Essendon shakes off brave North Melbourne for 27-point win
TODAY’S LINE-UP: Matthew Lloyd, Leigh Matthews, Caroline Wilson, Daniel Harford, Tim Lane, Tony Leonard, and Mick Warner.
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North forward Ben Brown booted six goals in a losing side.
He was given the maximum five votes by Matthew Lloyd.
Brown told 3AW the youthful energy in the team is keeping spirits high despite their recent results.
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Cale Hooker booted four goals in the decisive final quarter as Essendon put the foot down.
He said North showed their talent on the day.
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FULL TIME
Essendon has kicked away for a 27-point win.
North stuck with the Bombers for three quarters, but eventually the Dons’ class and experience won out.
Eight Kangaroos today had fewer than ten games’ experience.
Goals:
Brown 6
Hooker 5
Fantasia 4
Waite 4
Walla 3#AFLDonsNorth— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) July 22, 2017
Matthew Lloyd said Essendon would be disappointed with their first three quarters.
“Their intensity just wasn’t there early on,” Lloydy said.
“That’d be the most disappointing part.”
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HALF TIME
North leads by two points at the main break.
Forward line pillars Ben Brown and Jarrad Waite have booted two goals each.
Kangaroo skipper Jack Ziebell was a special guest during the break.
Ziebell said he’s proud of the way his teammates have controlled the ball.
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North has made a late change today.
Robbie Tarrant has been withdrawn after hurting himself in the warm-up.
Josh Williams has been brought in for his debut.
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At 8-8, Essendon sits on the cusp of the eight.
Things have definitely turned around since last year’s disaster and the Bombers are eyeing off a return to finals footy.
North, by contrast, has just four wins, and has taken drastic measures at the selection table.
Todd Goldstein has been dropped, with Majak Daw named in the ruck and debutant Nick Larkey one of five inclusions.
The full 3AW team has assembled to cover this one, including Lloydy, Lethal, and Caro.
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