After The Game With Snaps Truly - Rd 10 2026 V Essendon

Remember Kevin Sheedy? Hard-nosed and intimidating. And he took Essendon to 23 finals in 24 years and four premierships. When he wasn’t waving a scarf above his head, he was staring hard at his rivals and running a finger across his throat.

But that was then.

Then they got on the gear.

Then we found out.

And a famous footy club fell to pieces. As of today it’s 7924 days since Essendon last won a final – that’s more than 21 years ago for those who want to remember where they were and what they looked like back then.

You’ve still got it kid.

And yet it was only a couple of years ago, coach Brad Scott famously declared the arrival of the ‘Essendon Edge.’ Things were going to change. The club would play a relentless and aggressive brand of football.

It didn’t. The edge only represented the lip of the precipice into which his side would fall further…

And today. Even further.

Walyalup were chasing a ninth win on the trot – something not achieved since 2015 – and the Dockers effortlessly had two goals on the board in the opening minute.

Both Bolton inspired. The first, a beautiful snap on the right foot from a favourite flank. The second, a searching handball to Josh Treacy, who was looming very large and scary indeed.

When Johno squared it to Freddy – Freo had kicked three inside three minutes.

Some guy with two surnames called Sullivan Robey replied for the Bombers, but it would be their only goal of the half.

Their only goal.

Lots of points. No more goals.

The rain was falling and so too was the sky for the home crowd as Dudley delicately lifted the ball from an Essendon defender and goaled brilliantly.

Treacy then kicked his second and Walyalup with a 25-point lead already had the game in hand.

The second quarter was interesting in that Essendon did have some opportunities but conspired to waste them all. Not so The Prancing Pony.

Vossy has had a tummy troubled first ten games this year but today was filled with irresistible moments as he made Essendon pay for having given him away.

A Treacy handball produced a clever goal from the outside of his foot. Clark delivered neatly and the big bloke led, marked,and kicked straight.

A strong spoil was rewarded with possession, and he charged in for his third.

And with just a minute to play he took another good mark on an angle and kicked beautifully. Moments seldom taken earlier in the season, were all taken now and as he celebrated his fourth and Walyalup’s 10^th – a lone Essendon fan chose to give him her angry finger.

It was about as competitive as they got.

I didn’t watch much after half time.

I don’t like Essendon and never have. Well I did for a while when Tony Buhagiar played for them, but there were too many trips to Colonial Mutual Stadium with the kids in the bad old days that ended with a disappointed trundle home.

Not today. In fact every time Bombers supporters booed a decision that didn’t go their way, I just smiled and imagined them as Moonee Ponds property investing Boomers on Budget night. Privileged and whinging about not being allowed to have it all.

Essendon did edge Walyalup marginally in the second half and yes, there were junk time goals and that may frustrate some, but the Dockers are not yet playing to meet the expectations of all – instead quietly accumulating victories and status and efficiently going about their business.

Winners by 43 points.

Apart from Voss and his five goals, Josh Treacy, Murphy Reid, and Shai Bolton all performed splendidly again. Chris Scerri tackled hard and impressed with his first goal for the club. Although there was some concern for Isaiah Dudley who was taken from the ground after walking into a battering ram tackle.

Up next, St Kilda at home on Friday night – wouldn’t a record ten in a row against the old coach be a fitting result?

Let’s see what happens.

Yours, now cutting back the bougainvillea on a pleasant afternoon because there really isn’t more that needs to be said,

Snaps Truly

*By our multi-talented and amazingly insightful footy scribe, SNAPS TRULY. Snaps has seen and done it all. He may or may not have been a fringe player at Fremantle. Don’t miss Snaps’ report after each Freo Dockers match here on the Shipping News throughout the 2026 season.

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