Elimination Final, 2004
Essendon vs Melbourne
Saturday 4 September
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 60,903
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Essendon | 5.2 | 11.6 | 11.10 | 15.14.104 |
| Melbourne | 5.2 | 6.5 | 13.6 | 15.9.99 |
Essendon win by 5 points
Goalkickers: Russell Robertson 3, Adem Yze 3, Brad Green 2, Travis Johnstone 2, Phil Read 2, Cameron Bruce 1, Guy Rigoni 1, Jeff White 1
Milestones:
Last Game
Troy Broadbridge
Going into the match with four losses in a row, Melbourne hadn't won a game since the match which put them on top of the ladder. For one of the few times in the history of the Final 8, the 8th placed team was sent in warm favourites. Their task was made even more difficult without Captain David Neitz, who broke his fibula in the Round 21 loss to Carlton. The injury had previously been referred to a calf complaint. Neitz was named in the side but failed a late fitness test. Chris Heffernan also missed the clash with his old side after being suspended for striking a week earlier.
Essendon also entered the game in ordinary form, but kicked five of the first six goals, before Melbourne repaid the favour. The game swung again when the Bombers kicked six goals in a row to punish the wasteful Demons. Late in the quarter Daniel Ward was denied a goal when Brad Miller was penalised for a high shephard, Matthew Lloyd goalled at the other end to punish them again.
Seemingly beaten, the Demons sparked in the third term on the back of Jeff White dominating the ruck. Guy Rigoni came off the bench to boot a goal from 50m out on the run and Melbourne kicked seven goals in a row to turn a 31 point deficit into an 8 point lead at the last change. David Hille kicked three goals in the last quarter to give the Bombers the lead and they held on to win by less than a goal. Adem Yze might have kicked the sealer 26 minutes into the last quarter but he narrowly missed from close range, before a dropped mark by Jeff White set up Hille's final goal.
Yze, McDonald and Johnstone were the best. Brad Miller was suspended for one match for striking. Neale Daniher said "We are bitterly disappointed today. We had a chance to win the game. Our use of the footy cost us the game".
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Age - 05/09/2004