The Sydney Swans defeated Essendon by 39 points last night, securing a 15.8 (98) to 8.11 (59) victory at Marvel Stadium. The win effectively ends Essendon’s hopes of making the finals, marking a disappointing end to what initially seemed like a promising season for the Bombers.

The game was a tale of two halves. Essendon started strong, dominating the first half and leading by seven points at the main break. However, their inability to capitalize on their dominance proved costly. Despite having 37 inside-50s to Sydney’s 18 in the first half, the Bombers could only manage a modest 4.5 scoreline. This wastefulness allowed Sydney to stay in the game, and the Swans took full advantage in the second half.

Sydney turned the game on its head in the third quarter, outscoring Essendon six goals to one, which shifted the momentum entirely in their favor. Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney were instrumental in this turnaround, with Parker particularly influential during the third term. The Swans added another six goals in the final quarter to seal the win.

For Essendon, this loss underscores their struggles in converting promising positions into victories, a recurring theme this season. Despite dominating key statistics in the first half, including contested possessions and clearances, the Bombers could not sustain their performance when it mattered most. Nic Martin was a standout for Essendon with three goals and 32 disposals, but it wasn’t enough to prevent their season from unraveling.

This loss leaves Essendon needing an almost impossible set of results to qualify for the finals. Even with a win against Brisbane next week, they would still rely on other teams slipping up. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for the Bombers, who were in the top four just six weeks ago but have now lost six of their last eight games.

The match also saw controversy with Essendon’s Peter Wright involved in a bump that led to Sydney’s Harry Cunningham being subbed out with a concussion. Wright may face scrutiny from the AFL’s Match Review Officer, adding further woes to Essendon’s troubled season.

In summary, last night’s game was a microcosm of Essendon’s season—strong starts followed by an inability to close out games. The Bombers will now have to reflect on what went wrong as they face another year without finals action, having last appeared in the post-season in 2021.