Cellar-dweller battle ends in a tie

Essendon 16. 9 (105) drew with Carlton 15.15 (105)

As though it was ironically fitting, the bottom-of-the-table clash between Essendon and Carlton finished in a gripping draw at the MCG this afternoon.

Two late goals by Eddie Betts saw the Blues fight back from 17 points down in the final term and draw level at 15.15 (105) to 16.9 (105), the fourth draw between the teams in 224 encounters.

Inaccurate kicking seemingly cost Carlton, who had five more scoring shots over the afternoon, including a wasteful 3.8 in the third stanza.

Despite being dubbed as the 'Bryce Gibbs Cup', both teams provided the boisterous crowd with a tough, entertaining, see-sawing and quality battle.

Under care-taker coach Gary O'Donnell and in a somewhat relieving result, Essendon's record losing streak of 14 has finally come to an end.

A battle of the forwards was one of the intriguing contests of the afternoon - Dons' forward Scott Lucas slammed home six first-half goals in an equal career best performance, while Brendan Fevola kicked five for Carlton.

Damien Peverill and Andrew Welsh led the possession getters for the Bombers, but it was their urgency, and impetus, that proved to be valuable.

Heath Scotland (28 disposals) was exceptional for the Blues in the midfield, while Bret Thornton kept Lucas goalless in the second half, after the power forward booted six on Lance Whitnall in the first half.

Thornton also collected 25 effective possessions and 12 marks.

Both remain 15th and 16th respectively on the ladder with Carlton marginally improving their record to 2-13-1, while Essendon's analysis reads 1-14-1.

Fevola handed the first blow of the match inside the first five minutes, but the Dons responded through Lucas in emphatic fashion as he slammed on three successive goals in as many minutes.

As majors came in bags, the Blues overturned a 14-point deficit and developed it into a 12-point advantage with four goals in nine minutes, including a second by Fevola.

While Whitnall led the possession-getters with nine for the stanza, his Bombers' opponent Lucas slotted a fourth goal to reduce the deficit to seven points at the first break.

Carlton were immediately sent onto the back-foot early in the second term when Mark Johnson and Andrew Lee nailed goals for Essendon to re-take the lead.

Kade Simpson landed the Blues' first major of the term after nine minutes, but undisciplined and indirect ball use in the midfield, particularly by Nick Stevens, decimated Carlton's drive.

The Bombers further extended their lead with a pair of goals through Brent Stanton and Lucas, but Anthony Koutoudies briskly replied to that in a timely fashion for the Blues with two majors.

Essendon carried a five-point lead into half time on the back of Lucas' sixth goal late in the term, and could have had seven at the break had he converted on the siren.

The margin failed to budge by three quarter time, however, Carlton's inaccuracy at goal in the third quarter - 3.8 to 4.2 - prevented them from establishing a healthy lead.

The Bombers had extended their lead to a match-high 17 points early in the stanza with two goals by Andrew Lovett and Stanton, but the Blues, including two by Fevola, responded that with three successive majors.

Essendon ensured it would re-claim the lead and hold a five-point buffer at the last change following two late goals by Peverill and Mark McVeigh.

In a high-pressure final term, the Dons landed the first two blows to extend their lead back out to 17 points and temporarily deflate the sting from the Blues.

Indicative of the afternoon, Carlton fought back against the run of play with two majors, but Essendon captain David Hille popped up when required to nail a much-needed goal for his team to extend their lead to 12 points.

In a gripping final five minutes, the Blues' intensity rose to the challenge, including eventual half-hero Betts, who landed the final two goals of the game, with the match-drawing major coming at the 28-minute mark.

Next week, Essendon tackle the Brisbane Lions at the Telstra Dome on Saturday night, while Carlton face Fremantle the following day at the same venue.

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