AFL Round 21 Gameday Thread: Dockers Vs Dons

[footycool]

http://www.geocities.com/quadival/Fremantle.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/56/2006_AFL_Essendon.jpg

Dockers vs Dons, Subiaco 23rd of August, 4.40pm AEST

http://www.afl.com.au/Results/tabid/11433/default.aspx?display=1&seasonid=71&roundid=725&fixtureid=5201
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Dons lost three of their four road trips in 2008 and they've mirrored that record this season. At Subiaco Oval they've won one match from their last eight starts, but there's no doubt Essendon is on the up and is more than capable of defying those records. Before last week's results, Fremantle would have been favoured for this one; falling meekly to the bottom-placed side while the Bombers beat the unbeatable changed all of that.
http://www.afl.com.au/Results/tabid/11433/default.aspx?display=1&seasonid=71&roundid=725&fixtureid=5201

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/matches/preview.asp?round_no=21&sub_section=previewFORM LINE
It was a superb win by the players last week and they certainly played some team orientated football. Even when the team was challenged late in the game when we were three men down they were still playing good solid football. We did make a couple of blemishes and St Kilda's pressure was good but all in all I was extremely impressed with their performance particularly after St Kilda got three goals up. When a top team who hasn't lost all year kicks three goals before you even score can be a little disheartening at times but they gutted it out and worked through that part of the game and once we got rolling and found some momentum we got our confidence. All in all though it was a great performance and hopefully one that we can replicate this week.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/matches/preview.asp?round_no=21&sub_section=preview

http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/preview
Based on last week's results, this should be a walk in the park for the Bombers. Their win against St Kilda has revitalised their finals hopes while Fremantle were awful in going down to the lowly Demons. But there is much more to this match than first meets the eye. Fremantle are a totally different side at Subiaco and the Bombers will have to deal with the expectation that this is a game they 'should' win. Like most teams, Essendon have a poor record at Subiaco, having won just one of their past eight games in the west. Fremantle will have a huge advantage in the ruck, with Paddy Ryder's absence meaning Tom Bellchambers and possibly Cale Hooker will take on the might of Aaron Sandilands. Essendon's finals chances are on the line; how will they respond?
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/preview

Here are some previews from various websites

What are everyones predictions for arguably the most important game of the season, Discuss..

[lloydy1818]

bombers to win by 4 pts

[Macca18]

Eyes of the AFL world will be on us late tommorow afternoon to see if we can seal the top 8.

Most important roadtrip for a long while. Dockers will come our breathing fire after their performance last week, it will be up to us to see if we can halt this sort of momentum from the start and put scoreboard pressure on. The rest will fall into place if we manage to do this.

[Lach72]

Could be Bombers vs Hawks for the final spot ;)

[essendon2008]

Essendon by 38.

I feel our luck has turned the last few weeks and so far this round everything has gone to plan. I believe Essendon will win convincingly and prove to the doubters we can beat the good teams....errr i mean the not so good teams. :p

[essendon2008]

Could be Bombers vs Hawks for the final spot ;)

Please no, too much stress this season already! :D

[The Dustbin]

This is a no brainer if you go on form. Ess beat the top side last week, and Fre get pumped by the bottom team.

Despite the injuries and the game in Perth, we should win.

[King Of The Hille]

My head says freo by 25
My heart says Essendon by 1

For me the game will be won and lost in the ruck. If the behemoth destroys bellchambers then simply we will lose. If bellchambers holds his own we will win. If freo get 4/5 clearances they will win however if we can restrict them to say 3/5 then i give us a REAL chance. Quite simply pavlich has too be stopped and i cant see any of our boys being able to match him up.

Not sure with the selections this week, i think we should have gone shorter but time will tell. Neagle is like the catalyst. If he can touch it 15 times and kick upward of three goals we WILL win.

Come on boys make a fool out of me.


Footycool how the **** do you have so many posts?Do you DO anything else?

[AndyLesPaul]

Can anyone else believe we're that close to finals?
One win against a fringe side, and we're in.
We can't lose this.
WE ARE ESSENDON

[Amazing Bombers]

Essendon by 5. Go the bombers!:)

[gavdog08]

hopefully it doesn't go down to the last kick;)

[Call Me Cake]

Can anyone else believe we're that close to finals?
One win against a fringe side, and we're in.
We can't lose this.
WE ARE ESSENDON

I don't think it'll set in until we're actually there.

Freo in tank mode. Now is the best time to play them, especially after beating the unbeaten team.

No excuses. :thumbsu:

[adii_7]

*reminder to self* pray before bed.

PLEASE ESSENDON !

[Strike Swiftly]

1200 posts since May09?????????

