News

Indigenous players stand up in Dreamtime win

Saturday, 23 May 2009
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1

Essendon’s Indigenous talent gave football fans added reason to celebrate tonight’s Dreamtime at the ‘G blockbuster as the Bombers sealed a convincing 40-point win over Richmond.

The Bombers' six Indiegnous players showed the football world a little bit of magic as they put their slick skills on display and left their opponents dazzled.

Nathan Lovett-Murray described the win as a career highlight.

“Playing in Dreamtime at the ‘G is certainly always a highlight of my career so getting up there and having a win is fantastic,” he said.

“In the first half we were a bit down and we weren’t putting the pressure on them that we needed to but in the second half we came out and matched their pressure and the game fell our way."

To read the full match report click here

Lovett-Murray said the significance of the round provided added inspiration to seal the win.

“There was a little bit of black magic in the air today and it was great to see so many Indigenous people in the crowd. We just wanted to put on a show for them,” he said.

“Andrew Lovett played another superb game. The pressure that Alwyn Davey and Leroy Jetta put on in the forward line was great. Paddy Ryder is just a champion and Courtenay Dempsey did the job down back.”

Lovett-Murray also put himself in contention for Mark of the Year after taking a screamer that surprised even himself.

“I went up there and wasn’t expecting to get up so high but just knew I had to take the mark once I got up there,” he said.

Celebrate with the people that made the 1984/85 Premierships happen. Click here to be at Crown Palladium on Saturday 4 July.

Essendon face a tough task next week against the benchmark of the competition but Lovett-Murray is confident the Bombers can put on a show against the undefeated Geelong Cats.

“If we come out and play the way we did in the first half then we are going to get smashed but if we can produce what we did in the second then we can match it with them."

Jason Winderlich was named best on ground.

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Thanks to NIRS radio I listened to the game here in Perth due to no other coverage. Obviously a 2nd half "game on" mindset turned the result in our favour. Well done boys - gear up for next week as I'll be cheering for you at the Dome

- Peter Murray (posted 23/05/2009 11:18:09 PM)

Well done don's on the win now lets take it into next week the doggies showed how geelong can be beaten even though they lost. I hope Dempsey is ok and lonergan, we have a backline that is very promising after the retirement of fletcher. I hope the umpire's aren't to geelong whistle happy next week. Please bombers sign up lovett now!

- Jeddy Telescourt (posted 23/05/2009 11:23:17 PM)

Great win Bombers, can`t have a slow start next week though. Ryder, Lovett and Dempsey are stars, and how good is Winder. Now lets show the pussy`s some speed and pressure next week. Go Dons.

- Cory Williams (posted 23/05/2009 11:36:24 PM)

hard fought win..... it was great to see the on-ballers get back on top in the clearances after getting smashed in the first half. Well done lads.

- Greg Sorenson (posted 23/05/2009 11:40:12 PM)

Slow start again boys, we have to arrest that trend. Definitely cost us against the Saints but overall another great finish to a match of 2 halves. The intensity that Richmond showed in the first half was lacking in the 2nd and allowed us to dictate the play. Our intensity in both the Hawthorn & Collingwood game is the blueprint that we need to follow for the remainder of the season. Every contest, every hard-ball get and our defensive pressure needs to be maintained at that level for 4 quarters. Great win though and keep it up.

- Rob Fisher (posted 23/05/2009 11:49:22 PM)

first of all well done to the indigenous boys! secondly boys we got Geelong next week and we cannot afford to play that type of football that we played in the first two quaters. 2 weeks in a row we have let teams get off to a good start and we play catch up. Cmon boys we need to take it up a notch and give Geelong a run for their money. Exciting football thou! Love watching our indigenous boyz.GO BABY BOMBERS

- James Bourne (posted 23/05/2009 11:54:18 PM)

If we play the 1st half tonight next week we'll be more than 10 goals down. It's time our players kicked to our players. Our skills were so bad. Lets hope we can win next week. Go Bombers

- James Bowler (posted 23/05/2009 11:55:28 PM)

Had me disappointed first two quarters but well done BOMBERS for the other two quarters Ryder, Winderlick and Nathan were magnificent for a great win. Romey

- Romilda Jones (posted 23/05/2009 11:58:38 PM)

"DREAM TIME AT THE G!" and what a dream Bombers ( G-Glorious team work! ) The inspiration that you guys shown tonight in your endeavor to never give up and continous hardball team work was so impressive and a pleasure to watch. Many said we were not final 8 material at this stage, where are they now? ( Great effort! HOLD YOU HEADS HIGH GUYS ) Keep up that great team work, proud Bomber fan.

