong coach Chris Scott is confident star recruit Bailey Smith's 'low-key' meeting with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon about his on and off-field behaviour won't curtail the brilliant start to his Cats career, adamant the Brownlow Medal fancy 'did most of the talking'. Smith, who will return for the Cats against Essendon on Saturday after a brief injury lay-off, was part of a meeting with Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and chief executive Steve Hocking at his Surf Coast property last Thursday. It came after Smith put himself in the spotlight when he alluded to recreational drug use on social media, having already twice been fined for an inappropriate gesture towards opposition fans. Smith, who crossed to Geelong from the Western Bulldogs, also became embroiled in a verbal stoush with his former club after playing in front of a packed MCG and declaring 'you don't get that at Ballarat' after a crowd below 10,000 attended a Dogs game in the regional centre. But Scott was loathe to 'overplay the importance of it' and Smith was even 'keen' to have the face-to-face meeting after Dillon had addressed the issues publicly on occasion. 'It was a very casual and low-key catch-up, as much as can be between peers when you've got a 23 or 24-year-old with the CEO of the Cats and the CEO of the AFL,' Scott said on Friday. 'I'm loathe to say too much because I don't want to speak on behalf of Andrew Dillon, but as a club we certainly appreciated the fact that he reached out. 'The takeaways would have been Bailey has a really good feel that he's got a lot of people supporting him. 'I think he recognised better post that meeting how much the AFL value what he can bring to the game and by extension to the AFL themselves. 'I don't think he's ever had any trouble with this, but it has been reinforced, the responsibility that he has to the game as well. Those things kind of go hand-in-glove. 'The more I talk about it, the more I get concerned that I give the impression that it was three or four people speaking at Bailey. It wasn't like that at all.' Scott said Smith, who has the support of the club and his teammates to continue to show his character, was in no way taken aback by the meeting and would continue to show his character. 'He actually did most of the talking – which is not unusual,' Scott said. 'It's been good fun to have him around the place. Players love him. Staff love him. 'We're on our toes, aren't we? ' 'It's exciting, but we've said for a long time we don't have any intention of trying to fill our list with the same sort of person. He is unique but in the most positive sense of the word.' Scott will notch a significant milestone on Saturday, coaching against his brother Brad, with the twins notching up a combined 1000 games as players and coaches.
