The Essendon Bombers opened season 2014 with a comprehensive 15.9.(99)-9.6.(60) win over North Melbourne in Dustin Fletcher’s 23rd AFL season and record 379th game for the club.
Behind stellar starts from Paul Chapman and Jobe Watson, the Bombers dominated all of the early play. North first gamer Luke McDonald, showing excellent courage in the early moments, committed an unforgivable turnover in kicking straight to Chapman on the right forward 50 who steadied and kicked his first wearing Essendon colours.
Ryder marked one out left of the goal square and converted the easy look as Essendon blew the margin out to a four goal lead. After some awful passages forward, North steadied and got one back through Sam Wright before a high flying Lindsay Thomas marked and majored and Nick Dal Santo cut the lead down to 10 points as the clocked edged closer to quarter time.
An outstretched Hardingham marked and bagged the second quarter’s opening goal, but a nimble Aaron Black kicked one around the body and Lindsay Thomas took another massive grab to pull the Kangaroos closer before a couple of Wright misses propelled North into the lead. Essendon’s ball domination finally started to win through as Brendan Goddard goaled from 50 to reclaim the lead and Hardingham and Daniher extended the deficit back to 20 at halftime.
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Thomas took a creative mark to open the third quarter scoring but it was all Essendon for much of the term. Chapman and Goddard took turns launching pot shots from beyond 50 while Watson offered McDonald a costly lesson leading from the goal square. A remarkable Thomas effort from the boundary and a classic Harvey goal on the run kept the Kangaroos in reach against the tide.
Taking a 21-point lead into the final term, Jobe Watson added to buffer early as the Dons kicked four goals to one to claim the 39-point victory.
Essendon face Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium next Friday night while North will attempt to turn around their ugly start against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad on Sunday.
Top Performers
Jobe Watson – 38 disposals, 89% efficiency, nine marks, eight clearances, two goals
Dyson Heppell – 37 disposals, 16 marks
David Myers – 27 disposals, six tackles, seven clearances
Brendon Goddard – 26 disposals, seven inside 50s, three goals
Paul Chapman – 21 disposals, seven marks, eight inside 50s, four goals
Lindsay Thomas – Six marks, four goals
Jamie Macmillan – 23 disposals
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Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images
