Bombers win - Dogs put up a fight

By Matt Janson
April 19 2003

Essendon have improved their record in the 2003 AFL season with a 19 point win over the Western Bulldogs in front of a healthy crowd of over 35 000 at the dome.

Despite missing several key players, ther was still enough class in the lineup to overcomne a sluggish start as the bulldogs began like a house on fire.

Early goals to Smith, Brown and Garlick helped the dogs to get out to a 26 point lead in the 1st half. The midfield running game was working well as Dean Rioli was exposed several times in the build up to goals.

The 1st half though was soured by the bulldogs with the injury to on-baller Mark Alvey. Having just come off his best season in 2002 and starting this season reasonably well, Alvey ruptured the anterior cruciate in his knee to end his season. This was after Matthew Robbins was taken to hospital for precautionary X-rays resulting from a concussion early in the game.

The 3rd quarter really blew the game open for the Bombers kicking 6 unanswerd goals. The defence, undermanned as is commonplace throughout the league, had no real answer to the onslaught as Essendon at one stage lead by 38 points.

They managed to tentatively hold this leads despite a spirited fightback by the bulldogs. Goals to Johnson, McGuinness and 2 from Brown including a miracle goal from the left forward pocket at the Coventry end on his right foot, reduced the margin to 2 kicks at the last change. The last quarter though turned out to be a struggle, with neither side managing to pull away.

MATCH SCORES:
ESSENDON 20.9.129
BULLDOGS 16.14.110

BULLDOGS GOALS: Brown 5, Johnson 2, Garlick, Smith 2, Hahn, Bowden, McGuinness, McMahon

afl.com.au BULLDOG BEST: Brown, Smith, Johnson, Darcy, West, R.Murphy