Game Review

At last! Such was the cry from Blues supporters afterwards, as their team finally hit form and upset third-placed Essendon in a fiery clash at Windy Hill. Brilliantly coached by Alex Jesaulenko in Craig Bradley’s 100th game, the Navy Blues staged a dominant second quarter with the wind to set up victory. Stephen Silvagni at centre half-back was impassable, while David Rhys-Jones excelled in both defence and attack and kicked five goals. Meanwhile, Tom Alvin and Paul Meldrum both suffered facial injuries amid a number of off-the-ball incidents that went unnoticed by the umpires.

In a weekend of upsets, four of the bottom five clubs on the ladder beat their more fancied opponents, to compress an already even top five. In the match of the day, Melbourne regained top of the table status by beating West Coast at the MCG, and Hawthorn knocked over Collingwood at Waverley, leaving the front-runners as Melbourne, Hawthorn, West Coast, Essendon and St Kilda.

The Blues were now ninth - one win, but lots of percentage behind the fifth-placed Saints.

Fortunately this would be the last time that the Blues would have to play at Windy Hill for premiership points.

Team

Milestones

100 Games: Craig Bradley

Brownlow Votes

3: Stephen Silvagni
2: Craig Bradley
1: Paul Salmon (Essendon)