ESSENDON 17.13 (115) def GOLD COAST 11.6 (72)
ESSENDON’S impressive 43-point win over the Gold Coast on Saturday night may have come at a cost with a wrist injury to key forward Michael Hurley.
Bombers coach James Hird remained confident that Hurley would be fit to tackle West Coast after the bye.
“He’s had an old scaphoid injury on that hand going back a long time,” Hird said.
“He got hit on that injury. The doctor’s pretty confident he’ll get up in 10 days to play against West Coast [on June 27].
“He has wrists that have been operated on previously, so when they get a knock on them they get pretty sore but Bruce [Reid] is pretty confident he’ll be right in 10 days’ time,” Hird said.
The other main talking point to come out the match was the form of youngster Joe Daniher, who continues to impress in just his second game of AFL.
Those in the football world now are thinking Daniher may play a huge part in the Bombers run to the finals, maybe at the expense of Scott Gumbleton or Tom Bellchambers.
“It was good – the first half, he kicked those three goals, took a few marks,” Hird said.
“Joey just has to get the AFL tempo and consistency for a whole game and that will come but I think Essendon supporters got a glimpse of the future right there, in that half.
“As a coach it’s very exciting to see a young kid come in who can mark the ball like that – no double grabs.
“We have a huge game against West Coast in 10 days’ time over at Subiaco and he’s well and truly in the mix for that game.”
Hird said he knew that the Bombers had a fight on their hands coming into the match given the Suns competitive form.
“There were periods in the game we didn’t like and there were probably periods in the game that they didn’t like, in the way both sides played,” he said.
“But considering their form against some really good opposition … over the last four weeks, we knew it was a tough game and we prepared accordingly.
“Probably in the past you’ve come in to play the Suns and you’ve rested players … there was no doubt, this was not that sort of game.
“We knew we’d be tested … our boys had to get out and play some good football.”
Suns coach Guy McKenna lamented his teams’ skill level and use inside the attacking half.
“I don’t think we played our best brand of football if you like. I thought our use going inside forward 50, [we] probably went for the ‘needle in the haystack’ kick too many times,” McKenna said.
“Essendon are a very good counter-attack team and they clearly hurt us in that area so [we need] just a bit more composure.”
Here are the game highlights:
ESSENDON 4.3 9.3 13.7 17.13 (115)
GOLD COAST 1.2 5.5 7.5 11.6 (72)
GOALS
Essendon: Daniher 3, Crameri 3, Hurley 2, Ryder 2, Davey, Myers, Howlett, Kommer, Goddard, Stanton, Hibberd
Gold Coast: Rischitelli 2, Brown 2, Nicholls 2, Harbrow, Ablett, Prestia, Hutchins, Day
BEST
Essendon: Goddard, Ryder, Watson, Hibberd, Crameri, Pears, Daniher
Gold Coast: Ablett, O’Meara, Harbrow, Thompson, Brown, Sumner
INJURIES
Essendon: Hurley (wrist)
Gold Coast: Lynch (knee), Rischitelli (arm), Wilkinson (foot)
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Alwyn Davey substituted out for Jackson Merrett in the third quarter
Gold Coast: Tom Lynch (knee) substituted out for Jack Hutchins in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Schmitt, Mollison
Official crowd: 31,452 at Etihad Stadium