Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher, the AFL’s oldest current player, again showed the coolest head in the frenzied finish to their clash with North Melbourne.
Fletcher, 37 next month, saved a near-certain goal with a desperate lunge on the goal line and then took a superb mark as the Kangaroos made their late charge on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.
North ruckman Hamish McIntosh could have won the game when he took a juggling mark, but he pushed his kick wide after the final siren and the Bombers hung on by two points.
Bombers coach James Hird may sound like a broken record when he talks about Fletcher, but he never tires of lauding him.
“He saved the game, there’s no doubt … at least three times in that last five or six minutes,” Hird said.
“I just hope he never retires, he’s a genius.
“He has a gig as long as I’m coaching, he’s a gun, isn’t he.”
Hird admitted to relief and his North counterpart Brad Scott was frustrated post-match.
North dominated the last term, kicking 5.0 to 1.6, but they could have taken control of the game before halftime.
Everything was going their way – a silly free kick gifted them a double goal, then Essendon captain Jobe Watson was denied a goal with a contentious video referral.
The Bombers were also down to two fit men on the bench because Heath Hocking was concussed in the first quarter and Kyle Hardingham was forced off for some of the second term with a shoulder injury.
But Essendon led by nine points at the main break.
While pleased with his team’s spirit, Scott said they could have played better.
“We would have been sitting here if Hamish had kicked the goal feeling pretty relieved, because we were outplayed for large periods,” he said.
Scott forgave McIntosh for missing the match winner, but was blunt in his assessment of how McIntosh and Todd Goldstein went in the ruck against Paddy Ryder and David Hille.
“I was a bit disappointed with our rucks, I thought they could have given us better use than they did,” he said.
The match posed more questions than it answered for two teams desperate to improve on last year’s mid-table finishes.
Hird was pleased with Essendon’s resilience, but noted they keep struggling when their opposition rally.
“We didn’t handle the defensive side of our game well in that last quarter and it’s a learning experience,” he said.
“Luckily we got away with the four points … but that game will be really important to go back and show our players.”
Hird was hopeful that Hardingham and Cale Hooker (ankle) would be fit for Saturday’s home game against Port Adelaide.
Scott is unsure whether Robbie Tarrant (hamstring) will miss any matches.
North Melbourne’s Sam Wright is on report for charging Brent Stanton, who was best afield.