Sluggish Dons able to slay Giants

Bomber Nick Kommer flies to try to foil a catch from Jonathan Giles. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

Scott Gumbleton and Jobe Watson celebrate. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

A SLUGGISH Essendon have sprung to life in time to avoid having their unbeaten AFL streak ended by winless Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

For slightly more than a half on Saturday, the bottom-placed Giants threatened to produce one of AFL history's great upsets against the top-placed Bombers.

But after trailing by 27 points early in the second half, Essendon lifted as the Giants tired to win 17.18 (120) to 12.9 (81) and remain unbeaten heading into Friday night's bumper clash with Geelong, when there's no way they'll get away with such a poor start.

The Giants kicked three unanswered goals in the first nine minutes, including two to impressive young key forward Jeremy Cameron (six goals).

Cameron had three by quarter time, forcing the Bombers to swap his starting opponent Tayte Pears for Cale Hooker.

But GWS, 21 points clear at the first change, went further ahead.

AFL Round 6: Essendon v GWS at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. Picture: Coppel Alex Source: Herald Sun

Tom Scully, enjoying a fine game in the midfield, kicked his second goal early in the second term.

And while Alwyn Davey replied for the Bombers, Cameron got clear of Hooker to mark and kick his fourth to push the lead to 27 points midway through the quarter.

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The Bombers got it back to 21 points by halftime, but Cameron kicked his fifth less than a minute into the second half to rebuild a 27-point lead.

Brendon Goddard crashes his way through. Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

When Essendon midfielder Brent Stanton was subbed out minutes later with an apparent quad injury, the Bombers seemed in major trouble.

But having managed just three goals to that point, they finally hit back, with four majors in a nine-minute burst.

Brendon Goddard kicked the first of those and key forward Stewart Crameri the fourth, after taking his first mark for the day midway through the third term.

Brendan Goddard and Sam Reid. Picture: Coppel Alex Source: Herald Sun

That brought Essendon within two points.

The Giants held the Bombers at bay for another nine minutes, before Crameri's second goal gave Essendon the lead for the first time since the game's opening minutes.

With captain Jobe Watson lifting after a quiet start, Goddard and David Zaharakis busy and Michael Hibberd and Courtenay Dempsey providing enormous run, Essendon dominated the rest of the term to take a stranglehold on the match.

By five minutes into the last quarter, Crameri had four goals, the Bombers led by 24 points and the result was clear.

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