Furious Essendon coach Mark Thompson has refused to accept their tumultuous last few days as an excuse for the agonising one-point AFL loss to Melbourne yesterday.
The Demons were superb on Sunday night at the MCG, storming back from 33 points down early in the third term to win 12.6 (78) to 10.17 (77).
The result was as soul-destroying for the crisis-plagued Bombers as it was an enormous boost for the developing Demons.
It followed news on Thursday that ASADA was issuing show cause notices to 34 current and past Essendon players over the club’s supplements scandal.
Essendon and banned coach James Hird then launched legal action on Friday against ASADA.
Early last week, Essendon captain Jobe Watson also had leg surgery that could end his season.
And veteran defender Dustin Fletcher was a late withdrawal from the match with back soreness.
Thompson had an unusually-long meeting with his players after the loss, keeping them behind closed doors for 45 minutes.
He was adamant the meeting was about the way they were playing, not the broader issue of the ASADA notices.
“Purely – I promise you, it wasn’t anything else,” Thompson said.
“We talk about it (Essendon’s supplements crisis) and then people can use it as an excuse, but it’s not an excuse in our eyes, my eyes.
“We’ve lived with this.
“It’s a bit worse than other weeks we’ve had recently, but we’ve been smashed for two years.
“It’s not as if they come out today and couldn’t play because of the week they’ve had – come on.
“We can’t accept that.”
Thompson said he would have felt the same way had they won by five points or lost by 10 points.
He said too many players were doing what they wanted and too many of their teammates were letting them get away from it.
Also on Sunday, the Western Bulldogs had their best win of the season when they staged a major upset and beat Collingwood by 20 points.
After several weeks of growing pressure, in particular plenty of discussion about their relevance in the AFL, the Bulldogs were outstanding at Etihad Stadium in the 16.10 (106) to 15.8 (98) win.
It was the Bulldogs’ fourth win of the season and stopped dead Collingwood’s growing momentum.
Geelong predictably tore St Kilda apart at Simonds Stadium, winning 20.13 (133) to 5.7 (37).
Brisbane legend Jonathan Brown also confessed that he will weigh up his playing future after suffering a third heavy head knock in 12 months.
Brown said he was leaning towards continuing, but will consult with his wife and club medical staff after being hurt in Saturday night’s 45-point loss to Greater Westen Sydney.
The three-time premiership player added the prospect of retirement did not frighten him.
West Coast beat Gold Coast at home by three points, while Lance Franklin starred with five goals as Sydney beat Port Adelaide by four points in a possible grand final preview.
Fremantle beat Richmond at the MCG by 20 points and Hawthorn opened round 13 on Friday night with a 28-point win over Carlton.
HAWTHORN 6.2 9.5 12.8 18.10 (118)
CARLTON 2.1 6.5 11.9 13.12 (90)
Goals: Hawthorn: C Rioli 3 J Roughead 3 J Ceglar 2 M Suckling 2 B Hill B Ross B Sewell D Hale I Smith L Breust L Shiels T O’Brien. Carlton: L Casboult 4 M Robinson 3 T Menzel 2 A Walker B Gibbs D Thomas J Waite.
Best: Hawthorn: B Sewell G Birchall L Hodge B Hill L Shiels I Smith. Carlton: M Murphy L Casboult A Carrazzo C Judd M Robinson.
Injuries: Hawthorn: Jack Gunston (quad) replaced in selected side by Tim O’Brien. Carlton: L Henderson (hamstring) replaced in selected side by M Watson, M Jamison (shoulder) replaced in selected side by N Graham.
Reports: Hawthorn: C Rioli for engaging in rough conduct against Z Tuohy in the third quarter. Carlton: Nil.
Umpires: Matt Stevic, Sam Hay, Dean Margetts.
Official Crowd: 49,615 at MCG.
FREMANTLE 3.1 7.5 13.8 16.9 (105)
RICHMOND 1.3 5.9 7.11 12.13 (85)
Goals: Fremantle: H Ballantyne 6 M Pavlich 3 M Barlow 2 D Mundy D Pearce L Spurr N Fyfe Z Clarke. Richmond: B Deledio 2 R Petterd 2 A Miles B Ellis C Newman D Martin I Maric J Batchelor J Riewoldt N Foley.
Best: Fremantle: H Ballantyne N Fyfe M Barlow D Mundy S Hill. Richmond: A Miles N Foley D Martin A Rance T Cotchin.
