Essendon resist Port pressure
Essendon recovered from the early setback of losing skipper Jobe Watson with a suspected broken collarbone to score a five-goal win over Port Adelaide in their round-15 AFL clash at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The third-placed Bombers finished strongly with a five-goal final term for an 18.10 (118) to 12.16 (88) victory to move to an 11-3 win-loss record, while Port sit on 8-6 in eighth spot.
Out-of-contract big man Tom Bellchambers booted five goals for Essendon while speedster Jason Winderlich and key forward Michael Hurley kicked three goals each.
Brendon Goddard, David Zaharakis and defender Dustin Fletcher were prominent for Essendon.
Ex-Bomber Angus Monfries kicked four goals for Port and small forward Robbie Gray was busy with three goals.
Watson left the field in the first term and was subbed out after a heavy bump. He later told FoxSports he expected to miss four games.
“It looks like it’s a pretty simple break,” Watson said.
The early exit of Watson adds to the topsy-turvy season for the 2012 Brownlow Medallist who has admitted to taking a substance which is banned by WADA as the Bombers face an ASADA-AFL investigation over their use of supplements, with the investigation due to be finalised in a month’s time.
Port led by seven points at quarter-time after a four-goal opening term as the Bombers were rocked by Watson’s departure.
But the goals dried up for the visitors who scored only one major in the second quarter as the Bombers piled on six goals to sit 25 points clear at halftime.
Trailing by 31 points early in the third term, Port rallied with four goals in six minutes including three to Monfries.
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Essendon kicked the last three goals of the third quarter to sit 24 points clear at the final change.
Port’s inacurracy hurt the visitors who scored 3.9 in the final term to Essendon’s 5.3 which included two last-quarter goals from Bellchambers.
Bombers onballer Brent Stanton kicked two second-half goals despite an apparent leg injury in a courageous effort.
Port host Hawthorn at AAMI Stadium on July 13 and Essendon face Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium the following day.
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