Essendon started the weekend's match in great fashion and had nine scoring shots to four in the first quarter. Inaccuracy however was costly and the 10-point margin at quarter time should have been greater. Frankston turned it around in the second quarter and went into the half time break with a one-point lead. An eight goal to four second half saw Frankston run out comfortable 25-point winners.
It was a disappointing result for the essendon side considering it had more kicks, handballs and marks than Frankston. ""Obviously we just need to use the football more effectively,"" Essendon coach Terry Daniher said. ""We have put ourselves under some pressure now but there is still plenty of football to be played. We will just have to pick ourselves up and turn it around this weekend.""
Marc Bullen, Jonathon Robran and Jordan Bannister had plenty of the football and will push for senior selection this weekend as will Mark Bolton. Bolton was clearly the Bombers best player for the day collecting 25 possessions and taking a massive 15 marks. He also made five effective spoils.
Michael Long and Dean Wallis both made their long-awaited returns to football against Frankston and the news was good and bad. Long last just 10-minutes before leaving the field - his knee not feeling 100% right. Wallis on the other hand made an excellent return playing three quarters, collecting 10 possessions and taking seven marks. With another couple of games under his belt Wallis will push for senior selection.
The statistics from the weekend were:
Bullen: 23 kicks, 11 handballs, 3 marks
Robran: 16, 14, 11
Bannister: 20, 9, 13
Davis: 21, 6, 8
Bolton: 18, 7, 15
Denham: 13, 9, 3
Hille: 10, 11, 5
Lalich: 15, 6, 7
Cranage: 9, 9, 2
Switala: 13, 3, 8
Davies: 7, 8, 5
Goddard: 6, 7, 4
Goldsworthy: 5, 8, 2
Hawkins: 8, 3, 6
Richards: 8, 2, 2
Wallis: 7, 3, 7
Hall: 4, 4, 3
Podsiadly: 6, 2, 3
Kenny: 1, 3, 2
Wilson: 4, 0, 0
Hunt: 3, 0, 2
Long: 0, 1, 0
