Blog log from R18 of 2024: Melbourne vs Essendon

Moniz-Wakefield handballs it to Fritsch who spins on the spot and snaps a high ball through the big sticks for the opening goal! (Q1 1:58)
Fritsch tries an inverted snap from the pocket which is tapped over the line by Jones under Langdon pressure (Q1 5:58)
Pickett makes the mistake of blasting over the mark 70m out from goal which sees Langford walk inside 50 unopposed. He pops the set shot through to open the account for Essendon! (Q1 7:42)
Merrett slices a kick in-board to Durham who marks 45m out. He gives it a fair roost from outside 50, and the ball just sneaks over the line! (Q1 11:13)
Rivers jabs a toepoke out of congestion which rolls through for a point (Q1 14:27)
Martin raises his eyes at half forward and sees two free Essendon players out the back, he kicks to Caddy who marks in the pocket. Caddy misses his snap (Q1 15:58)
An intercept by Duursma is sent back with interest to Stringer who marks on his chest 40m out. He kicks off a slight angle and pushes the ball right for a point (Q1 16:27)
Stringer squares a kick up for Duursma who has worked hard down a wing into space. He slots it from 30m out on a slight angle! (Q1 18:28)
Windsor curls a snap towards goal but Heppell gets back to spoil it through (Q2 10:23)
Caddy finds Langford out the back, he can’t take the mark but feeds it back to Jones who stops and props, snapping it into the post (Q2 13:58)
Essendon rush the ball forward scrappily, but it pays off in the hands of Martin who has the composure to stop and backtrack into a classy finish! (Q2 18:48)
Heppell sits on Melksham in a contest down in the pocket and gives away the free kick. Melksham screws through the snap! (Q2 21:07)
Merrett gets a kick away under immense pressure that rolls across the face of gal for a behind (Q2 23:03)
Perkins is able to get a run and jump at a Stringer inside 50 and marks 35m out on a slight angle. He stabs the kick left for a point. (Q3 3:58)
A contest at half forward favours Pickett who has two players free inside 50., He kicks to Melksham who then handballs on to Langdon for a punishing goal! (Q3 10:45)
Martin is on the end of a handball chain and he spies Jones working down in space. Jones marks 25m out from goal and he sends it through the big sticks in reply! (Q3 12:53)
Melbourne get a spare man out the back again this time it’s Turner who gets yardage on McKay. Melksham sends the ball his way and he marks before running into goal! (Q3 19:57)
Cox blasts a set shot wide to the right for a point from near 50m out (Q3 23:24)
Martin is caught high by May following a scrappy contest. He lines up from 15m out and opens the final quarter with a goal! (Q4 1:40)
Melksham responds as he dumps the ball towards and empty goalsquare, it skids on through and on target! (Q4 4:13)
Windsor kicks inbound to Pickett who leaps up to take a chest mark. He slots his second goal from 40m out and the lead gets to a dangerous point now! (Q4 9:14)
Turner leads up to mark a short Viney pass and he marks 45m out dead in front. Turner kicks long and strong and Disco has 3 goals! (Q4 11:11)
Martin turns the ball over badly in the middle of the ground and Rivers is able to find Fritsch waiting in the pocket. He jogs in and curls through a snap (Q4 13:51)
Melbourne walk it out of the middle and it’s Fritsch again who marks in the pocket. He snaps through another and this game is well and truly over now. (Q4 15:57)
Langdon gives away a silly front-on free kick in the back pocket and Martin slots his third goal as a result. (Q4 19:30)
Langford jags a quick goal as the Bombers look to salvage some percentage, funnily enough. (Q4 21:11)
The game is opening up here and Essendon surge inside 50 down to Duursma who takes a strong mark 15m out from goal. He kicks his second. (Q4 22:40)
Stringer snaps a ball into the behind post (Q4 25:07)
A throw sees Merrett with a free kick who then quickly centres it to Martin. Martin kicks from 35m out in front of goal and he kicks his fourth goal! (Q4 26:30)