ESSENDON v. SYDNEY

ESSENDON:

SYDNEY:

ESSENDON:

It was the Essendon bookends of Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher that were the stand out performers on the night.

The new skipper was outstanding kicking eight goals for the night - including six in the first quarter - to set up the Essendon victory.

Fletcher was just as scintillating in defence showing his class over the four quarters. Holding the backline together, he kept Swans danger man Michael O’Loughlin under control limiting his impact on the game.

After disappointing first round performances in recent seasons, the Bombers were desperate to get off to a good start. James Hird was a late withdrawal from the match but it didn't have the major impact some expected, as the Bombers set up the game with a nine goal to two opening quarter.

Lloyd was the star of the show kicking six opening term goals including a purple patch of three in three minutes.

It was a disciplined and accountable quarter of football for the Bombers who continually won possession out of the centre. Chris Heffernan looked at home back in the Essendon midfield keeping busy and kicking a goal, while Scott Camporeale also kept active, winning the ball seven times in the first quarter.

A goal on the siren to Camporeale sealed the Bombers dream opening quarter to extend the lead to 41 points at quarter time.

The Swans looked to settle coming out of the quarter time huddle. Two quick goals to Adam Goodes and Barry Hall reduced the margin to 28 points.

It was that man Hall who made the difference to the Swans in the second quarter. He kicked four goals for the term, too strong and fast for his opponent Kepler Bradley.

Essendon looked slightly tired after their great first quarter, as Swans looked the opposite running hard and starting to win the ball around the ground.

The Bombers managed only two goals, and with the last four of the quarter to Sydney, they had reduced the half time deficit to 17 points.

With both teams dominating a quarter each, the question would be which team had exerted more energy in the first half.

Essendon kicked the first two goals of the third quarter courtesy of Scott Lucas and Andrew Lovett and the Bombers had regained a comfortable buffer.

But goals were hard to come by, with the free flowing game that was evident in the first half drying up. Both teams were stagnant with a more defensive style of game creeping into the match.

Sydney broke their goal drought with five minutes remaining in the quarter when Barry Hall exposed first game player Patrick Ryder in a ruck dual to kick his fifth for the match. And when he nabbed his sixth not long after to reduce the Essendon lead to 17 points, it was becoming evident Hall was going to be a key in the final quarter.

The match tightened up even more in the final quarter with the first ten minutes of the term scoreless.

It was a Sydney turnover that resulted in Scott Lucas marking the ball 45 metres out. He kicked superbly and the Essendon lead grew to 24 points.

The goal was what the Bombers needed to break the ice and take control. Another quick goal to Lucas from a centre clearance, followed by Lloyd kicking his seventh and Essendon’s six-goal break looked to be enough.

The Swans wouldn’t give up with the next two, but when Lloyd kicked his eighth of the night the result was beyond doubt.

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