Durham the hero as Bombers rating dream one-point win

Former Richmond VFL participant Sam Durham has marked and kicked a objective with seconds left to offer Essendon a one-point win over the Tigers of their Dreamtime on the ‘G AFL conflict.

Essendon’s 10.11 (71) to 10.10 (70) win on Saturday broke a 13-game shedding streak towards Richmond.

It additionally ends the Bombers’ four-game shedding sequence this season and breaks Richmond’s run of eight Dreamtime wins.

Bombers coach Brad Scott hailed it as a major win, noting the membership’s tumultuous historical past during the last decade within the wake of its dietary supplements debacle.

“It was actually vital on two fronts. There’s solely so lengthy you possibly can hold speaking about effort and enjoying properly … it turns into arduous to maintain pushing the message if you’re not getting the end result,” Scott stated.

“However I’d by no means underestimate what Essendon followers have gone by during the last decade and that streak (towards Richmond), that is been arduous for them.

Scott additionally heaped reward on captain Zach Merrett, who was the clear winner of the Yiooken Trophy as greatest afield within the Dreamtime sport.

He had a game-high 39 disposals and willed Essendon house.

Scott stated Merrett reminded him of enjoying alongside Michael Voss throughout their glory days at Brisbane.

“He is a greater participant than I assumed he was … he has an unbelievable will to win,” Scott stated of Merrett.

The Bombers appeared nearly gone when Dustin Martin kicked a 50-metre bomb a minute into the final time period to place Richmond 18 factors forward.

And Judson Clarke made the Bombers pay for one more turnover, snapping a objective halfway by the time period to place the Tigers two objectives up halfway by the quarter.

However the Bombers discovered a method.

Durham was enjoying for Richmond within the VFL two years in the past when Essendon picked him up within the mid-season draft and he has by no means appeared again.

Jake Stringer’s snap discovered him on the high of the objective sq. within the frenetic final minute and he kicked the match-winner.

It was a high-pressure sport, with a succession of fumbles.

Rhyan Mansell had a shot on objective for Richmond late within the final time period however, crucially, it went out on the complete and that stored the door open for Essendon.

Midfielder Dylan Shiel (calf) was a late withdrawal in a serious blow for the Bombers, who began slowly, however one way or the other led at quarter time.

Richmond appeared for a lot of the final time period like they’d a game-winning lead, with Essendon bombing the ball into assault and Tigers defenders mopping up simply.

However Essendon discovered their method by. It turned an arm wrestle till the final minute and Durham’s match-winner – the one time Essendon led within the second half.

Martin and Bolton have been greatest for Richmond, whereas Jordan Ridley impressed in defence for Essendon.

Whereas Richmond nearly broke the sport open early within the final time period, coach Damien Hardwick stated they’d been enjoying “extremely poorly”.

“We simply basically could not do something fairly properly,” he stated.