Essendon have overcome a gritty North Melbourne and injury carnage to claim a dramatic, hard-fought three-point win.
The Bombers led by 26 in the second term but lost luckless defender Jordan Ridley to a hamstring injury just before half-time, and Harrison Jones to a horror lower leg injury in the third quarter at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.
Jade Gresham (groin) limped off in the final term and North debutant Finnbar Maley missed a shot to snatch victory, with the Bombers claiming a 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) win.
Big man Jones had to be taken off on a stretcher after attempting to spoil a mark then landing awkwardly on his left ankle, which bent at an awful angle.
After the match Essendon general manager Dan McPherson delivered an update on Jones and other injured stars, revealing that the 24-year-old had appeared to have dislocated his ankle.
‘Yeah it looks like he’s dislocated his ankle so he’s off to hospital shortly,’ Mcpherson told 3AW.
Harrison Jones was taken from the field on a stretcher after suffering a horrific injury during Essendon’s win against North Melbourne
Brad Scott stated after the match that Jones had appeared to sustain a dislocated ankle and was heading for check ups in hospital
Jordan Ridley (right) is expected to be out for an extended period after the luckless defender suffered a hamstring injury
‘He’s had a little bit of pain relief so he’s a little bit more comfortable than he was but yeah he’ll get assessed in hospital.’
Brad Scott added that the 24-year-old forward was ‘in a fair bit of pain and his ankle is pointing the wrong way.’
A gutted Zach Merrett said the team would be rallying around Jones following the agonising injury.
‘It’s disappointing,’ Merrett told Channel 7. ‘We’ll wrap our arms around him and make sure he gets the care that he needs.
‘We’ll keep moving forward as a group.’
On Ridley, he added that the defender would go for scans in the morning but was expecting him to spend a bit more time on the sidelines.
Essendon coach Brad Scott dubbed the raft of injuries ‘carnage’.
Defender Jaxon Prior could come under scrutiny for a dangerous, slinging tackle on Cameron Zurhaar.
Bombers skipper Zach Merrett (35 disposals) was typically stellar around the ball
North defender Jackson Archer suffered a left hamstring injury in the second quarter and was substituted for Bailey Scott.
Bombers skipper Zach Merrett (35 disposals) was typically stellar around the ball, while Archie Roberts (26 touches), Sam Durham (26 touches) and Archie Perkins (three goals) stood tall.
The match came a day after North put a media ban on pundit Kane Cornes for criticism of Harry Sheezel and Jy Simpkin that the club believed had crossed the line.
Sheezel (32 disposals) grew into the game while Simpkin (21) kicked two crucial goals when North, without Paul Curtis and George Wardlaw, needed him.
Ruckman Tristan Xerri (37 hitouts, 25 disposals) was dominant against former teammate Todd Goldstein, giving Luke Davies-Uniacke and Tom Powell (28 disposals apiece) first use.
Essendon kicked the first three goals and six in the opening term.
North settled in the second quarter, when Simpkin sank a long bomb to cut the lead to 18.
The Kangaroos came out of the break, down by 22, with fresh intensity and capitalised on Ridley’s absence down back, snagging the first four goals of the second half.
Despite the defeat, Harry Sheezel (left) stepped up to enjoy an excellent performance in light of criticism from Kane Cornes
The result sees Essendon move to 11th in the ladder while North Melbourne stay second bottom having now lost seven of their opening eight fixtures
Simpkin sank a superb long bomb to cut the deficit to a point – then shushed the crowd.
Nate Caddy restored a seven-point lead before Zurhaar crashed through a pack and brilliantly dribbled home from the pocket, with North down by a point at the final change.
Zurhaar levelled the scores before Isaac Kako steadied Essendon early in the last.
Zane Duursma cut the lead back to three points, but Maley missed his late shot and Essendon held on.
North Melbourne, winless in six, next head to Hobart to face reigning premiers Brisbane in nine days, while Essendon (4-3) host Sydney next Saturday.
