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Taranto nails a goal of the year contender

Tigers star Tim Taranto has booted a stunning goal, falling away on the right boundary.

“That’s gone through from an impossible angle,” Jason Dunstall exclaimed on Fox Footy.

“He’s getting tackled. Surely, he was trying to centre it.”

Dons 6, Tigers 6 with 11 mins to go in Q1.

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Dons grow their lead

Essendon showed some patience to open the last term as they held the ball and then went through the corridor and attacked the goals finding Archie Perkins who booted the goal.

Dons 69, Tigers 50 with 16 mins left to play.

Watch: Lloyd explains Merrett’s meeting with Dons greats

Dons great Matthew Lloyd has explained the meeting between current skipper Zach Merrett and several of the club’s past leaders.

Three-quarter time stats

3QT: Essendon 9.8 (62) to Richmond 7.8 (50)

The Tigers have are still in it but they will need to do something very special to overtake the Dons in the final term.

Essendon has a two-goal lead going into the last term and two players out injured but they still look strong enough to win the match.

Time will tell if the Dons have enough legs to hold on and win.

Guelfi goals for Dons

Matt Guelfi is back for his first game of 2025, and he’s been given a free kick against Sam Banks, gone back and booted his first goal of the night.

The Tigers need to be more disciplined. Kamdyn McIntosh gave up a 50-metre penalty earlier in the play which led to that goal.

Jake Niall’s take: Guelfi exaggerated contact then to get that free and goal. That’s a questionable call.

Dons 61, Tigers 50 with 90 seconds to go in Q3.

What a huge blow: Reid out of match

Channel Seven has reported important Bombers tall Zach Reid has a hamstring injury and is done for the match.

Fox Footy just showed him getting treatment on the bench.

Dons 55, Tigers 50 with four mins to go in Q3.

Reid down for Dons

Zach Reid has just gone down to the rooms.

Given his injury history and enormous promise, every member of the Essendon nation will be saying small prayers that Reid is OK and whatever ails him isn’t yet another injury.

Durham seems OK, and is back on the field, which is important in the context of this game.

Kyle Langford was subbed out earlier in the match.

Losing Reid would be a nightmare for the Dons.

Peter Wright has booted a goal to ease the pressure on the Dons, but all eyes are on the Essendon bench.

Dons 54, Tigers 50 with seven mins to go in Q3.

Lalor kicks his second

We are seeing some young stars show their talents on the big stage tonight.

Top pick Sam Lalor has booted his second goal of the match, this time with a running finish after a great handball from fellow star on the rise Luke Trainor.

The two sides have a little tussle as well after a late hit on one of the young Tigers.

Tigers 50, Dons 48 with eight mins to go in Q3.

Don’t look now, Dons fans...

Sam Durham just left the field. Hopefully for the Dons, he’s OK – it would be worrisome if not, given he’s been close to best afield.

Taranto rides the breeze to a goal

Taranto is having a night out in front of goal.

He marked just inside the 50-metre arc and started his kick for goal outside the right goal post, and it curved back through nicely.

Dons 47, Tigers 43 with 13 mins to go in Q3.