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Posted:
2024-08-10 03:28:40
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-10/afl-round-22-lions-gws-freo-cats-bombers-demons-port-live-blog/104208004
Gold Coast big man Mac Andrew has kicked a goal after the siren to give the Suns a one-point win over Essendon and all but end the wasteful Bombers' AFL finals hopes.
Six days after giving their season a pulse with victory over Fremantle, the Bombers undid their good work in an error-plagued 13.9 (87) to 12.14 (86) defeat at Docklands Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers kicked 1.9 in the final quarter as they threw away what should have been a victory, before Andrew took a pack mark in the dying seconds and kicked truly to bring them undone — then shushed the Essendon crowd in delight
"I was a bit nervous," Andrew told Fox Footy after his game-winner.
"It's something every kid dreams of. I was looking at Noah (Anderson) and I thought about his game-winner and I was like, 'That'd be a good feeling', so I just went back and went through my routine and I'm happy to put it through.
"I thought it was going to the post … and then it curved back. Obviously we're out of finals contention, but we're still playing full of pride."
It was Gold Coast's first away win of the season.
The Bombers (46 points) sit ninth, two points behind Carlton and the Western Bulldogs and two ahead of 10th-placed Hawthorn, with games against Sydney (home) and Brisbane (away) to come.
The Bombers were their own worst enemy.
Essendon turned the ball over at will while they regularly fumbled at ground level and struggled to take clean possession.
Suns midfielder Matt Rowell did a power of work, racking up 33 disposals and nine clearances, with support from Noah Anderson, Sam Clohesy and Sam Flanders.
It proved an engaging midfield duel with gun Bombers Darcy Parish (27 disposals) and Zach Merrett (32).
Andrew kicked four goals while spearhead Ben King also snared three goals and Jed Walter kicked two.
Essendon young gun Nate Caddy kicked three goals along with ruckman Sam Draper.
Gold Coast flew out of the blocks and led by a point at quarter-time.
Bombers big man Nik Cox (concussion), who had been marking Andrew, was substituted midway through the second term.
The second quarter proved a see-sawing affair until Draper nudged the Bombers out to a 10-point half-time lead.
There was a big melee right on half-time after a 50-metre penalty against Andrew.
The Suns young gun could come under some match review officer scrutiny after throwing some jumper punches, including appearing to catch Bomber Archie Roberts in the head.
Andrew then snagged the first two goals of the third quarter to put the Suns back in front, and Gold Coast led by four points at the final change.
Roberts kicked a wonderful goal to put the Bombers back in front
But Essendon wasted golden chances to extend their lead — with Jake Stringer alone kicking three points, and were left to rue what might have been.
The Suns (13th) next host Melbourne then finish their season against Richmond at the MCG.
The Essendon-Gold Coast game was one of two thrillers to take place on Saturday night, with Port Adelaide prevailing over Melbourne by two points at the MCG.
Earlier on Saturday, Geelong cemented its spot inside the top four after a terrific comeback win over Fremantle in Perth.
The GWS Giants responded to what was labelled an "atrocious" start to record a phenomenal comeback win against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
West Coast kicked three goals in the space of three minutes to seal an incredible heist against North Melbourne in Tasmania.
With AAP
Check out our live blog below for a recap of all of Saturday's action as it happened.
That's all from us this Saturday!
Thank you for spending your Saturday with us!
What a day of action it was. In five matches today, the largest margin of victory was 11 points.
Absolutely symbolic of this ridiculously entertaining season.
I will be back tomorrow afternoon for another triple-header of action.
Catch you then!
FULL-TIME: Port Adelaide 7.11 (53) def. Melbourne 7.9 (51)
Port Adelaide has secured a thrilling two-point win over Melbourne to surge into second on the AFL ladder, ending the Demons' slim finals hopes.
The Demons led Saturday night's contest for 66 minutes, but were forced to endure heartbreak with their third loss by five points or less in the last seven weeks.
Former No.1 draft pick Jason Horne-Francis stepped up when the Power needed him in the last quarter as Port won the dour contest 7.11 (53) to 7.9 (51).
Horne-Francis had nine possessions in the last quarter to finish with 27 and two goals, continually putting himself in the right positions to thwart any chance of another Melbourne goal.
Quinton Narkle, who was subbed into the game for tall forward Todd Marshall at halftime, slotted the match-winning goal with just four minutes left.
It was sweet relief for Port and coach Ken Hinkley, just a week after they demolished ladder-leaders Sydney by 112 points.
After the Brisbane Lions' defeat to GWS earlier on Saturday, Port jumped up three spots to put them within reach of a double chance and a home final.
Port ruckman Jordon Sweet will face a nervous wait to learn if he will be cited by the match review officer after he appeared to strike Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver in the chest.
Oliver, who had little impact on the contest, was assessed by trainers and Demons players remonstrated with Sweet.
Melbourne livewire Kysaiah Pickett had one of the best games of his career, threatening to overshadow Horne-Francis' heroics.
Pickett kicked a game-high four goals, had 21 possessions and eight score involvements to be clearly Melbourne's most influential player.
The Demons will almost certainly end the round with their slim finals hopes extinguished ahead of their last two games against Gold Coast (away) and Collingwood (MCG).
