ESSENDON v. WEST COAST

ESSENDON:

WEST COAST:

ESSENDON:

Essendon assistant coach, Scott Camporeale, says tonight’s 22-point win over West Coast at the Dome was welcome reward for a young side who had worked hard over the last month and he was pleased they were able to see off the Eagles despite being challenged late in the final term.

“It was just good to get over the line in the end,” he said.

“We’ve still got a younger group and they’re still learning how to win, so it was good for us to hold on when they got challenged late in the last quarter.

“Obviously they’ve been working hard and haven’t played some of their best footy at times but the last month has been really good and it was good for the boys to get over the line.”

Essendon looked in control for most of the match thanks to some great centre bounce work from ruckman David Hille who played one of his best games for the year gathering 27-possessions to go with his 22-hitouts, nine marks and three goals.

Camporeale praised the performance of Hille in the ruck as well as the good form of Captain Matthew Lloyd who played all over the ground and took a screamer to cap off a pleasing night for Bomber fans.

“David Hille was sensational, fantastic tonight and even our captain, who copped a fair bit during the week, he stood up and played really well,” Camporeale said.

“Brent Stanton ran his backside off again for us and I thought Fletcher was solid again for us down back.”

The game opened with some scrappy football from both sides but it was Essendon who had the majority of possession with Hille giving the Bomber on ballers first use. The centre clearances were well in Essendon’s favour and they controlled the ball for the most of the quarter but were unable to convert it into scoreboard pressure. Adam McPhee had a great start gathering 10-touches and taking four marks around the middle of the ground. He also set up several scoring opportunities in the opening term including having a hand in the opening goal, a Jay Neagle set shot from a one handed mark.

Despite having more of the ball than the Eagles the Bombers trailed West Coast midway through the term following goals to Embley, Staker, and Hunter who were able to capitalise on the quick transition into their forward line from Essendon turnovers. But the Bombers finished the quarter the better with goals to Lucas and McPhee, and then a running goal from the boundary from Hille on the quarter time siren sent them to the first break with a five point lead.

The trend continued into the second quarter as Essendon won most of the centre clearances thanks to some good contested work from Sam Lonergan and Jobe Watson who was at his best in and around the stoppages. Essendon looked in control of the game but some inaccurate kicking for goal prevented them from gaining any clear ascendency and scores were level nine minutes into the second term. A crumbing goal from David Wirrpanda put the Eagles in front but an equally impressive snap from Nathan Lovett-Murray gave the Bombers back the lead. When Neagle booted his second and Hille followed shortly after, Essendon had extended their lead to 14-points. West Coast had several chances to get the lead back before half-time but they too missed shots for goal and the Bombers took an eleven point lead going into the main break.

The second half started in much more attractive fashion than the first with another centre clearance from a Hille tap and some great work from Lonergan saw Lucas boot his second for the night. Wirrpanda was playing a lone hand up forward for West Coast and his fourth goal reduced the margin back to 11 points. Hille continued to dominate around the ground and when he did some roving of his own to blast home his third goal the Bombers began to get on a roll. Kyle Reimers had an influential quarter providing physicality and pace and was well supported by fellow midfielder Stanton. The Bombers were well on top throughout the quarter but West Coast was within striking distance as Essendon took a 15-point lead into the final term.

The last quarter started with a Bomber goal almost straight from the centre bounce. Adam Ramanauskas ran into an open goal on a tight angle to put the home side 21-points in front. Lloyd answered an Eagle goal with a signature screamer and goal to push the lead back out over 20-points. Lucas joined in with a classy snap over his shoulder and the Bombers looked home holding a 27-point lead, but West Coast would not go away and another goal to Le Cras kept them in the game. Reimers and Neagle finished off pleasing individual performances with final term goals to put the game out of reach of West Coast and give the Bombers their third win for the season.

Late goals to Le Cras and Hunter narrowed the final winning margin but the night belonged to Essendon as some older heads combined with the younger group to give the club their first win since Round 3.

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