Essendon:
Backs: Nash Michael McVeigh
Half-back: Welsh Fletcher McPhee
Centre: Bolton Watson Camporeale
Half-forward: Hird Lucas Slattery
Forwards: J.Johnson Lloyd Davey
Rucks: Ryder Peverill Winderlich
Bench: M.Johnson Laycock Stanton Lovett
Melbourne:
Backs: D.Ward, N.Carroll, P.Wheatley
Half backs: S.Godfrey, C.Bizzell, D.Bell
Centreline: C.Bruce, J.McDonald, T.Johnstone
Half forwards: B.Green, R.Robertson, A.Davey
Forwards: C.Sylvia, D.Neitz, M.Bate
Rucks: J.White, B.McLean, N.Jones
Bench: P.Johnson, R.Petterd, M.Newton, N.Brown
I think their will be a late change in the Essendon side. I'm tipping Essendon by 26. Go the dons!
Rd 13 - Essendon vs Melbourne @ Telstra Dome - Game Thread
Essendon v Melbourne
Where and when: Friday June 29, Telstra Dome, 7.40pm
Head to head: Essendon 123 wins, Melbourne 77 wins, drawn 2
Last time: Melbourne 16.15 (111) d Essendon 10.15 (75), round 12, 2006, at Telstra Dome
SUMMARY
It has been a dramatic week for Melbourne. After two inspiring wins, things looked like they might be getting back on track for the Demons - Brad Green even said they were still in the finals race. Then reality bit hard and the winless Tigers, hungrier than ever, tore them apart.
Melbourne’s off-field team responded to the loss by ordering a review of the football department, an unusual move mid-season. And in the wake of all that, coach Neale Daniher fell on his sword, announcing that he would quit. As a result, this will be his last match at the helm of the team. Make no mistake, Essendon will be only too keen to add to the misery at the Junction Oval.
And so to the Bombers – do we rate them as highly as we should? They shot out of the blocks, came back to reality before fighting back and proving themselves as a genuine side worthy of respect. They’ll be wary of this potential banana skin.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Matthew Lloyd v Nathan Carroll
Reckon these two might have a bit of niggle going on? If the Demon players see Carroll holding Lloyd early, it will give them a huge boost. Vice versa, if Lloyd starts to wind up, the Bombers will lift with him.
James Hird v James McDonald
The retirement party of James Hird seems to be growing in stature every week, and it’s time other clubs realised he’s too effective to be left without a tagger. All-Australian James McDonald might be needed to quell Hird’s influence.
David Hille v Jeff White
Hille has taken his time, but there’s no question he’s now a player comparable to the likes of White. With first use of the ball of utmost importance in a match like this, the ruck battle will be absolutely vital.
WILDCARD
Aaron Davey
Two goals from Aaron Davey last week suggests he had some involvement in the game, but with barely 12 possessions to his name, he simply didn’t do enough. He’s had some great matches this year where he’s proved he’s more than a goalsneak, and he needs to do it again.
BLUFFER'S GUIDE
On sheer form and past evidence alone, you have to side with the Bombers here. They have been terrific for the larger part of 2007 and have impressed in all of their wins, capped off with their freight-train win over West Coast a few weeks back. Fit and refreshed after their loss to Port, they’ll be favoured by most.
MID-WEEK QUESTION MARKS:
Injured pair David Neitz and Travis Johnstone have been kept in cotton wool during the week in the hope both will play. Will either come up? And if they do, could it shift momentum to the red and the blue?
So close to being either traded or perhaps even delisted over the years, is it time we acknowledge that Damien Peverill has taken his game to the next level?
Will the Melbourne players respond to Neale Daniher's last match as they should?
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
Where and when: Friday June 29, Telstra Dome, 7.40pm
Head to head: Essendon 123 wins, Melbourne 77 wins, drawn 2
Last time: Melbourne 16.15 (111) d Essendon 10.15 (75), round 12, 2006, at Telstra Dome
SUMMARY
It has been a dramatic week for Melbourne. After two inspiring wins, things looked like they might be getting back on track for the Demons - Brad Green even said they were still in the finals race. Then reality bit hard and the winless Tigers, hungrier than ever, tore them apart.
Melbourne’s off-field team responded to the loss by ordering a review of the football department, an unusual move mid-season. And in the wake of all that, coach Neale Daniher fell on his sword, announcing that he would quit. As a result, this will be his last match at the helm of the team. Make no mistake, Essendon will be only too keen to add to the misery at the Junction Oval.
And so to the Bombers – do we rate them as highly as we should? They shot out of the blocks, came back to reality before fighting back and proving themselves as a genuine side worthy of respect. They’ll be wary of this potential banana skin.
KEY MATCH-UPS
Matthew Lloyd v Nathan Carroll
Reckon these two might have a bit of niggle going on? If the Demon players see Carroll holding Lloyd early, it will give them a huge boost. Vice versa, if Lloyd starts to wind up, the Bombers will lift with him.
James Hird v James McDonald
The retirement party of James Hird seems to be growing in stature every week, and it’s time other clubs realised he’s too effective to be left without a tagger. All-Australian James McDonald might be needed to quell Hird’s influence.
David Hille v Jeff White
Hille has taken his time, but there’s no question he’s now a player comparable to the likes of White. With first use of the ball of utmost importance in a match like this, the ruck battle will be absolutely vital.
WILDCARD
Aaron Davey
Two goals from Aaron Davey last week suggests he had some involvement in the game, but with barely 12 possessions to his name, he simply didn’t do enough. He’s had some great matches this year where he’s proved he’s more than a goalsneak, and he needs to do it again.
BLUFFER'S GUIDE
On sheer form and past evidence alone, you have to side with the Bombers here. They have been terrific for the larger part of 2007 and have impressed in all of their wins, capped off with their freight-train win over West Coast a few weeks back. Fit and refreshed after their loss to Port, they’ll be favoured by most.
MID-WEEK QUESTION MARKS:
Injured pair David Neitz and Travis Johnstone have been kept in cotton wool during the week in the hope both will play. Will either come up? And if they do, could it shift momentum to the red and the blue?
So close to being either traded or perhaps even delisted over the years, is it time we acknowledge that Damien Peverill has taken his game to the next level?
Will the Melbourne players respond to Neale Daniher's last match as they should?
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
-
Bomber Mad
- Top Up Player
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:40 pm
Pre-match comments: The good news for the Bombers is that there are no late changes to the team tonight. After Brent Stanton missed training during the week some thought he may not have played, so it is good news he lines up for the Dons tonight.
And in the other big pre-match news one lucky fan won $10,000 in the 3 from 3 competition, courtesy of 3 mobile. It was the first time the $10,000 went off in the competition - and there's one more chance to enter in the lead up to round 17 - look out for the prompts on the website during the week leading up to that game!
And in the other big pre-match news one lucky fan won $10,000 in the 3 from 3 competition, courtesy of 3 mobile. It was the first time the $10,000 went off in the competition - and there's one more chance to enter in the lead up to round 17 - look out for the prompts on the website during the week leading up to that game!
-
Bomber Mad
- Top Up Player
- Posts: 36
- Joined: Thu Feb 01, 2007 8:40 pm
-
Lloyd is King
- Champion of Essendon
- Posts: 8706
- Joined: Sat Sep 02, 2006 6:31 pm
