AFL Saturday Scoreboard: Demons vs Bombers

AFL Saturday Scoreboard

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By Andrew McGarry

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Key Events

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Demons vs Bombers

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Highlights

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FT: Melbourne 13.17 (95) beats Essendon 6.14 (50)

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By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds, the game is over and the Demons run out comfortable winners at the MCG.

A three-goal to none final term extends the margin to 45 points, and Melbourne seals a ninth win of the season.

That puts the Demons in the top four - for now at least - and Steven King's men will be happy enough with the performance today after being challenged in the second half.

It's a disappointing day for the Bombers after a solid effort. The biggest disappointment is the shoulder injury to Archie Roberts.

He will be a big absence for Essendon going forward - you suspect he will be out for a while.

Well done to the 41,438 fans at the MCG for giving the late Neale Daniher a minute's applause in the sixth minute of play to match his number six guernsey in the tribute game between his two sides.

Melksham grabs another goal as Demons kick away

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By Andrew McGarry

The Bombers are fading a little, it seems, after making such a concerted effort to get back in the game.

The gaps are opening up, and Jake Melksham takes another mark in forward 50 and kicks the Dees' 13th of the day.

Another goal as Demons look home

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By Andrew McGarry

Kade Chandler has benefited from a somewhat soft free kick, but he's taken advantage and kicked one from the pocket.

The lead is 40 points, and that should be enough, surely, for the Demons.

Jake Melksham kicks a vital goal for Melbourne

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By Andrew McGarry

The error count is mounting as the rain falls.

Essendon intercepted a poor kick inside forward 50, but the kick couldn't find a man.

The Demons broke forward, and eventually it ended with Jake Melksham kicking a vital goal for Melbourne.

The lead is back out to 34 points, and although there is still 13 minutes on the clock, that would have to be close to a winning margin.

Poster for the Demons

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By Andrew McGarry

That was nearly a payback for Essendon's misses.

Sam Durham got caught holding the ball after pulling it in on the ground.

They went long to a contest, the ball came out to Bayley Fritsch, who scooped it up in the wet but his kick on the run hit the post.

Early misses for the Bombers

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By Andrew McGarry

Essendon is trying to bridge the gap here, but they have had a couple of early misses.

Archer Day-Wicks missed a kick for a point, and then the Bombers took advantage of a Demons error, kicking long to Zach Reid in space who took the mark.

His kick, however, showed why he is normally down back.

Another rushed behind followed, and the lead is back to 28 points early in the final term.

Melbourne debutant out

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By Andrew McGarry

From earlier, Melbourne debutant Lukas Cooke has been ruled out of the game after a head clash with an Essendon player in a contest.

Cooke, who was taken in the mid-season draft, has a cheekbone injury and will not return.

3QT stats

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By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 52-27 Melb

Clearances: 32-22 Melb

Centre clearances: 11-6 Melb

Contested possessions: 111-79 Melb

Uncontested possessions: 208-186 Melb

Marks inside 50: 7-6 Ess

Tackles: 41-39 Ess

After kicking three goals to one in that term, it looks an even better effort from the Bombers as Melbourne extended their advantage in inside 50s and clearances, and blew open the contested ball stats, plus took the lead in uncontested possessions as well.

You'd think if these stay the same in the last term that lead on the scoreboard will grow, but who knows?

3QT: Melbourne 10.14 (74) leads Essendon 6.7 (43)

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By Andrew McGarry

After all that work, a late goal from Harrison Petty delivers a bit of a dagger to the Bombers.

The siren sounds and Melbourne leads by 30 points, and the pressure is off.

That was a very good quarter from Essendon, but they couldn't hang on for 58 seconds more to keep the Demons scoreless for the term.

Can they raise another effort in the last? Possibly, but it looks like a bit of a tough ask from here.

Bombers need a couple more goals

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By Andrew McGarry

The Bombers have definitely evened things out here, and they are right in this, but they haven't been able to kick on after those early goals.

We're in time on here in the third term, and Essendon will need a couple more goals before three quarter time.

As things stand they trail by four goals.

A miss from Nate Caddy

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By Andrew McGarry

That was nearly another one!

The Demons are not looking as dominant, and the pressure is really coming from Essendon as they get a bit of belief.

Nate Caddy had a set shot there, but his kick from 50 drifts wide to the left.

The margin is back to 22, with more than a quarter and a half to go. This is good play from Essendon!

Over to you, Demons.

Surge from Essendon as gap narrows

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By Andrew McGarry

Where is this coming from?

The Bombers are in again - they feed it inside 50, there is a scramble, the ball is handballed out from El Achkar, and then fed to Sullivan Robey, and he kicks the goal as he is being tackled.

He thumps the ground in celebration, and Essendon has three goals on the spin.

The lead is back to 23.

Bombers get back-to-back goals

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By Andrew McGarry

Essendon has got more energy here, and they are being rewarded. A kick forward brings a mark to Ben McKay, and the big man whirls and kicks a low, quick kick to hit Hussien El Achkar in the pocket.

El Achkar kicks the goal! The Bombers fans are excited, their team has two in a row.

Essendon gets a goal from Nik Cox

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By Andrew McGarry

The Bombers are finding more ways forward here, and they force some pressure in a contest with Mason Redman spoiling a defensive mark, the left side of 50.

The ball spills to Nik Cox, who kicks one from 45m out.

That's a team-lifter!

Melbourne defence withstands early attacks from Essendon

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By Andrew McGarry

The Bombers have come out hard in the third quarter, winning an early centre clearance and putting Melbourne under pressure.

But the Demons defence has stood up, and Essendon has not managed the quick goal to start the half.

At the other end, the Demons forced a rushed behind.

HT stats

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By Andrew McGarry

Inside 50s: 35-19 Melb

Clearances: 21-15 Melb

Centre clearances: 7-5 Melb

Contested possessions: 80-56 Melb

Uncontested possessions: 130-127 Ess

Marks Inside 50: 5-5

Tackles: 31-30 Ess

The stats don't really lie, here. Melbourne has had the better of the first half, and they have actually improved their contested game in the second quarter. The Dees won contested ball 45-27 in that term.

HT: Melbourne 9.10 (64) leads Essendon 3.5 (23)

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By Andrew McGarry

The siren sounds, and Essendon will be glad of a chance to reset after a torrid first half.

They have tried, but their lack of composure under pressure has hurt them. It's not so much the number of turnovers as the amount of times Melbourne has been able to punish them on the way back.

Kozzy Pickett is in his usual - that is to say, rare - form, and Max Gawn has been dominating in the ruck and adding a couple of goals himself.

The 41-point margin does not flatter Melbourne - the question is how can the Bombers hit back after the break? Stick with us and we'll find out.

Pickett has three and Melbourne clears out

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By Andrew McGarry

The Dees are purring here, and once again they take advantage of a Bombers turnover.

Extra pressure brings the error and it gets to Kysaiah Pickett who grabs it, steadies and kicks the goal.

The lead is out to 40 points, deep in time on.