eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Observations
Essendon: Essendon were hammered by Brisbane, giving them their second loss in three weeks. The Dons never kicked multiple goals in a quarter, Brisbane holding them to 3 goals for the game as they lost by a whopping 63 points. Andrew McGrath worked hard in the middle with 25 disposals and 6 clearances whilst Sam Draper showed promising signs with 21 hitouts and a hanger on Connor Ballenden, Devon Smith kicking 2 goals.
Greater Western Sydney:
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 2-3 Greater Western Sydney
Form Guide
Essendon: 3W 2L
Greater Western Sydney: 2W 2L
Sportsbet odds
Essendon: $
Greater Western Sydney: $
Line: .5 ($1.90)
Possible sides
Essendon vs Greater Western Sydney
FB: Aaron Francis - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - Adam Saad
FF: Harry Himmelberg - Jeremy Cameron - Toby Greene
HB: Jordan Ridley - Michael Hurley - Conor McKenna
HF: Brent Daniels - Jeremy Finlayson - Tom Green
MF: Kyle Langford - Zachary Merrett - Tom Cutler
MF: Josh Kelly - Jacob Hopper - Harry Perryman
HF: William Snelling - James Stewart - Ned Cahill
HB: Nick Haynes - Aidan Corr - Lachlan Whitfield
FF: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - Shaun McKernan - Jacob Townsend
FB: Heath Shaw - Phil Davis - Lachan Ash
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Dylan Shiel
OB: Sam Jacobs - Tim Taranto - Stephen Coniglio
IC: Andrew McGrath - Devon Smith - Dylan Clarke - Mitchell Hibberd
IC: Matthew De Boer - Jye Caldwell - Jackson Hately - Matthew Buntine
Essendon in: Kyle Langford, Conor McKenna, Shaun McKernan, Dylan Clarke, Mitchell Hibberd; Out: Martin Gleeson, David Zaharakis, Tom Bellchambers, Mason Redman, Brayden Ham (omit)
GWS in: Tom Green, Jackson Hately, Matthew Buntine; Out: Lachlan Keeffe, Zac Langdon, Daniel Lloyd
Greater Western Sydney defence vs Essendon forward line
So far this season Essendon averaged 22.1% in terms of goals/inside 50, which has slipped to the middle ground of the AFL. Greater Western Sydney concede a lot of inside 50's, 3rd most on average, but concede a goal only 20.5% of the time it enters their defensive 50. Phil Davis is one of the most underrated defenders in the AFL, consistently playing at a high level for a long time, and James Stewart will have his work cut out for him if he's going to make an impact against his former side if he plays on Phil. Tom Belchambers and Sam Draper as resting ruckmen probably receives attention from Aidan Corr, whilst Jacob Townsend will try to shut down the intercept marking of Nick Haynes. Conor McKenna might finally get his chance at playing forward on Lachlan Ash, a young but seemingly unruffled defender, whilst Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will get attention from Heath Shaw again.
Midfield/rucks battle
Greater Western Sydney are 8th in overall contested possession differential and 13thin clearance differential, whilst Essendon are 15th and 11th in those particular statistical areas. The Giants have a lot of quality running through their inside midfield with the likes of Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Stephen Coniglio, as well as tagger Matt De Boer who will likely go to either Dylan Shiel or Zach Merrett, the two leaders of Essendon's inside group, who will receive support from the likes of Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Devon Smith on the inside of the contest. In terms of outside run and carry, Essendon will welcome Kyle Langford back from suspension, Langford's ability to mark the ball between the arcs and kicking skills important to the Bombers alongside Tom Cutler as another strong marking outside midfielder, whilst the Giants have Harry Perryman dominating the wing as a two way runner, chopping out their defence as much as their attack alongside Josh Kelly, who's an excellent smooth mover. Rucks wise, it's the old in Sam Jacobs up against the old and young with Essendon playing two rucks last week in Tom Bellchambers and Sam Draper, look the pair to try to work Jacobs over, the older ruck struggling to make as much an impact as before,
Greater Western Sydney forward line vs Essendon defence
Greater Western Sydney have probably the strongest forward line in the competition, kicking a goal 28.6% of the time it enters forward 50, #1 in the AFL. Essendon have been really good at restricting the opposition in this area, conceding a goal 20.2% of the time it enters defensive 50, 3rd in the AFL. Jeremy Cameron is one of the best key forwards in the game, and will probably get attention from Michael Hurley, the stand in captain for Essendon, whilst Brandon Zerk-Thatcher probably tries to quell the influence of Harry Himmelberg, who's form has been on the improve the past month. The third match-up to watch is Adam Saad on Toby Greene, the small forward only kicking 2 goals against Esendon in their 2 games last year, whilst impressive young defender Jordan Ridley will play his usual intercept game to help these three out.
X-Factor Player
Brent Daniels has seemingly gone unnoticed by the general public but his pace, kicking ability and pressure always has him as part of the game. One to look out for.
Key stat
Essendon: Defensive conversion. The Giants have a great forward line, the Dons a great back line. This is actually probably the most important area of the game this week.
Greater Western Sydney: Clearances. They really should be dominating this particular area of the game given Essendon's undersized midfield.
