Preview Round 1 2017 - Essendon hosting Melbourne on a Friday night

[VanDemonxx]

Apparently the AFL set to grant the Bonbers' wish and give them a home Friday night game against Melbourne for the banned players to be welcomed back. We will probably lose as you will be riding a lot of momentum and crowd hype. But I'll take any Friday night game we can get! McCluggage/McGrath could easily be in that Bombers team by round 1. Anyway...

Bombers best 22 2017- (off Essendon Board)

B: Baguley - Hartley - Kelly
HB: Goddard - Hurley - Francis
C: Colyer - Watson - Zaharakis
HF: Laverde - Daniher - Tippin-Wutti
FF: Stewart - Hooker - Fantasia
R: Luenberger - Zerrett - Heppell
I/C Langford - Myers - Parish - Gleeson



Demons best 22 2017

B: Jetta - O. McDonald - Hibberd
HB: Salem - T.McDonald - Hunt
C: Stretch - Lewis - Vince
HF: Petracca - Hogan - Kent
FF: Watts - Weideman - Garlett
R: Gawn - Jones - Viney
I/C: Frost - Brayshaw - Tyson - Oliver / Melksham

Who wins????

 

[lamaros]

Wrong board?

 

[Headless]

Can't wait to welcome back Hibberd and Melksham.

 

[Mat Mann]

That's it #rewardthecheats. Typical AFL

 

[JayJ20]

It's one of Melbourne or Hawthorn.

Not set in stone yet

 

[james Dean]

Good Friday?

 

[Sherrinator]

Give them pick 1 and rd 1 friday night game.

Well played AwFL, well played.

 

[SCRAY72]

Why would the wooden spooners be given a Friday night, I thought Gil said they were given to teams based on performance.
What will the round 2 Friday game be, Brisbane v Freo?

 

[Meow]

Essendon wanting to have their cake and eat it. Keen for a bottom 4 draw that involves easy double-up matches, but want the perks (Friday nights, blockbusters, etc.) that go to better sides.

Don't think anything's confirmed yet, but disappointing if it happens. Couldn't care less about the doping scandal - blockbusters should go to clubs whose on-field performances actually warrant them.

 

[Wilbur90]

14 of the last 16 round 1 games EFC have played have been away games.

Any other club come close to that?

 

[Bluelegs]

How stupid are the AFL that they would want to celebrate the return of players banned from the game for taking banned substances? Are we the only sport in the world who can't see how bad such a notion looks?

I can understand the Essendon supporters wanting to celebrate it but why would the AFL agree to make it a friday night event? Especially when there is already so much anger and disappointment with that whole saga and the way it was handled..

 

[Wilbur90]

Apart from the 'Tippin-Wutti' spelling it's not a bad best 22 actually.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Can't wait to welcome back Hibberd and Melksham.

Actually would be good if it were Melbourne, will be a big night for our returning players and be a nice touch if Hibberd and Melksham were involved, in a funny way.

 

[Wilbur90]

How stupid are the AFL that they would want to celebrate the return of players banned from the game for taking banned substances? Are we the only sport in the world who can't see how bad such a notion looks.

I can understand the Essendon supporters wanting to celebrate it but why would the AFL agree to make it a friday night event. Especially when there is already so much anger and disappointment with that whole saga and the way it was handled..

I personally wouldn't care when it was played.

I don't care if it is Sunday twilight. As long as we get a home game in rnd 1 for once I'll be happy.

I can understand neutral supporters not wanting it on prime-time. I get that.

 

[VanDemonxx]

It's one of Melbourne or Hawthorn.

Not set in stone yet

Doesn't Hawthorn always play Geelong?

 

[SterlingArcher]

I agree that Essendon should get very few big games. Considering they get ANZAC Day and Dreamtime, they should only be getting this at max (Carlton in 2016 only got the season opener, no other Friday nights, after spooning in 2015).

But I don't really care about the drugs. That was 2012. Hird, Hamilton, Evans, Dank, Robinson...who really gives a *, they are all gone. As for the players, they have been suspended by WADA, done their time. Why would you get upset over it, it's over?

 

[SterlingArcher]

Doesn't Hawthorn always play Geelong?

Talk Hawthorn want out of the Easter Monday game I thought?

 

[Meow]

I agree that Essendon should get very few big games. Considering they get ANZAC Day and Dreamtime, they should only be getting this at max (Carlton in 2016 only got the season opener, no other Friday nights, after spooning in 2015).

But I don't really care about the drugs. That was 2012. Hird, Hamilton, Evans, Dank, Robinson...who really gives a ****, they are all gone. As for the players, they have been suspended by WADA, done their time. Why would you get upset over it, it's over?

After the fixture you copped this year, it's only fair that Essendon can expect the same treatment.

 

[Meow]

Talk Hawthorn want out of the Easter Monday game I thought?

Why would they do this? Their home game for 2017 and most likely a financial windfall + 70-80k crowd. Easter falls in Round 3, so it's a moot point anyway.

 

[Percel]

Good result, both teams will be clean and a great way to celebrate the players coming back.

#swissevitamins

 

[seanbrathmor]

Another f*&#in home game for the filth vs us at the G? How many years in a row is that without a home game vs Essendon

 

[Suma Magic]

Source?

 

[hilly]

Why would the wooden spooners be given a Friday night, I thought Gil said they were given to teams based on performance.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Why would the wooden spooners be given a Friday night, I thought Gil said they were given to teams based on performance.
What will the round 2 Friday game be, Brisbane v Freo?

Why would you care after your team won the flag?

 

[jdz101]

Melbourne by plenty.

There is no way melksham is in their best 22 either.