Star Bomber badly injured in Richmond's upset win
In arguably the lowest-quality match of the season on Saturday, the Tigers failed to score a goal in the second and third quarters, but still managed to secure their fourth win of the season.
A clutch goal from Jacob Hopper put Richmond in front midway through the final term, setting up the 6.10 (46) to 4.13 (37) victory.
It was the rebuilding Tigers' first win since beating lowly West Coast on May 11.
After each team kicked three goals in the opening quarter, the standard of the match collapsed dramatically.
Essendon kicked the only goal across the second and third quarters as both teams repeatedly butchered the ball.
No team scored a goal from Richmond ace Jayden Short's major late in the first quarter until midway through the third term, when Essendon young gun Archer May converted a free kick.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but when we're sitting where we are are and what we're going through on our build, we'll take these wins and celebrate them, because they're really important for our group," Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
Leading by seven points at the final change, Essendon will be ruing a missed opportunity, but also devastated for Martin who has "almost certainly" ruptured his ACL.
The 24-year-old was shoved over the boundary line by Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell, before landing awkwardly.
He was subbed off after hurting his right knee midway through the first quarter
Martin, who was best on ground when Essendon defeated the Tigers in their Dreamtime clash two months ago, looked shattered as he was assessed by medical staff in the rooms.
He sat on the bench for the rest of the match, making his way out to the three-quarter time huddle on crutches.
Essendon coach Brad Scott is fearing the worst for Martin, continuing a miserable run with injury as they are already missing eight of their best team.
Six Bombers, including playmakers Sam Draper, Jye Caldwell and Zach Reid, have already been ruled out for the season.
The Bombers have started investigating why so many players are breaking down, many of them due to repeated soft-tissue injuries.
If scans confirm Essendon's fears, Martin will become the fourth Bombers player to injure his ACL this season, joining Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes and Tom Edwards.
Tigers star Tim Taranto stood out in a scrappy contest with 34 touches and a goal, while Essendon captain Zach Merrett battled valiantly with 31 possessions.
"It was clearly a terrible game," Scott said.
"The second quarter probably summed it up a little bit.
"It doesn't mean terrible effort, it just means a comedy of errors."
It was Essendon's sixth straight loss, ahead of a Marvel Stadium date with surging GWS on Thursday night.
Richmond have snapped a seven-game losing streak, stunning Essendon by nine points in an MCG scrap where the Bombers lost star ball-winner Nic Martin to a season-ending knee injury.
In arguably the lowest-quality match of the season on Saturday, the Tigers failed to score a goal in the second and third quarters, but still managed to secure their fourth win of the season.
A clutch goal from Jacob Hopper put Richmond in front midway through the final term, setting up the 6.10 (46) to 4.13 (37) victory.
It was the rebuilding Tigers' first win since beating lowly West Coast on May 11.
After each team kicked three goals in the opening quarter, the standard of the match collapsed dramatically.
Essendon kicked the only goal across the second and third quarters as both teams repeatedly butchered the ball.
No team scored a goal from Richmond ace Jayden Short's major late in the first quarter until midway through the third term, when Essendon young gun Archer May converted a free kick.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but when we're sitting where we are are and what we're going through on our build, we'll take these wins and celebrate them, because they're really important for our group," Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
Leading by seven points at the final change, Essendon will be ruing a missed opportunity, but also devastated for Martin who has "almost certainly" ruptured his ACL.
The 24-year-old was shoved over the boundary line by Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell, before landing awkwardly.
He was subbed off after hurting his right knee midway through the first quarter
Martin, who was best on ground when Essendon defeated the Tigers in their Dreamtime clash two months ago, looked shattered as he was assessed by medical staff in the rooms.
He sat on the bench for the rest of the match, making his way out to the three-quarter time huddle on crutches.
Essendon coach Brad Scott is fearing the worst for Martin, continuing a miserable run with injury as they are already missing eight of their best team.
Six Bombers, including playmakers Sam Draper, Jye Caldwell and Zach Reid, have already been ruled out for the season.