Injuries: Fremantle: A Silvagni (ribs). Richmond: J Riewoldt (jarred ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Robert Findlay, Chris Kamolins, Leigh Fisher.
Official Crowd: 22,074 at MCG.
SYDNEY 2.8 6.12 11.13 14.14 (98)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.2 6.5 9.10 13.16 (94)
Goals: Sydney: L Franklin 5 A Goodes 3 J McVeigh 2 D Hannebery J Kennedy K Jack L Jetta. Port Adelaide: J Schulz 4 A Monfries 3 C Wingard 2 M White 2 Brad Ebert J Westhoff.
Best: Sydney: K Jack J Kennedy L Franklin R Shaw J McVeigh C Bird. Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert M Lobbe J Schulz M Broadbent A Monfries M White R Gray.
Injuries: Sydney: D Hannebery (ankle) M Pyke (tactical) replaced in selected by G Rohan. Port Adelaide: H Hartlett (ankle).
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Ben Ryan, Simon Meredith, Scott Jeffery.
Official Crowd: 41,317 at SCG.
WEST COAST 4.3 9.7 14.10 15.13 (103)
GOLD COAST 3.3 6.4 9.5 15.10 (100)
Goals: West Coast: J Kennedy 7 J McGovern 3 J Cripps M Hutchings M LeCras S Lycett S Wellingham. Gold Coast: C Dixon 3 T Lynch 3 B Matera 2 M Rischitelli 2 A Hall D Prestia H Bennell J Harbrow J O’Meara.
Best: West Coast: J Kennedy N Naitanui M Priddis J McGovern S Hurn S Wellingham. Gold Coast: G Ablett D Prestia H Bennell B Matera C Dixon T Lynch.
Injuries: West Coast: E Yeo (broken hand) S Butler (broken finger) L Shuey (ankle) replaced in selected side by S Butler. Gold Coast: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Chris Donlon, Jeff Dalgleish, Matthew Leppard.
Official Crowd: 32,942 at Patersons Stadium.
ADELAIDE 4.4 8.7 13.10 16.13 (109)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.2 4.3 6.7 10.13 (73)
Goals: Adelaide: S Kerridge 4 E Betts 3 J Jenkins 2 J Podsiadly 2 T Walker 2 B Smith D Mackay M Wright. North Melbourne: L Thomas 4 B Harvey 2 D Petrie L Greenwood L Hansen R Bastinac.
Best: Adelaide: B Smith R Sloane E Betts S Thompson J Podsiadly S Jacobs S Kerridge. North Melbourne: B Harvey N Dal Santo L Thomas L Greenwood S Atley B Cunnington.
Injuries: Nil.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Brett Rosebury, Jordan Bannister, Craig Fleer.
Official Crowd: 47,205 at Adelaide Oval.
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.3 9.4 15.6 19.11 (125)
BRISBANE LIONS 4.2 9.3 12.3 12.8 (80)
Goals: Greater Western Sydney: J Cameron 4 J Patton 3 A Tomlinson 2 A Treloar 2 D Shiel 2 J Hunt L Whitfield N Wilson R Palmer T Scully W Hoskin-Elliott. Brisbane Lions: D Zorko 3 L Taylor 3 J Brown 2 M Close 2 D Gardiner J Green.
Best: Greater Western Sydney: S Mumford L Whitfield D Shiel T Scully A Treloar. Brisbane Lions: L Taylor J Redden P Hanley M Paparone T Rockliff.
Injuries: Greater Western Sydney: A Corr (shoulder) and A Kennedy (shoulder) replaced in selected side by T Bugg and N Wilson. Brisbane Lions: J Brown (concussion) D Merrett (illness) replaced in selected side by M Close.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Mathew Nicholls, David Harris, Andrew Stephens.
Official Crowd: 12,700 at Gabba.
GEELONG 6.4 12.7 16.11 20.13 (133)
ST KILDA 1.2 2.3 2.5 5.7 (37)
Goals: Geelong: J Selwood 3 J Walker 3 M Duncan 3 T Hawkins 3 J Murdoch 2 A Mackie D Lang J Bartel J Stringer M Stokes S Motlop. St Kilda: C Shenton D Armitage J Billings M Weller N Riewoldt.
Best: Geelong: M Stokes S Motlop T Hawkins J Bartel M Duncan D Simpson M Blicavs. St Kilda: S Ross L Hayes F Ray.