Essendon by 18 pts.

[silk]

Sandilands always wins the taps against us.. it's just that watson is a better reader of lurch's taps then freo are. If watson is in our best 3, i think we will win. If watson has an off game, we are in trouble.

Thankfully, Watson rarely has off games.

[eth-dog]

Sandilands always wins the taps... it's just that watson is a better reader of lurch's taps then freo are. If watson is in our best 3, i think we will win. If watson has an off game, we are in trouble.

Thankfully, Watson rarely has off games.
efa. I haven't seen Sandilands lose a hit-out contest this year. Equation simple: shut down Hase and Pav, we win

[Spikey]

This is a no brainer if you go on form. Ess beat the top side last week, and Fre get pumped by the bottom team.


Yep. With this in mind. Freo by 38.

[The Donners]

efa. I haven't seen Sandilands lose a hit-out contest this year. Equation simple: shut down Hase and Pav, we win

How many are to his team's advantage? Remember, they're sitting 15th for a good reason.

[Lach72]

How many are to his team's advantage? Remember, they're sitting 15th for a good reason.

Most of them...shizen midfield...but getting better

[eth-dog]

How many are to his team's advantage? Remember, they're sitting 15th for a good reason.
that's my point, he wins hit-outs, but only Pav and Hase get them.

[DockerShocker]

i haven't been this excited about a game for quite a while
we always play well after a 60 point plummel and it's at subi :)
freo by 8

[The Donners]

Most of them...shizen midfield...but getting better

He'll win 50 hitouts today and Essendon will still win the game, how much influence then does Sandilands have in the ruck? Should've stuck to basketball imo.

Essendon by 6 goals.

[Donsftw14]

Going to the game today :D hopefully we can pull the win out and confirm a final 8 position.

Ruck will be crucial, how many taps will sandilands hit down to our players :rolleyes:

I don't feel confident, but essendon by 6

[abers47]

Freo won't be keen to win - will jump too many spots on the ladder! Draft time is coming! ;)

[doug85]

This feels like a 50/50 game to me. Weighing up our injuries and fatigue from last week against the Jekyll and Hyde Freo makes it difficult to make a prediction with any confidence. Bombers by a goal.

[lions_den]

Do you guys reckon you'll win? Thinking of including Essendon in a Sunday multi:thumbsu:

[Charliebrow 16]

I can't explain it, but I'm extremely confident.

[caboose]

Do you guys reckon you'll win? Thinking of including Essendon in a Sunday multi:thumbsu:

Sorry mate, can't help. :eek:

Essendon should win, but our form is almost impossible to read.

[GoldenboyHird_5]

We love to give these games up.

Freo by 4-5 goals, if it gets ugly, more.

[HULK HOGAN]

Im really hoping for big games out of Mcveigh, Welsh, Lonegran ans Prissmal. If they can get to as many contests as possible to help Jobe out. Fletcher the Ledgend will be the General down back and 6 goals out of Angus and Neagle would be a great help.
Essendon by 20, Mcveigh, Welsh in our best players and no injurys of course!!

[james_omahoney]

I wonder how Atkinson would go as third man up in a ruck contest.

[HULK HOGAN]

I wonder how Atkinson would go as third man up in a ruck contest.
We could well try things like this today, esecially being in the situation we are in, would love to see him develop into a valuble running defender.

[SMDUC]

I hope essendon win by 6 goals today

[Zahasouvlakis]

We love to give these games up.

Freo by 4-5 goals, if it gets ugly, more.


Do you ever tip your own team:confused:

[Call Me Cake]

We love to give these games up.

Freo by 4-5 goals, if it gets ugly, more.

You've never really been a confident fellow, GoldenBoy.

Sometimes I question your "support".

[HULK HOGAN]

You've never really been a confident fellow, GoldenBoy.

Sometimes I question your "support".
Does anyone think there will be any late changes?

[twobluesfc]

You'd think Fletch would be doubtful. You'd think the would bring in Daniher as an extra tall seeing Hurley will probably play up forward.

Lets be confident guys, there is too much at stake for the boys and I reckon we will get home by 4 goals and big Jay Neagle will have a break out game!

[footycool]

Essendon
B: Nathan Lovett-Murray, Tayte Pears, Jarrod Atkinson
HB: Henry Slattery, Dustin Fletcher, Adam McPhee
C: Andrew Lovett, Jason Winderlich, Mark McVeigh
HF: Alwyn Davey, Michael Hurley, Angus Monfries
F: Cale Hooker, Jay Neagle, Andrew Welsh
Foll: Michael Quinn, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson
I/C: Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Tom Bellchambers, Leroy Jetta

Changes to the selected side
In: Leroy Jetta
Out: Sam Lonergan


LOL Quinn up against sandilands

[abers47]

bugger - love watching Sammy!