Tip
We are Essington! Giants by 35
Essendon: Essendon were hammered by Brisbane, giving them their second loss in three weeks. The Dons never kicked multiple goals in a quarter, Brisbane holding them to 3 goals for the game as they lost by a whopping 63 points. Andrew McGrath worked hard in the middle with 25 disposals and 6 clearances whilst Sam Draper showed promising signs with 21 hitouts and a hanger on Connor Ballenden, Devon Smith kicking 2 goals.
Greater Western Sydney:
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 2-3 Greater Western Sydney
Form Guide
Essendon: 3W 2L
Greater Western Sydney: 2W 2L
Sportsbet odds
Essendon: $
Greater Western Sydney: $
Line: .5 ($1.90)
Possible sides
Essendon vs Greater Western Sydney
FB: Aaron Francis - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - Adam Saad
FF: Harry Himmelberg - Jeremy Cameron - Toby Greene
HB: Jordan Ridley - Michael Hurley - Conor McKenna
HF: Brent Daniels - Jeremy Finlayson - Tom Green
MF: Kyle Langford - Zachary Merrett - Tom Cutler
MF: Josh Kelly - Jacob Hopper - Harry Perryman
HF: William Snelling - James Stewart - Ned Cahill
HB: Nick Haynes - Aidan Corr - Lachlan Whitfield
FF: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - Shaun McKernan - Jacob Townsend
FB: Heath Shaw - Phil Davis - Lachan Ash
OB: Sam Draper - Darcy Parish - Dylan Shiel
OB: Sam Jacobs - Tim Taranto - Stephen Coniglio
IC: Andrew McGrath - Devon Smith - Dylan Clarke - Mitchell Hibberd
IC: Matthew De Boer - Jye Caldwell - Jackson Hately - Matthew Buntine
Essendon in: Kyle Langford, Conor McKenna, Shaun McKernan, Dylan Clarke, Mitchell Hibberd; Out: Martin Gleeson, David Zaharakis, Tom Bellchambers, Mason Redman, Brayden Ham (omit)
GWS in: Tom Green, Jackson Hately, Matthew Buntine; Out: Lachlan Keeffe, Zac Langdon, Daniel Lloyd
Greater Western Sydney defence vs Essendon forward line
So far this season Essendon averaged 22.1% in terms of goals/inside 50, which has slipped to the middle ground of the AFL. Greater Western Sydney concede a lot of inside 50's, 3rd most on average, but concede a goal only 20.5% of the time it enters their defensive 50. Phil Davis is one of the most underrated defenders in the AFL, consistently playing at a high level for a long time, and James Stewart will have his work cut out for him if he's going to make an impact against his former side if he plays on Phil. Tom Belchambers and Sam Draper as resting ruckmen probably receives attention from Aidan Corr, whilst Jacob Townsend will try to shut down the intercept marking of Nick Haynes. Conor McKenna might finally get his chance at playing forward on Lachlan Ash, a young but seemingly unruffled defender, whilst Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will get attention from Heath Shaw again.
Midfield/rucks battle
Greater Western Sydney are 8th in overall contested possession differential and 13thin clearance differential, whilst Essendon are 15th and 11th in those particular statistical areas. The Giants have a lot of quality running through their inside midfield with the likes of Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto and Stephen Coniglio, as well as tagger Matt De Boer who will likely go to either Dylan Shiel or Zach Merrett, the two leaders of Essendon's inside group, who will receive support from the likes of Darcy Parish, Andrew McGrath and Devon Smith on the inside of the contest. In terms of outside run and carry, Essendon will welcome Kyle Langford back from suspension, Langford's ability to mark the ball between the arcs and kicking skills important to the Bombers alongside Tom Cutler as another strong marking outside midfielder, whilst the Giants have Harry Perryman dominating the wing as a two way runner, chopping out their defence as much as their attack alongside Josh Kelly, who's an excellent smooth mover. Rucks wise, it's the old in Sam Jacobs up against the old and young with Essendon playing two rucks last week in Tom Bellchambers and Sam Draper, look the pair to try to work Jacobs over, the older ruck struggling to make as much an impact as before,
Greater Western Sydney forward line vs Essendon defence
Greater Western Sydney have probably the strongest forward line in the competition, kicking a goal 28.6% of the time it enters forward 50, #1 in the AFL. Essendon have been really good at restricting the opposition in this area, conceding a goal 20.2% of the time it enters defensive 50, 3rd in the AFL. Jeremy Cameron is one of the best key forwards in the game, and will probably get attention from Michael Hurley, the stand in captain for Essendon, whilst Brandon Zerk-Thatcher probably tries to quell the influence of Harry Himmelberg, who's form has been on the improve the past month. The third match-up to watch is Adam Saad on Toby Greene, the small forward only kicking 2 goals against Esendon in their 2 games last year, whilst impressive young defender Jordan Ridley will play his usual intercept game to help these three out.
X-Factor Player
Brent Daniels has seemingly gone unnoticed by the general public but his pace, kicking ability and pressure always has him as part of the game. One to look out for.
Key stat
Essendon: Defensive conversion. The Giants have a great forward line, the Dons a great back line. This is actually probably the most important area of the game this week.
Greater Western Sydney: Clearances. They really should be dominating this particular area of the game given Essendon's undersized midfield.
Tip
We are Essington! Giants by 35