| Venue: Princes Park | Date: Saturday August 11, 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Loss by 12 points | Umpires: R. Sawers, I. Robinson | Crowd: 26,863 Receipts: $71,061 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: K.Hunter 3, P.Maylin 2, P.McConville 2, J.Madden 2, J.Buckley, R.Ashman, M.Maclure 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: D.English, B.Doull, M.Maclure, P.Maylin, R.Ashman, W.Harmes, J.Buckley, P.McConville. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: David Glascott (striking Mark Harvey) - Not Guilty; Peter McConville (unduly rough play against Billy Duckworth) - Not Guilty. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: K.Hunter (cut head), A.Marcou (shoulder) & J.Madden (bruised back). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Very much a reprise of the previous week, this game was played out in strikingly similar circumstances.The table-topping Bombers bounced out to lead at half time, and Carlton came charging back into contention in the third quarter. For the second week running however, we couldn't maintain the intensity for long enough and were over-run in the dying stages. In a sometimes spiteful game, David "Twirler" Glascott and Peter McConville were reported, but later found not guilty of offences against Mark Harvey and Billy Duckworth respectively.
Harvey was also found not guilty of striking 'Twirler' twice, but his Bomber team-mate "Daisy" Williams wasn't so fortunate. Williams copped two weeks for striking Glascott in an eventful day for the man in Carlton jumper 32... Ken Hunter was yet again, the target for typical Essendon thuggery as they tried to pulverise him out of the game. Hunter, at the end of the game looked Frankenstein due to the stichwork he received across his forehead.
This could have been an even more costly loss for the Blues, but on the same Saturday afternoon across town at Waverley, Fitzroy did us a huge favour by knocking over Collingwood. Eleventh-placed North Melbourne also shocked by beating Hawthorn at Arden St., and when the dust settled after a sensational weekend, the top five was Essendon, Hawthorn, Carlton, Collingwood and Geelong. Footscray were next, outside the five on percentage.
At Princes Park, Bruce Doull demonstrated that his ability has not faded with age. The cool Blue backman shut Essendon's Terry Daniher out of the game with his reliable clearing tactics and was rewarded with a best on ground. - Inside Football Player of the Year.
Bombers stand fast against Blues blitz
No doubt about it, Saturday's match against Carlton was one of the toughest contests faced by Essendon this season. It was a fierce game, with every ball keenly contested and several bone-shaking clashes. As a coach, it was the sort of game I was very happy for us to win. When a side like Carlton, which has plenty of ability, comes out and issues such a strong challenge, you watch closely to see how your players respond. That the Bombers quickly erased a three-goal deficit early in the last quarter and went on to win was particularily pleasing. - Kevin Sheedy Inside Football.
''Super-Cool Bruce Doull
Some players have made the 300 game mark in VFL football, but have been forced to retire soon after, the body not quite able to keep going at such a demanding level. But Bruce Doull defies Father Time and remains one of the most consistent players around. Yes, the headband may be scragier, the beard greyer and the hair thinner every season, but don't ever underestimate the Carlton champion. On Saturday he made things extremely difficult for Terry Daniher. It was a typical Doull effort. He punched the ball clear of the packs, delivered the ball with normal precision and was not at all lacking for pace. There's no doubting his fantastic contribution to the Blues in a career that is up to about 330 senior games. He makes the right decision at the right time, backs his judgement, then achieves what he sets out to do with the minimum of fuss. It doesn't matter what club you support, a player of Doull's ability and impeccable record delights all football supporters. - Kevin Sheedy Inside Football.''
The Carlton backline and centerline are very solid but there is a problem up forward where Madden and Maclure are just holding them together. I believe the Blues need Ralph at full forward. If they deliver the ball to him and he leads hard and fast, he can kick goals. Hunter is a dangerous player anywhere. He can play on the half forward line the way sides line up these days. The centreline is solid with Buckley in the key position and the backline is one of the best in the business. Reid at centre half back worries me. Maybe Perovic should be there. The return of Johnston, Austin, Perovic and Southby will strengthen the side. - Ray Shaw Inside Football.
There's more to those torrid Essendon-Carlton clashes than meets the eyes. A lot of psychology is now involved in matches between these two top teams. The Bombers have established a clear advantage over Carlton in the past few years. They won't surrender that advantage easily. Carlton has tried just about everything possible in a bid to break the Bomber hoodoo. So far, however, the Bombers have all the answers to Carlton's challenge. Football fans are eagerly awaiting another Essendon-Carlton battle in the finals. It would be a terrific contest and one that would attract plenty of interest. The fans would be keen to see if Carlton could finally turn the tables on Essendon. It's got all the suspense of a Alfred Hitchcock thriller. - Barry Cable Inside Football.
Gamemanship plays a part in a finals series, but it was amusing to read the accusations and counter-accusations of Carlton's David Parkin and Essendon's Kevin Sheedy following the spiteful clash at Princes Park. No matter which player - or team - started those early brawls, the testing period leading up to the finals already has begun. - Peter Hogan Inside Football.
Outright leader Essendon did not have things all its own way at Princes Park against Carlton in the match of the day. In fact the Blues turned on a great third quarter when they streaked away from the Bombers and kicked 6.5 to 1.2 for the term and led by 19 points. But Essendon with Simon Madden winning the ruck duels, finished too strongly for the Blues to win a top game by 12 points. Despite conceding a three goal lead to Carlton at three quarter time, the Dons charged home. For the second week, Carlton faded in the final quarter to a premiership prospect, and all this at Princes Park which is of great concern to the Blues coaching staff. - Football Record.
Team
| B: | 27 Des English | 11 Bruce Doull | 18 Allan Montgomery |
| HB: | 33 Peter McConville | 17 Bruce Reid | 9 Ken Hunter (acting capt.) |
| C: | 32 David Glascott | 16 Jim Buckley | 13 Phil Maylin |
| HF: | 23 Paul Meldrum | 36 Mark Maclure | 8 Wayne Blackwell |
| F: | 44 Justin Madden | 35 Peter Dean | 34 Alex Marcou |
| Ruck: | 2 Warren 'Wow' Jones | 28 Spiro Kourkoumelis | 14 Rod Ashman |
| Interchange: | 37 Wayne Harmes | 12 Scott Howell | |
| Coach: | David Parkin | ||
Video
Milestones
100 VFL Games: Bruce ReidRound 18 | Round 20