So....The first round is under way Pt 2

And Geelong are looking the goods again. Just.

Essendon really played a terrific game last night, and put pressure on the Cats for the best part of 3 quarters, even dominating the clearances, contested possessions and scoreboard (I know!) at times. The Cats though, they are a genuine class side. They knew they had the ability to run over the Bombers, and just kept chipping away, waiting for the game to break open in their favour.

Essendon look set for another solid year - their game plan is exciting, they take them on, and they showed a harder edge last night, winning a lot of contested ball and combining that with good defensive pressure and tackling efforts. They are still in development mode though, and maintaining their performances to that level throughout the course of the season will be a difficult task. That said, there is plenty to like and get excited about at Windy Hill.