Essendon's Star Keeps On Rising As The Pies Bomb Out

Sun Herald

Sunday July 27, 2008

By GUY HAND MCG

ESSENDON 19.14 128

COLLINGWOOD 11.14 80

ESSENDON kept alive their finals hopes and dealt Collingwood's top-four chances a massive blow with a 48-point thumping yesterday.

The Bombers dominated the first and third terms, before lifting early in the fourth to put the Magpies away.

Midfielder Andrew Welsh starred with four goals and 29 possessions, while Matthew Lloyd booted four majors.

Onballer Jobe Watson, who had 41 touches, was also outstanding and ruckman David Hille was the most influential player on the ground. Several times Essendon opened up a lead of more than 30 points, though Collingwood twice closed to within a goal just before and after half-time.

But while Collingwood teased, they were never really convincing - and were not helped by a heavy free-kick count against them to three-quarter-time.

Essendon jumped the Pies early with a five-goals-to-one first term - Welsh booting three inside the first 10 minutes, the catalyst for his side as it drove forward at every opportunity.

Trailing by 33 points late in the first quarter, Collingwood fought back with five goals in a row to halftime - forward Travis Cloke kicking three.

But once Hille asserted his dominance in the ruck and Lloyd revelled in the freedom of a role further up the ground than usual, the Bombers wound their lead back out past five goals.

The Bombers were reeled in to 19 points at the final change, then kicked seven goals to two in the last quarter to seal the victory.

Fittingly, it was Welsh who put the issue beyond doubt midway through the term, winning a 50-50 ball, chasing it down, then booting truly for his fourth goal.

Both sides will be sweating on the match review panel tomorrow, with Collingwood's Alan Didak and Essendon's Scott Lucas reported for striking in separate incidents.

In Adelaide, Port Adelaide assistant coach Jason Cripps says the Power will get a fair idea today whether his team can perform under any circumstances in their home match against Fremantle.

Both sides will enter the contest looking for indicators as to which players they should keep for 2009, the Power concerned primarily with the likes of Fabian Deluca, Nathan Lonie, Nick Lower, Greg Bentley and Jacob Surjan.

As well as Port performed last week to defeat Adelaide, their efforts drew a valid question about where that drive and singularity of purpose had been earlier in the year.

"We thought the intensity and the effort the players brought last week was outstanding, probably 10 out of 10, and we're expecting the players to be able to bring that level of effort and intensity every week," Cripps said. "It's interesting to talk about the showdown build-up and the effort and intensity last week.

"You ask, why can't the players bring that this week? Why do players find extra for a showdown?

"I find that interesting and they should be able to, you'd think, deliver the same level of intensity and effort every week regardless of whether it's a showdown, or if it's the best team or the worst team.

"The reality is it's a difficult thing for players to do, but the best players and the most consistent players deliver that intensity and effort every week, and that's what we're working on."

Port should enjoy a decided advantage through the middle of the ground, where Steve Salopek, Dom Cassisi, Danyle Pearce and Shaun Burgoyne made merry against the Crows.

Fremantle lack Des Headland (injured), Paul Hasleby (injured), Matthew Carr and Peter Bell (both retired) from what would have been their first-choice on-ball brigade at the start of 2008.

"With Headland out, Hasleby out, Carr has retired and Bell has retired, Fremantle has probably been left a little bit short in the midfield and we certainly think we can get an advantage there," Cripps said.

"Aaron Sandilands dominates the hit-outs, but we've always done pretty well even though he does dominate around the stoppages."

Rising Port backman Alipate Carlile is likely to spend time on Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich, as he continues an education that should pay greater dividends in 2009.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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