Port Adelaide started the game Etihad Stadium with livewire midfielder David Rodan on the ground after his impressive performance as sub against the Saints, with Cam O’Shea wearing the green vest as sub.
Essendon opened the scoring with a David Hille snap at the four minute mark before Jay Schulz answered back as a result of a desperate smother and second effort from Chad Wingard in the midfield.
John McCarthy was everywhere early and kicked the Power’s second goal from a virtually impossible angle deep in the pocket.
Wingard was then rewarded for his effort around the packs with a goal courtesy of a free kick and 50m penalty to open up an early two-goal break for the Power.
Troy Chaplin was solid in defence early marking strongly in several one-on-one contests, but his man Stewart Crameri got one back for the Bombers after outmarking Chaplin. Brent Stanton followed with another to wrestle back the lead for the hosts.
After David Hille was subbed off because of an injury, Jarrad Redden took full advantage snapping the first goal of his AFL career before Justin Westhoff wriggled free of the Bombers defense to give the Power the ascendency in a topsy-turvy first quarter.
Late goals to Howlett and Jetta tied the game up going into the first break.
Qtr Time Score
Port Adelaide 5.2 (32)
Essendon 5.2 (32)
Goals: McCarthy, Redden, Schulz, Westhoff, Wingard
Possessions: McCarthy, Ebert 6, Westhoff, Cornes, Pearce 5
Second Quarter
The second quarter started in a scrappy fashion but the intensity around the ball and packs was one of the major factors in the poor skill level.
Some risk-taking kicks through the middle of the ground resulted in a good running goal from the gutsy Paul Stewart, who had just moments earlier been crunched by Fletcher running back with the flight.
The Power were doing the little things to keep competitive, a great chase from Rodan affecting Lovett-Murray’s kick and a smother from Cornes on Hurley great examples of this.
The Bombers let the Power off the hook on a couple of occasions with poor kicking at goal, Howlett and Lovett-Murray both offenders.
Wingard was helped from the ground by trainers after copping a knock to the head. After being patched, the club’s first pick in the 2011 draft was back out on the field.
Some poor discipline from Jacobs gave Stanton a 50m penalty and an easy goal and Courtaney Dempsey kicked a goal from deep in the pocket before Jay Schulz kicked a steadier for the visitors.
Despite being competitive around the ground, Port Adelaide had significantly fewer inside 50s in the first half
The Bombers had the run late in the second and goals to Zaharakis, Monfries and Jetta took full advantage of the ascendency to open up a handy half-time buffer.
Half Time Score
Port Adelaide 7.3 (45)
Essendon 10.6 (66)
Goals: Schulz 2, McCarthy, Redden, P. Stewart, Westhoff, Wingard
Possessions: Cornes 15, Ebert, Surjan 11, Cassisi, Jacobs 10, McCarthy, Pearce 9
Third Quarter
Wingard was subbed off at half time with an eye injury, replaced by Cam O’Shea.
A pair of misses from South Australian Angus Monfries and a poster from Hurley let the visitors off the hook early before Westhoff goaled on the break and Schulz converted from a free kick to cut the lead to 12 points half way through the third quarter.
The Power’s midfield was beginning to regain some control but the Bombers goaled on the break to extend the lead once again.
But the visitors fought back again, with Trengove catching Ryder holding the ball, followed by a 50m penalty and a short pass to Westhoff resulted in another goal and when Schulz booted his fourth, the margin was less than a kick.
After another spell of pressure from the Bombers, the Power rebounded again and when Ebert kicked truly after being caught high, the margin was cut to just two points going into the final term.
3/4 Time Score
Port Adelaide 12.5 (77)
Essendon 11.13 (79)
Goals: Schulz 4, Westhoff 3, McCarthy, Redden, P. Stewart, Wingard, Ebert
Possessions: Cornes 21, Pearce 16, Boak, Cassisi 15, Ebert Hartlett, McCarthy, Surjan 14
Fourth Quarter
A free kick out of the centre led to Jake Carlile kicking the first goal of the final quarter for the Bombers. Crameri then extended the lead after a poor piece of play through the centre from the Power, where a kick was needed, but a chain of handballs led to a turnover.
With David Myers going off with a hamstring injury, the visitors had the extra run and when Matt Thomas stripped the ball from Howlett and snapped, the Power were right back in the game.
Port Adelaide continued to run hard and was doing the majority of the attacking but the Bombers defence was resilient, repelling wave after wave of attack.
The sucker punch came when the Bombers broke out of defence and goaled courtesy of Crameri on the rebound.
The Power kept coming but Schulz missed his opportunity to cut the lead and the Bombers once again scored on the rebound to open up a 19 point lead.
Jetta’s goal with just a minute to go sealed the game for the hosts.
Full Time Score
Port Adelaide 13.8 (86) defeated by
Essendon 16.15 (111)
Goals: Schulz 4, Westhoff 3, McCarthy, Redden, P. Stewart, Wingard, Ebert, Thomas
Possessions: Cornes 27, Cassisi 21, McCarthy, Pearce 20, Boak, Broadbent, Ebert, Rodan 19
Tackles: Thomas 7, Cassisi, Trengove 5
Hitouts: Redden 18
Dream Team points: Cornes 101, Schulz 89, Westhoff 85
