Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Essendon have the lead, but it was hardly champagne football from either side.
Dean Solomon, one of the two interim coaches with the reins tonight, has started Zach Merrett at half back and continued with the experiment of playing Ben McKay forward.
Both have paid dividends so far with McKay kicking a goal and having two set shots while Merrett picked up 10 disposals in the first quarter.
Sam Durham is the most dominant midfielder on the ground. His battle against Sam Walsh and Jagga Smith will be interesting.
McKay kicked the third goal of his career. It is his first goal in Victoria.
The Dons were the better side in the first term and all power to them after poor form in recent matches.
Ben McKay up forward and Zach Merrett running off half-back have been stellar – this is Essendon’s second winning opening term in 2026.
The Blues need to be better. They are lacking drive, hunger and all the things that have made them winners in recent weeks.
The TV cameras have found the first Hird mention of the night with fans holding two signs that say TEAM and HIRD.
As Peter Ryan reported earlier, Essendon president Andrew Welsh says his club will conduct a search process and not just appoint someone.
In the meantime, Ben McKay has pulled in another strong mark and kicked a goal.
The Dons have been the better side this quarter.
Dons 15, Blues 7 with two mins to go in Q1.
Talor Byrne has been pressuring fiercely this season but has missed a few set shots but he just took a mark and kicked the goal.
The Blues players love his intensity. Byrne is the youngest player in the AFL this weekend and five of the youngest six are in this match, according to Anthony Hudson on Kayo.
Dons 8, Blues 7 with four mins to go in Q3.
“Both sides are struggling inside their forward 50s,” Jack Riewoldt said on Kayo Sports.
Redman’s goal is the only major so far this term despite clear, crisp conditions.
Both clubs have star players on half-back but both looks lacking in the forward line.
Dons 8, Blues 1 with six mins to go in Q1.
Dons defender Mason Redman is a threat when he runs forward and he has done just that, taking a pass and snapping the first goal of the night.
Redman makes this Essendon side a much better team.
Dons 6, Blues 0 with 14 mins to go in Q1.
On a night where the Daniher family have been centre stage, another family could see their twin sons match-up on each other.
Blues star Harry McKay and Dons big man Ben McKay but they have both started as forwards.
As Hinkley pointed out on Kayo Sports, it’s possible they could ruck against each other later on.
The MCG paused and the lights dimmed for a pregame tribute to Neale Daniher with members of the Daniher family taking to the field to join the players.
Big Freeze 12 tomorrow will be when the biggest tribute is held but this one was excellent.
The Dons players went and acknowledged the family before completing the final warmups.
One of the children in the family could be seen doing cartwheels as the family walked off the ground, she was wearing the Big Freeze beanie too.
Play on.
Peter Ryan at the MCG:
That was an outstanding pre-match tribute to Neale Daniher. Just hit the mark for everyone at the ground on the eve of tomorrow’s Big Freeze 12 at the MCG.
The Daniher family are here again to honour Neale and participate in Essendon’s pre-match.
That must be hard but they are wearing beanies and posing for photos with smiles in front of interchange before the pre-match all starts with three generations on hand.
Neale Daniher was obviously an Essendon great whose playing career was cut short due to a knee injury.
