SCORES

Round 1 2009

ESSENDON v. PORT ADELAIDE

Final Scores

  Q1 Q2 Q3 Q3 Score
Ess ESS 1.1 4.3 8.8 9.12 66
PA PA 4.3 8.7 11.12 15.17 107
MATCH COMPLETED: PORT ADELAIDE won by 41 points.
Venue: AAMI Stadium

GOALS

ESSENDON:
Brent Stanton 2, Andrew Lovett, Adam McPhee, Jay Neagle, Angus Monfries, Hayden Skipworth, Courtenay Dempsey, Scott Lucas

PORT ADELAIDE:
Justin Westhoff 3, Daniel Motlop 3, Brett Ebert 2, Robert Gray 2, Danyle Pearce, Alipate Carlisle, Daniel Motlop, Peter Burgoyne, Josh Carr

REPORTS

Essendon has made a late change to today's side that will play the season opener against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Young ruckman Tom Bellchambers has been witrhdrawn from the side. Tayte Pears has come into the side as his replacement.

A high pressure opening to the game with first-time Bombers Hayden Skipworth and Michael Hurley impressing.

Danyle Pearce kicked the opening goal of the game despite Essendon looking to have the better opportunities. Jay Neagle in particular had a couple of opportunities to mark deep in the forward line but was unable to make the most of his chnaces.

Port soon had their second goal courtesy of full back Alipate Carlisle who backed himself to run out of defence and was rewarded.

Brett Ebert marked strongly in front of Henry Slattery to kick Port's third in three minutes and Essendon looks in early trouble. The Bombers are getting slaughtered at stoppages - Pearce in particular was providing his team with great run.

Essendon tightened the contest in the midfield and were rewarded with a goal to Adam McPhee who was paid a free kick about 35m out.

The Bombers turned the ball over across half back and pay the ultimate penalty with Daniel Motlop running on to a loose ball and kicking an easy goal.

Essendon went into the first break facing a 20-point deficit. They need to make more of their opportunities inside 50m if they are to be in the game at half time.




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