Essendon has the footy world scratching its head over how they had been so convincingly overwhelmed by the Blues on Sunday evening.
The extremely anticipated showdown between the hovering sides ended with the Blues rising because the clear challenger to the Swans for the 2024 premiership, whereas doubts have been forged over the Bombers’ legitimacy as flag contenders.
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Even Bombers coach Brad Scott admits he was unable to clarify how his staff had such a dominance in ahead fifty entries — with out something to point out for it on the scoreboard.
The Bombers had been wasteful in entrance of objective, booting 9.16 (70) to Carlton’s 15.6 (96), however that doesn’t inform the entire story with the Dons ending the sport with 61 ahead fifty entries in comparison with Carlton’s 40.
Footy legend Leigh Matthews stated it was “wonderful” to see a staff lose with these numbers.
“They’re very unusual numbers once we know Essendon had 61 inside fifties for under 9 objectives,” he stated on Channel 9.
“And Carlton solely had 40, however kicked 15 objectives. That’s simply an incredible set of numbers.”
Essendon greater than doubled the Blues within the third time period however couldn’t drive any important scoreboard stress.
Peter Wright and Kyle Langford had little impression, each failing to kick objectives, whereas Jake Stringer kicked only one main.
Scott was equally as perplexed by the stat.
“We definitely dominated elements with out changing on the scoreboard,” he stated.
“You don’t want me to reel off all of the stats, you may take a look at these your self, however a few of these numbers I’ve by no means seen in a loss.
“That’s on us, it’s two weeks in a row we’ve been actually poor changing our alternatives ahead of centre.
“We’ve bought plenty of work to do on that however I sit right here at roughly the mid-point of the season pondering the inspiration of what we’re doing is one thing to construct on.”
Former Geelong star Josh Jenkins additionally stated on SEN on Monday morning: “A number of the key metrics had been weirdly in favour of Essendon, however while you had been watching the sport, it clearly seemed like Carlton had been in management”.
Other than a short interval within the third quarter, the Blues had been in whole management of the match from the primary siren.
The Dons, led by Nic Martin shifting ahead, closed inside three objectives however the Blues flexed their muscle groups with 4 objectives in fast time to begin the fourth quarter.
Essendon now has losses to top-eight contenders Sydney, Port Adelaide, Gold Coast and Carlton, in addition to a draw to Collingwood on Anzac Day.
Impressively for the Blues, they kicked 96 factors with spearheads Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay combining for simply three objectives.
Carlton has an opportunity to edge nearer to cementing a top-two end when it takes on Geelong after the bye whereas Essendon hosts a Harley Reid-less West Coast in a fortnight.
— with NCA NewsWire