The Bombers have started investigating why so many players are breaking down, many of them due to repeated soft-tissue injuries.
If scans confirm Essendon's fears, Martin will become the fourth Bombers player to injure his ACL this season, joining Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes and Tom Edwards.
Tigers star Tim Taranto stood out in a scrappy contest with 34 touches and a goal, while Essendon captain Zach Merrett battled valiantly with 31 possessions.
"It was clearly a terrible game," Scott said.
"The second quarter probably summed it up a little bit.
"It doesn't mean terrible effort, it just means a comedy of errors."
It was Essendon's sixth straight loss, ahead of a Marvel Stadium date with surging GWS on Thursday night.
Richmond have snapped a seven-game losing streak, stunning Essendon by nine points in an MCG scrap where the Bombers lost star ball-winner Nic Martin to a season-ending knee injury.
In arguably the lowest-quality match of the season on Saturday, the Tigers failed to score a goal in the second and third quarters, but still managed to secure their fourth win of the season.
A clutch goal from Jacob Hopper put Richmond in front midway through the final term, setting up the 6.10 (46) to 4.13 (37) victory.
It was the rebuilding Tigers' first win since beating lowly West Coast on May 11.
After each team kicked three goals in the opening quarter, the standard of the match collapsed dramatically.
Essendon kicked the only goal across the second and third quarters as both teams repeatedly butchered the ball.
No team scored a goal from Richmond ace Jayden Short's major late in the first quarter until midway through the third term, when Essendon young gun Archer May converted a free kick.
"It wasn't the prettiest game, but when we're sitting where we are are and what we're going through on our build, we'll take these wins and celebrate them, because they're really important for our group," Richmond coach Adem Yze said.
Leading by seven points at the final change, Essendon will be ruing a missed opportunity, but also devastated for Martin who has "almost certainly" ruptured his ACL.
The 24-year-old was shoved over the boundary line by Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell, before landing awkwardly.
He was subbed off after hurting his right knee midway through the first quarter
Martin, who was best on ground when Essendon defeated the Tigers in their Dreamtime clash two months ago, looked shattered as he was assessed by medical staff in the rooms.
He sat on the bench for the rest of the match, making his way out to the three-quarter time huddle on crutches.
Essendon coach Brad Scott is fearing the worst for Martin, continuing a miserable run with injury as they are already missing eight of their best team.
Six Bombers, including playmakers Sam Draper, Jye Caldwell and Zach Reid, have already been ruled out for the season.
The Bombers have started investigating why so many players are breaking down, many of them due to repeated soft-tissue injuries.
If scans confirm Essendon's fears, Martin will become the fourth Bombers player to injure his ACL this season, joining Nick Bryan, Lewis Hayes and Tom Edwards.
Tigers star Tim Taranto stood out in a scrappy contest with 34 touches and a goal, while Essendon captain Zach Merrett battled valiantly with 31 possessions.
"It was clearly a terrible game," Scott said.
"The second quarter probably summed it up a little bit.
"It doesn't mean terrible effort, it just means a comedy of errors."
It was Essendon's sixth straight loss, ahead of a Marvel Stadium date with surging GWS on Thursday night.
