ESSENDON remains right in the thick of the AFL finals race after overcoming a lacklustre start to beat North Melbourne by 18 points.
The Bombers were sluggish out of the blocks early, then were plagued by poor goalkicking before turning the game in their favour in the third term and holding the Kangaroos at bay to prevail 13.14 (92) to 11.8 (74) at Metricon Stadium.
Jake Stringer booted four second-half goals to steer the Bombers to victory while big man Peter Wright (three goals, 20 disposals) and midfield duo Zach Merrett (39 disposals and nine clearances) and Darcy Parish (34 touches, eight clearances) were excellent throughout.
The Kangaroos were without gun inside midfielder Ben Cunnington but North’s boom youngster Tarryn Thomas was everywhere in the first half, racking up 15 touches and a goal across the opening two quarters before finishing with 23 disposals.
Jy Simpkin (23 touches, seven clearances) and Luke Davies-Uniacke (21 touches, six clearances) were industrious around the stoppages throughout while Aaron Hall was busy off half-back.
North Melbourne burst out of the blocks, booting the game’s first two goals in quick succession and impressing with their run and dare to take an early lead.
Essendon lifted their intensity after quarter-time but was left to rue poor goal kicking in the second quarter and trailed by 10 at the main break.
The Bombers seized control through the contest in the third quarter but largely peppered the goals without reward until Devon Smith put them in front with a classy snap.
Tristan Xerri briefly regained the lead for the Kangaroos before Wright’s third goal kick-started a run of three consecutive majors to hand the Bombers control.
Curtis Taylor sparked the Kangaroos with two final-quarter goals but Stringer, who was arguably the difference in the second half, and Cale Hooker struck late to wrap up the four points.
The Kangaroos lost youngster Jack Mahony to a shoulder injury, with Atu Bosenavulagi replacing the teenager.
(C) AAP 2021
ESSENDON 3.0 4.6 8.10 13.14 (92)
NORTH MELBOURNE 4.4 6.4 7.8 11.8 (74)
Goals: Essendon: J Stringer 4 P Wright 3 A Perkins B Ham C Hooker D Heppell D Smith M Guelfi. North Melbourne: N Larkey 3 C Taylor 2 B Scott C Lazzaro C Zurhaar J Mahony T Thomas T Xerri.
Umpires: Nick Brown, Nathan Toner, John Howorth.
Official Crowd: 5,114 at Metricon Stadium.
