Essendon has kept its final hopes alive following a 44-point win over Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
Despite the final margin, the first half was no walk in the park for the Bombers, with the Suns proving to be solid competition early in the piece, in what ultimately was a game riddled with errors.
Essendon’s intensity lifted in the second half with Zach Merrett (37 disposals), Dyson Heppell (36 disposals) and Michael Hurley (24 disposals) leading by example and willing the Bombers to its eighth victory of the year.
Despite the best efforts of Nick Holman (three goals) and a injury-worn Steven May, the Suns let the game slip away from them, kicking just two goals in the second half.
The game got off to a sluggish start, with both teams plagued by kicking inaccuracy and registering just the two goals apiece as a direct result.
Essendon came out strong and managed to keep the ball in their forward 50 for extended periods, but only had four behinds against the Suns’ one to show for their dominance.
Zach Merrett stood out with his efficient ball movement and a respectable eight disposals for the quarter, often paving the way for Essendon’s rapid ball movement forward.
While the Bombers’ speed stood marked over their opposition, the uncleanliness in their kicking – both entering 50 and firing at goal – played a major part in them failing to break away from the equally sloppy Suns.
The first goal of the game came more than halfway through the first term, after Shaun McKernan converted for the Bombers from the goal square after a solid entry from Merrett.
Another Essendon goal followed, with Devon Smith’s remarkable efforts to keep the ball in play being capped off with a phenomenal dribble kick from the boundary, extending the Bombers’ lead to 12 points.
But Gold Coast responded and stepped up their game for the second half of the quarter, with Aaron Young scoring their first much-needed goal over 20 minutes into the quarter.
From then on, the Suns dominated play thanks to their improved foot skills, with a nice mark over the top from Nick Holman seeing him kick the Suns’ second goal.
The footy spent majority of time in Gold Coast’s forward line in the latter stages of the term, with the Suns registering 11 more inside 50s than their opposition.
Yet their wayward shots on goal and final 2.8 for the term saw the Suns hold a slender four-point lead at quarter-time.
The sloppy deadlock carried on into the second term, with both sides again scoring just the two goals each and neither looking like overcoming their sluggish tack on the ball.
Essendon’s preference to move the ball up through the corridor showed dare, but it meant their turnovers proved costly, allowing the Suns to quickly bring the ball back to their forward 50.
The Bombers’ woes continued with Young bagging his second forward 50 stoppage goal, furthering the home side’s lead and placing pressure on the visitors whose finals hopes hung in the balance.
Poor kicks into the forward 50 gave the Essendon forwards little hope in marking the ball, with their first goal of the quarter the product of a great rundown tackle up forward by Jake Long – his conversion being his first league goal.
Gold Coast put the pressure on the Bombers with increased pressure around the contest and repeated forays forward, but both Jarryd Lyons and Peter Wright missed important chances to increase their team’s lead.
The Dons punished the Suns’ inaccuracy soon thereafter, with a precise kick from Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti finding Mark Baguely, who snapped the goal to bring the Bombers within one point.
Gold Coast immediately responded with Holman taking a solid mark and scoring his second goal for the night, but errant kicking continued to impede both sides’ scoring attempts, with the Suns and Bombers missing easy targets around the ball.
Eventually Tom Bellchambers marked a well-placed kick by Shaun McKernan 40m out from goal, but his final shot just after the siren shied away to the right, letting an opportunity for the Bombers to snatch back the lead go amiss.
With five points separating the two sides at half-time, it would be a matter of seeing who would be the first to tidy up their disposal use and subsequently hit the scoreboard.
It was Essendon who came out firing in the third term, evading their first half problems and booting four unanswered goals to create a healthy buffer by three-quarter time.
The inexperience of the Suns stood marked throughout the quarter, with Essendon playing smarter footy, utilising short, strategic kicks into the forward 50 which ultimately proved worthwhile.
Darcy Parish – playing his first game since round eight – got the Bombers off to the perfect start, with the youngster converting from the goal square to put the visitors back in front and kickstart the Suns’ demise.
Essendon’s highlights continued, with Mitch Brown, Mark Baguely and David Myers all kicking goals as the Suns looked hapless and dramatically fatigued due to their opposition’s speed.
It only got worse for the Suns, with Steven May re-injuring his hip after sustaining a heavy knock last week – the co-captain rendered close to immobile and acting as an uncontested last man in defence.
Alex Sexton had a chance to get the Suns’ first goal of the quarter at the 10-minute mark, but instead put through their 12th behind, reflecting their woeful kicking and inability to capitalise on their opportunities throughout the game.
Essendon continued to dominate most of the play, but failed to kick any more goals for the term.
Gold Coast were again disappointed when Jarryd Lyons missed a crucial goal after being awarded a free kick, ending the third term goalless with the margin sitting at 28 points at the final change.
The final term was much of the same, and despite the Suns jagging through two majors for the quarter, the Bombers stormed home with an impressive five-goal display to bring down the Suns.
Matt Guelfi scored the first of the final term to extend the lead, yet the Bombers were unable to fully put the Suns to the sword, with four consecutive behinds coming before McDonald-Tipungwuti kicked true for his first of the night.
Gold Coast responded soon after and Sexton kicked their first goal since 20-minute mark of the second term.
But Essendon didn’t let the Suns’ celebrations last long, as efficient ball movement down the corridor saw Guelfi convert his second with relative ease.
Eventually Holman fired back, scoring his third for the Suns, and capping of a solid performance from the 23-year-old, despite his team’s lacklustre performance.
Holman’s goal offered nothing more than a brief reprieve from the Dons’ rampage, with some quick handball work setting up McKernan’s second goal for the night.
Baguley scored another goal from just outside the square with less than a minute left to inflict further pain on the Suns, bringing the final margin to 44 points.
Essendon will be looking to win against Fremantle next Saturday at Etihad Stadium in order to keep their slim hopes of a top-eight finish alive, while Gold Coast will turn their focus to Melbourne next Sunday at Metricon Stadium.
GOLD COAST 2.8 4.11 4.14 6.15 (51) ESSENDON 2.4 4.6 8.10 13.17 (95)
GOALS Gold Coast: Holman 3, Young 2, Sexton Essendon: Baguley 3, Guelfi 2, McKernan 2, Smith, Long, Parish, Brown, Myers, McDonald-Tipungwuti
BEST Gold Coast: Holman, May, Young Essendon: Heppell, Hurley, Merrett, Hooker
INJURIES Gold Coast: May (hip) Essendon: Nil
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