Jordan Ridley’s excellent AFL return and Jake Stringer’s barnstorming milestone recreation helped paper over Essendon midfield cracks of their win over Richmond.
The Bombers went into Saturday night time’s annual Dreamtime At The ‘G blockbuster as red-hot favourites, however had been pushed all the way in which by the resurgent Tigers earlier than successful by 12 factors.
For the second week in a row, the Bombers misplaced the clearances and coach Brad Scott admitted it pressured them to swing modifications throughout the match.
With a harmful journey to the Gold Coast after which a large recreation towards arch-rivals Carlton to return, second-placed Essendon have work to do.
Apart from captain Zach Merrett, who was excellent, and Sam Durham, Essendon’s midfield failed to fireside towards Richmond.
“Essentially the most pleasing factor in regards to the final couple of weeks is our centre bounce work hasn’t been nice, and so we have been on the again foot in that a part of the sport, however we had been nonetheless capable of resurrect it and get the sport again on our phrases,” Scott stated
“I maintain speaking about sustainable footy and having that kind of deficit shouldn’t be sustainable.”
Whereas Essendon struggled to interrupt even within the center, Ridley and Stringer had been excellent at both finish of the bottom.
Ridley was finest afield in his first AFL recreation since spherical 19 final season.
The defender has been sidelined with leg issues and Scott held him again an additional couple of weeks to ensure Ridley’s physique was proper.
Scott stated he by no means would have forgiven himself if he’d introduced again Ridley too early and he was damage once more, so that they erred on the aspect of warning.
Apart from an early turnover, Ridley seemed like he’d been taking part in all season.
“There are only a few guys who can have an extended layoff and simply appear to be they have not missed a beat,” Scott stated.
“He is a kind of.”
Saturday night time was important for Essendon’s defence as a result of it was the primary time Ridley and recruit Ben McKay had performed collectively, exterior a pre-season recreation.
Having McKay as their important key backman clearly frees up Ridley, who was a giant downside for the Tigers all night time.
In his two hundredth recreation, Stringer gave Essendon a scorching begin with three first-quarter objectives and he completed with a game-high haul of 4.
Alongside him, final 12 months’s No.10 draft decide Nate Caddy made his senior debut.
Whereas Caddy solely kicked two behinds, he confirmed some encouraging indicators.
“I simply thought he seemed like an AFL participant,” Scott stated.
Nik Cox’s dangerous damage run continued when he grabbed at his left hamstring within the first quarter and needed to be subbed out of the sport.
