AFL 2024 round nine LIVE updates: Under-pressure Dogs face Tigers; Bombers climb into top four after beating Giants; Hawks upset Saints

ESSENDON 12.10 (82) d GWS GIANTS 9.8 (62)

DONS BLITZ THE SECOND HALF
It was a night of no orange tsumani and more Don’s salami as the Bombers evoked a performance more like their forefathers than their recent years. The Giants led early and looked to be powering to another sizable win, but after quarter-time they offered little in Callan Ward’s 300th game. You have to give credit to the pressure and relentlessness of the Bombers. They kept their errors low and willed themselves to every contest and once the ball was in the hands of the likes of Nic Martin, Sam Durham, Zach Merrett and others, they sent it forward. Kyle Langford again set the standard in the attacking half and Matt Guelfi’s pressure on Lachie Whitfield and quality finishing gave their supporters reason to believe. The way the Dons saluted in the last term was also a nod to the great teams of the past. We haven’t seen this too much from Essendon in recent times, but they were assured, focused and deserved their reward. The Bombers have six and a half wins from nine games, who saw that coming in 2024?

TOUGH NIGHT FOR GIANTS
Only the Giants will know why they couldn’t overcome the Bombers’ pressure, but they have previously had some big nights against this club in recent years and led by 22 points in the first half. Tom Green and several others won plenty of footy, but they couldn’t find a way to get back into it. Perhaps the conflicting emotions of Ward’s 300th and the death of former Giant Cam McCarthy on Thursday took a toll, or maybe they are just due a down night after such a strong start to 2024. Either way, their response will be telling in coming weeks. Jesse Hogan fired early, but Ben McKay ultimately had the better of him, although a lack of quality delivery helped him.

DANCING DAVEY A HIGHLIGHT
Alwyn Davey jnr showed he has agility and goal sense to match his dad and former Dons player Alwyn snr with a brilliant goal in the opening term.

With the ball flying into the forward line, Davey jnr was one out with his defender and stepped inside before turning towards the boundary and running clear of his man before snapping the goal. Commentator Anthony Hudson dubbed him “Dancing Davey” after that goal.

Dons fans roared and while Davey jnr is still in the infancy of his career, more goals like that and more pressure acts will make someone with his speed and skills a dangerous player. His promise mirrors that of his young side.

KEY STATS

Nothing is coming easily for the Tigers so far, though, it must be said, they are not helping themselves.

They’ve missed targets and tackles, and would be out of the game already if the Dogs had taken their chances.

Now, they’ve just been denied a goal by a touch right on the line.

Dogs 23, Tigers 1 with six mins to go in Q1.

This has been a dominant start by the Bulldogs, who, it must be said, also made a bright start last week, and we know how that played out.

Dogs 23, Tigers 0 with 10 mins to go in Q1.

Aaron Naughton has bounced into the contest and kicked his first goal.

Naughton’s hard running stood out as he sprinted towards the square and got in position to mark.

Dogs 13, Tigers 0 with 15 mins to go in Q1.

Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli was hit as he kicked the ball towards the goal square but he did such a good job of booting it that it sailed through the goals.

The Dogs need their skipper (and the rest of their side) to stand up on this night. Super start.

Dogs 7, Tigers 0 with 17 mins to go in Q1.

Neither side has made a late change as we fast approach first bounce for Richmond v Western Bulldogs. Noah Cumberland (Tigers) and Luke Cleary (Dogs) will start as the subs.

Bombers captain Zach Merrett has praised the performance of his young club for their win today.

“You don’t have to go too far back to times when they have embarrassed us really, they are such a quality team with their attack on the ball and talent is really hard to defend but I thought we stood up,” Merrett told Fox Footy.

“It’s amazing to give the fans something to celebrate. At quarter-time and half-time, we felt like we were doing a lot right, just letting ourselves down with errors or turnovers.

“To fightback and win against the Giants, is a super feeling.

“We are still trying to get our processes right so to get wins like this in our growth period is amazing. We will keep trying to win every game but keep focused on the right things as well.”

Huge win for Essendon.

The Bombers are flying once again and Marvel Stadium is rocking with the famous words of their club song.

Has an AFL giant stirred? Or did the GWS Giants just have a bad night? Time will tell.

This is a special night for Essendon and they are completely in command right now.

Two minutes left and they are kicking out the time.

Dons 82, Giants 62 with two mins to go.