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In his first game, Finnbar Maley had the chance to win the game.
It was theatrical but also almost unfair that it should fall to North Melbourne’s first-game player, to have the game ride on his boot.
Finnbar Maley had the chance to kick what could have been the winning goal for the Roos.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
North were coming off a five-day break but Essendon effectively had three players out of the game – Jordan Ridley with his hamstring, Harrison Jones with his awful-looking lower leg injury and Ben Hobbs limping about with a cork.
After Essendon kicked out to a healthy lead by quarter time, the game should never have ended up being this close. But the Kangaroos outplayed the Bombers in the second half to get them to this point – a tick over a minute and a half on the clock and within a goal.
It was then that Maley landed on a pack and juggled a mark. The Bombers were four points ahead and Maley had the shot from 50m out.
He took his time. He then took more time. Plainly unaware of the very idea of a shot clock, let alone where it might be, he then ran out of time and was called to play on. He had to hurry his kick, which was eventually rushed.
It was a dramatic end to a game that looked unlikely to be close after quarter time when the Bombers booted six goals to two. But after half-time, North were the better of the sides, particularly in clearances and around the ball.
Tristan Xerri and Luke Davies-Uniacke were tremendous in that second half for North, but the Bombers had Zach Merrett. Essendon forward Peter Wright was a presence in that last quarter when both teams were out on their feet.
Essendon’s narrow and thrilling victory made for a dramatic start to round eight.
North Melbourne’s decision to ban pundit Kane Cornes was the backdrop and main discussion point before the match, but footy took over as the resilient Kangas took the game right up to Essendon … just when the contest looked done and dusted and beyond them.
Therefore, full credit to the Roos. A different decision there, or an accurate kick on goal elsewhere, and the four points could have been theirs.
We’ve enjoyed bringing the game to you tonight. Please enjoy the rest of the weekend.
North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has had another subtle dig at Kane Cornes as part of his post-match media commitments. He defended North’s use of Harry Sheezel on the half-back flank. You can watch the short clip below.
Cornes wasn’t shy on social media after the game either, posting a picture from the Essendon rooms with the caption “Great to be in the winning rooms pre-game for Thursday night footy on Seven,” accompanied by a shush emoji and a screenshot of Simpkin’s gesture to the crowd after his goal from long-range in the third quarter.
Alastair Clarkson says North Melbourne remain “really disappointed” that Paul Curtis was controversially banned for three matches as the Roos endure the disappointment of a narrow loss to Essendon at Marvel Stadium.
North’s appeal against Curtis’ three-match ban for rough conduct failed on Tuesday night, the AFL tribunal ruling the Kangaroo made no attempt to reduce the impact on concussed Port Adelaide opponent Josh Sinn.
Concussed: Josh Sinn is tackled by Paul Curtis of the Kangaroos.Credit: AFL Photos
Curtis applied a heavy tackle from behind on Sinn at Adelaide Oval last Saturday and AFL rule-makers came down heavily on the Roo.
“In my opinion he’s almost the best tackler in the competition, he’s just so strong,” Clarkson said about his player on Thursday night.
“It’s a shame that that part of our game [tackling] is being questioned. It’s a feature of our game. We understand that there’s a duty of care, but there’s a duty of care for the game.”
The premiership coach lamented the length of the penalty for Curtis.
“This was a football action, so we’re disappointed with that outcome, particularly the severity of that outcome,” he said.
“Football accident – he gets three weeks. Someone swings an arm, off the ball incident, gets less.
“It just doesn’t make sense.
“It also doesn’t make sense that the AFL come out and say ‘we might change that at the end of the year’. It doesn’t help us. We’re really disappointed with that. Really disappointed.
“Really strong leadership would say ‘we understand it’s wrong, and we’ll change it right now’.”
Essendon football boss Dan McPherson has told 3AW that Harrison Jones suffered a dislocated ankle and will head to hospital tonight.
McPherson also confirmed Jordan Ridley had suffered a hamstring injury and would have scans on Friday, but they expected he would be sidelined for a few weeks.
He also confirmed that Jade Gresham had “felt a bit of a pop in the groin” and said the Dons suspected an adductor strain. Gresham will also have scans tomorrow.
Main possession-winners:
35 – Zach Merrett (Essendon)
32 – Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne)
28 – Tom Powell (North Melbourne), Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne)
26 – Archie Roberts, Sam Durham
In his first game, Finnbar Maley had the chance to win the game.
It was theatrical but also almost unfair that it should fall to North Melbourne’s first-game player, to have the game ride on his boot.
Finnbar Maley had the chance to kick what could have been the winning goal for the Roos.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
North were coming off a five-day break but Essendon effectively had three players out of the game – Jordan Ridley with his hamstring, Harrison Jones with his awful-looking lower leg injury and Ben Hobbs limping about with a cork.
After Essendon kicked out to a healthy lead by quarter time, the game should never have ended up being this close. But the Kangaroos outplayed the Bombers in the second half to get them to this point – a tick over a minute and a half on the clock and within a goal.
It was then that Maley landed on a pack and juggled a mark. The Bombers were four points ahead and Maley had the shot from 50m out.
He took his time. He then took more time. Plainly unaware of the very idea of a shot clock, let alone where it might be, he then ran out of time and was called to play on. He had to hurry his kick, which was eventually rushed.
It was a dramatic end to a game that looked unlikely to be close after quarter time when the Bombers booted six goals to two. But after half-time, North were the better of the sides, particularly in clearances and around the ball.
Tristan Xerri and Luke Davies-Uniacke were tremendous in that second half for North, but the Bombers had Zach Merrett. Essendon forward Peter Wright was a presence in that last quarter when both teams were out on their feet.
It was a sickening injury for Harrison Jones right on the final break, when the Bomber went down with what appeared to be a fractured ankle.
All those watching on – at the ground or via the TV broadcasts – were thinking of him.
“It’s disappointing,” Essendon captain Zach Merrett told Channel Seven post-match.
“We’ll wrap our arms around him to make sure that he gets the full support and care that he needs, and we’ll keep moving forward as group.”
Harrison Jones gets immediate treatment on the ground.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
A great match in the end. It had a bit of everything.
What a thriller. It came to life in the second half as North climbed off the canvas and took the game up to Essendon.
Debutant Roo Maley had a big chance to be a hero with a late kick but, no, it wasn’t to be.
Pencil Zach Merrett in for the three votes. He was vital, and a safe pair of hands at the finish. Just how important is he to the Bombers? Really, you can’t measure it.
Up forward, debutant Finnbar Maley takes a great grab!
The Roo has a big chance to put them in front.
He took his time going back for the set shot but in the end he has to rush the kick and it’s offline. Rushed through for a behind.
That’s probably the match. Essendon will probably hang on.
