Preview Round 9: Essendon vs Fremantle, Docklands, Saturday 18/05/19, 7:20 PM

[Seb78]

Ins: Daniher Mynott
Outs: Clarke Myers

I think Ham is still quite raw (physically) but happy to give him another run at it. Alternatively Bags or Begley come in for him.

 

[BrunoV]

Out: Myers, Ham, Clarke (never again)
In: Mynott, Langford, Daniher


If Myers & Clarke stay in, I won’t be watching.

Not even for the morbid curiosity?

 

[srobbo]

Not even for the morbid curiosity?

You know I will, but there won’t be any emotionally investment.

 

[Macca18]

Let’s not forget they beat Giants away a couple of weeks back.

Sure did. And didn’t the Giants look great on the weekend?

Every team has had an absolute shocker and a standout performance so far this year. That game was a bit of Freo’s brilliance on the day and ineptitude from GWS.

Dockers will be a tricky game for us but I’m not falling for this “we are no chance” talk after losing by 5 points on the weekend.

 

[BrunoV]

Fanterseeeeeya out.

 

[Halftimehero]

* sake, Orazio done a quad

 

[JayJ20]

It's all over. We'd have gotten smashed without him last week.

 

[srobbo]

Raz out for another holiday. Is it really any different from 2-6 & Joe heading for a spell last year?

How we’re $1.38 to win this week is baffling. I’ll be having some of the $3.10 on offer for freo.

 

[Whispering_Jack]

 

[Hazen]

Fyfe won't go for that, no chance.

 

[MightyDons4]

In: Daniher, Mynott, Clarke, Begley, Ridley
Out: Clarke, Zaharakis, Myers, Fantasia, Ambrose

FB: Andrew McGrath - Cale Hooker - Adam Saad
HB: Aaron Francis - Michael Hurley - Jordan Ridley
C: Conor McKenna - Darcy Parish - Zach Merrett
HF: Trent Mynott - Joe Daniher - Devon Smith
FF: Josh Begley - Jake Stringer - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Tom Bellchambers - Dylan Clarke - Dylan Shiel
I: Matt Guelfi - Dyson Heppell - Brayden Ham - Mason Redman

• As elite as he’s been, Merrett's class is being somewhat wasted playing an inside role every week. Guys like Clarke, Guelfi, Parish and Mynott should be winning first possession and feeding it out to Zach. Kicking inside 50 has been dreadful recently. Continuously blindly bombing it in to a pack just to see it come back out within a matter of seconds. If we have any chance of winning it needs to be guys like Merrett, Ham, Dev, Walla, Begley, Mason and Irish delivering to our forwards.
• It’s time to introduce negating roles in our midfield. We saw the impact of a tag on Shiel and Merrett earlier in the year, yet we choose to let opposition stars run free every week. McGrath should follow Walters everywhere, likewise with McKenna on Hill. Fyfe and Mundy are difficult to handle given our midfielders. Clarke and Guelfi can try to disrupt them around stoppages but that’s about it.
• McGrath playing in his natural position down back was a glorious sight to watch. Now let’s do the same for Parish, Guelfi and Francis.
• Smith can’t play midfield anymore. Effort can’t make up for height and pace. Besides, with Raz out yet again we need him up forward.
• Despite how poor we’ve been, a win here plus a few other results going our way on the weekend and percentage is the only thing keeping us out of the top 8. However, playing/carrying guys like Zaharakis and Myers can only hinder us this season. Now’s the time to bring in new faces and give them the opportunity to perform. This isn’t another wasted season, yet.

 

[halalsnackpack]

You guys will win if you apply any kind of pressure on us when we move the ball out of defence. If you sag off and give us space like North and GWS did we are a chance, but our skills just aren't up to it when put under any pressure. If we aren't kicking it to our forwards with space to lead into and take uncontested marks we can't kick a score.

 

[DapperJong]

You guys will win if you apply any kind of pressure on us when we move the ball out of defence. If you sag off and give us space like North and GWS did we are a chance, but our skills just aren't up to it when put under any pressure. If we aren't kicking it to our forwards with space to lead into and take uncontested marks we can't kick a score.

