Bombers on board.

Essendon have opened their account with a hard-fought fourteen-point win over North Ballarat at Windy Hill in round two of the Peter Jackson VFL season. Trailing for most of the day, the Roosters got to within eight points at the 25-minute mark of the final term, however the Bombers steady with a late goal to former Norwood SANFL Premiership player, Orazio Fantasia, his fourth for the day, to win 11.12.78 to 9.10.64.

The blustery conditions made life difficult for kicking goals and it wasn't until the twelfth minute when North Ballarat's Lachlan George, playing his 100th game, speared one through from outside fifty. A scrappy opening came alive late in the term when Essendon small forward, Anthony Tipungwuti, smothered a Matt Austin handball just outside fifty before weaving around two defenders to kick the goal-of-the-day. At the first break the Bombers held a one goal lead - 2.3.15 to 1.3.9.

North Ballarat coach, Gerard Fitzgerald, was furious with his charges at quarter-time with their lack of commitment and efficiency using the footy. In the second term goals to Alistair Kefford, Fantasia and Zachary Merrett extended the Bomber’s lead to a game-high 26-points. Nathan Horbury pegged one back for the Roosters but the Bombers held sway at half-time leading 5.8.38 to 2.7.19. Bomber captain, Ben Duscher, wingman John Raynor and tough backman Josh Toy were getting a lot of the ball in the first half.  

North Ballarat were getting as much of the footy as the Bombers and had three less inside fifty entries (24-21), however turnovers were proving costly and they struggled for options up forward. Dour defending keeping them within reach of the Bombers at the main break thanks to the likes of Oliver Tate, Luke Kiel and Tony Lockyer.

Two goals in the first four minutes of the third term to skipper Michael Searl and midfielder Liam Anthony reduced the Bomber's lead to just seven points. Kefford became a marking target up forward for the Bombers and goaled twice in the quarter to see Essendon take a sixteen-point lead into three-quarter-time - 8.12.60 to 6.8.44.

Anthony failed to re-appear for the Roosters after the final break with North Melbourne officials opting to fly him to Sydney as an emergency for the AFL match against the Swans. Fantasia ran into an open goal to kick his third five minutes in to make the difference 21-points. Finally the Roosters discovered taller options up forward with goals to Andrew Bosely and Jordan Staley. When Staley kicked his second from a free kick at the twenty-five minute mark, the margin was back to eight points, however it was too little too late for the Roosters.

For the winners, eighteen-year-old Fantasia was exciting with fifteen disposals and four goals, Duscher (19), Raynor (21) and Nick O'Brien (20) were also among their best. For North Ballarat, defenders Lockyer 22 disposals and seven marks, Tate (17), Tippett (17) and hard runner George (17) and two goals were their best. Essendon take on former partner Bendigo Gold in a Good Friday clash at QE Oval in round three while North Ballarat will be at home for the first time in 2014 against Sandringham.