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"We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. But St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera gave other clubs hope this week by ending months of speculation amid big offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to re-sign with the Saints. Essendon aren't forcing a timeline, or putting any extra pressure, upon Draper to make up his mind. "Clearly he's got a lot of interest, but I think we've presented a really strong case as to why he'll play his best football with us," Scott said. "There's an incredibly strong appetite from a lot of clubs to improve their list through trading and free agency. "Right at the moment, it feels like more than ever. "Sam knows how important he is to us, and he knows how much I, in particular, value him. "But I've made it really clear to him that he's got to come to this decision himself and do what he thinks is in the best interest of his career, and for the rest of his life." Essendon will play the first of their two round 24 games on Thursday night when they face rivals Carlton at the MCG. The injury-hit Bombers will be desperate to snap an 11-game losing streak, as heroic captain Zach Merrett plays his 250th game. Merrett's milestone was supposed to happen last Friday night against St Kilda, but a fractured hand sidelined him for a week and the Bombers suffered a two-point defeat. The 29-year-old has been declared a certain starter to face the Blues. "Nothing will stop him playing," Scott said. "I asked him if he wanted to do a test, and he said, 'no, it's not required', so he'll just be out there." After playing Carlton, Essendon will finish off their tough season on Wednesday night against the Suns on the Gold Coast. This game was supposed to happen back in March, but was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred and moved from the first weekend of the home-and-away season to the last. Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the "best case" has been put to keep Sam Draper, insisting the Bombers will continue to play two rucks. The 26-year-old big man is weighing up offers to join flag contenders Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions as an unrestricted free agent. The reigning premiers are seemingly positioned well to snare the South Australian-raised Draper, after the Crows recently re-signed big man Reilly O'Brien. Draper (achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee), who has recommitted to Essendon until the end of 2027, have been sidelined for the majority of this season. But before their injuries in consecutive weeks, Draper and Bryan were playing in the same team. The AFL is heading towards removing the sub rule and instead allowing five players on the bench. "They're very close (friends)," Scott said of Draper and Bryan. "The evidence at the start of the year was very clear ... they were both playing career-best football together. "We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. But St Kilda star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera gave other clubs hope this week by ending months of speculation amid big offers from Adelaide and Port Adelaide to re-sign with the Saints. Essendon aren't forcing a timeline, or putting any extra pressure, upon Draper to make up his mind. 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Draper (achilles) and Nick Bryan (knee), who has recommitted to Essendon until the end of 2027, have been sidelined for the majority of this season. But before their injuries in consecutive weeks, Draper and Bryan were playing in the same team. The AFL is heading towards removing the sub rule and instead allowing five players on the bench. "They're very close (friends)," Scott said of Draper and Bryan. "The evidence at the start of the year was very clear ... they were both playing career-best football together. "We've been really clear in terms of we'd like to have that ruck partnership into the future. "The indication with changes to the sub rule only strengthens that case to play two rucks." Generally, if players haven't re-signed to their current club this late in the season it means they are likely to move in the trade period. 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The injury-hit Bombers will be desperate to snap an 11-game losing streak, as heroic captain Zach Merrett plays his 250th game. Merrett's milestone was supposed to happen last Friday night against St Kilda, but a fractured hand sidelined him for a week and the Bombers suffered a two-point defeat. The 29-year-old has been declared a certain starter to face the Blues. "Nothing will stop him playing," Scott said. "I asked him if he wanted to do a test, and he said, 'no, it's not required', so he'll just be out there." After playing Carlton, Essendon will finish off their tough season on Wednesday night against the Suns on the Gold Coast. This game was supposed to happen back in March, but was postponed due to Cyclone Alfred and moved from the first weekend of the home-and-away season to the last.
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Essendon's 'best case' for keeping free agent ruck
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Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
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Cam McInnes feared he'd ruptured his ACL. He went even harder into the next tackle
Cronulla captain Cam McInnes feared he had ruptured his ACL on Saturday, but to be sure, he raced out of the defensive line a second time, praying his knee would not buckle again. One of the NRL's toughest players was seen clutching at his right knee after making a tackle midway through the first half of the match against the Gold Coast. Two plays later, McInnes is seen charging into Titans' prop Moeaki Fotuaika, only to hobble back and signal to the sideline that he was in trouble. The 31-year-old's season is over, and he admits for the first time he is apprehensive about what awaits him, given he is off contract at the end of next season. McInnes will meet with the knee surgeon on Wednesday, and he did his best to remain upbeat when contacted by this masthead on Monday. 'I did my left knee in early 2021, I missed that season, I understand how the knees work, and once my knee buckled on the weekend, I knew it could have been my ACL,' McInnes said. 'I've also done my MCL a few times, and was hoping maybe I had stirred up some scar tissue. 'There was only one way to find out what I had done, so I thought to myself, 'I'll race out of the line and see how I go'.
