Preview Essendon vs GWS (all changes etc in here)

[eth-dog]

Essendon vs Greater Western Sydney:

Observations:

Essendon: Essendon is the form side of the competition right now. The record of 7 wins and only the solitary loss speaks for itself. This is an excellent chance for Essendon to rest a few of their star players, especially with players like Myers, Hibberd and Pears coming back into the side over the next 2 weeks. With this being their first game at Skoda Stadium, it will be interesting how the team reacts to the playing field.

Greater Western Sydney: The Giants have been competitive in most of their games this year, but have always had that fade-out in one quarter, where most sides have punished them. They’ve got their confidence up after getting their first win in AFL football against [strike]Gary Ablett[/strike] Gold Coast, and young players like Stephen Coniglio, Toby Greene and Jeremy Cameron have impressed.

Head-to-Head (last 5) : (template for next round)

Form:

Essendon: W-L-W-W-W
GWS: L-L-L-W-?

Odds (forecasted by me because the forecasting website sucks) Essendon: $1.04 GWS: $8.00

Possible Teams:

Essendon:
B: Fletcher-Pears-Hardingham
HB: Dempsey-Hooker-Dyson
C: Melksham-Myers-Heppell
HF: Reimers-Hurley-Davey
F: Crameri-Carlisle-Jetta
R: Bellchambers-Hocking-Stanton
I: Howlett-Lovett-Murray-Lonergan
S: Monfries

Greater Western Sydney:
B: Bugg-Mohr-Cornes
HB: Power-Treloar-Davis
C: Coniglio-Greene-Palmer
HF: Reid-Folau-Adams
F: Hampton-Cameron-Shiel
R: Giles-Scully-Ward
I: Tyson-Buntine-Darley
S: Hoskin-Elliot

Key Match-Ups:

Brent Stanton vs Dylan Shiel: Stanton has been in fantastic form, averaging 29 touches per game this season, as well as having 11 goals for the season. Shiel has been used as a stopper by Sheedy previously, so he could play on Stanton and try to stop him, unlike many others this year. It promises to be a learning curve for Shiel if Stanton gets off the leash

Cale Hooker vs Jeremy Cameron: Hooker hasn’t been beaten this year. Has been in the form of his life- has conceded a total of 6 goals from 6 games this year. Cameron has been GWS’s best forward this season, kicking a total of 10 goals this season.

Michael Hurley vs Phil Davis: Hurley is Essendon’s best forward, and always takes the best defender when he plays. Davis is the best defender, and would be the smart match-up from the Giants perspective. Hurley has been down, and will want to play well against what is considered a weaker opponent.

Keys for each team:

Essendon:
• Kick accurately- Essendon have wasted good chances in the forward line in most games. Will want to improve heavily in that regard.
• Don’t let Chad Cornes free. Cornes is an expert at running the play from defence. Send Reimers to him to make sure he stays accountable
• Skills. Don’t make that terrible mistake Essendon seem to make every 20 minutes or so that keep cropping up in games

Greater Western Sydney:
• Learn what Essendon are doing with the spread. They’ve been spreading better than most this year, and that’s the biggest problem with the Giants
• Tie the ruck. Giles is a very good ruck for the future, try to get him to work forward and keep Bellchambers accountable.
• Pressure Essendon as much as possible. The bombers are susceptible to turning the ball over, so pressure them as much as possible

Summary:

Essendon are in excellent form. The side’s ruckmen are in scintillating form, Hurley is fully fit, the sides defence is holding up under pressure and the midfield is playing fantastic football. Teams are struggling to contain all three of Zaharakis, Stanton and Watson, with all three playing champagne football in the past few games. It’s time to beat up against an opponent worse than them from an Essendon perspective.

GWS are in a learning year. Try to learn from the spread of Essendon, as it could be crucial for future development. There are only 3 players in the midfield of GWS that do it well- Palmer, Scully and Ward, those with previous experience at AFL level.

Tip: Essendon are beating all comers. The side is playing a team they should beat fairly well, and they’re in fantastic form. Essendon by 99

 

[Macca18]

We will rest some players and bring in players from the VFL who probably don't deserve senior footy at the moment.

This will result in a lethargic, lacklustre performance where we do enough to win but nothing overly special... along the lines of the Gold Coast @ Metricon game from a few weeks back.

Folau to kick 3 and be labelled "the next big thing".

 

[VelvetSledge]

ENTER THE GUMBY




...
Not really. ENTER THE KAV

 

[straightuplazy]

out:hardingham with a calf injury, Fletcher with groin injury,

in: myers, Michael Hibberd

 

[AndyLesPaul]

The changes we'll make are crucial players That will definitely play with our structures.

