The visitors started the game with some lethargy, making them susceptible to the pressure efforts of the Bombers. Skill execution from both sides was a concern, however, with error-laden passages of play, miskicks, and dropped marks.
Once settled, however, the Giants got their touch back, and moved the footy with devastating precision down the field. And it was Stringer and Callum Brown (seven marks, two goals) who cashed in.
A second-quarter surge from the Giants, in which they kicked five unanswered goals, opened up the gap on the scoreboard that Essendon was unable to cede.
What couldn't be questioned was Essendon's effort, with the likes of Isaac Kako and Archer May going to great lengths to worry the Giants. What didn't work, however, was the attempt to connect between midfield and forward.
Wright (16 hitouts, two goals) was able to warm into the game, however, once Leek Aleer was handed the role, with the substitution of ruck Vigo Visentini, forcing him into the ruck for the remainder of the game. He moved with more freedom starting at the contest, floating forward, and getting dangerous.
And for debutant Liam McMahon, it wasn't a bad night out despite the loss. He kicked the Bombers' first two goals of the game – following Essendon's eight consecutive behinds to open its scoring.
There were some concerns for Bomber Sam Durham in the third term, undergoing a head injury assessment following a heavy tackle from Giants ruck Kieren Briggs, but he was able to return to the field in the final quarter.
Five years in the making
Liam McMahon's journey to an AFL debut has been treacherous. First drafted to Collingwood in 2020, he was delisted without a senior game. Back in the VFL he was tearing it up, showing enough to earn a second chance at Essendon via the mid-season draft. Such was his dominance up forward that at one stage he was leading both Carlton and Essendon's VFL goalkicking tallies. A spate of injuries at the Bombers opened the door for his debut, and he didn't disappoint. After eight straight behinds to start the game, it was McMahon who finally broke through for the club's first goal of the game, becoming the fifth Essendon debutant to goal with their first kick this year. Better still, it was McMahon who dobbed the Bombers' second, too.
Misfiring Bombers
Between quarter time in Essendon's round 18 loss to Richmond, and the 25-minute mark of the second quarter on Thursday evening, the Bombers' return in front of goal was an inaccurate 1.21 (27). Much of the good work Essendon did across the first half against the Giants – pressuring, forcing turnover – was let down by panicked or inaccurate attempts at the goals. It was partially due to the scramble forced on the forward line by a strong Giants defensive line, but there was also a frustrating element of misfiring set shot kicking.
ESSENDON 0.5 1.8 5.10 7.14 (56)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.0 8.3 13.5 16.8 (104)
GOALS
Essendon: McMahon 2, Wright 2, Kako, Perkins, Duursma
Greater Western Sydney: Stringer 3, Gruzewski 2, Riccardi 2, Brown 2, Greene 2, Cadman, Briggs, Green, O'Halloran, Jones
BEST
Essendon: Merrett, McMahon, Kako, Ridley
Greater Western Sydney: Green, Stringer, Callaghan, Idun, Jones, Ash
INJURIES
Essendon: Archer May (nose)
Greater Western Sydney: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Zak Johnson (replaced Vigo Visentini at three-quarter time)
Greater Western Sydney: Harry Rowston (replaced Jack Buckley in the third quarter)
Crowd: 20,347 at Marvel Stadium