Port’s Houston sinks Essendon with stunning after-siren goal

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Essendon had their hearts broken in close to the cruellest manner possible after Dan Houston sank the Bombers with a long bomb after the siren in a thrilling contest at the MCG.

The Dons came within centimetres and seconds of pulling off what would have been their best win under Brad Scott and now find themselves teetering in the eight with difficult games to come against Adelaide, Geelong and Western Bulldogs in the next three weeks.

What was shaping to be an epic victory unravelled dramatically at the death when Houston marked a frantic clearing kick from a mad scramble deep in the Bombers’ defence with just seconds left on the clock and converted from outside 50.

Dan Houston salutes the crowd.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images

A goal review was required to confirm Houston had pulled off a miracle, but it was quickly evident the vast majority of the 38,957 fans who braved a wet winter’s night would leave the MCG shattered by a four-point loss – Port’s 12th victory in a row.

Trailing by 17 points entering time on, the Bombers kicked the next three goals of the game to hit the front with just 83 seconds left.

The ball was at Essendon’s end with just 68 seconds remaining after Darcy Parish missed a snap, but Port were able to sweep the ball up the guts deep into their forward 50.

As gut-wrenching as the loss will be for the Bombers, they should at least draw heart from how they took the game right up to one of the leading flag contenders. They beat Port in the contest, won the clearances, and matched their vaunted rivals for pressure.

For Port, this was a win of a team that truly believes they are in the premiership hunt. They dug deep to turn a game that looked to be slipping away in the last quarter – and they have stars who step up when it counts.

Connor Rozee did not have the possessions he’d normally get, but still finished with 23 to go with three goals. Houston is having a career-best season. Kane Farrell was important across half-back, and Dylan Williams is impressed in defence.

The Dons were fortunate to still be in the game at the first change after Port dominated everywhere but the scoreboard.

Well beaten at the stoppage, the Dons were hemmed in their defensive half for much of the quarter. The warning bells would have been sounding in Brad Scott’s coaches’ box as Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall loomed large.

Dixon was particularly dangerous on the honest but undersized Jayden Laverde, but wasteful in front of goal. One set shot, a left-foot snap, from 30 metres failed to make the distance.

The Bombers’ spark came from an unlikely source in Andrew Phillips, who thrived against debutant Dante Visentini not only in the ruck contests but also around the ground.

Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish followed their big man’s lead, though the latter’s disposal let him down, missing a basic kick inside 50 and an even more straightforward shot at goal in the one passage.

More importantly for the Dons, they gained the ascendancy in general play by getting the game away from the contest. They also had a more even division of labour than Port, who were not helped by quiet performances from Jason Horne-Francis and Travis Boak.

The rain that arrived after half-time should have suited Port, but it was Essendon who relished the greasy conditions with their greater will.

Port were sloppy, as seen in the first play after the break when Visentini handballed to a stationary target after winning a free kick, turning what should have been a forward thrust for the visitors into a deep inside-50 entry for the Dons. Aliir Aliir, after a strong mark, then gifted a goal to Matt Guelfi with a clanger.

WEIDEMAN TESTING THE FAITH

Brad Scott has been a strong defender of Sam Weideman – but coach’s loyalty to his key forward must be getting tested. The first-season Bomber again had little impact, albeit in conditions that did not suit key forwards. Good players, though, make the most of their moments, even when things against them – and Weideman missed his. With the chance to regain the lead for the Dons in the last term, Weideman fluffed a shot from 20 metres out with little angle to speak of.

LAST-MINUTE CHAOS

There was drama on Port Adelaide’s bench at the first bounce after ruckman Scott Lycett failed a fitness test on his knee in the warm-up, minutes before the game. Lycett was Port’s second late withdrawal after Josh Sinn was replaced by Quinton Narkle. Youngster Visentini, from the Sandringham Dragons, was such a late inclusion he was not properly taped and warmed-up for action until about 18 minutes into the game. Visentini’s parents reportedly made a late dash to the ground after the start to watch their boy make a most unexpected debut.

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