Injury-hit Bombers scrape home against surging Roos

Nate Caddy is congratulated by Isaac Kako after kicking a goal during the match between Essendon and North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in round eight, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

ESSENDON has held on to defeat a gallant North Melbourne by three points in a Thursday night thriller at Marvel Stadium.

The Bombers managed just two goals after the main break, but had done enough in a dominant first half to secure the 9.11 (65) to 9.8 (62) victory.

BOMBERS v KANGAROOS Full match coverage and stats

A missed shot to North Melbourne debutant Finnbar Maley with less than two minutes to go helped the Bombers get over the line in a nailbiting finish in front of a raucous crowd of 35,439.

The mature-aged recruit took a contested mark with the game in the balance, but took longer than the designated 30 seconds to begin his run up and was called by the umpire to play on.

The call rushed the 21-year-old, whose kick dropped short on the goalline and was taken over by Essendon defenders for a behind.

The Bombers kept possession of the ball in the final moments to hold for the narrow win.

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The Bombers came out of the blocks firing, kicking the first three goals of the match. Two of the three came from young forward Archie Perkins, who converted two set shots from practically the same spot on the 50m arc.

Essendon transitioned the ball quickly when going forward, opening up North's defence and making it easy for the Bombers to find free players inside 50.

North finally got a score of their own midway through the term when Cam Zurhaar converted from a free kick.

Enter Maley, who on debut had a first possession he will remember forever. The 21-year-old announced himself with a huge contested mark inside forward 50 and kicked his first goal with his first kick at AFL-level.

It looked as though Maley's efforts might bring the Kangaroos to life, but the momentum swung back the Dons' way as they scored the next three goals before quarter-time to give them a 22-point buffer at the first change.

ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS Previous Next 12:56 Scott post-match, R8: 'He reminds me so much of Nathan Buckley in his will to win' Watch Essendon’s press conference after round eight’s match against North Melbourne

08:53 Clarkson post-match, R8: 'It's a shame that that part of our game is getting questioned' Watch North Melbourne’s press conference after round eight’s match against Essendon

02:13 Captain Merrett muscles his Dons home Bombers skipper Zach Merrett lifts his side with some elite ball use and relentless drive in a 35-disposal masterclass

08:08 Highlights: Essendon v North Melbourne The Bombers and Kangaroos clash in round eight of the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season

02:58 Last two mins: Bombers hold off gallant Roos surge The thrilling final moments between Essendon and North Melbourne in round eight

00:34 Kako cracks in with crafty curler at right time Isaac Kako conjures a timely goal for the Bombers with some class around the sticks

00:45 Zurhaar zigs, zags and snags absolute stunner Cam Zurhaar breaks through a tackle, bursts forward and dribbles home a ripper as the Roos continue to press

00:50 Luckless Bomber subbed after hamstring injury Essendon loses Jordan Ridley right before the main break as the injury-riddled defender appears to hurt his hamstring while being tackled

00:51 Roo down in pain and subbed out of game North Melbourne is forced to substitute Jackson Archer out of the game after the rebound defender appears to hurt his hamstring before being tackled

00:39 Skipper’s ripper: Simpkin’s sizzling finish Kangaroos captain Jy Simpkin nails a beauty from long range to fire up his troops

00:46 Flying Finnbar: Maley soars and scores on debut Kangaroos debutant Finnbar Maley clunks a towering mark and slots a goal with his very first kick

00:56 Perkins pops up for pair as Bombers burst early Archie Perkins gets Essendon off to a fast start with a couple of strong marks and finishes

The second term was a low scoring affair with only two goals kicked for the term. The Bombers wasted opportunities in front of goal, with Peter Wright missing two set shots, while at the other end, North skipper Jy Simpkin kicked his first with a scintillating goal on the run.

Coincidentally, both sides suffered hamstring injuries to key players in the second quarter within minutes of each other.

First it was North's Jackson Archer, who limped from the field midway through the term, before luckless Bomber Jordan Ridley left the ground shortly after with the same injury.

The injury-riddled Bomber suffered a hamstring setback over the pre-season and was limited to just nine games last year due to a quad injury.

Essendon forward Jade Gresham's night also finished early with a groin concern, leaving the Bombers with just two fit players on the bench late in the final term.

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After all the Bombers' good work, a third goal to Perkins before half-time extended their margin back out to 25 points at the main break.

North came out with renewed energy after half-time, kicking four unanswered goals to start the second half.

The first came from a dashing run inside 50 from 2023 No.2 draft pick Colby McKercher, then the following two came from consecutive goals to North spearhead Nick Larkey.

Larkey, who has had his goalkicking issues in recent weeks, kicked a long set shot from the boundary, followed by a short set shot from a free kick.

North's four goals reduced the margin to one point, before young Essendon forward Nate Caddy came through with a soccered kick for his second goal of the game to give his side a much-needed steadier.

But it was short lived, as North responded quickly when Zurhaar kicked an outrageous dribbler from the boundary that went past two Essendon defenders.

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Moments before the three-quarter time siren, Bomber Harrison Jones rolled over on his ankle as he attempted to spoil a Dylan Stephens mark near the boundary line.

He landed awkwardly and had to be stretchered off the ground.

The stage was set for a close final quarter, and it delivered. Livewire Essendon forward Isaac Kako, who had a relatively quiet night, kicked the first of the final term when he crumbed and snapped a goal to start proceedings.

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The arm wrestle continued until finally North got one of their own when Zane Duursma again reduced the margin to within a goal late.

North had its moment when Maley lined up for his shot on goal, but his miss allowed the Bombers to hang on in a thriller.

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Maley's moments

North Melbourne unveiled a new cult hero tonight in mature-aged recruit Finnbar Maley. Maley was picked up by the Kangaroos with Pick No.2 in the 2023 Rookie Draft from Eltham Football Club after a stint in the VFL with the Northern Bullants. The tall forward with a signature moustache made an immediate impact, taking a strong contested mark with his first touch and converted truly. Maley joins the illustrious group of players to kick a goal with their first kick, as he bent the ball around in a snap shot on goal. Maley's set shot with less than two minutes to go could have seen the first gamer kick the sealer, but the fairytale wasn't to be.

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Jones' horror injury

Essendon's Harrison Jones looks set for a lengthy sideline stint after a horror ankle injury saw the 24-year-old stretched from the ground at the three-quarter time break. Jones went down after a marking contest where he lost his footing and rolled over on his ankle. With the utility unable to put weight on his foot, the Bombers will eagerly await scans to determine the severity of the injury.

Harrison Jones is seen injured during the match between Essendon and North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium in round eight, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

ESSENDON 6.1 7.5 8.7 9.11 (65)

NORTH MELBOURNE 2.3 3.4 8.6 9.8 (62)

GOALS

Essendon: Perkins 3, Caddy 2, Langford, Martin, Hobbs, Kako

North Melbourne: Larkey 2, Simpkin 2, Zurhaar 2, Maley, McKercher, Duursma

BEST

Essendon: Merrett, Caddy, Perkins, Durham, Redman

North Melbourne: Xerri, Powell, Zurhaar, Simpkin, Sheezel

INJURIES

Essendon: Ridley (hamstring), Jones (ankle), Gresham (groin)

North Melbourne: Archer (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES

Essendon: Jye Menzie (replaced Jordan Ridley in the second quarter)

North Melbourne: Bailey Scott (replaced Jackson Archer in the second quarter)

Crowd: 35,439 at Marvel Stadium

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