Essendon have moved to within a game of top spot on the VFL ladder after a comprehensive win over Coburg in round ten at a sun bathed Windy Hill. The Bombers were made to work hard in the first half but an eight goal to one third quarter enabled the home side to take charge winning 20.17.137 to 6.7.43.
Don’s skipper Heath Hocking and Jackson Merrett both booted three goals for the winners while for Coburg Peter McEvoy and Mitchell Podhajski kicked two each. Essendon runner, Travis Colyer (above), was best-on-ground and will be pushing for senior selection while defender Aaron Francis and forward James Stewart also staked a claim for AFL recalls. Aaron Heppell carved his way through Coburg opponents to find plenty of the sherrin to be among the Bomber’s best as did Hocking and Kobe Mutch who finished with 33 disposals.
Merrett got the ball rolling for Essendon with two first quarter goals but he was matched at the other end by the Lion’s Podhajski who helped his side stay in touch at the first change. The Bombers were wayward in the second quarter booting two goal six behinds in perfect conditions. Coburg added two goals themselves to be within 25-points at the main break.
Home fans soon found plenty of voice as their side turned it on in the premiership quarter. Former Coburg player, Daniel Younan, kicked two for the term while another former Lion, Michael Hartley, controlled things down back for the Bombers.
Life didn’t get any easier for Coburg in the final term as the Bombers slammed on another five goals to one to run out convincing winners. Essendon’s AFL listed players all figuring in their best as their pressure and contested ball efforts were too much for the stand-alone Coburg. The Bombers compiling 70 inside fifties to have the Coburg defenders constantly on the back foot.
Ryan Exon tried hard down back for Coburg while Peter McEvoy worked hard with fifteen touches and eleven marks to go with his two goals as did Tyson Lever (24 disposals, 8 rebound 50s) and Lochlan Dickson who were never far away from the action in the Lion’s defence.
Coburg remain winless at the bottom of the ladder in season 2018 and return home to Piranha Park in round eleven to host an inconsistent Footscray. Essendon now sit in third place just a game shy of top spot and with a healthy percentage, they have the bye in round elven.