 

[eth-dog]

You guys will win if you apply any kind of pressure on us when we move the ball out of defence. If you sag off and give us space like North and GWS did we are a chance, but our skills just aren't up to it when put under any pressure. If we aren't kicking it to our forwards with space to lead into and take uncontested marks we can't kick a score.

It's one and the same. It could genuinely finish 51-50...

 

[Phat Toni]

.......

• It’s time to introduce negating roles in our midfield. We saw the impact of a tag on Shiel and Merrett earlier in the year, yet we choose to let opposition stars run free every week. McGrath should follow Walters everywhere, likewise with McKenna on Hill. Fyfe and Mundy are difficult to handle given our midfielders. Clarke and Guelfi can try to disrupt them around stoppages but that’s about it.

You had me until here..... McKenna loses himself staring into a mirror! His got no chance staying switched on long enough to keep Hill in check.

 

[ant555]

There may be some chance Ridley comes in for Francis and plays forward.
I was really hoping Begley did something on the weekend but he has been very plain in his last 2 games so we will end up with number 12

 

[MightyDons4]

You had me until here..... McKenna loses himself staring into a mirror! His got no chance staying switched on long enough to keep Hill in check.

McIntosh accounted for him easily, I'd back McKenna in too. Bit of physicality and Hill crumbles.

 

[coastalpipeline]

Observations

Essendon: The Bombers were lacklustre against Sydney, losing the game by 5 points in a game where too much was left to too few. Essendon were carried by half a dozen players, including Captain Dyson Heppell, who had 30 disposals and 6 clearances for the game alongside Zach Merrett's 28 and 7. Orazio Fantasia was excellent, kicking 4 goals on return from illnes.

Fremantle: Freo fell to their second straight loss, Richmond beating them by 25 points with an excellent second half. Captain Nathan Fyfe was probably the best for the Dockers, collecting the ball 33 times and kicking 3 goals, whilst David Mundy and Michael Walters were both impressive in the midfield, getting 27 touches apiece.

Head to Head (last 5)

Essendon 2-3 Fremantle

Form Guide

Essendon: 2W 3L
Fremantle: 2W 3L

Sportsbet odds

Essendon: $1.36
Fremantle: $2.99
Line: 16.5 ($1.90)

Possible sides

Essendon vs Fremantle

B: Ambrose - Hooker - Saad
F: Cox - Taberner - Matera
HB: McKenna - Hurley- Ridley
HF: Walters - Hogan - Brayshaw
C: McGrath - D Clarke - Z Merrett
C: Cerra - Blakely - B Hill
HF: Begley - Daniher - D Smith
HB: Wilson - Pearce - Hughes
F: McDonald-Tipungwuti - Francis - Stringer
B: Ryan - Hamling - Conca
R: Bellchambers - Shiel - Heppell
R: Lobb - Tucker - Mundy
I: Redman - Mynott - Parish - Guelfi
I: Switkowski - Langdon - Colyer - Nyhuis

Essendon in: Daniher, D Clarke, Mynott, Ridley, Begley; Out: Myers, Z Clarke, Zaharakis (all crap), Ham (unlucky but isn't ready), Fantasia (******* quad)
Fremantle in: Blakely; Out: Fyfe (susp)


Fremantle defence vs Essendon forward line

Essendon are ranked 7th in the AFL in terms of goals per inside 50 entry, getting one 23.1% of the time it enters the 50. However, they come up against the strongest team defensively in this regard, Fremantle only conceding a goal 16.9% of the time it enters their 50. A big reason why is Alex Pearce, the 200 cm athletic key defender finally having a good run with injuries and showing his quality. He is one of the few defenders in the league to be able to go with Daniher in terms of height and athleticism, which presents a test for the young gun Essendon forward. The other interesting one will be Luke Ryan going up against Jake Stringer, the latter will be trying to expose Stringer the other way whilst Ethan Hughes will have his hands full with trying to shut down Orazio Fantasia who is very important for the Dons.

