Essendon’s season is over after going down to the Western Bulldogs 85-36 in Launceston on Sunday.
In just the second final in VFL/AFL history in Tasmania, fans were treated to a tough, contested game with wet conditions turning the clash into a scrap.
After trading blows across the first and second terms, the Dogs were able to bridge a 19-point gap at three quarter time and never looked back from there.
It was an unlikely hero who led Luke Beveridge’s side up forward, with second-year livewire Cody Weightman booting four crucial goals.
Inside midfielder Tom Liberatore was also crucial in the result, racking up 35 possessions in a game that was primarily played at the contest and on the deck.
Having brought him in as a late inclusion, Beveridge was vindicated with the selection of Josh Schache as the tall kicked two big majors.
For Essendon, All-Australian midfielder Darcy Parish (35 disposals, one goal), ruckman Sam Draper (18 disposals, 43 hitouts) and Zach Merrett (31 disposals) fought valiantly in defeat.
Both teams looked to escape the game with a relatively clean bill of health as neither injury sub was activated.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The streak continues
6203 days and counting.
That’s how many days it’s been since Essendon last won a final, having last saluted back in an elimination final against the Demons in 2004.
While it paints an ugly picture, it’s more a story of heartbreak, with the Dons going 0-6 in elimination finals since then.
This one will particularly sting Bombers fans, considering it was themselves who cost them the opportunity to win.
Kicking 4.12 was never going to be accurate enough against this Dogs side, and they never truly gave themselves the opportunity to win despite leading the inside 50 count halfway into the fourth term.
With some contentious free kicks going against them that led to goals, Essendon supporters will want to know what they’ve done to annoy the footy gods…but this season shouldn’t be looked at as a failure.
Making the eight when many expected a cellar dwelling finish should be commended, and this list certainly has the scope for improvement in years to come.
It’ll come Bombers fans, you might just need to be a little more patient.
Cody-19 announces himself on the big stage
He’s had some seriously good games this year, but this one has to be the sweetest for young forward Cody Weightman.
The 2019 first-round pick has all the tricks in the book, and is one of those players that you’d pay to go watch play.
Well, for some lucky fans in Launceston, they were treated to a show from the young star.
In a low scoring game, his four goals were ultimately the difference, and while he had some luck go his way with the whistle, good players often make the most of that.
We often see these x-factor players stand up in finals, and Weightman looms as that for the Dogs in the next month.
Cody Weightman has three goals 🔥#AFLFinals pic.twitter.com/v5LPinrH0b
— AFL (@AFL) August 29, 2021
What’s next?
The Bulldogs face Brisbane in a mouth-watering semi-final clash, with the winner of that game then taking on Port Adelaide in a preliminary final.
For the Dons, they’ll take a well-earned break before they gear up for year two under Ben Rutten.
FULL SCORE
Western Bulldogs: 2.1, 5.4, 8.5, 13.7. (85)
Essendon: 1.4, 4.7, 4.10, 4.12. (36)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Weightman 4, Naughton 3, Hannan 2, Schache 2, Vandermeer, Smith
Essendon: Stringer 2, Parish, Smith
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore, Cody Weightman, Jack Macrae, Lachie Hunter, Marcus Bontempelli
Essendon : Darcy Parish, Sam Draper, Zach Merrett, Jordan Ridley
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