2009 NAB Cup Game Notes – Essendon Bombers vs. Western Bulldogs

Friday night footy is BACK, well sort of, NAB style, which leaves a somewhat of a draw game, kissing your sister feeling in your gut.

That said, this game had a great cause in raising money for victims of the Victorian Bushfires (raising $1.2million), and the players didn’t disappoint. This game really had the feeling of a season game, especially in the fourth quarter.

Side-note, could Essendon get any more of these blockbuster type games? This is for a good cause that I am all for, but is it just a coincidence that the Bombers are involved. They have about 17 games out of 22 that you get a medal for, and you can bet a Kevin Sheedy medal game will be added at some point.

Both teams were combining a mixture of their old hands while getting some young blokes a run. The Bulldogs had Cross, Boyd, Giansiracusa and Johno out of its core nucleus to lead a crew of rookies and reserves; Jarred Grant, Liam Picken and Jamason Daniels. The Bombers only notable omissions were Alwyn Davey, Jason Winderlich (aka Winki-Pop), Scott Lucas and Kyle Reimers, most of which are still coming back from last years injury troubles.

The first quarter was looking like Cameron Ling on the grog (a big pink pig!), with a lack of entertaining play and even less goals. Things began to sort themselves out in the second term as the teams split the quarter in halve, the Bombers youngsters were firing with Neagle, the Gumball Disposer, and Jetta all kicking it through the big sticks. And the Bulldogs rallied late to go into the main break tied.

The Dons got on top a tad in the third with former Crow Hayden Skipworth; who put in a promising performance all match (more tackles than a fishing box), dobbing one on the siren for an 11 point lead.

This lead was squandered in the last as they failed to convert in front of goal and the Bulldogs managed kicking three themselves and almost look to have the game won before…

The highlight of the match (for me anyway) came when Adam McPhee had a chance to win the game for the Dons from a set shot just inside the 50. I was anxious to see name owner of the McPhee All-Stars have his first shemozzle for the season, and he didn’t disappoint. Fellow dieharder and raging Bombers supporter, SB, summed things up best when he said “this could go anywhere.” And it did. Out on the full.

Lloyd managed to hit the post from around 15 out on an angle to tie the game with 18 seconds to go, then true to his form McPhee saved the game for the Dons in the only way he can, snapping a point.

Dons won the first nail biter of the season 70-69.

Dream Team Watch:

Courtenay Dempsey ($201,900) was part of the Bomber trio who officially gutted my DT with injuries to start 2008. He is not only teasing me again this year he has officially locked himself a spot in the NAB Cup All-Stars by continuing to dominated preseason each year. He had 22 possessions (50), and looked to have a big role in the Bombers build up.

Rick Dyson ($277,800) has come back for another year of entering DT crush status as round 1 approaches with 24 kicks (108).

Bachar Houli ($325,700) is being spruiked as a possible under-priced keeper this year, had a solid showing with 23 possessions and 6 tackles (106).

Hayden Skipworth ($196,600) went bezerk; 15 possessions, 14 tackles and 2 goals (127). A huge flag for this price, keep an eye on him, but don’t expect 14 tackles every game.

Shaun Higgins ($211,900) has become such a popular DT sleeper that you really won’t be shocking anyone with him in your team anymore. He did nothing to hurt his DT status either with 22 possessions (79).