Mark Baguley – 7

Had the job on Lindsay Thomas and shut him down in the first half. Gave Thomas little latitude and made him work for every possession, keeping him to four disposals at half-time. Thomas kicked three goals as North Melbourne surged but Baguley wasn't responsible. Baguley won a couple of important ground balls deep in defence late and was among Essendon's best.





Tom Bellchambers – 5

Came into the game just needing to make a contest, playing mainly as a deep forward, and he played better than expected. Was mobile and made position in the corridor to create overlap run. Sealed his selection with a massive goal after the three-quarter time siren to extend the lead to nine points. Only had two touches in the desperate final quarter.





Paul Chapman – 7

The big-game player didn't disappoint. He kicked two goals by being in the right spot at the right time and had two huge, explosive clearances in the third quarter to stem North Melbourne's momentum. He remains dangerous and threatened to be the difference. He elevated his enormous reputation.









Travis Colyer – 6

One of the best players on the ground in the first half, tearing up and down the wing as a high half-forward and kicking two goals. Whenever he won the ball in space he created opportunities. However he went quiet when North Melbourne applied the heat and only had one touch in the third quarter. Good first half.





Joe Daniher – 7

Daniher kicked the game's first goal with a brilliant snap at the two-minute mark of the first quarter. He forced Firrito out of his comfort zone, leading hard, jumping at the ball and scrambling on the ground. He set the tone for the Bombers early because he forced North Melbourne to reassemble its defence. Although he dropped an easy chest mark in third, he took another good mark in third to kick an important goal and then kicked a brilliant goal from the boundary in the last. Did the job required with four goals and looks to be a future star.









Courtenay Dempsey – 3

Began as substitute and was introduced in the third quarter when the Bombers were on the back foot. It was a surprise selection and it backfired. He only had three touches and struggled to get into the game.





Heath Hocking – 5

Started slowly on Nick Dal Santo who got away from him early but once he tightened up he did his job well. He is such a strong body that his presence at stoppages helped Essendon dominate in that area up until half-time. Unfortunately Dal Santo got off the leash again in the final quarter.

Cale Hooker – 7

Played on Drew Petrie and subdued him in the first half. Amazingly for such a great intercept mark he did not take a mark for the game. Hooker experienced football at its most cruel when Petrie kicked two match-winning goals deep in time-on. He won his battle but lost the war.









Martin Gleeson – 3

Struggled with the pace and intensity of the game and only had four disposals matched up on Kayne Turner. Will be better for the run.





Brendon Goddard – 6

Played mainly as a deep forward with Firrito for company after quarter-time. Kicked a good long goal in the second quarter, drilling it from outside 50 after benefitting from a turnover, while he also took an important mark late in the third quarter that led to Tom Bellchambers kicking a goal on the three-quarter time siren. He was effective without dominating.





Dyson Heppell – 8

Usual dynamic performance from the Bombers' star although he a missed a running shot at goal in the first quarter that could have lifted his team. He was the only Bomber who stood tall when North Melbourne hit back and he willed himself to 34 quality disposals, including 14 contested possessions.





Michael Hibberd – 6

Hibberd appeared nervous early, uncharacteristically dropping three marks that put unnecessary pressure on himself. He fought back well to be one of the Bombers' better players, winning 24 disposals out of defence and rebounding it from 50 nine times.





Ben Howlett – 5

Kicked a huge goal in the third quarter to push the lead back out to nine points and halt North Melbourne's momentum but apart from that, was well held. He laid seven tackles, the most of any Essendon player and worked tirelessly without having a huge impact.





Michael Hurley – 7

Was Essendon's best defender, shutting Aaron Black out of the game and then being moved to Ben Brown when North Melbourne went berserk in the third quarter. Hurley had 20 disposals and rebounded from 50 seven times but it was his smothering and positioning that showed the steps forward he has made this season under Mark Thompson.





Zach Merrett – 5

Took a good strong mark in the third quarter but he could not convert the goal. He was given limited time and space and showed he still has some way to go to convert home and away form into finals form. He is classy but was quiet.





David Myers – 5

Made some strange decisions late in the game but he was an effective player. He always looks dangerous and his big frame was crucial to Essendon's first half. The long-kicking left footer just needed to show more poise when kicking inside 50 at times.





Patrick Ryder – 5

Kicked a huge goal late in the game to give the Bombers the lead after outmarking Drew Petrie. He was quiet overall but had patches where his brilliance shone through. Given the trying week he must have had, it was a reasonable game.





Brent Stanton – 4

Struggled early in the game to stop North Melbourne's run off half-back and battled to gain any overlap run. He tried hard and made six tackles but he just can't get enough separation from his opponent.





Ariel Steinberg – 4

Ben Brown got hold of him in the third quarter, beating him on the lead. Despite that, Steinberg wasn't Essendon's worst. He marked when he needed to and showed courage under high balls. Given it was just his third game it was an experience he can build on.





Jobe Watson – 7

It was the usual marshalling job in the middle from Watson who won and used the ball well. He had 16 contested possessions among his 25 disposals. Made six tackles and had five clearances but only put the ball inside 50 once. He stood up but could do little to stop the momentum.





Jason Winderlich – 4

A strange game from Winderlich who played as a running defender but always looked vulnerable when left one-out. Gave away a crucial free kick to Lindsay Thomas that allowed North Melbourne to take the lead and did not have the influence the Bombers might have hoped.





David Zaharakis – 6

He worked hard and created two goals through turnovers. He failed to get as much outside run as he can when at his best and although he had 20 disposals he could not halt opposition momentum.



