rather than in the open sessions at the Bulldogs' home ground Whitten Oval. Match summary First quarter The match was played under the roof at Colonial Stadium, so conditions were still. The Bulldogs attacked first, the very first centre clearance ending with a mark to Matthew Robbins 10m from goal on an angle, which was missed badly for a behind; but they continued to attack and after goals to Nathan Brown and Steven Kolyniuk, the early lead was 13 points. With the super-flood in effect, Essendon struggled to generate early chances in the forward-line, and its first goal came when Stephen Alessio marked 80m from goal and Steven Kretiuk conceded a 50-metre penalty for knocking the ball away. The Bulldogs soon responded when Nathan Eagleton kicked a 50m set shot from a free kick, leading 3.1 (19) to 1.0 (6) halfway through the first quarter. Essendon's Damien Hardwick left the field with an ankle injury which kept him out for the rest of the game. Michael Long set up Essendon's next goal, intercepting a handpass at full stretch in the middle of the field before and running forward, the goal finished by Matthew Lloyd. The Bulldogs again responded, Tony Liberatore snapping a goal after roving a ball-up at full forward, before Lloyd kicked his second goal from a broken contest in the goal square. Dustin Fletcher, normally at full back but playing as a forward for much of the game, took a last shot from 60m which missed to the left. Dean Rioli also had two running shots which failed to score for Essendon in the first quarter, and at quarter time the Bulldogs led Essendon 4.1 (25) to 3.2 (20). Second quarter Essendon took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter when Fletcher converted a set shot from 40m. Soon after, a hurried shot by Blake Caracella from 50m out fell in the Essendon goalsquare, and rolled through for a goal off Adam Ramanauskas's boot without Ramanauskas even appearing to notice. A more direct style of play led to another goal soon after, Joe Misiti converting a 45m set shot, and Essendon led by 13 points, having kicked five of the last six goals – prompting the commentary team to question the defensive tactics. The Bulldogs scored next, Simon Garlick converting a 35m set shot after a mark. Essendon had a chance to respond after