Injuries: Geelong: G Horlin-Smith (sore back) S Johnson (back) replaced in selected side by J Stringer, J Rivers (sore knee) replaced in selected side by T Varcoe. St Kilda: T Milera (ill) replaced in selected side by C Jones.
Reports: Geelong: D Simpson (Geelong) reported for striking J Webster (St Kilda) in the third quarter. St Kilda: M Weller (St Kilda) reported for rough conduct against M Blicavs (geelong) in the third quarter.
Umpires: Jason Armstrong, Luke Farmer, Tristan Burgess.
Official Crowd: 25,180 at Simonds Stadium.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.2 9.5 13.6 16.10 (106)
COLLINGWOOD 3.2 9.4 12.6 15.8 (98)
Goals: Western Bulldogs: L Jones 4 K Stevens 3 J Tutt 2 R Griffen 2 D Giansiracusa J Grant M Bontempelli M Wallis S Crameri. Collingwood: T Cloke 6 J Elliott 4 D Swan J Thomas L Ball S Pendlebury T Adams.
Best: Western Bulldogs: T Liberatore R Griffen J Macrae L Dahlhaus L Jones W Minson J Roughead K Stevens. Collingwood: S Pendlebury T Cloke S Dwyer T Adams P Seedsman J Elliott.
Injuries: Western Bulldogs: A Cooney (hamstring) R Griffen (corked calf) T Williams replaced in selected side by M Austin. Collingwood: J Frost (knee) D Beams (calf) replaced in selected side by T Broomhead.
Reports: Western Bulldogs: Nil. Collingwood: M Williams (Collingwood) reported for striking in first quarter.
Umpires: Ray Chamberlain, Shane McInerney, Andrew Mitchell.
Official Crowd: 28,339 at Etihad Stadium.
MELBOURNE 0.3 3.3 7.6 12.6 (78)
ESSENDON 2.4 5.12 8.12 10.17 (77)
Goals: Melbourne: C Pedersen 2 D Kent 2 J Frawley 2 J Watts 2 B Vince C Salem J Grimes N Jones. Essendon: D Zaharakis 4 B Goddard J Daniher P Ambrose P Chapman P Ryder Z Merrett.
Best: Melbourne: L Dunn N Jones C Pedersen D Kent J Howe D Tyson C Dawes J McKenzie. Essendon: D Zaharakis B Goddard D Heppell J Carlisle M Hibberd.
Injuries: Melbourne: Nil. Essendon: D Fletcher (back soreness) replaced in selected side by E Kavanagh.
Reports: Nil.
Umpires: Justin Schmitt, Troy Pannell, Brendan Hosking.
Official Crowd: 44,622 at MCG.
LADDER AFTER ROUND 13
P W L D For Agst PC Pts
Port Adelaide 12 10 2 – 1317 917 143.6 40
Hawthorn 12 9 3 – 1403 956 146.8 36
Sydney 12 9 3 – 1178 865 136.2 36
Geelong 12 9 3 – 1113 1001 111.2 36
Fremantle 12 8 4 – 1060 846 125.3 32
Collingwood 12 8 4 – 1064 897 118.6 32
North Melbourne 12 7 5 – 1027 955 107.5 28
Gold Coast 12 7 5 – 1124 1096 102.6 28
Essendon 12 6 6 – 972 918 105.9 24
Adelaide 12 6 6 – 1077 1031 104.5 24
West Coast 12 5 7 – 1086 990 109.7 20
Carlton 12 4 8 – 1034 1189 87.0 16
Western Bulldogs 12 4 8 – 989 1166 84.8 16
Melbourne 12 4 8 – 750 956 78.4 16
Richmond 12 3 9 – 1026 1102 93.1 12
GW Sydney 12 3 9 – 1008 1319 76.4 12
Brisbane Lions 12 3 9 – 823 1306 63.0 12
St Kilda 12 3 9 – 767 1308 58.6 12
LEADING GOALKICKERS
35: T Hawkins (Geelong) 3, J Schulz (Pt Adel) 4, J Riewoldt (Richmond) 1
33: J Roughead (Hawthorn) 3
32: N Riewoldt (St Kilda) 1, J Kennedy (West Coast) 7
31: L Franklin (Sydney) 5, L Breust (Hawthorn) 1
29: J Gunston (Hawthorn) 0
28: J Elliott (Coll) 4
