Gumby ignites Dons against Saints

Scott Gumbleton kicked four goals. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

RAMPAGING Essendon has another dangerous tall target. One they know well but haven't been able to utilise for the past five seasons.

Scott Gumbleton reminded the Bomber faithful of his top 10 draft talents with a solid comeback at Etihad Stadium.

Gumbleton, a late replacement for Stewart Crameri, grabbed his chance to contribute four goals in the 37 points win against a gallant if disjointed St Kilda.

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The 197cm forward, restricted to just 28 AFL games by back and hamstring ailments since being drafted in 2007, made a timely return with Patrick Ryder suspended and fellow forward Michael Hurley hobbling off with an ankle injury in the third quarter.

St Kilda v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, Docklands - April 20th 2013 in Melbourne, Australia . Brendon Goddard Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

And the in-form Bombers tuned for the Anzac Day clash next Thursday by easing classy midfielder Jason Winderlich back, also for his first appearance this season.

Winderlich, restricted to only two games last season, drew loud applause with his first touch after coming on as the sub to replace the injured Hurley.

The return of Gumbleton and Winderlich underlined Essendon's depth of talent amid the potentially match-turning elite as it dismantled the Saints, almost from the opening bounce.

Bring on Anzac Day expectations, bring on Collingwood ... in fact, bring on anyone. These Bombers are justifiably scared of no-one, no occasion and no foe.

Having big David Hille back also gave Essendon the luxury of letting Tom Bellchambers lurk deep inside the forward 50 to torment defenders with his height, strength and vice-like grip.

Skipper Jobe Watson was equally lethal when he took a breather up forward when he wasn't commanding the onball unit.

Watson's almost fanatical workrate typified the Bombers resolve at every contest, to create with the ball and grimly defend without it.

St Kilda, in contrast, went forward with hope rather than system. Its structures often broke down, as much by their own hand as the Bombers' relentless pressure.

Coach Scott Watters, for instance, will want to know how and why there wasn't a ruckman at three boundary throw-ins in an embarrassing communications breakdown late in the second quarter.

Essendon players seemed to have a healthier appetite for the contest and their better workrate made a mockery of the lethargy tales in the game after the Perth trip.

The Bombers' defensive pressure was first class. And they worried the sluggish Saints with the run and spread after that hard work created a turnover.

And no wonder St Kilda was jumped early in the contest _ Nick Riewoldt had one kick, Ahmed Saad one handball, Terry Milera just two touches and Stevie Milne was leading the way with four possessions on the quarter-time siren.

But for Beau Maister's marking prowess which he converted into two goals, the Saints would've faced an already insurmountable first change deficit.

In Riewoldt's defence, the delivery to him was appalling. Time and again, the skipper presented himself in a dangerous position. Alas, teammates couldn't spot him with the kick inside the forward 50.

That haphazard supply was emphasised in the opening minutes of the second term when Armitage attempted a chip pass from only 20m away and still couldn't hit Riewoldt on the lead. Essendon rebounded around the dockside wing and, in contrast, found Hurley for another goal.

Simply, Essendon had multiple options up forward. A flukey soccer goal from Alwyn Davey and an equally audacious snap shot by Brent Stanton three minutes later allowed the Bombers to skip away midway through the second quarter.

St Kilda v Essendon at Etihad Stadium, Docklands - April 20th 2013 in Melbourne, Australia . Michael Hurley on crutches at 3 quarter time. Picture: Salpigtidis George Source:

Davey, with opponents bearing down, didn't attempt to grab the ball and simply drilled a left foot volley from 40m directly in front. And Stanton's, from the same distance, but deep near the boundary line, was the team-lifting type.

The Saints paid a hefty price for missing targets _ like Saad when he crumbed the ball off a marking contest, ran unchecked to within 25m and speared the shot into the left goalpost late in the second term.

And another Saad miss following that deliberate set shot routine after the half-time siren could prove costly with fines for a bunch of players from both teams. A wild melee involving nearly every player broke out near the entrance to the Bombers' race when Saad took exception to a Bomber sledge.

It summed up the Saints' collective frustration of being powerless to contain their free-scoring and free-running opponents.

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