ESSENDON'S slide from top four certainties to September spectators has continued following a 96-point belting from Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.
It was the Bombers' fifth straight loss and with an 11-9 record, they are now outside the top eight for the first time since round one. With Richmond and Collingwood remaining on their schedule, the one win they need to climb back into the top eight is looking increasingly unlikely.
"It was a hugely disappointing performance from us all," said Essendon coach James Hird. "We were competitive for the first 15 minutes and then we really fell away. It wasn't good at all."
Conversely, the Blues are also 11-9 and remain in the finals hunt after one of their most complete performances of the year. And if there was any justice in football, Saturday's sublime effort should end once and for all any talk about the future of Blues coach Brett Ratten.
With two wins over Collingwood and Richmond and this one against Essendon, Ratten has some big scalps to his name. And with winnable games to close out the season against Gold Coast and St Kilda, he could end the season with 13 wins, a fair return given the cruel run with injuries and some unfortunate suspensions he has had to endure this year.
Carlton's 24.12 (156) to 8.12 (60) win was fuelled by its best second term of the year, when, with a 7-0 edge in centre clearances and countless avenues to goal, the Blues rattled on 10.1 to extend a 15-point lead at the first change to 52 points at half-time.
It started after a quarter-time melee that involved just about every player on the ground and it came through complete dominance in the midfield. Bomber prime movers Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton were restricted to one possession each and David Zaharakis three, while the Blues pretty much did as they liked, with Andrew Carrazzo (Watson's opponent) getting nine disposals, while skipper Chris Judd and Marc Murphy each had seven.
That dominance was translated throughout the match. Judd, in his first match back following his four-match 'chicken wing' suspension, finished with 23 disposals, but it was Murphy with 37 possessions, Bryce Gibbs with 28, Kade Simpson with 26 and Brock Mclean with 26 who ran amok.
But equally important for the Blues was their aerial dominance in the forward line. Jarrad Waite was lively all day with five goals. The oft-injured forward has his detractors, but he straightens the Blues up. In just his fifth game, young forward Levi Casboult was a great foil for Waite with three goals, while Jeff Garlett, Simpson and McLean also kicked three. For McLean, who has been in super form for the Blues in the second half of the season, it was a personal best.
"I'm really pleased with the way the players played. We put some things in place - it wasn't much different than the way that we want to play - but I thought that was pretty much a four-quarter performance," Ratten said.
"I'm really pleased with the way the players have stepped up … I thought across the board that was as close to 22 contributors as you can get."
It didn't help the Bombers that defender Dustin Fletcher left the ground halfway through the first quarter with an adductor strain suffered when effecting a wonderful and trademark defensive spoil on Eddie Betts. In the third term, the Bombers then lost fellow key defender Jake Carlisle to what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
It meant that Essendon was playing short-sticked at both ends of the ground. Unlike their colleagues in defence, who were hobbled, the Bomber forwards just weren't effective. Patrick Ryder and Stewart Crameri each kicked two goals, while Michael Hurley - who didn't look anywhere near full fitness - added just one.
He looks just about shot for the season. Just like his team.
ESSENDON 2.5 6.6 7.8 8.12 (60)
CARLTON 5.3 15.4 20.9 24.12 (156)
GOALS
Essendon: Crameri 2, Ryder 2, Watson, Lonergan, Stanton, Hurley
Carlton: Waite 5, McLean 3, Simpson 3, Walker 3, Garlett 3, Casboult 3, Betts 2, Murphy 2
BEST
Essendon: Watson, Browne, Hooker
Carlton: Murphy, Gibbs, McLean, Waite, Simpson, Judd, Betts, Casboult
INJURIES
Essendon: Fletcher (hip flexor), Carlisle (ankle)
Carlton: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Leroy Jetta replaced Dustin Fletcher in the first quarter
Carlton: Tom Bell replaced Andrew Carrazzo in the final quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: McBurney, Farmer, Schmitt
Official crowd: 59,381 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
You can follow AFL Media senior write Ashley Browne on Twitter @afl_hashbrowne.
