The Essendon Edge is back and the Western Bulldogs’ bark is far bigger than their bite.
That’s the consensus out of Marvel Stadium on Friday night after a five-goal final term for the Bombers saw them romp to a 29-point win.
Brad Scott’s midfielders got their wake-up call last week and responded in spades against the Bulldogs, dominating clearances and contested possessions.
Zach Merrett could hardly have been more impressive, while several Bombers had their best performances of the season. Just hours ago it felt as if the world was crashing down around Essendon, such had been the weight of a loss to Port Adelaide last week and the expected defeat at the hands of the Bulldogs.
But that win improves the Bombers’ ledger to 3-2 and heaps pressure on an underperforming Western Bulldogs outfit.
Here's how we graded every player.
Essendon
Zach Merrett: A
Where would the Bombers be without their captain the last five weeks? Continues to be his side’s best week in, week out.
Xavier Duursma: A
His last fortnight had been exceptional leading into Friday night and that form continues to stack up. Would have been his side’s best had he used it better on occasion, but a game-high 13 marks tells the tale of a wingman who worked his tail off all night.
Kyle Langford: A
Dominated the airwaves and impressed outside of his three goals to also finish with an equal team-high seven score involvements. A complete performance.
Sam Durham: B+
Went head-to-head with Tom Liberatore for most of the night and more than held his own. A team-high 12 contested possessions and also laid three tackles. A big time goal in the last.
Dyson Heppell: B+
Playing an underrated role running between the wings so far in 2024 and continues to deliver. Made plenty of right decisions on Friday night and looked as tough as ever.
Mason Redman: B+
As tidy and efficient as ever, just outsized by Sam Darcy at times.
Todd Goldstein: B+
Kicked the first goal of the game and went on to play his best game as a Bomber against the big challenge of Tim English.
Harrison Jones: B+
His second goal gave Essendon a 19-point lead early in the fourth that eventually sealed the game. Starting to realise his potential in terms of competitiveness and impact ahead of the footy.
Jake Stringer: B+
Nailed the big moments when he had to once again. Could be the only person in the AFL to actually hurt Tom Liberatore in a tackle, perhaps an even more impressive feat.
Sam Draper: B+
Low possession count and high-impact game for Draper. Felt like everything he touched turned to gold.
Andrew McGrath: B
Does some fantastic things with ball in hand but his turnovers were costly.
Jye Caldwell: B
Eight clangers held him back from an A.
Nic Martin: B
Owned the quarterback role behind the footy again. Didn’t have as much of the footy on Friday night but did run and create as much as he could.
Ben Hobbs: B
Ben McKay: B
Went down to the rooms in the final term after a heavy contest but returned to play out the game. Got the better of Naughton, especially late in the game.
Jade Gresham: C+
Got more involved as the game went on and his major midway through the final term felt like the goal that broke the Bulldogs’ heart.
Nik Cox: C+
Started on a wing and tended to roll back from there. Looks to be improving as a defender.
Jake Kelly: C+
Spent most of the night on Cody Weightman and was another Bomber who could hold his head high.
Darcy Parish: C
An unusually quiet game for Parish, who didn’t influence the contest from his 22 disposals.
Alwyn Davey Jnr: C
Grew into the contest to finish with nine touches and a goal.
Jayden Laverde: C-
Beaten by Jamarra Ugle-Hagan for much of the night.
Jye Menzie: C-
Another game with no impact before being subbed off.
Nick Hind: N/A
Came on at three quarter time.
Western Bulldogs
Adam Treloar: B+
Continued his hot vein of form and was probably his side’s best midfielder. Laid a clear game-high eight tackles.
Tom Liberatore: B+
Copped attention from Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell at times but battled through and his 17 contested possessions was a game-high.
Ed Richards: B+
As Gerard Healy said in commentary for AFL Nation: “Someone has to be making the case for this guy to be in the All-Australian side.”
Comprehensively beat Jade Gresham and offered plenty going the other way.
Sam Darcy: B+
The Bulldogs have been telling us that Darcy’s agility is off the charts for a player standing over 210cms and they’re certainly not lying. Clunked a few big marks and has made Rory Lobb’s former role his own.
Liam Jones: B+
Couldn’t hold up with the weight of supply in the second half. Had an equal game-high 10 intercept possessions and gave his all, as he always does.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan: B
Does some incredible things. 12 possessions and 3.3 felt about right, given Ugle-Hagan could have been the game-breaker on different occasions.
Jack Macrae: B-
Back in a hybrid midfield role, Macrae looked more like the All-Australian footy fans know him as on Friday night. Could be the performance that solidifies his spot.
Jason Johannisen: B-
Didn’t stop trying and was far from Luke Beveridge’s biggest problem. Probably flattered by his stats, however.
Rhylee West: B-
Creative and brilliant in the opening half but like many of his teammates, was rarely sighted after that. Two goals was a deserved return.
Buku Khamis: B-
Is starting to repay the faith put inhim by Luke Beveridge. Had 10 intercept possessions but outmuscled on a couple too many occasions.
Aaron Naughton: C+
Playing more of the Jeremy Cameron role, Naughton spent plenty of the night getting further up the ground and clearing out the inside 50 for Ugle-Hagan. Played his role and could have had a better night had he kicked straight.
Taylor Duryea: C+
James O'Donnell: C+
Tidy beind the footy in his return to the senior side.
Marcus Bontempelli: C+
Had no influence after half-time. No Bont, no Dogs, and that couldn't have been more evident than on Friday night. 17 possessions, but hard not to grade him on previous performances.
Bailey Williams: C+
Lachlan Bramble: C+
Laithan Vandermeer: C
Could come under MRO scrutiny for a tackle midway through the fourth term. A tidy performance otherwise.
Tim English: C-
Struggled to handle the heat from both Todd Goldstein and Sam Draper. Just a single clearance for the ruckman on Friday night.
Cody Weightman: C-
Never got going.
Oskar Baker: C-
A few glaring mistakes underlined his performance.
James Gallagher: C-
Ryley Sanders: N/A
Was almost the Dogs’ best player at quarter time but fell away after that. Eventually subbed off in the third term.
Bailey Dale: N/A
Seemed a strange choice to be sub on paper and had no influence on the contest after coming on with more than a quarter to play.
