Blog log from R5 of 2025: Melbourne vs Essendon

Jones marks on the boundary 40m out, his kick is a draw from mleft to right but turns too early, just a behind near side. (Q1 3:42)
Shiel passes short to Jones 45m out in the corridor after Melbourne can’t rebound past half back, this one Jones sails through for the first goal of the night. (Q1 6:27)
Spargo feeds Pickett who shanks a snap OOTF from the pocket 20m out. (Q1 7:54)
Menzie roves a Caddy contest in the pocket and snaps a nice finish off the right from 20m. (Q1 8:58)
Martin fumbles a ground ball after a stoppage in the centre, Langdon pounces and bombs long for Pickett who can’t mark but mope up and checksides the goal from 15m. (Q1 11:19)
Hobbs hits the post from a snap from a stoppage 35m out. (Q1 13:07)
Merrett is paid a very dubious mark from a Kako pass that he looked to have juggled over the boundary line, but he plays on and is called out of bounds. (Q1 16:39)
From the resultant throw in, Hobbs screws in the goal from 30m from the same position as his last attempt. (Q1 16:54)
Prior’s dump kick on rebound immediately turns over, Rivers marks 50m out on a slight angle and almost makes the distance, off hands for a point. (Q1 24:13)
Langford feeds Lindsay for a flying snap from CHF that swerves to the right. (Q1 27:43)
Martin is late and high on Langdon marking a Salem pass 35m out, quick melee then a 50m penalty to ensure the goal. (Q2 3:31)
Martin receives from Merrett in the pocket, two Dees close on him so he scrubs a kick to the top of the square for Menzie who makes it look good with sharp hands for the goal. (Q2 8:25)
Setterfield kicks from the HFF to the hotspot for Caddy to be paid the mark despite a late spoil by McDonald, he goals. (Q2 10:57)
Shiel marks behind Viney 45m out on the flank and shows excellent finishing ability with the drop punt. Who said he couldn’t kick? (Q2 20:56)
Draper beats two to take a link mark in the centre, wheels and goes long over two more Demons for Menzie to mark at the hotspot for goal number three. (Q2 23:37)
Windsor misses a flying snap from half forward. (Q2 29:18)
Perkins gets a free for a push by Salem in a marking contest 20m out in the pocket, he converts to begin Q3. (Q3 0:54)
Salem intercepts on outer wing, Petracca marks in front of Merrett 45m out on the flank but misses. (Q3 3:30)
Draper smothers Windsor on the mark on members wing, butters up and passes to Merrett 35m out on the flank who misses near side left. (Q3 5:51)
Spargo runs around outer wing, gesticulates then passes over Reid to Petty 40m out on the flank who goals. (Q3 7:54)
Fritsch plays on past Jones for a snap from the HFF after an insufficient intent free is paid, he goals off the left. (Q3 12:30)
Bowey’s pressure forces Martin’s clanger kick on the wing, Fritsch rises to mark 30m out and gets a 50m penalty for late contact by McGrath to ensure the goal. (Q3 17:34)
Melksham leaps over two Bombers for a huge link mark on members wing, hits the ground running, bounces twice then passes for Pickett to mark 20m out, goal Melbourne! (Q3 22:01)
Gawn down to Petracca who feeds Oliver to run to CHF and shoot… but it’s wide left. (Q3 23:23)
Duursma marks a Setterfield centring ball from the HFF to 30m out in front, Rivers had two against him there and could do nothing. The Archer goals to settle the Dons. (Q3 25:48)
Spargo ducks through two tacklers on the HFF after a rebound up members wing through traffic, he passes short to Sharp in the pocket who checksides a red time goal from 20m! (Q3 29:19)
May juggles an easy intercept deep in defence, Martin knocks the ball from his hands and gathers to run into the open goal! (Q3 31:26)
Menzie takes a contested grab 35m out on a slight angle but misses badly to the left. (Q4 3:27)
Menzie tumbles a pass to Gresham at the top of the square who plays on for the goal. (Q4 4:08)
Petracca runs away from a stoppage at half forward with the entire goals to aim at, reaches 20m but a lunge by Durham puts him off, miss to the left. (Q4 6:43)
Perkins kicks inside 50 on a slow play from members wing over Langford to Hobbs 40m out in the corridor. Hobbs converts, Essendon have steadied and should win from here. (Q4 14:34)
Sparrow snaps a mid-range goal in his 100th game to keep the game alive, notionally. (Q4 17:30)
Merrett passes to Menzie on the HFF 45m out, he tries a pass but it skids for a behind. (Q4 20:34)
Setterfield set his field for the sideways kick by Gawn to the centre, he drops the catch but passes to Caddy 45m out for the official sealing goal. (Q4 21:34)
Redman adds a cherry on top with a trademark howitzer from outside CHF in the last minute. (Q4 31:06)
Roberts goes long to the square for that man Menzie to mark and waltz into the open goal for another dagger in the heart for the Demons. (Q4 32:19)