Midfield/rucks battle

Now this is where the difference between the two sides will be. The numbers belie the Essendon issue in the middle, Essendon are second in clearance differential in the league, whilst Fremantle are a middle of the road 8th. Contested Possessions wise, Fremantle are a solid 6th in this regard whilst Essendon are down the order in 11th. Fremantle's main men will be captain Nat Fyfe and former captain David Mundy, the two are effective at using their big and strong bodies to win the clearance, getting it out to quality like Bradley Hill, Ed Langdon and Nathan Wilson. Essendon's main men inside the stoppage are captain Dyson Heppell, vice captain Zach Merrett and the newly traded in Dylan Shiel, who will hopefully be able to use the likes of Conor McKenna, Andrew McGrath and a potential debutant in Trent Mynott after several excellent performances in the VFL. Rucks wise, Tom Bellchambers is in some good hit out form and will be going head to head with Rory Lobb, but that may expose his lack of mobility.

Fremantle forward line vs Essendon defence

Fremantle's forward 50 hasn't been extremely productive this season, kicking a goal 21.6% of the time it enters their 50, which is 11th in the AFL. Essendon concede a goal 22.4% of the time it enters their defensive 50. Fremantle tend to go with a three tall forward combination for their side, but a lot of the danger will come from the likes of Michael Walters and Brandon Matera, two ground level players who take the game on with speed and skill. Expect Adam Saad and Jordan Ridley to take them respectively, the former is in All Australian form with his defensive efforts and rebounding ability. Jesse Hogan has a poor record against the Dons, kicking 4 goals in 3 games and Michael Hurleywill be keen to see that continue, whilst Cale Hooker probably takes the in form Matt Taberner, who loves playing Essendon, kicking 6 goals in his last 2 games against the men in red and black..

X-Factor Player

Travis Colyer returns against his own side here in Melbourne. The small looks dangerous around goals fro Fremantle and will be hoping for a big game to show what Essendon are missing.

Key stat

Essendon: Goals per inside 50. Freo are great at shutting it down, so for Essendon it's vital they get above their current season average

Fremantle: Clearances. Essendon always lose when they lose the clearance count.

Tip

Fremantle are too good right now, Dockers by 22

Cool I'll put 100 bucks on Freo and read our season review next week.

 

[coastalpipeline]

No, we can talk it up again that we’re getting closer to the way we want to play, our structures are taking shape and the boys are training really hard. We’ll trade in someone else of profile at year end and make that the focal point as the final piece in the puzzle and the media will buy it once more and so will we

We have no chance of beating Carlflog.

 

[coastalpipeline]

Sure did. And didn’t the Giants look great on the weekend?

Every team has had an absolute shocker and a standout performance so far this year. That game was a bit of Freo’s brilliance on the day and ineptitude from GWS.

Dockers will be a tricky game for us but I’m not falling for this “we are no chance” talk after losing by 5 points on the weekend.

We are a pigs may fly out of your arse crack chance that we beat Freo....and that is being optimistic.

 

[westking]

Out: Fantasia, Francis
In: Dea, Woosha’s bar Stool

You’all know it’s gonna happen.

 

[mzuppit]

Fyfe free to play on Saturday.

 

[Dons4days]

How many good games in a row has Redman played?

Must surely be ready for the 'young guy is playing well so I will drop him for a veteran who is useless' Woosha move.

I really wish Woosha read all these posts so he knew what people thought of him. Everything you said is 100% true & it's so sad that we expect that from our head coach.

 

[Albertross]

You guys will win if you apply any kind of pressure on us when we move the ball out of defence. If you sag off and give us space like North and GWS did we are a chance, but our skills just aren't up to it when put under any pressure. If we aren't kicking it to our forwards with space to lead into and take uncontested marks we can't kick a score.

This could have been written by any one of our supporters about us.

 

[KevDawg]

Fyfe is free to play.
Gablett free to play again.
Previous elbow one week ago, gets a week, head clash this weekend gets a week.
A captain of an AFL Team, Rampe, tells an umpire he has a 10 yo girl’s voice, mimes returning the football ignoring an umpire’s instructions, and climbs a goalpost (not to shake it). All right in front of an umpire, all ignored.
How can they expect to be taken seriously?