After taking Game 1 of the series in a score of 5-2, the Bombers returned home looking to wrap it up in front of a home crowd but they weren’t to have it all their own way.
A three-run top of the first from Fitzroy off the back of a walk and four first inning singles had the Lions up and about before a Liam Bedford triple helped tie it at three all at the end of one.
Unfazed by the Essendon onslaught, the Lions put on three more in the second and another in the third to take a 7-3 lead through the first three frames.
Luke Abels entered the game for the Bombers, relieving Michael Formisano. Abels had arguably one of his best outings for the year, steadying the Bombers through his five innings of relief work, conceding only one hit, no runs and striking out five.
Extra base hits to Scott McIntyre and Ross Bament closed the gap in the fifth and before Ross Bament picked up his second hit of the afternoon to put Essendon ahead in the seventh with a two-run single to right.
From there, the ball was handed over to Kyle Bedford to close the door on the Lions season with a walk the only blemish on his two innings of relief.
Dean McIntyre was the pick of the hitters for Essendon with three singles on the afternoon, while Scott McIntyre and Ross Bament picked up two each. For the Lions. Tom Wilson and Joel Mackenzie each recorded multiple hit games.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Fitzroy Lions | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 4 |
| Essendon Bombers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | 8 | 12 | 1 |
The Bombers will now look to break their own record, entering this week’s Grand Final series in search of their sixth consecutive Division 1 Premiership.
To win it, they’ll have to get through a red-hot Melbourne Demons outfit.
Also back at home for Game 2 of their Semi Final Series, Melbourne took a the 4-1 victory over Blackburn on Saturday, to also wrap up their series in consecutive games.
The Demons scored one run in the fourth on a single to Alex Hondromatidis and three runs in the sixth inning, 2 on a single by Mitch Ayres.
Shane Kraemer the match winner for Melbourne, earning the win for the home side with his eight-inning start, allowing zero runs, two hits, and striking out eight. Liam Devine threw two-thirds of an inning, with Matt Blackmore closing as the two relievers helped Melbourne finish off the victory and put an end to Blackburn’s season.
Nathan Harris took the loss for Blackburn. He tossed four and two-thirds innings, allowing one run, five hits, and striking out seven.
Melbourne collected eight hits. Mitch Ayres, Matt Kent, and Alex Hondromatidis each collected 2 hits, while Sam Boone & Oliver McMahon had 1 each.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Blackburn Oriels | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Melbourne Demons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 8 | 1 |
