Round 1 - Essendon vs Port Adelaide Match Thread

[paddyl90]

Woooooot !!! My excitement levels has exploded through the roof, anticipating a good hit out today. Wouldn't be surprised with a win but I'll stay conservative at this time. Record against them is sh*t but there comes a time to break the drought, hopefully thats today! CMON BOMBERS =D> =D> =D> =D>

[jimmyc1985]

I think we'll either win reasonably comfortably or get pumped by 8+ goals. Port are a bunch of downhill skiers and they've hit the downslope too many times against us over the last 5 years, fingers crossed we turn it around today.

[Windy_Hill]

Not the best way to start a season I guess - a road trip to Adelaide against our bogey side of the last 8 years. I dont think we will win, unless Knights has bluffed us all over the pre-season. I do believe however that this is a game all about intent. Intent to play a disciplined, professional game that can only get better with time. Its about players like Dempsey, Winderlich and Houli making a statement that despite injuries, they are ready to take on the world. Its about Lloyd and Lucas showing us that they have one more season in them whereby they can make a difference.


Yep, we may not win but boy we better show something or I will be very disappointed

[Jazz_84]

i work from 3 - 4:40ish so i better get home to watch the end of the game (game is 3:10pm my time)

carn Bombers!!!!!!

[tom9779]

just looking at the match ups on afl.com.au match centre.

dyson on burgoyne, hocking on gray, slattery on motlop.

they are the big three i am worried about.

i hope hille, licha and watson really win a LOT of football at the stoppages.

[tom9779]

early signs = ugly.

[Mrs Mercuri]

Started badly but they have settled over the past few minutes or so. Skippy, McPhee and Fletcher have started well.

Something happened between Brogan and Lovey before the first bounce... not sure what happened though. Dyson and Davey very flat footed at the moment.

[tom9779]

Started badly but they have settled over the past few minutes or so. Skippy, McPhee and Fletcher have started well.

Something happened between Brogan and Lovey before the first bounce... not sure what happened though. Dyson and Davey very flat footed at the moment.

i've only got the game on the radio...whats up with lloyd/lucas and neagle? struggle city? are we putting poor delivery into the forward 50?

[Mrs Mercuri]

Yeah our delivery inside 50 has been poor. We have been mucking around with it and Port just kicked a goal against the tide. Disappointing. Neagle has had a couple of opportunites to take a couple of marks but dropped them. Too many errors on our side at the moment. Skippy has had 9 possies already!

[Mrs Mercuri]

Quarter time... Port by 20 points. Pretty lucky really because they completely outplayed us in that quarter. We need to win more possessions through the midfield if our forwards (Lloydy, Lucas, Neagle and McPhee) are any chance of having an impact today. We are turning the ball over way too much at the moment. Slattery and Stanton in particular have been ordinary.

Best players in that quarter were... Skipworth, McPhee and Hocking (very pleased with his work around the ground so far).

[paddyl90]

I am so tense in my head at the moment, its so frustrating and stressful. Pears turnover is an example of the frustrations you must endure along the way whilst they develop and that really annoys me the most but you have to go through it. I'm clinging on just but they have the wind this quarter and scared of a blowout. We have the players but whats with this crap defensive mucking around stuff, it hasn't changed since last year. Stanton needs to wake up, I know its round 1, Watson too when he got bumped, so slow and unaware Stants was. Don't know how we are only 20 points down should be more. I'm sick of the same players playing well against us for Port e.g. Motlop, Salopek , Pearce. My pessimism has come back again. Hope that changes soon!!

[Royza]

Struggling in the clearances. 2nd to the ball. Getting killed on the rebound..

Attitude not good enough.

[Mrs Mercuri]

Stanton again gives away a silly free kick. Pears is struggling a bit as well. Port lining up for another goal....

Ebert again leading Slats to the ball

Pears gives away another free kick....

Signs are not good already, we just cant get clear possessions at the moment.

[tom9779]

Stanton again gives away a silly free kick. Pears is struggling a bit as well. Port lining up for another goal....

Ebert again leading Slats to the ball

Pears gives away another free kick....

Signs are not good already, we just cant get clear possessions at the moment.

burgoyne just got a gift...just in the back.

nevertheless the boys are second to the footy, but when they do have it...no options... the bombers look horrible.

nice goal by stants...but when we go forward it looks like bloody tough work.

[Mrs Mercuri]

Licha and Watson set up a brilliant snap for Stants.... we need more of them!

[Mrs Mercuri]

Lovett picked the pocket of a PA defender and Neagle bullocked through for a great goal!!!

They have lifted over the last 5 minutes!!

Tredrea just steamrolled through Dempsey and he is hurt.... holding his ribs.

[paddyl90]

Needed to release before. Good start to second quarter

[Mrs Mercuri]

Lucas just missed an easy mark now Port are rebounding.

Good news is that Dempsey seems ok!!

[tom9779]

we still need to fix those inside 50s.

hurley is being brave down back. i like knights faith in him.

big jay neagle is starting to lift...get lloyd and lucas involved too son.

[Mrs Mercuri]

Lovett turns it over and Westhoff goals....

so irritating just when we were starting to get some possessions through the middle.