AAP
Bombers' post-siren nightmare continues
Incredibly, tonight's loss is Essendon's third after the siren in the last three seasons.
You could just absolutely feel this one coming too with every easy chance they missed at the other end of the ground.
What must the Bombers be thinking? They've literally kicked themselves out of the finals.
Damien Hardwick wins his first game as coach at Docklands Stadium since 2021.
ESS vs GC, FT: Andrew wins it after the siren
MAC ANDREW HAS KICKED A GOAL AFTER THE SIREN TO GIVE THE SUNS A FAMOUS WIN!
The Suns had one last kick inside 50 from Sam Collins and Andrew took a huge contested mark 30m out on a slight angle.
You could feel that one was coming when the Bombers just kept missing chance after chance after chance.
The Dons kick 1.9 for the quarter and the Suns kick 2.0 after the siren to win it. Unbelievable stuff.
"I was a bit nervous. Something every kid dreams of," says Andrew to Fox Footy after his match-winning heroics.
ESS vs GC: One minute left
A shocking kick from Sam Collins ends up out of bounds.
Throw-in inside the Suns' forward 50 with 36 seconds left.
ESS vs GC: 1.29 left on the clock
The Suns have the ball in their forward 50. This is their chance.
Bombers lead by five points.
ESS vs GC: Into the final five minutes at Docklands
Essendon has absolutely dominated this quarter, but poor kicking has kept the Suns in it.
The Bombers have kicked 1.7 for the quarter, and the ball has lived in their half of the ground.
The inside 50 count for the quarter reads 18-5 the Bombers' way.
Gold Coast still alive with just over three minutes left.
MEL vs PA, FT: Port survives in absolute thriller at the MCG
What a gutsy win from Port Adelaide!
Melbourne players heartbroken at the final siren, they threw everything at this one, and there was nothing between the two sides all night.
Port Adelaide runs out two-point winners to preserve its spot inside the top four.
MEL vs PA: Dees stay alive with goal line stop
Port leading by two points with just under two minutes left.
Jase Burgoyne looked set to kick a winner on the goal line before he was stymied by a couple of Melbourne defenders.
MEL vs PA: Five minutes left at the MCG
Port Adelaide clinging to a one-point lead as we tick into the final five minutes.
ESS vs GC: Flanders' dribbler draws Suns level
Sam Flanders dribbles through his second goal of the evening, and scores are now level at Docklands as well!
What a night of footy this is turning out to be.
There's still plenty of time left in this one, just over 11 minutes left.
MEL vs PA: Narkle knots things up at the MCG
Quinton Narkle kicks a crucial goal from a set shot in the fourth quarter and scores are level at the MCG!
A terrific mark from Port's sub after a kick inside 50 from Ollie Wines.
There's 6.40 left on the clock.
ESS vs GC: Roberts mobbed after first goal puts Dons in front
What a moment at Docklands Stadium as Archie Roberts kicks his first career goal!
This game has been a back-and-forth contest right from the first bounce.
The Bombers back in front. This one is turning into another classic. What a round. What a season.
MEL vs PA: Pickett puts Demons back in front
Kozzie Pickett gets away with a push on Zak Butters to kick his fourth goal of the evening!
The Demons back in front with 12 minutes left. What a titanic arm-wrestle it has been at the MCG between these two teams tonight.
MEL vs PA: Port clinging to lead after Dixon's opener
Charlie Dixon has kicked the only goal of the final quarter to give Port Adelaide a three-point lead.
An important centre clearance win for the Power sets up their first of the term to put them in front. The centre bounce midfield combination of Zak Butters, Connor Rozee and Willem Drew ranks fifth for centre clearance win percentage out of the top 20 most used centre bounce midfield combinations this season.
Port throwing the kitchen sink at the Demons, but the Dees defence is holding up strong at the moment.
ESS vs GC, 3QT: Gold Coast 11.9 (75) leads Essendon 11.5 (71)
An impressive third term from the Suns has them holding a four-point lead at the final change, and it probably could've been more had they kicked a little straighter.
The inside 50s are dead level at 43 apiece and Essendon holds the slight edge in clearances (30-29), but the Suns have been great in stoppage clearances (21-14).
Matt Rowell continuing to have it all his own way out there. He's got 27 disposals and eight clearances to go along with six tackles.
MEL vs PA, 3QT: Melbourne 6.5 (41) def. Port Adelaide 5.8 (38)
Nothing in it between the Demons and Port heading into the final quarter.
64 per cent of the term was spent in Port Adelaide's forward half, as well as them having four more inside 50s. Despite this, both teams kicked two straight goals for the quarter.
ESS vs GC: Walter kicks two in a minute to put Suns ahead
The Suns looking extremely dangerous every time they go forward now!
Ben King wins a free kick for front on contact against Ben McKay, and Jed Walter takes the advantage and kicks his second in the matter of a few seconds.
In the last 25 minutes, Gold Coast has scored 6.5 (41) to Essendon's 5.1 (31) including three out of the last five goals.
ESS vs GC: Walter keeps Suns in touch after excellent smother
Jed Walter snaps through his first of the night in heavy pressure!
A lovely smother from Noah Anderson keeps the ball in the Suns' forward 50 after a stoppage.
The Suns just aren't going away here, they're sniffing a big road scalp, it would be their first road win of the season.
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