[Godzke]

Come on boys!!

[TeamHurley]

Lets go dons! Future is well and truely in our hands. Dont make us wait another week! Dons by 39pts.

[abers47]

At least Fletcher is in!

[footycool]

Now the footy world turns to our game, lets put on a show dons!!

[Bombers42]

Time to make the 8 common!, big game

[George Washington]

Anyone have a stream lined up for this, PM please :)

[footycool]

Low scoring game coming up, just started raining

[Lance Uppercut]

footage on Fox just showed Jetta in the jumper in the rooms. Fletcher out?

[Boiled Geezer]

footage on Fox just showed Jetta in the jumper in the rooms. Fletcher out?

If that's true and Jetta plays like rubbish these boards will explode with the ensuing shitfiight between lovers and haters.

[footycool]

Out: Lonergan, IN: Jetta

[George Washington]

Out Lonergan
In Jetta

[KaaN10]

Lonergan out

[Smyth94]

Jetta IN; Lonergan OUT

[Lance Uppercut]

I like it

[footycool]

Everyone ready for Ball up, GO DONS!

[bipolarbeaR]

Fastest team I have ever seen on paper.

[TeamHurley]

pull your sock up hooker.

[bipolarbeaR]

Cmon!! Intensity!!??

[TeamHurley]

Watson goal. Legend!

[Crumpler83]

...and some people still think Jobe can't kick :cool:

[Boiled Geezer]

Watty gets off Hedland and goal!

[footycool]

Watson!

[George Washington]

Prismall just went to ground 3 times in a row...

[TeamHurley]

Freo goal. Bombers look a little flat. Prismall looks like the slowest player out there.

[qwertyboy]

Hulrey playing forward?

[TeamHurley]

Fire up dons!

[Spikey]

Wanna work GameDay live?

[bipolarbeaR]

over this

[Seb78]

Terrible kick Slattery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[adii_7]

3 goals down already? Sandilands is going to ... single-handly rape the club

[Boiled Geezer]

Terrible kick Slattery!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Windy's was twice as bad!

[bipolarbeaR]

.......................... We clearly don't want to win.

[TeamHurley]

Fre 3.2 20 Ess 1.0 6


Freo dominating. All the game being played in the bombers half.
Inside 50's 10:2 in Freos favour. Not looking good.
Need a lift from somewhere. Plenty of players not even sighted.

[qwertyboy]

Dammit bombers

[qwertyboy]

Slack kicking

[TeamHurley]

Neagle contested mark on tarrant then kicks a............ point.
Tough shot.

[Seb78]

WTF is with game day live??

[hotdish]

FYI

http://liveplay.championdata.com/applet.html

[qwertyboy]

Fletcher going real well 6 touches already with a suffed hammy

[Big Blow Hard]

Horrible 1st quarter. Down in intensity, skill, desire.

[marcuz]

the game is already shot, can't say im surprised either.

[footycool]

Hurly!!!

[qwertyboy]

West Coast game all over again letting them get all over us.......

[Big Blow Hard]

Hurley! Fantastic grab. Good kick from Neagle.

Kick the goal son.

YES!!!!!

[TeamHurley]

big contested grab from hurley and kicks a goal!

[lards]

typical...coming out flat against a side we should flog. Don't we have something to play for?

[lards]

Good stuff Hurley...hopefully we use the momentum.

[Boiled Geezer]

Great grab and goal from Hurley!



Negative Nancy's, please go elsewhere.

[Big Blow Hard]

the game is already shot, can't say im surprised either.

I'm not writing us off yet.
Starting to lift now.
Only a goal down.

we will win by 40+

[Seb78]

that would have been lovely going into qtr time DAMN!

[footycool]

Dons just clicking into gear

[AndyLesPaul]

Lovett really needs to improve with his running kick.

[TeamHurley]

looks like they have lifted a gear.

[Big Blow Hard]

Suban was caught cold!! **** Ump.

[Seb78]

Prismall is seriously lacking some confidence

[TeamHurley]

Bulls***t umpiring.

[Big Blow Hard]

Prismall is seriously lacking some confidence

Notice he let Bellchambers bend to get the ball then, instead of going and getting it himself.

[HirdforPM]

our skills has nearly been as bad as the umpiring

[Big Blow Hard]

Quinn, you little gem, lol.

Monfries goal. Even

Pears off injured?? :eek:

[footycool]

GOAL!! were playing better

[TeamHurley]

Quinn with the tidy goal assist! Monfries kicks the goal. Commentators mentioned something about an injury to pears.