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

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Melbourne by plenty.

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

I wouldn't be so sure our team full off has beens and rookies beat them already.

 

[jdz101]

I wouldn't be so sure our team full off has beens and rookies beat them already.

Should be interesting.

I meant no malice...just my tip for the super duper early game thread.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Should be interesting.

I meant no malice...just my tip for the super duper early game thread.

You are all good tbh I rather play Hawks.

 

[jdz101]

You are all good tbh I rather play Hawks.

Was certainly fun when my team beat the hawks for the first time in 12837592865946932649 years....

 

[Sellout Scully]

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

Any other club come close to that?

I don't know about round 1, but 11 of our last 12 games against you have been Essendon home games.

 

[schmuttt]

I wouldn't be so sure our team full off has beens and rookies beat them already.

This is such a stupid way to look at things. One off games don't reflect the standings of the two teams, would have thought your fans would know that after we beat you in 2012 and 2014 despite winning less than 5 games in both years.

I'd expect Essendon to whip themselves into a frenzy again like round 2 2016, however if we actually turn up on the day and take them seriously we will still win by 2-3 goals.

 

[schmuttt]

I don't know about round 1, but 11 of our last 12 games against you have been Essendon home games.

I'd imagine if we play them away round 1 we will get them twice.

 

[Sellout Scully]

I'd imagine if we play them away round 1 we will get them twice.

Doubtful. We played Giants round 1 last season and that was the only time.

 

[seanbrathmor]

I wouldn't be so sure our team full off has beens and rookies beat them already.

And that was a godsend, the loss our young team needed to take all opposition seriously - ,if we turn up halfway serious your mob will cop a spanking

 

[wa don]

That's it #rewardthecheats. Typical AFL

WAH WAH WAH

 

[StillAtLarge]

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

Something to do with a maximum 6 day break backing up from an often fierce game I suspect

 

[FootyJunkie]

thursday - carl v rich
friday - ess v melb

bottom 11 sides to kick off the season...

nice one VFL

 

[00Stinger]

Piss poor from the afl. Friday night is for showcase football. So they open the season by giving the first friday night home game to a back to back bottom 4 team

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

 

[Whiskers]

Why not the Dogs vs Essendon?
The reigning premier should be primetime Rd 1 and the bombers will be out in force.

 

[quotemokc]

Hah! The AFL would be stupid NOT to put it on in prime time.

Think of how many people would watch, at the end of the day $$$ trumps any other reason.

 

[Mr Gurns]

Footscray will probably get Sunday Twilight even after being premiers lol

 

[FootyJunkie]

Footscray will probably get Sunday Twilight even after being premiers lol

maybe an attempt to make the time slot relevant, but hard to do if its on bloody Foxtel

AFL will probably fixture something lame for Round 1, like this

Thu
Carlton v Richmond - MCG (N)
Fri
Essendon v Melbourne - MCG (N)
Sat
Hawthorn v Brisbane - MCG
Gold Coast v Sydney - MS (T)
Adelaide v North Melbourne - AO (N)
West Coast v Collingwood - DS (N)
Sun
GWS Giants v Fremantle - MO (E)
Geelong v Port Adelaide - SS
Bulldogs v St.Kilda - ES (T)

 

[JayJ20]

This is such a stupid way to look at things. One off games don't reflect the standings of the two teams, would have thought your fans would know that after we beat you in 2012 and 2014 despite winning less than 5 games in both years.

I'd expect Essendon to whip themselves into a frenzy again like round 2 2016, however if we actually turn up on the day and take them seriously we will still win by 2-3 goals.

One thing we've learned is that the underdog gets up. Literally the only exception since 2010 is 2013. So actually, the better team winning is a once off thing.

2015 you lost to the top ups in the preseaon, then a bunch of kids on a slide in the actual season. Then to half a team early in 2016 season ( where we went on to lose the next 17 games before we actually stabilised).

Melbourne will probably be favourites and are the better team.

Essendon by 15

 

[Headless]

Good Friday?

Not bad, but it's only just started! Thanks for asking. How about you?

 

[compact72]

Essendon set to be given Round 1 prime time blockbuster when banned players return

JOBE Watson and his suspended Essendon teammates will return from their drug bans in a prime time MCG blockbuster next season.

The AFL is set to grant Essendon’s wish for a home Round 1 game and is close to locking in its opponent – either Melbourne or Hawthorn.

The Bombers will invite their army of supporters to march from Federation Square to the game as one to welcome back their heroes.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...n/news-story/7ac3bb9b13b2cc8a49071b2c68a264bf

Don't mind Essendon supporters being excited for their players coming back (have every right to), but come on AFL. Seriously?

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

Guaranteed loss for us.

 

[Halftimehero]

Big clubs get big games, EAD.

P.S. I bet you all watch it.

 

[compact72]

Big clubs get big games, EAD.

P.S. I bet you all watch it.

Only people that would watch is to watch Essendon lose

 

[Halftimehero]

Only people that would watch is to watch Essendon lose

Yep, but watch none the less.

 

[pazza]

Essendon does have legitimate claims over a Round 1 home game.

For those not away, the last time Essendon had a home game (and no we are not talking an away game in Melbourne either - a game where Essendon is the home side), was against North Melbourne in 2011.

It has nothing to with form of the team or anything else. It is because it is Essendon's turn this time.

The club is already putting in train events for the match itself, whether it's Melbourne or Hawthorn.

Round 1 is not on Easter this coming season so that frees Hawthorn up to play us in the match. Easter is 14-17 April so most likely Round 4.

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/australia/2017

I actually have a Round 1 mock fixture:

Thursday March 23
Carlton v Richmond (MCG 7.50) Expected attendance - 80000

Friday March 24
Essendon v Melbourne (MCG 7.50) Expected attendance - 75000

Saturday March 25
Western Bulldogs v Sydney (Etihad 1.45) Expected attendance - 45000
North Melbourne v Fremantle (Hobart 2.10) Expected attendance - 15000
Collingwood v Hawthorn (MCG 7.20) Expected attendance - 75000
Adelaide v West Coast (AO 7.40) Expected attendance - 50000

Sunday March 26
Brisbane v Port Adelaide (Gabba 1.10) Expected attendance 18000
St. Kilda v Geelong (Etihad 3.20) Expected attendance 45000
GWS v Gold Coast (Homebush 4.30) Expected attendance 15000