Pies disarm Bombers

It has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions for the AFL this week. Jim Steyns announced that he was battling cancer, Kevin Sheedy gave the biggest hint yet that he will return to coaching in 2010 with the Tigers, and clubs are realising that the season is fast approaching the business end.

By way of keeping the rollercoaster week rolling, the Pies were quitely confident of keeping their match winning run going, whilst the Bombers were hoping that their last minute Anzac day victory was no fluke. The Pies, however, put on a footballing masterclass to show that their recent run of victories, albeit against unlikely finals contenders, has no sign of stopping.

The Bombers on the other hand, whilst starting lively, trailed out to a whimper after the half time hooter. Nevertheless, it was fantastic football. What a game! Anyone who missed this game should search for a replay! Even Essendon fans should be heartened by their teams performance (at least the first half). But AFL fans in general should look for the highlight real of goals, grabs and tackles.

Some of the tackling was NRL-like, some of the running would have made Craig Mottram tired just from watching, and the athelticsim would have made basketballers think, 'hey, maybe I can learn something from these footy players' (instead of the other way around).

It was a freezing cold and damp night in Melbourne but the footy was played at such a pace that you would have thought it was a summers day. At times the pace of the play made Usain Bolt look pedestrian. Even more astounding were the skills the players showed, particularly Didak, Fraser, Cloke and Davis, who seemed to defy the moisture in the air and on the ground by picking up possessions and goals like they were hundreds and thousands at a kids party.

Some of the notable events of the game would have to be the following:

• Lovett-Murray's banana bender goal early in the first quarter (very Daniel Motlop-esque);
• Dale Thomas' goal from a fumbling Fletcher would have made any Socceroo proud (as would Clokes' left foot strike into the bottom right 'corner' of the goal);
• the horrible kicking for goal by both sides (take a bow Fraser, O'Brien and Essendon in general); and
• Didak's juggling diving grab.

All in all a good day at the office for the Pies, but one which the Bombers will like to forget. Definitely worth a replay for avid AFL fans and good preparation for Sunday's blockbuster.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25730469-5018851,00.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfmatchreport/pies-return-fire-to-ease-ache/2009/07/03/1246127694902.html