Bombers emphatic winners over the Lions

Essendon 25.10 (160) def. Brisbane Lions 18.15 (123)

Essendon have returned to the winners list in emphatic fashion, defeating a gallant Brisbane by 37 points in an action packed night at Telstra Dome.

After a titanic struggle for three quarters, the Bombers shrugged the shackles in the final term in scoring eight goals to three, skipper James Hird and veteran Scott Lucas paving the way to a memorable win, their first since round one. Hird was playing in his first match in over a month, yet still managed to haul his battle weary body into the fray to win 27 priceless touches.

As home team welcomed back Hird, the lionhearted Scott Lucas provided the fireworks up forward with seven goals, while the ever steady midfield Johnson duel, Jason and Mark, produced evenings typical of their past seven seasons, firm and reliable.

Brisbane were led by the silk of Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, who helped himself to a field day, gathering possessions at will, while youngsters Rhan Hooper, Matthew Moody and Cheynee Stiller all demonstrated plenty of get up and go through the midfield and across half forward.

The Lions showed that they had come to play in the opening minutes, hitting the packs with ferocious power and causing the Bomber defenders all sorts of problems. Skilled defender Josh Drummond floated forward in the opening seconds to get his side on the board with a freakish soccer goal, his effort backed up by the wily Bradshaw, who continued his love affair with Essendon in finding his first.

As ever, it was the champion Hird, on return, who steadied the flagging Bomber ship with a typically classy goal. Although Bradshaw returned fire for the Lions, Essendon refused to chuck in the towel, clawing its way back through Hird once again, before the giant Kepler Bradley showcased some of his immense potential with a strong mark and goal.

Although Bradley managed another late goal, Brisbane managed three more through Ben Fixter, Matthew Moody and finally Simon Black, who managed a beauty, capitalising on some intelligent ruckwork from Jamie Charman, goaling right on the bell, the visitors leading by a slender five points at the conclusion of an entertaining, attacking term.

The second stanza provided some more entertaining football, both sides giving supporters much hope of a bright future for their respective sides. After an error ridden opening few minutes, the indigenous Hooper, curly hair bobbing in Darryl White’s old number 33, showcased some of his class in nailing the first of the term. Forward stalwart Scott Lucas hit back for the home side, resurrecting their fortunes with two goals within a minute, his second a beauty from long range, hitting the lead once more.

But on a night in which both sides were filled with young, promising future talents, Hooper again took centre stage, snapping a ripper from the boundary line, giving the Lions the lead. But, as was often the case in the first half, every time it appeared Brisbane were destined to skip away, the Bombers dug deep, this time the enigmatic Bradley marking strongly 50 meters from home, winding up for one of the goals of the night to level the scores.

Hooper again figured in the scorebook, adding his third freakish goal late in the quarter following some solid work from his captain Michael Voss, the answering goal coming off the boot of skipper David Hille, booting something of a captains goal. When Lucas rammed home his third, the Bombers stole the lead, and seemed to have the momentum, before Stiller returned fire from the centre bounce, nabbing the lead, and the 15th lead change in the process, the Lions trotting to the rooms with a two point buffer.

Brisbane stretched their lead out to nine points, through that man Hooper, who dribbled home a career best fourth goal. Essendon fought back through Jason Johnson, who kept the home side in touch with his first, the lead now that of the Dons, when Bradley continued his night out with his fourth goal.

The speedy Justin Sherman regained the lead, sneaking out to a three point lead. The sew-sawing contest continued, with the captain Hille steering his side back in front, before Bradshaw added his third. Moments later, the 20th lead change was recorded, with wingman Ricky Dyson, before a goal to, you guessed it, Brisbane hit back through Drummond. Finally, normal order was restored, with two in succession to Mark McVeigh and then Hird, taking the lead to seven points.

When McVeigh, who went forward late in the term, snagged his second with minutes remaining, Essendon had scratched their way to a 14 point lead. That lead was shaved to eight points by Bradshaw with seconds remaining, the game poised to go either way as the two sides headed to their respective huddles.

Locked into a fierce battle, free possessions were hard to come by throughout the final term, each side refusing to give an inch to the other. Hird leapt into action early with an early goal, the lead now a useful 13 points. That became 19 moments later when Brent Stanton got on the end of a chain of passes to all but put the game beyond doubt.

The action packed match took another twist when fearless Brisbane ruckman Jamie Charman severely dislocated his shoulder, withering in pain on the ground, helped from the field by the medical staff.

Lucas again manufactured the proverbial something out of nothing with an intelligent snap over his shoulder, the lead now an unassailable four goals. The ruckman Hille iced the first win in his time as skipper with a mark and major from the goal square, before Lucas scored his 13th goal of the past fortnight, his seventh for the night, the Dons running out 35 point victors.

The bottom of the ladder Bombers head north to the SCG to take on reigning premiers Sydney, while Brisbane return home to the Gabba to take on a Geelong side looking to sew up a finals spot.

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