Latest: Bombers Praises 19-Years Old For His Display After His Return To The Field
Essendon concluded its inaugural practice match against VFL rivals with a narrow loss to Sandringham, falling short by five points at RSEA Park last Friday.
This fixture marked the second preparatory game for the VFL Bombers ahead of the upcoming 2024 season, following their earlier encounter against the NTFL Buffaloes in Darwin back in January.
The Dons fielded a stronger lineup this time around, benefiting from the presence of seven AFL-listed players who rotated throughout the match. Notably, forward Jayden Davey made a highly anticipated return to the field after a hiatus of 922 days due to two separate ACL injuries. Davey’s performance was noteworthy alongside his twin brother Alwyn Jnr, who shared the field with Nick Hind and Nick Bryan for the first half after their earlier AFL game.
New recruit Archie Roberts showed promise in his debut competitive outing, contributing two goals from an advanced position and showcasing his ability to gather possession in dangerous areas. Oskar Smartt and Jack Peris also made significant contributions, while NGA prospect Amin Naim impressed with a clever two-goal display.
HT:
Sandringham 5.3 (33), Dons 6.4 (40) https://t.co/Yc0ZrDdhtU pic.twitter.com/rBw8cXGBwq— Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) February 23, 2024
Despite a strong effort, Essendon found themselves trailing by two goals in the third quarter. Despite mounting a late surge, the final siren sounded as they made their final push forward, leaving them just short of victory.
The match provided valuable insights for Essendon as they gear up for the imminent VFL season opener, less than a month away.