Essendon has destroyed North Melbourne on the big stage of Good Friday, blowing the wayward Roos off the park by 58 points in front of over 47,000 people.
It was the Bombers’ midfield that did the damage early, with Zach Merrett, Dyson Heppell, Dylan Shiel and Andrew McGrath clicking for the first time as a unit, leading to clearance control early.
Controversy surrounded the game early with Joe Daniher a late inclusion, despite not being among the club’s emergencies. Essendon will be fined by the AFL for that, but Daniher looked good, kicking two goals and given the blowout win, the Bombers likely won’t be too fussed with the fine.
The Roos meanwhile slump to one win from five games and the worst percentage in the comp by a fair distance.
Here’s everything you need to know!
David King slams Roos
SEN footy analyst and former North Melbourne premiership player David King has slammed his old side’s performance on the big stage.
“It’s embarrassing,” King told Fox Footy at half-time.
“As a fan of the North Melbourne Football Club, that’s just embarrassing.
“It’s flukey, it’s flakey, it’s not a real sustainable brand of football. On the biggest stage this club has for the season, they turn up and play like that? It’s embarrassing.”
Club champion Corey McKernan also gave his thoughts.
For a fierce @NMFCOfficial person to watch this served up on a day that we fought for and a time slot we used to own is hard to watch. When does the time come the club decides to DO something rather than accept what is being dished up and we are expected to swallow.
— Corey McKernan (@CoreyMcKernan) April 19, 2019
From 58m... Joe Daniher brings the house down! ☄️#AFLNorthDons pic.twitter.com/QFhQ059m45
— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019
Talking Point: Good Friday crowd a success
Regardless of the game, both teams should be quite happy with the crowd of over 47,000 in attendance for Good Friday footy.
Clearly, these two teams playing on this day is a winner, but the Bulldogs drawing 42,000 back in 2017 shows that maybe the reality is that Good Friday footy is a winner period.
Given changes have been made to it every single year, we don’t know what it will look like next year, but it’s hard to see it going anywhere anytime soon.
That's four for Fantasia!#AFLNorthDons pic.twitter.com/jc63AEXLWV
— AFL (@AFL) April 19, 2019
What’s next?
Essendon has six days to prepare for next Thursday’s Anzac Day clash with Collingwood. The Bombers and Pies both come in off wins and in good form and an enormous crowd is expected at the MCG.
North Melbourne meanwhile will be looking to bounce back in another primetime slot next Friday against Port Adelaide in South Australia.
Full Score
North Melbourne: 1.6, 3.7, 4.12, 7.16. (58)
Essendon: 3.4, 9.7, 13.11, 17.14. (116)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Brown 2, Cunnington, Polec, Ahern, Zurhaar
Essendon: Fantasia 4, Brown 3, Stringer 2, Daniher 2, McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Ambrose, Ham
BEST
North Melbourne: Trent Dumont Jared Polec, Shaun Higgins
Essendon: Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel, Dyson Heppell, Orazio Fantasia, Mitch Brown, Andy McGrath, Connor McKenna, Michael Hurley
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil
