Bombers break SCG hoodoo in another thriller against Swans
The last time Sydney played host to Essendon, Dane Rampe went for an impromptu journey up a goal post in a madcap finish to what was a thoroughly thrilling contest.
The circumstances were a little different at the SCG on Sunday – mostly because, with only 350 spectators in the stands, the atmosphere was somewhat wanting. But the ending was just as gripping.
This time it was the Bombers who prevailed by six points, notching their first victory in Sydney since 2009 to move to a 2-0 win-loss record in 2020.
It wasn't pretty. Not much about this game was, with both sides clearly very rusty after spending so much of the year to date in isolation.
The dejected Swans trudge off after their narrow loss to Essendon at the SCG on Sunday.Credit:Getty
But in the crunch moments, the Bombers were better than the Swans, who closed to within one point in the final quarter only for Darcy Parish to extinguish their hopes at the death.
The opening 11 minutes of the final quarter were a tense, goalless arm wrestle, and it felt like it would take either a moment of brilliance or a blunder to break the tension.
It was the latter. As the Swans endeavoured to clear their lines in defence, Lewis Taylor inadvertently speared a pass straight down Shaun McKernan's throat. McKernan wheeled around and blasted it home from 50 metres out, and the Bombers had 14 points of breathing space.
Taylor pegged one back for Sydney to redeem himself, before an Essendon error opened the door even wider for them. As Tom Papley hauled in a hopeful kick into space in Sydney's forward pocket, he was met by a gentle bump from Aaron Francis.
It wasn't malicious, but it was unnecessary, and it was a clear 50-metre penalty. Papley converted from point-blank range, but the Swans couldn't find another to back it up. James Rowbottom had a crack in the dying seconds from long range but it hit the post.
It summed up the night for Sydney, who were right in the contest all afternoon and matched the Bombers in most key metrics but ultimately lacked polish and direction without their usual attacking focal points, Lance Franklin and Sam Reid.
McKernan and Jake Stringer finished with three goals apiece for Essendon, while Taylor and Papley contributed the same for Sydney.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and the Swans' Josh Kennedy contest the ball.Credit:AAP
The Bombers were well served by Zach Merrett (29 disposals), Andrew McGrath (23 disposals, six clearances) and Dylan Shiel (22 disposals, eight clearances), with their midfield just edging the Swans, who were led by Jake Lloyd (29 possessions) and Ollie Florent (27 possessions, seven clearances).
Isaac Heeney, touted by some as a player with the potential to challenge Dustin Martin as the greatest in the AFL, had his moments but too often was isolated in the forward line, where coach John Longmire used him for most of the match in the absence of Franklin and Reid.
Heeney finished with only 10 touches and a goal, his best flashes coming when he was closer to the action. Unfortunately for Longmire and the Swans, he can't be in two places at once.