Giant wake-up call for Bombers

Bomber Nick Kommer flies to try to foil a catch from Jonathan Giles. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

Scott Gumbleton and Jobe Watson celebrate. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

FOR two quarters and a bit quarters, Greater Western Sydney threatened to pull off potentially the greatest upset in VFL-AFL history.

In the end, the Giants had to be content with providing Essendon with quite possibly the greatest wake-up call in modern memory.

The Bombers continued its unbeaten start to what has been the most eventful off-field season in its history, but only after an almighty arm-wrestle against the Giants that no one - perhaps not even the ever-optimistic Kevin Sheedy - could have possibly foreseen.

The final margin of 39 points doesn't do justice to the scare that the parochial crowd of just over 30,000 endured for a fair slice of yesterday's match.

After a first-half that Essendon coach James Hird will want to erase from his memory, Sheedy's Giants took the game right up to the flat-footed Bombers.

David Zaharakis admitted that the Essendon players copped a ``spray'' from Hird and senior assistant Mark Thompson at both quarter-time and half-time.

AFL Round 6: Essendon v GWS at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Picture: Coppel Alex Source: Herald Sun

"They came ready to play and we didn't,'' Zaharakis, one of the Bombers' key players, said.

"Hirdy and `Bomber' Thompson were both animated. Accountability is a big thing for us, and we want to be able to be the No.1 defensive team.

"We spoke about it at half-time and at least we were able to turn it around in the second half.''

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But there were a few nervous moments. When Jeremy Cameron booted his fifth goal in the first 30 seconds of the third term, the Giants' margin had crept out to an almost inconceivable 27 points - before another behind was added a few minutes later.

Then soon after came the moment that seemingly flicked the switch for Essendon.

Brendon Goddard crashes his way through. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

Tim Mohr, who was good for the Giants, edged a kick towards the boundary line which was deemed to be deliberate and Brendon Goddard's superb angle goal started a chain of eight consecutive goals that changed the context of the match.

Zaharakis said: "That (Goddard's goal) got the ball rolling for us. We couldn't capitalise on our opportunities early, but that just got us going again.''

A 14 goal to four goal second half ensured Essendon was never going to lose from the moment that Goddard's goal sailed through at the Coventry end.

But the Bombers did it the hard way, and were never a chance of covering the plus 90-point line that bookmakers had offered up before the game.

There was plenty to like about the Giants; and more than a few chinks in the Bombers' armour that need to be ironed out before Friday's game with Geelong.

Brendan Goddard and Sam Reid. Picture: Coppel Alex Source: Herald Sun

Jeremy Cameron was outstanding, kicking a club-record six goals _ four of them in the first half.

Jacob Townsend did what no one else has been able to do so far this year - keep Jobe Watson to a bare minimum.

The Brownlow Medal favourite had only 21 touches - 11 less than his season average - and incredibly only had one centre clearance.

Brent Stanton was well shadowed early by Tom Scully before being subbed out of the game with tight groin.

Scully had 14 touches in the first half, but faded with only four more touches for the last hour of the game.

It was systematic of the Giants in the second half. They worked hard, which pleased Sheedy, but as a developing side, find it tough to run out four quarters.

Zaharakis and Michael Hibberd were Essendon's two most influential players, having 27 and 29 touches between them.

Alwyn Davey finished with four goals, providing a spark in attack when the Bombers needed it.

Stewart Crameri was well held early by Aidan Corr, but got off the chain with four goals in the second half.

Goddard had more influence on the game than just his important third-term goal. Courtenay Dempsey stepped up with a strong second half and Cale Hooker worked hard down back.

Hird was philosophical about the first half issues the Bombers faced, but said he can have few complaints that his team - against some powerful off-field distractions - was still unbeaten at 6-0.

But he well knows that his team cannot afford to leave it as late to flick the switch against Geelong on Friday night.
         

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