Australian Football

Match Report

After a three-match losing streak, Essendon has returned to the winners list with a scrappy eight-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at Docklands. In a low-scoring match where defence ruled, the difference between winning and losing was probably best exemplified by the two sides' efforts in the second and third quarters.

After they had reined in an early three goal burst from the Bombers and levelled the game at quarter time, the Western Bulldogs dominated proceedings for much of the second term but could only convert this to a 2.3 to 0.3 result for the quarter by the time the half-time siren sounded. By contrast, when it was Essendon's turn to dominate in the third quarter, the Bombers translated that into a 6.4 to 2.1 term, The difference in the result of those two quarters was effectively the difference at the end of the match.

The Dogs had slightly the better of the last term, but could manage just 2.2 to 1.3 and ultimately fell short by under two goals for the second week running. (They finished nine points short of Adelaide last week.)

Best for the Bombers included Dyson Heppell (25 disposals, six marks), Michael Hurley (20 possessions) and Cale Hooker (13 marks and 24 touches), while Luke Dahlhaus (32 disposals and eight marks) and Shaun Higgins (36 possessions and a goal) were outstanding for the vanquished Bulldogs.

Both sides had 2-4 records prior to his match and the victory keeps the Bombers within reach of the top eight. The Dons will travel to the Gabba to take on Brisbane next week and then host Sydney before their round 10 bye, while the Dogs will be looking to get a third sin for the season against Melbourne at the MCG next Saturday night before having a week off in round nine.

GOALS
Essendon: Watson 2; Goddard, Howlett, Daniher, Winderlich, Stanton, Chapman, Heppell, Dempsey
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus 2; Macrae, Liberatore, Cooney, Jones, Higgins, Stringer, Hunter

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Essendon: Heppell, Watson, Zaharakis, Hurley, Hooker, Fletcher, Goddard
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Cooney, Higgins, Liberatore, Johannisen, Picken

BEST - SPORTAL.COM.AU
Essendon: Hurley, Hooker, Fletcher, Ryder, Watson
Western Bulldogs: Higgins, Wood, Cooney, Liberatore, Johannisen

INJURIES
Essendon: Jackson Merrett (cork), Jason Winderlich (knee)
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Jason Ashby replaced Jackson Merrett in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Marcus Bontempelli replaced Koby Stevens at three-quarter time

UMPIRES: Leppard, Meredith, Armstrong

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling