ESSENDON has won a spot in the top eight by ending St Kilda's unbeaten
streak, pipping the Saints by two points in a thriller at Docklands on
Sunday evening.

The Bombers became the first team to beat St Kilda in 2009 when they
held on to record a 16.14 (110) to 16.12 (108) victory after Nick
Riewoldt squandered a chance to win the match after the siren.

The Saints had cut back a third-term 43-point deficit to trail by just
three points when Riewoldt marked with nine seconds remaining on the
clock.

The Saints skipper, who had already booted two goals for the game,
lined up 50m out on a 45-degree angle after the siren sounded, but his
kick slewed to the right, registering a point and sparking wild
celebrations from the Bombers and their fans.

The match produced extraordinary performances from both sides, with the
Saints coming from nowhere to claw back a massive deficit and the
Bombers hanging on bravely in the fourth quarter despite being heavily
bruised and battered.

By the end of the match, the Bombers had Jobe Watson (leg soreness),
Dustin Fletcher (hamstring), Courtenay Dempsey (hamstring), Brent
Stanton (quad/hip), Andrew Lovett (leg) and Paddy Ryder (knee) all
compromised, with Fletcher missing the entire second half and Ryder
most of the last term.

Watson was phenomenal in the first half and brave in the second for 37
touches, Angus Monfries kicked four goals, and Tayte Pears was terrific
against Riewoldt.

For the Saints, Lenny Hayes had 10 tackles, Nick Dal Santo topped the
possession count with 27, Leigh Montagna was tough around the
stoppages, and Justin Koschitzke was a powerful force up forward.

It looked like the Bombers were in for a long afternoon when the Saints
banged through the first two goals of the game – through Dal Santo and
Sam Fisher – with their first two kicks of the match.

After Adam Schneider slotted their third, the Saints were 19 points clear – and the game had only been going for 14 minutes.

The Bombers hit back through Jay Neagle, who was found unopposed in the
goalsquare, before Fisher demonstrated further ability in his
uncustomary role up forward with his second at the 22-minute mark.

The last two goals of the quarter went Essendon's way courtesy of Ryder
and Fletcher, and the Bombers evidently took heart from the fact they
trailed by just five points, playing like a side that was five goals in
front for much of an electrifying second term.

The Bombers kicked seven goals to two in the second quarter, St Kilda
only managing to drag the half time margin back to 20 points courtesy
of late goals to Koschitzke and Riewoldt, the latter's coming after the
siren.

Some tireless work by Watson, who had 21 touches to the long break, and
sharp shooting by Monfries helped the Bombers open up a 33-point lead
in the shadows of half time.

They Bombers didn't take a backwards step in the third. They replicated
the Saints' first-quarter start with two goals in the first two
minutes, which went unanswered until Stephen Milne was gifted a goal
from a Brent Prismall turnover after seven minutes.

Former rookie Jarrod Atkinson kicked the Dons' next after a terrific
two-bounce run from the centre-square, which was followed up by majors
from Lovett and Ryder.

Some inaccuracy from the Saints saw them miss two opportunities to cut
their 43-point deficit before Milne finally found the space between the
long posts at the 23-minute mark.

While Prismall snared his second, it was the Saints that ran out the
term stronger with the final two goals, leaving the margin at 29 points
with a quarter to play.

The Bombers lost Ryder in the opening stages of the fourth, which
further compounded their already-restricted bench, and St Kilda
pounced, kicking all five goals in the last term. Unfortunately for
Riewoldt and his teammates, a sixth proved elusive, and the Bombers
survived to record a memorable victory.

Next week, the Bombers take on Fremantle at Subiaco Oval, while St
Kilda takes on North Melbourne in its penultimate home-and-away match
of the season at Docklands.

Essendon 3.3 10.6 16.9 16.14 (110)
St Kilda 4.2 7.4 11.10 16.12 (108)

GOALS
Essendon: Monfries 4, Neagle 2, Ryder 2, Prismall 2, Fletcher, Hurley, McPhee, Watson, Atkinson, Lovett
St Kilda: Milne 3, Koschitzke 3, Schneider 3, Fisher 2, Riewoldt 2, Armitage 2, Dal Santo

BEST
Essendon: Watson, Monfries, Pears, Atkinson, Hurley, Stanton, Prismall, McVeigh
St Kilda: Koschitzke, Hayes, Dal Santo, Montagna, Milne, Gram

INJURIES
Essendon: Reimers
(general soreness) replaced in selected side by Davey, Fletcher
(hamstring), Dempsey (hamstring), Stanton (quad/hip), Ryder (knee),
Watson (leg soreness)
St Kilda: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stewart, Grun, Ryan

Official crowd: 41,410 at Docklands

Shame, was kinda hoping they would go unbeaten.



At least their skipper has noone to blame but himself for losing it

Monfries played really well, but St. Kilda really should have scored from that last kick.

BOMBERS! My team comes thorugh! Watched the game and swore like i'd never before once Riewoldt missed that kick!

Wow, it must suck to be in Riewoldt's position right now.