Fletcher and Pears is almost like for like, but if Hardingham Crameri and Watson are sore like they say, then we're a little short.
Hardingham for Myers/Baguley
Watson for Colyer/Reimers
Crameri for Gumby (hahaha)

 

[eth-dog]

out:hardingham with a calf injury, Fletcher with groin injury,

in: myers, Michael Hibberd

There were no reports of injuries by Essendon last night, or in either the HS or Age reports on the game, so where did these injuries come from?

 

[BrunoV]

I would consider bringing in Myers and resting Jobe with Myers to be used in exactly the same way Jobe is - it is time to let this kid loose in the midfield. GWS and Melbourne will be a good time to get some confidence.

 

[Seb78]

Outs: Fletch Hardingham (inj) Heppell (rested) Melksham
(Omitted)

Ins: Pears Myers Hibberd Colyer/Kav if ready

 

[Phone]

There were no reports of injuries by Essendon last night, or in either the HS or Age reports on the game, so where did these injuries come from?

Hardingham got a kick to the calf during the game and had treatment on it all game. Dempsey also had a shoulder problem


Crossover post:

GWS aren't as pathetic as GC were last year. People going in with expectations of a 80 + point might be in for a shock. These kids have a solid game plan (as opposed to GC which is pretty much "go kick a goal guys!"). There's a solid spread of players. They've got big enough bodies. Outside of Ablett they've got better experienced players. They can put up a fight and don't need one player to get 35 touches and kick 3 goals to do so.

 

[TheWeapon]

Outs: Fletch Hardingham (inj) Heppell (rested) Melksham
(Omitted)

Ins: Pears Myers Hibberd Colyer/Kav if ready

 

[straightuplazy]

when i say those injuries, they were a bit sore in those areas so i think they will get rested next week but back fallowing week

 

[DapperDon]

Melksham
(Omitted)

So he has a great game 2 weeks ago, a poor game yesterday and we drop him?

Yeah nah

 

[efcboy]

Out: Fletcher, Watson, Hardingham, Crameri, Heppell (all rested)

In: Pears, Colyer, Myers, Reimers, Baguley

Time to rest some blokes - Fletcher and Hardingham have niggles (may be forced outs anyway). Watson could use a rest - don't want him straining a hamy again. Crameri has copped a lot of knocks over the first 8 rounds and could use a breather now that Hurley is back. Heppell - they've been talking about resting him for 18 months and he hasn't missed a match - against GWS the timing is right to do it.

 

[pazza]

Out: Fletcher, Hardingham, Crameri, Melksham
In: Reimers, Pears, Colyer, Slattery

 

[Jobe Watson]

OUT: Fletcher (inj), Hardingham (inj), Crameri (rested)
IN: Pears, Myers, Colyer

Fletcher and Hardingham to be given a week to manage their injuries. Crameri looked like he was struggling to get up with that knee during the week so he'll need a break too. Give Hibberd another week, no need to rush him back.

 

[Macca18]

Living dangerously with some of these predicted selections.

Don't start sooking next week then if we're complacent, rest players and then put in a shocker.

I agree that players need to be managed carefully but not a fan of resting 4-5 players all at once, especially with the BYE not far away.

 

[calyam]

Living dangerously with some of these predicted selections.

Don't start sooking next week then if we're complacent, rest players and then put in a shocker.

I agree that players need to be managed carefully but not a fan of resting 4-5 players all at once, especially with the BYE not far away.

It'd probably be better to spread some of these omissions over a two week period given we have Melbourne the following week. I'm not a big fan of making four or five changes in a given round but if we were to make two or three this week and then another couple next week then the team would be more settled.

 

[henrykrinkle]

In: Pears, Baguley, Reimers, Colyer. Out: Fletcher, Hardingham, Dempsey, Crameri.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Did Myers play VFL yesterday? No is the answer.

So we bring him straight in on an instertate trip with him having a history of hammy issues. No way jose.

Colyer should play 2 full games the next 2 weeks. Need to get games and miles into his legs. Could be very valuable come the pointy end.

Outs: Fletch(inj/rest), Melksham(rest), Crameri(rest)
Ins: Pears, Colyer, Reimers

 

[VelvetSledge]

OUT: Fletch, Hardingham, Melksham
IN: Pears, Colyer, Kavanagh


... I watched his game yesterday and want him in! The kid's a gun!

 

[DapperDon]

Out: Fletcher, Watson, Stanton, Crameri, Zaharakis, Melksham, Davey, Jetta, Hardingham, Hooker.

In: Blokes who don't deserve a game just because

We are 7-1 and people want 5-6 changes. It's just crazy talk.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

OUT: Fletcher (inj.), Hardingham (inj.), Heppell, Crameri (both rested)
IN: Pears, Myers, Colyer, Baguley (Sub)

 

[bombermick]

With GWS and Melbourne in the next two weeks we can stagger our rests. I can't see Myers been rushed back in.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Out: Fletcher, Dempsey
In: Pears, Slattery (tagger - assuming Davis is still struggling with that ankle)

 

[yaco55]

Minimal changes for the next two weeks - We do have a bye in 4 weeks.