- Cheryl Osborne (posted 24/05/2009 12:04:07 AM)

first half they played shocking but the second half they played fanstastic and was a good win to go the mighty bombers

- Norman Cacciattolo (posted 24/05/2009 12:17:37 AM)

When the heat really came on the game all of our quality players lifted. Jobe set us up out of the middle in that 3rd quarter, and when the likes of McVeigh, Welsh, Skipworth & Prismall are added to the rotations our midfield will vie with the best going around. Heath Hocking has been quietly improving by the week, and we certainly have the best group of indigenous players in the league. Good times are coming our way!

- Dennis Green (posted 24/05/2009 12:28:31 AM)

WOW! ivar biggen-what do you have to say about that, you MORON??

- Sue Fraser (posted 24/05/2009 12:31:20 AM)

Sue, I'm sure Mr Biggen will have something negative & nasty to say about our footy team, or the coach, but really his opinion does not matter!

- Dennis Green (posted 24/05/2009 1:21:00 AM)

A very slow and frustrating start again, but wow talk about dreamtime in the second half. It was brilliant and our six black magic boys did us proud. Please, please play four quarters next week at the same calibre as the last two tonight and keep our adrenalin pumping against the handbagger pussies. Where did that comment from Jeddy (above) come from about Fletcher retiring??????????

- Sue Richards (posted 24/05/2009 1:46:31 AM)

Amazing win by Essendon, need to have 4 consistent quarters. Great to finaly get a big win against Richmond, and make those Richmond supporters wollowing at the bottom of the ladder. Go Bombers!

- Jonnie Gety (posted 24/05/2009 1:50:13 AM)

First off all, GREAT win boys!! Im really excited with the list we have atm, now secondly..Im not knocking Jetta, but has anyone else noticed that his decision making and hands at times is very poor? there was a couple of incidents in the game where he just needed to show more composure..but that will come as his confidence grows...CARN' BOMBERS!! 93 All over again!!!!

- PHILIP TRUONG (posted 24/05/2009 2:36:20 AM)

we're on the march! think sooner rather than later bomber fans.

- Take Em on boys!! (posted 24/05/2009 3:43:03 AM)

Who cares about IVARy BIGGEN'stupid? Lets stick to the real stuff. Well done Bombers, great fightback to the end! As we know the start needs a big improvement but at least we won comfortably. I feel honoured that we have the indigenous magic on our side I tell ya! What about those high screamers by Nathan and Paddy, very exciting to watch! Congratulations Jason for winning the Yiooken Award a great achievement over the contenders you had!

- Adrian Reynolds (posted 24/05/2009 8:48:41 AM)

Great game! Epecially from the start of the 2nd quarter (let's ignore the first) - once again our indigenous talent was the difference. Is it just me, or was the umpire backing the Tigers last night? Also, when is Knighta going to give clangar Houli a rest? I've been watching him for three weeks now and each week he seems to produce some big mistakes in the midfield that seem to cost us...

- Brendan Williams (posted 24/05/2009 8:51:13 AM)

Slow start and apparent lack of structure left as badly out of sorts, we were lucky to be so close at half time, although the disgraceful umpiring didn't help much either. The 2nd half was more like the way we have been playing but we aren't going to get away with that against Geelong next week, 4 quarters needed if we are going to have any chance!

- Dean Horton (posted 24/05/2009 8:59:43 AM)

GREAT win but still a few are still asking too much of our young kids, you expect them to be stars every week, most should still be playing VFL to build up their bodies & skills but Knighter can't do that because of our injuries,most Cats,Saints,Hawks,Dogs players are 3-5 year players, Prismall is a good example,a star but battled to make Cats 22, we are @ least a year or 2 ahead of where we had hoped we would be

- Mark McLachlan (posted 24/05/2009 9:03:55 AM)

Bad first half lifted in the second half liked winders, lovett, lloyd zaka and watsons games

- adam daly (posted 24/05/2009 9:18:10 AM)

go the bombers!! you guys played excellent!! especially winderlich and ryder!! The team played marvelous in the second half!!! however must get rid of the slow starts!! as next week it might cost us!! but a great game guys!!!

- Jezza Chau (posted 24/05/2009 9:27:47 AM)

Well Done, Bombers, on a strong win, although admittedly, I got worried at various stages last night - twenty-two points down twice during the game and our slow start weren't good signs. However, a great turnaround in the second half from Jobe, Brent Stanton and co in the centre, in addition to excellent performances from Davy, Lovett, Pears - everyone, really - who contributed to the win. Looking forward to next week's game against the Cats. Try and fix up the slow start, boys, and play four quarters of footy and see where that will take you. A win, hopefully.

