Umpires: Vozzo, McBurney, Meredith

Goalkickers: Whitnall 4, Betts, Deluca 3, Fevola 2, Davies, Koutoufides, Camporeale, Lappin

Reports: Nil

Injuries: Nil

Game Review

Now this was a fun day. After being behind by as much as 7 goals throughout the game, a 7 goal onslaught in the last quarter by the Blues snatched the game from the Bombers to provide some early season joy. Later on in the year, the Bombers would beat us in a meaningless Round 21, but this win felt like the beginning of the end of Essendon's 2005 campaign.

The Blues started strongly to lead in the opening quarter but the Bombers controlled the middle quarters to take a 28 point lead into the third break. But the forward line would come alive in the last, after Adrian Deluca and Eddie Betts were our mainstays to that point. Brendan Fevola would kick his first major in the opening minute of the final term, to be followed by Lance Whitnall. At the time, "Master Coach" Sheedy had "Master Player" James Hird on Whitnall but when Hird had a mastercramp, he had to go off. Whitnall would follow up with another goal, this time from a pack mark in the goal square, and we were within 10. Fevola and Betts would kick two more, to give us the lead, before a controversial umpiring call - Scott Lucas had marked for the Bombers inside 50 and ran on a few steps. "PLAY ON!" was the correct call, and the Bombers were denied a certain goal. In the end, those horribly accurate Bombers who couldn't miss all night were down as the siren sounded.

Whitnall would take the votes with 4 goals, but it was Deluca and Betts who would kick the unexpected goals (3 each) and keep us in the game in those middle quarters. Nick Stevens had 26 touches and combined well with Barnaby French (who had 28 hitouts in his 100th game) in the middle.

This game is remembered fondly by Carlton fans, and is considered one of our best wins in the Home & Away rounds of the 2000's.

Team

Youtube

Highlights of the Last Quarter

Milestones

100 Games (AFL): Barnaby French
200th Goal: Brendan Fevola

Brownlow Votes

3: Lance Whitnall (Carl)
2: Scott Lucas (Ess)
1: Mark Johnson (Ess)

Best & Fairest Votes

Lance Whitnall (39), Barnaby French (38), Scott Camporeale (36), Nick Stevens (34), Anthony Koutoufides, Heath Scotland (31), Eddie Betts (29), Andrew Carrazzo (23), David Teague (21), Adrian Deluca (14), Cory McGrath (9), Karl Norman (5), Brendan Fevola (4)