Related content: Match report
Video: Scott and Firrito | YouTube
Video: Match highlights (Press play) | YouTube
Video: Wells brilliant soccer goal | YouTube

Free-flowing and fantastic?
The game was another frenetic, skilful and high-scoring affair, in keeping with the rest of round one. The most notable feature of the contest was the amount of space both sides gave each other, with hard tags rarely employed during the evening.

What does it mean?
Both Essendon (eighth last year) and North Melbourne (ninth in 2011) are expected to be fighting it out for places in the lower half of the top eight. The Kangaroos' effort to kick the last four goals of the game, after they trailed by 25 points, showed they have plenty of heart. But the outcome suggested that the Bombers have more depth and class. When you take into account Essendon's injury dramas and poor kicking for goal, the gap between the two sides might be a bit greater than two points, which was the final margin.

Barrels are back
During the pre-season there was much talk about torpedo punts returning as an attacking weapon to be deployed against the defensive press. And North Melbourne's Drew Petrie showed how effective a good torp can be when, with Essendon leading by 15 points with eight minutes to go, he launched a big one that travelled from half-back to half-forward. The ball spilled through Aaron Edwards' hands and fell at the back of the pack, with no Bombers defenders between the ball and the goals. North midfielder Daniel Wells ran towards the Sherrin, tapped it in front of him, then soccered the goal of the night from 30m out. Petrie's torpedo was a high-risk option, but it certainly paid off.

Video review
There was never any doubt that the new video review system was going to be controversial, and it was in the spotlight early in the second quarter. The drama began when Bombers skipper Jobe Watson was high-fiving his teammates after appearing to snap through a crucial goal. But after the North Melbourne players mounted a protest - they believed the ball had been touched by Todd Goldstein - the umpires called for a review. The vision appeared inconclusive, but the goal umpire had the Essendon supporters crying foul when he patted his chest and signalled a behind.

The video review was called for in more bizarre circumstances in the 19th minute of the third quarter. Essendon's Stewart Crameri had a long shot at the big sticks, which appeared to be heading through for a goal. But as the ball was crossing the line, North backman Michael Firrito accidentally poleaxed the goal umpire. The field umpire then called for a video review, and the vision clearly showed the ball had grazed the post. A behind was awarded, with no one complaining this time.

It was big night all round for the umpires, with a boundary ump going down during the first quarter after being knocked over by Lindsay Thomas. There were also plenty of eyes on former Essendon and Carlton midfielder Jordan Bannister, who was officiating in his first premiership season match. Bannister copped his first serious spray from the crowd when he awarded a deliberate out of bounds decision against Roos skipper Andrew Swallow with six minutes to go.
 
Nathan Lovett-Murray's revival
Plenty of Essendon supporters were questioning James Hird's decision to select the 29-year-old midfielder. Lovett-Murray ended up being named as the Bombers' starting substitute - as he was on a number of occasions last year - but he was thrown into the fray before quarter-time after Heath Hocking suffered concussion when a Brent Harvey kick cannoned into his head. Lovett-Murray grabbed his opportunity with both hands, booting a great running goal early in the second quarter. He then had the Essendon fans roaring his name when he popped through another one, from 49m out on the run, which put the Bombers in front just before half-time.

Related content: Match report
Video: Scott and Firrito | YouTube
Video: Match highlights (Press play) | YouTube
Video: Wells brilliant soccer goal | YouTube