- Maranatha Sao-Mafiti (posted 24/05/2009 10:07:30 AM)

great win time to drop slattery 6 possessions 4 uncontested and 4 clangers he is the weak link on the backline

- don carter (posted 24/05/2009 10:22:49 AM)

IVOR BIGGUN , WHERE ARE YOU . OH THATS RIGHT YOU WERE AT SUBIACO WATCHING THE MAGPIES WITH JOFFA & YOUR TOOTHLESS TATTOOED MORONIC MATES .

- paul stanley (posted 24/05/2009 10:41:25 AM)

Good win boys. Tigers were always going to come out strong, and they played out of their socks for 2.5 quarters. Shows good character and mental strength to stay in the game, and then run away with it in the end. Next week will be a super test to see just how far this young brigade have come. Let's take it to 'em Bombers!

- James Duthie (posted 24/05/2009 10:48:50 AM)

We need to play 4 quarters and not just 2 or 3 quarters, otherwise the Cats will smash us. We didn't play to our game plan in the 1st quarter of run, tackling and going quick and long, as we mucked around with the ball and were over using it way too much. Stick to the game plan boys and the Bombers will have a good chance of another upset. C'mon Bombers!

- David MacFarlane (posted 24/05/2009 11:06:38 AM)

Dyson 22 disposals, 4 clangers, Stanton 20 & 5, Houli 14 & 4, Hocking 10 & 5, Jetta 9 & 4, Slattery 6 & 3 need I say more??? Anyway great win guys but if we start the way we did against Richmond, Geelong will smash us. Regards Ivar.

- Ivar Biggen (posted 24/05/2009 12:05:12 PM)

i was very happy with the bombers. it was a great win. i hope we can play as well as the dogs played against geelong next week GOOD LUCK BOMBERS

- jessica flood (posted 24/05/2009 12:07:31 PM)

we played 2 quarters of footy and we still won by a easy 7 goals which shows that we r a bloody good team. Paddy ryder u r a star. Best thing our club ever did was keeping lovett and great to see winder playing great footy after alot of bad luck. watch out catters the bombers r coming!

- Ben Riley (posted 24/05/2009 12:16:46 PM)

Ivar "Mr Negative" Biggen, Do you really have to try and bring our club and certain players down. Even the best players in the comp like Ablett and Judd have clangers every week. Need I say more, ya tool. Go Bombers

- Cory Williams (posted 24/05/2009 1:12:30 PM)

Great second half. Hope that Dempsey is alright he is a great runner off half-back. We have to jump out of the blocks next week against Geelong. C'mon Bombers.

- Elise Ko (posted 24/05/2009 1:28:02 PM)

Great 2 quarters by the guys! I am loving how Winderlich's been playing but got a bit worried when he was crunched late in the game - hopefully his back will be fine - we'll def need him at his best for to fight the Cats.

- Austin Sheehan (posted 24/05/2009 1:29:38 PM)

Stop commenting Ivar, you're tool-like comments aren't appreciated. The second half was VERY impressive boys, but the first contained some very bad football. Now that that's out of our system let's really take it up to the Cats with intensity around the ball and some fluent accurate skills. Need a big game from Jay Neagle next week, you need to start working like you did in the first half of the Saints match! Bring on the Cats, CARN DONS!!!

- Liam Doidge (posted 24/05/2009 1:40:29 PM)

Was that a game of 2 halves or WHAT?!! Well done to win the way we did but we have to be the front runners against Geelong next week! Paddy Ryder, you did Indigenous Australians proud & MY BOY "Winder" BOG!! Can't ask for more than that!

- Sue ONeill (posted 24/05/2009 2:53:18 PM)

First of all Congrats to the boys last night on a very good effort to convincingly beet the tigers. But i also think Matthew Knights deserves a congrats as well. He is starting to mould this team into something we havn't seen for years. Leadership and respect should start from the top and i think he is leading by example at the moment. The man conducts himself in a manner that is second to none, Anyone would think he has been coaching for 15 years. Well done Bombers

- Chris Maher (posted 24/05/2009 3:15:21 PM)

Good win Bombers. The second half was near perfection. I just got so frustrated in the first half with our suicide handballs and delivery that puts way too much pressure on the guy getting the ball. We are a 50% better team than '08 for sure and with Spike, Fletch and Reimers to come in we should be looking REDHOT in 2010. Best of luck and give the Cats a fright.

