Demons, Roos, face disciplinary action after heated scuffles
Nathan Jones of the Demons wrestles with North's Jack Ziebell. Photo: Getty
Several players face nervous waits for Monday’s match review panel findings after a spiteful clash between North Melbourne and Melbourne at the MCG.
North Melbourne’s 14-point win marked its 16th consecutive victory over the Demons, who went into the match as favourites.
Ben Brown starred for the Kangaroos with five goals on Sunday in the 15.14 (104) to 13.12 (90) win.
Roos midfielder Ben Cunnington overcame an early injury to play a crucial role, but he is certain to be reported to the match review panel (MRP) after he punched Bernie Vince to the midriff, temporarily forcing the Demons player to leave the ground.
The incident was one of a string of acrimonious first-half incidents.
It was a hot contest at the MCG during the second quarter. #AFLDeesNorth pic.twitter.com/65J2TfMPS9
— AFL (@AFL) May 21, 2017
Vince and North pair Shaun Higgins and Marley Williams are others certain to come under MRP scrutiny.
After starting the season with five losses, the Roos have now won three of their last four matches.
By contrast, the Demons dropped another game where they started favourites.
Bombers shock Eagles with 61-point drubbing
Essendon’s best football of the year and what opposing coach Adam Simpson acknowledged was a “terrible” response from West Coast have lifted the Bombers to an impressive 61-point win at Etihad Stadium.
With spearhead Joe Daniher and key defender Michael Hurley again in supreme form, the Bombers had Sunday’s match well in their keeping by halftime, before they eased off after the long break to win 19.11 (125) to 8.16 (64).
Daniher’s five-goal haul will steal many of the headlines, but coach John Worsfold was just as happy with the suffocating forward pressure applied by the Bombers as they kicked eight straight majors either side of the quarter-time break.
The win sees the Bombers improve to 5-4 ahead of another huge challenge against Richmond next weekend in the annual Dreamtime clash at the MCG.
West Coast return home to square off against premiership favourites GWS at Domain Stadium, where Simpson will be demanding an immediate response following his team’s third – and heaviest – loss of the year.
“It was terrible,” he said.
“You give a fair bit of credit to Essendon and their mindset and their attitude, but we were well off in all areas.”
Eleni Glouftsis was encouraged by the players during her first match as an AFL field umpire. Photo: Getty
Eagles spearhead Josh Kennedy toiled hard and was rewarded with four of the Eagles’ meagre total of eight goals.
Former Hawthorn skipper, Sam Mitchell, was booed repeatedly by the Bombers’ home crowd, who hadn’t forgotten him mimicking an injection during a Bombers, Hawks clash two years ago at the height of the Essendon supplements scandal.
The Bombers-Eagles match was officiated by Eleni Glouftsis, who made history on Sunday, becoming the first female field umpire to oversee an AFL match.
The 25-year-old, who has 33 VFL matches to her name, told reporters after the match that players from both teams were “overwhelmingly supportive” of her debut.
She received a rousing cheer from the crowd at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium when she took to the field.
Other results from Round 9:
Geelong Cats 16.8 (104) def. Western Bulldogs 12.9 (81)
Sydney Swans 18.10 (118) def. St Kilda Saints 10.8 (68)
GWS Giants 11.12 (78) def. Richmond Tigers 10.15 (75)
Adelaide Crows 21.14 (140) def. Brisbane Lions 7.18 (60)
Collingwood Magpies 13.12 (90) def. Hawthorn Hawks 11.6 (72)
Essendon Bombers 19.11 (125) def. West Coast Eagles 8.16 (64)
North Melbourne Kangaroos 15.14 (104) def. Melbourne Demons 13.12 (90)
Fremantle Dockers 13.8 (86) def. Carlton Blues 7.9 (51)
Ladder
Source: AFL.com.au
– with Roger Vaughan, John Salvado, AAP