Bombers rally to deny plucky Crows

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ESSENDON'S leaders made a couple of telling statements at Etihad Stadium.

The club may have been banned from last year's finals series, but it let the footy world know that it can still be a player in this year's September show.

If the game wasn't a classic "eight pointer" already, then Gold Coast's win over Geelong just minutes before the clash ensured that Essendon and Adelaide would be playing in a mini-final at Etihad Stadium.

The winner would go level, for the night at least, with North Melbourne, while the loser risked being two games and percentage out of the eight by weekend's end.

Bombers coach Mark Thompson said last week he wanted more leadership from his players.

He got it.

Early on it came largely from those in his official leadership group.

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Later on it was the club's middle tier who stepped up.

But through it all there was one constant, Brendon Goddard, who, as acting captain, has stood up massively in the absence of the injured Jobe Watson.

Bomber Michael Hurley is mobbed after kicking the sealer. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

The former Saint got the first clearance of the night and found Heath Hocking, who belied his stature to take a big pack mark 45m from goal.

Hocking goaled to give the Bombers the perfect start.

Brent Stanton kicked his first goal on the run from 45m then outmarked Patrick Dangerfield a short time later which resulted in him kicking his second and his team's sixth.

Dyson Heppell and Jason Winderlich had seven possessions each by quarter time as the Bombers got off to a flyer to lead by four goals at the first break.

At 36 points up 15 minutes in to the third quarter it seemed as if Essendon was home.

But when the Crows kicked the last three goals of the quarter to get within 15 points at the final change there was a strange sense of deja vu — the Melbourne game last Sunday all over again.

We can only assume that in that three-quarter time huddle Thompson asked for another statement from his leaders.

He got it, again, but this time it was the likes of emerging leader Ben Howlett — with his controversial goal of the year contender from the pocket — and Jake Melksham — with seven fourth quarter possessions to cap off a solid night all-round — who were standing up to be counted.

Howlett was awarded the goal despite replays suggesting the ball had brushed the post in transition.

While the umpires chose not to review the goal, Winderlich, in a post match radio interview, conceded it "touched the post".

The Bombers celebrate Howlett's last quarter goal. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Michael Hibberd, clumsy at best last week, was immense with his run off half back all night and emerged as one of his side's best.

Travis Colyer, 22, kicked a goal which almost lifted the roof off of the Docklands stadium midway through the term while Michael Hurley — a presence no matter where he is on the field — sneaked forward to kick the sealer four minutes from the finish to rebuff yet another Adelaide charge.

But it was Goddard, who doubled his possession count with a staggering 16 possessions in the last quarter alone, who the coach would have been most proud of last night.

If the midfielder's acquisition wasn't already worth it before, it surely is now, and it is he who the club will rely on most to further propel its finals charge.

The Crows, for their part, were largely disappointing but for a spurt here and there in quarters three and four.

They too, like Essendon, are capable of the exquisite but too often, particularly in Melbourne, don't produce.

Dangerfield looked hampered by a thigh problem. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Dangerfield was relatively quiet with just the 21 touches, but his output shouldn't have to be the barometer for Adelaide's performance.

Only Scott Thompson, (41 possessions) Sam Jacobs (35 hit-outs) and Matthew Wright (26 touches) would have walked off totally satisfied with their own games.

Josh Jenkins too, against his old side, threatened to be the matchwinner with four goals.

Questions will come again about Essendon's third quarter fade-outs.

But this time, at least, its players and coaches can answer them having still managed to win the game.

At times last night the Dons' footy was as good as it was in the first three rounds of the season when wins against North Melbourne and Carlton had pundits tipping the team for the top four.

The task now is to put four quarters together against a wounded Cats outfit to really give its finals charge momentum.

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