Practice Match 2010
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday, 27 February
Venue: Princes Park
Attendance: Approximately 3000
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 6.1 | 8.5 | 12.8 | 18.12.120 |
| Melbourne | 2.6 | 3.9 | 8.11 | 11.14.80 |
Essendon won by 40 points
Goalkickers: Ricky Petterd 4, Jack Grimes 2, Nathan Jones 1, Daniel Bell 1, Stefan Martin 1, Brent Moloney 1, Addam Maric 1
The Demons jumped Essendon early, but for all their domination in the first five minutes failed to put a goal on the board. The Bombers steadied with the first and then added another five before a belated comeback made the score respectable. Grimes goalled first, followed a Jones shot which was helped home by the wind.
Both sides struggled through a second quarter played in the wet. With conditions clearing Melbourne had the best of the third quarter, despite Liam Jurrah being well held by Dustin Fletcher, and the margin was cut to less than four goals at the last change. When Ricky Petterd goalled 30 seconds into the final term the game was alive, but Essendon ran away easy winners.
Cale Morton suffered a knee injury late in the game which kept him out for the first half of the regular season.
Grimes, Petterd and Colin Sylvia were Melbourne's best.
Links
Demonblog match review