Round 21 - Essendon vs Richmond - Game Thread

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:17 pm

DATE: Sunday, 26 August 2007
TIME: 5:10PM (AEST)
VENUE: MCG

Football games don’t get much bigger than this and neither do Essendon legends.

This Sunday afternoon's blockbuster will go down in history as one of the most anticipated games of all time with Bomber fans set to pack the MCG to celebrate the careers of two all-time Essendon greats in Kevin Sheedy and James Hird.

But it's not only the chance to be part of Essendon history that guarantees this twilight match will be a spectacle.

The Bombers' finals aspirations are still alive, if only just, following their win over Carlton last week and Essendon will be doing whatever they can to keep that window of opportunity open for a crack at September action.

What needs to go right

The Bombers will be desperate to give the two Essendon greats a fitting send off in front of a packed MCG and, given the rivalry between the two sides, this match is sure to be a cracker.

Given their last encounter in Dreamtime at the G went down to the wire, with the Bombers winning by just eight points, Richmond would be keen for revenge and respect by securing victory over Essendon.

The Bombers showed promise last week after a very poor start as players across the ground stood up to be counted by playing accountable football and it will need to be the case for four quarters this week.

Richmond has nothing to lose and everything to gain with the Tigers entrenched at the bottom of the ladder - the Bombers cannot take them lightly and suffer an upset loss like Collingwood did two weeks ago.

Head to head

The packed MCG crowd this week will be eager to see the magic of Essendon champion James Hird. In what could be his last match in Melbourne, football fans will be hoping to catch a final glimpse of his silky skills and footballing genius and Hird is sure to provide nothing less. He has proven his ability to lift the side when the Bombers need it most and, as finals linger within reach, this is an occasion when you can expect to see some of his best.

You can also guarantee an intense battle between Matthew Richardson and Mal Michael, and Richmond fans would not have forgotten the controversial hands-in-the-ball decision involving these two last time the sides met. The decision would not be lost on Richardson who would be keen to get one back on Michael when the pair clash on Sunday.

Matthew Lloyd was on fire last week – kicking six goals – and is sure to be heading into this match with confidence. Given his career-long association and friendships with James Hird and Kevin Sheedy, he will be hoping to pull some more tricks out of the bag and make this one match to remember. It will be a tough job to try to limit the inspired sharpshooter and Joel Bowden is likely to be at the receiving end of the unenviable role this week.

The Tigers' Nathan Foley will be one to watch this week and has been one of the big improvers in the competition this year with his ability to win plenty of ball in the centre. Hard-at-it midfielder Mark McVeigh could be given the task to put real pressure on him and curb his influence on the match this week.

TV COVERAGE Fox Sports 1: (Live)
Melbourne: 5.00pm
Adelaide: 4.30pm
Perth: 3.00pm
Sydney: 5.00pm
Brisbane: 4.00pm

Seven Network
Adelaide 4.30pm (delay)

All times are local times.
RADIO COVERAGE Live coverage:
ABC Melbourne 4:30 PM
SEN Melbourne 4:00 PM
ABC Adelaide 4:30 PM
ABC Perth 2:30 PM
ABC Hobart 4:30 PM
ABC Darwin 4:00 PM

All times are local times.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
GAMES PLAYED 180
ESSENDON WINS 98
RICHMOND WINS 78
DRAWN GAMES 4
ESSENDON HIGHEST
SCORE v RICHMOND Round 2, 1960
ESSENDON 25.20.170 v. RICHMOND 5.15.45
ESSENDON LOWEST
SCORE v RICHMOND Round 8, 1918
ESSENDON 3.4.22 v. RICHMOND 5.15.45

LAST TIME THEY MET
Round 9, 2007
ESSENDON 3.4 5.9 7.15 12.20.92
RICHMOND 2.3 6.6 10.10 12.12.84
ESSENDON GOALKICKERS: Lucas 3, Lloyd 3, Hille 2, Davey, Fletcher, Dyson, McPhee
RICHMOND GOALKICKERS: Richardson 4, Jackson 3, Krakouer 2, Tambling, Deledio, Pattison
ESSENDON BEST PLAYERS: McPhee, Hird, Lucas, Stanton, Hille
Venue: MCG Crowd: 61,837 Full match report...

Mrs Mercuri · Post by **Mrs Mercuri** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:38 pm

i read on the afl website that the final changes for the match so far are...

HILLE, DEMPSEY -IN
FLETCH, HOCKING- OUT

Bradley, Hocking and Neagle have been named emergencies

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 12:57 pm

Good to see Bradley not replacing Fletcher!

Gyoza · Post by **Gyoza** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:22 pm

damn, pretty dead in here for such a huuuuuge day. I guess everyone is out firing themselves up.

dom_105 · Post by **dom_105** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:05 pm

BomberinJapan wrote:damn, pretty dead in here for such a huuuuuge day. I guess everyone is out firing themselves up.

True.

My excuse is the boss cracked the shits because I took yesterday off and he wouldn't give me the day off today.

I guess the radio will suffice.

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:09 pm

Damn, it's either ABC or SEN

bomberdonnie · Post by **bomberdonnie** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:24 pm

I am being made to watch the game with my mother in law...

I might chop off my finger so that I can go to the hospital and watch it!!!!!!

Gyoza · Post by **Gyoza** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:29 pm

I just wish I could watch it. I`ll be turning off the radio at 5 and waiting 24 hours for the BomberTV replay. The one advantage of being in Japan is that there`s absolutely noone to tell you the score.

Post by **Megan** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:31 pm

I'll be watching it on austar, so in light of my router still being somewhere over the bass strait (I hope) I wont be online.

Enjoy it people... not happy about Fletch but there you have it.

bomberdonnie · Post by **bomberdonnie** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:26 pm

Coverage has started on Fox.... They had a 'tribute' to Hirdy and it was pathetic. Must have only been able to use their own footage??

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:15 pm

Richo kicks the first. Lloyd with the reply.

Mrs Mercuri · Post by **Mrs Mercuri** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:19 pm

I don't have foxtel and the afl website is down... damn!

Johnson of the Kane variety kicked the next goal for rich.

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:19 pm

Goal for goal so far.. 12-12. Our goals by Lloyd and dempsey

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:41 pm

Quarter Time
Score: Essendon lead by 12 points.
Venue: MCG

ESSENDON:
Lloyd 2, Dempsey, Hille, Hird
RICHMOND:
Richardson, Johnson, Riewoldt

Hird kicked a goal at 1/4 time. Good work Jimmy.

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 6:14 pm

Half Time
Score: RICHMOND lead by 4 points.
Venue: MCG

ESSENDON:
Lloyd 2, Hille 2, Dempsey, Hird, Stanton
RICHMOND:
Richardson, Johnson, Riewoldt, Tambling, Newman, Pettifer, Brown

We suck!

bomberflyer · Post by **bomberflyer** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:01 pm

We are are a disgraceful outfit. We should be down by 8 goals at 3 Qtr Time.

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:12 pm

Down 66-88 15 minutes left. ITSOVER

bomberflyer · Post by **bomberflyer** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:14 pm

I turning it off now - good riddens Kevin Sheedy - you're the reason we are the position we're in.

Why the hell do u have Lucas at CHB - no idea.

KaaN10 · Post by **KaaN10** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:32 pm

86-113

f****** pathetic ugly f******.

Mrs Mercuri · Post by **Mrs Mercuri** » Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:32 pm

wow what a disgraceful performance. I only listened up to half time but Richmond were absolutely dominating right from the first bounce. We were lucky that they were so inaccurate early.

we are 33 points down now with 23 mins gone last quarter