- Geoff Park (posted 24/05/2009 4:00:18 PM)

Richmond was always going to come out firing after the week they had, we did well to withstand that as well as we did. Some poor umpiring, and a few skill errors let us down early, but great fightback. Neagle needs to put 2 or 3 games together before I will be convinced, although some strong marks were encouraging. Love the speed and risk taking in the 2nd half, fantastic to watch, Bring on the Catters!

- Rowan Hall (posted 24/05/2009 4:58:07 PM)

Just heard the Bendigo Bombers have gone down again but Hurley and Prismall named amongst the best players. How about bringing them back next week?

- Adrianne Blainey (posted 24/05/2009 5:14:21 PM)

great work bombers.you handled the tigers try hard performance for two quarters and then they stopped but you just kept going.congratulations to all indigenous boys great game.personally iwas proud as im sure you all were.a few niggles n ankles out of the game?DONT THINK WE WILL SEE COURTNEY LINE UP AGAINST THE CATS.but we are a chance. we need to start well.need to be switched on from the bounce.hows lovett-murrays shoulder on petiffer?must been like running full tilt into a brickwall.hard footy.thats what im talking about.go dons

- tony castiglia (posted 24/05/2009 5:29:39 PM)

ivar biggen 4 tool of the year...ivar do u even watch the matches? because i do but dont know most of the stats i do know winderlich, zaka, davey and pears played well and stnton and watson were the main reason we went well in the second half so in the future if you dont watch the game then comment on the collingwood website u tool!

- Terrence stanley (posted 24/05/2009 5:29:44 PM)

What a great game there was a couple of tence moments in the 2nd quarter with skill errors but overall a great effott congratulations to Winders for the Yiooken award the way you've come back from your back problems is great I was sitting next to a bloke from Califonia and he commented on what a great spectical Aussie Rules is and that it's much better to watch then Gridiron hope Dempsey's ankle is'nt to bad

- Simon Mayo (posted 24/05/2009 5:35:06 PM)

great win bombers hope you play four quarters against the cats.but I still think we need a true marking chf GO BOMBERS

- Al Bishop (posted 24/05/2009 6:22:32 PM)

Great win boys! We need to address our poor starts though. We can't afford to give the good sides these type of starts so if we are going to progress and play finals football this issue needs to be corrected ASAP. Great games by Lovett, Winderlich, Ryder, Davey, Dempsey, Lloyd and Pears! Go Bombers!

- Andrew Cichello (posted 24/05/2009 6:55:37 PM)

that was a great win by the boys! we were just too good for them in the end. but we better play a first half that is as good as the second next week because geelong will get away from us too easily. PLEASE THE BOYS BETTER WIN NEXT WEEK FOR ME! and its the worst luck having dempsey out, but hopefully hes a fast healer. GREAT WIN BOYS AND I LOVE ZACHA haha!

- Lara O'Dea (posted 24/05/2009 7:06:07 PM)

Bring on the Cats! Let's show them what 4 quarters against The Mighty Bombers is like!!!!

- Leanne Butterworth (posted 24/05/2009 8:04:52 PM)

Great Win and a contrast of fortunes for two sides. Our young side heading in the right direction and Richmond heading further backwards. It just shows what can happen when you give a young coach a go and play your kids. We are now reaping the rewards from so many injuries last year. Those kids who played last year for us are now starting to shine! Go Bombers!

- Chris Beer (posted 24/05/2009 8:22:17 PM)

My fellow supporters just ignore Ivar Bogan very negative person who see's the worse in every situation. I think he is very unhappy with himself and a lonely man with a gold jacket that came out to early on Anzac day. To all those true supporters if i can't make the game on sunday would be glad to let you know where my two reserved seats are as much as i would love to be there i may be tied with time.

- Jeddy Telescourt (posted 24/05/2009 8:23:37 PM)

Well played Nathan. Victories at the MCG are significant, the trend this year is positive. Keep up the effort!

- Richard Hayward (posted 24/05/2009 8:34:38 PM)

fantastic win boys. I'm very proud of the way you fought back in the second half. Need to fix those slow starts though. Can someone explain to me how the pecentage works?????. I thought i had it worked out. we were on 96.7 with a 40 point win that gives us 4 points which means we should be on 100.7, but we are actually on 102.0 is this correct or not. hope someone can help me make sense of this. Anyway great win guys we have a real shot at giving the cats their first loss. GO THE MIGHTY BOMBERS.

- Jeff Skinner (posted 24/05/2009 9:57:53 PM)

Great win after a bad start. Who would have thought we would be sitting 4th on the ladder after round 9. Keep up the good work boys. Big game next week, big test. I am from Adelaide and would love to see a big win over th Crows in 2 weeks time. Go Bombers!!!

