| Venue: Windy Hill | Date: Saturday May 15, 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Win by 3 points | Umpire: H.Beitzel | Crowd: 25,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: N.O'Brien 3, K.Hands 2, J.James 1, J.Mills 1, B.Milroy 1, J.Spencer 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: A.Boyle (sprained ankle) replaced by D.Zeunert last quarter | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
The Blues' first win for the season.
Essendon had the wind advantage in the first term, but good work through the agency of Ken Hands got the ball to Noel O'Brien and his kick bought up the first behind. The home side then adopted the long kicking game and kicked three unanswered goals and this was followed by a string of behinds. The Blues swapped George Ferry with Alex Boyle to strengthen the back line. Then late in time-on Essendon scored their fourth goal. 0.2 - 4.6
Noel O'Brien missed a "sitter" right in front. Bill Milroy was freed 50 yards out on the boundary and he put it through for the Blues' first. John James, Ken Hands and Noel O'Brien all goaled and the Blues led by 15 points at half time. 6.10 - 4.7
The Blues quickly broke clear of the centre and Jack Mills bought up the first goal to be kicked against the wind. The Dons attacked repeatedly but only one goal resulted from five shots. Max Wenn was starring across the centre for the Blues. John Brown, Bruce Comben, and George Ferry turned many Essendon attacking moves. However, the Dons scored another goal to reduce Carlton's lead to five points. 7.13 - 6.14
Essendon were desperate but the defence held them out. Noel O'Brien) goaled then ((Denis Zeunert who had replaced Alex Boyle, dashed down the ground which resulted in a snapped goal by Noel O'Brien to give the Blues some breathing space to lead by 12 points. The home side scored a couple of goals and the excitement was fever pitch as Essendon attacked three times in the dying minutes, one last shot was touched on the line as the siren sounded with the Blues clinging on to win by just 3 points. 9.15 - 8.18
Team
| B: | 15 Bruce Comben | 6 Alex Boyle | 37 Bernie Moran |
| HB: | 16 John Brown | 25 George Ferry | 30 George Stafford |
| C: | 28 Graham Gilchrist | 12 Tony Walsh | 27 Kevin Hunt |
| HF: | 10 John James | 18 Max Wenn | 23 John Chick |
| F: | 22 Kevin O'Brien | 26 Noel O'Brien | 32 Jack Spencer |
| Ruck: | 2 Bill Milroy | Ken Hands (c) | 9 Jack Mills |
| Res: | 19 Denis Zeunert | 35 Graham Kerr | |
| Coach: | Percy Bentley | ||
Round 4 | Round 6