Essendon claim first win of the season with last-quarter blitz in 'shootout' with Power
Updated . First published at
Essendon are on board in season 2025, defeating the Power by 12 points at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Sam Draper and Nate Cady and Port Adelaide's Mitch Georgiades and Darcy Byrne-Jones starred with two goals each as the Bombers triumphed 9.18 (72) to 8.12 (60) in an inaccurate and error-riddled contest.
Essendon scored the last four goals of the match to win their first game of the season and avoid a horror 0-3 start, as Port failed to muster a response to the late blitz.
READ MORE: 'Won't be coming': Top club exit race to sign DCE
READ MORE: Lawson's demotion confirmed as rival earns new seat
READ MORE: Legend's son scores 'brilliant' century in Shield final
Sam Draper of the Bombers celebrates his second goal against the Power. Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Byrne-Jones scored his second goal to help the Power to a six-point buffer at three-quarter time before Jason Horne-Francis scored the opener of the final term to extend Port's lead.
But the Bombers remained in the fight, and goals to Nic Martin and Mason Redman saw them equalise before Caddy peppered the goals to put Essendon in front.
Draper sealed the match with his second goal — his around-the-body snap grabbing attention.
The Bombers' Zach Merrett and Jordan Ridlet could only manage a pair of behinds to kick off the affair before Georgiades drew first blood, scoring the opening goal.
This then kicked off a back-and-forth in which neither team could manufacture a convincing lead.
In the second quarter, Georgiades took flight on the wing to pull in a mark of the year contender.
"The man is doing it all tonight," Mark Howard said in commentary for Fox Footy.
To add to his pair of first-quarter goals, Georgiades finished the match with one goal assist, 13 disposals and two behinds. However, his impact dwindled after half time.
In a low-scoring affair, scoring opportunities for both sides stalled.
In the middle of the ground, neither side appeared keen to play defensively as the ball alternated from end to end.
"It's almost as if there're 18 players refusing to pick up a man, [instead saying], You go your way, I'll go mine and let's see who wins the shootout," David King told Fox Footy.
"It's an open game, anyone's ball."
Both clubs unveiled debutants in Saad El-Hawli (Essendon) and Tom Cochrane (Port Adelaide) but drew criticism after naming the youngsters as their teams' substitutes.
However, both players were injected into the match in the fourth quarter, with El-Hawli, in particular, making the most of his opportunity.