- Karen Bojczuk (posted 24/05/2009 10:03:10 PM)

Jeddy Telescum, all together now, ba ba black sheep.......... yes sir yes sir.......

- Ivar Biggen (posted 24/05/2009 10:22:59 PM)

Not sure what Nightsy is saying to the team after the first quarter and half time, but, whatever it is, could he try the same line before the game begins! Yes we might be able to get away with slow starts against lesser teams like Collingwood, the Blues and Richmond, but we are a top 4 team now (ah, isn't that nice to say! ;) ). We need four quarter efforts to win against our real rivals like Geelong and St Kilda though!

- Rod Hagen (posted 24/05/2009 10:26:40 PM)

Great comeback win from the lads..Tigers built themselves up for this like it was a final and we stood up well but like everyone else has said we cant afford poor starts against the better teams. I guess our ability to play 4 consistent qtrs will come in time and with the growing maturity of the squad. Please drop Slattery though as he is a liability in defense!

- Jean-Paul Perry (posted 24/05/2009 10:53:10 PM)

I love a win as much as the next bomber but we need 4 quarters of football and we need someone to stand up at centre-half forward. Neagle was hapless and disinterested again! Time for Lucas again unfortunately Jay.

- Joel Campbell (posted 25/05/2009 9:54:21 AM)

Loving the boys this season. Absolutely awe inspiring stuff at times from a young group. Big test next week but i think we are a real chance to take it to the cats if we can fire early and keep it in the corridor. Good to see jobe with some improvement by foot, he plays a huge roll in setting up our running game and lifting the younger guys. come on dons.

- kelly baird (posted 25/05/2009 10:22:48 AM)

Joel, Jay Neagle may not have picked up too many touches, but "hapless & disinterested", I don't think so. Didn't you see the defensive pressure he applied after half time? His tackling, smothering & general harassment had a few Tiger backmen looking sideways. There's more to the game than possessions, and I think some young guys lose confidence if put on the selection merry go round that Sheeds too often employed...

- Dennis Green (posted 25/05/2009 10:49:33 AM)

I hope people are seeing the game the way i saw it, especially last weeks game. Teams are attempting to run with us but unfortunately for them they cannot maintain that pace for the entire game. That's why we beat the Tigers!

- Adam Goodwin (posted 25/05/2009 11:19:03 AM)

Lucas Back for this one he might be ready to rip geelong apart. Sure he dosnt want more VFL action. Stay hungry bombers must start well and presure them hard all game.SpeedSpeed Speed Lets give em a good scare at least, show the comp we have arrived and teams will start to fear us again .

- Robert Radulovich (posted 25/05/2009 11:19:06 AM)

Jeff, to work out the percentage - divide the "total scored for Essendon this year" [821] by the "total scored against Essendon this year" [805] and multiply answer by 100 = 101.99, rounded to 102.0!! GO DONS!!!

- Michael Pernar (posted 25/05/2009 11:34:54 AM)

PLEASE bring back Lucas i know he will have a great game against Geelong. He is still a champ if we are to try and beat Geelong we need our strongest forwards playing.

- Adam Goodwin (posted 25/05/2009 11:38:05 AM)

Oh my god, Ivar's a Kiwi! He's getting flashbacks about the dream he had last night!

- Adrian Reynolds (posted 25/05/2009 11:38:49 AM)

After some early frustration I too was rapt with the Bombers performance. Once again our risktaking, which results in many nervous moments and several turnovers, ends up wearing opponents down and allows the exhillarating footy we see after half time. Interesting to see Geelong wilt late in the game against the Bulldogs!!! Lay off Slattery...his role is to play as a stopper on the opposition's best small forward. He's had some tough jobs already this season and can hold his head up high.

- Michael Bourke (posted 25/05/2009 2:56:22 PM)

I agree with Dennis Green: I've also noticed Heath Hocking's steady improvement, he looks like a real player now and I think his composure under pressure and willingness to get down under and WIN a hard ball is fantastic. Well done, Heath. More of that stuff, guys - Geelong will not let us get any easy ball.

- Vince Taskunas (posted 25/05/2009 4:16:48 PM)

Lovett - Murray ...... Eye am a big fan / eye like your toughness on the field and your skills which have improved greatly this year. You are an important player in this team. Thanks for the "screamers" you took in the DREAMTIME game along with the "gem" from Ryder. GO BOMBERS !!!

- Victor Tallis (posted 25/05/2009 4:48:37 PM)

Micheal, thanks for the assist in working out the percentage. i'll have a crack at it when the cats go down. cheers again mate thanks. GO THE MIGHTY ESSENDON BOMBERS

- Jeff Skinner (posted 25/05/2009 5:33:33 PM)

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