The week from hell for Essendon coach Mark Thompson ended with a memorable three-point victory over West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
The Bombers stormed home with seven of the game’s final eight goals after they trailed by 34 points in the third quarter to win 11.11 (77) to 11.8 (74), entrenching themselves in the top eight and likely putting paid to the Eagles’ slim finals hopes.
“I feel like I’ve played two games of footy,” a visibly exhausted Thompson said.
It was the club’s first hitout since the Federal Court heard their legal challenge against ASADA’s joint investigation with the AFL.
“It was a stressful week – not so much the court case,” Thompson said.
“At one stage this week, we had no players. We had four or five guys go down at training on Wednesday.
“It was one of those days where you think ‘why did we even come out?’.”
Jake Carlisle missed the game due to back spasms but Thompson said there were “a few more that played today that were in doubt”.
Dyson Heppell, arguably best on ground after he lifted his side with 28 disposals in the second half, and Paddy Ryder were among the in-doubt players taking on West Coast.
“I loved Heppell today – his attitude as a man,” Thompson said, likening the 22-year-old’s drive to former Geelong captain Cameron Ling.
“He plays the same every week. But even under the most severe pressure, he came out and took the team with him a bit today.”
The hosts blitzed the opening five minutes of the clash, returning captain Jobe Watson taking 13 seconds to kick a stellar goal.
Essendon then went from freewheeling to downright foolish – playing on haphazardly, butchering the ball and generally looking bereft of confidence.
Momentum swung during the third term, the Bombers booting five goals in the space of 11 minutes.
“I’m not so interested in taking a positive from that; I’m more interested in not letting it (a 34-point deficit) happen,” Thompson said.
“That’s what I’m going to try and take out of the game and that (was the message to the players after the game).”
ASADA was not mentioned in Thompson’s pre-game or post-game address, nor will it be while he’s in charge of the side.
“I’ve read all the newspapers. I’ve watched all the TV. I’ve done everything (related to the court case), but I have not spoken once to the players about what to do and what not to do,” Thompson said.
“They just want to play footy.”
Eagles coach Adam Simpson likened the fourth quarter to “watching a train wreck in slow motion”.
He was told his side would have been in the top eight had they won.
“I didn’t need to hear that,” Simpson added.
