Preview Essendon vs Melbourne

[AndyLesPaul]

Thought I might start the match preview thread.

I do want to know one thing though, and that is, is this match fully ticketed? and how do you find out

 

[brad]

Thought I might start the match preview thread.

I do want to know one thing though, and that is, is this match fully ticketed? and how do you find out

NO WAY will it be fully ticketed.

GA will be the whole Ponsford Stand I'd be guessing and there could even be some GA on the bottom level of the Southern Stand.

Top decks will have plenty.

You realise this is at the MCG and not Etihad?

Crowd will be lucky to reach 60K

 

[Loriente88]

Watching Melbourne on Friday Night, if we win by less than 40 points, we have failed. They were absolutely terrible. We should literally steamroll Melbourne on Friday.

 

[adii_7]

if we dont win by 10 goals its a fail.

if we lose.. give up on 2011

 

[efcboy]

i'd expect the Bombers to want to go for a kill like they did against GC on Friday night.

It would appear Prismall is in (given he didn't play VFL), Watson likely to return and a question mark on Hurley. Hurley's injury sounds the same as Sandilands so i'd expect they may give him at least another week off.

I'd suggest based on the VFL squad who played and only a 6 day break then the changes will be:

Out: Reimers, Davey

In: Prismall, Watson

Emergencies: Colyer, Reimers, Browne

 

[Mrs Mercuri]

Teams have struggled to win following the bye... hell evern Collingwood lost after their week off.

Melb will be looking for some respect back and they did beat us last time we played. Trengove will also return for them.

Im hoping Hurley and Watson come back to strengthen the side. We can't take them lightly, im hoping the boys come out all guns blazing and set up a win by 1/4 time.

 

[eth-dog]

We come to a match that Essendon should win. Melbourne have been poor, and poor all over the park. Their defence has been held together by the very good Frawley, who, in my opinion, is the premier young defender in the competition, being surrounded by players that have leaked goals left, right and centre. The bombers have had good form coming in recently, even with the loss against Richmond in their last game.

Melbourne have poor form coming in, their forwards being non-existant, Jurrah and Watts disappointing, even though one Melbourne supporter once told me they were "Sure fire superstars". Their midfield have done nothing since the loss of Jamar, as shown by the demolishment by Judd, Murphy and Gibbs last week with their #1 midfielder Brent Moloney having no effect. Admittedly the loss of Trengove, Scully and Bartram are three crucial players to their rotations out of the side. Their defence has been hopeless, one Frawley injury would mean that their defence, quite frankly, would fall apart. They've had no drive, no stability and no support. They have young talent, but the problem is that it's young.

Essendon have been solid all over the park. Hooker, Myers and Fletcher have all been great in defence. Fletcher lost to Vickery last week; but has been solid every other week. Hardingham, Heppell, Hibberd and Slattery have all rotated through their defence and been great. Their midfield has been great, Lonergan, Howlett, Watson and McVeigh have all been prominent in the clearances. Bellchambers has been a real dominant ruckman, and the outside work of Melksham, Jetta, Heppell and Stanton has been solid to component the inside work. The forward line has played solidly, without being spectacular, and the leading goal scorer a surprise Stewart Crameri, rookie-listed this year. Zaharakis, Hurley and Jetta have all improved this season and been prominent.

Key Match-Ups:

James Frawley vs Michael Hurley:
Frawley is their best defender. He has to keep Hurley to less than 2 goals for Melbourne to even compete IMO. Anything more and we could see a cricket score. Hurley just needs to take Frawley out of the game, allow to release Crameri, Hille and co. because their defence won't stand a chance otherwise.

Stefan Martin vs Tom Bellchambers:
Bellchambers has been dominant for a couple games this season, Martin is really only a part-time ruckman, mostly a forward. Bellchambers has been improving around the ground, so I really can't see them beating him, I have a feeling that this'll be another game where Bellchambers gets more hit outs than Melbourne by himself.

Brent Moloney vs Jobe Watson:
Watson and Moloney are the best midfielders for each side. Watson is arguably the best clearance mid, whereas Moloney has no support, like Watson 2 years ago. Moloney will have to be awesome for Melbourne to be competitive.

Overall I see Essendon being too good all over the park. Frawley, Moloney and Green are all quality players, but their talent is spread thin, and their best footy has been few and far between, with their best and worst miles apart. I honestly can't see them making a serious challenge with a team that has their talent well spread across the park. I'm going to say Essendon by 60 points

 

[Darealrath]

It's a game we definately should win but we shouldn't take it for granted.

From our last game we definately need to improve our kicking into the forward line and when we don't mark it at least forcing a solid contest.

We need to clamp down on Moloney who can really get them going.

Selection will be very interesting if Hurley and/or Watson are right to go.

If Hurley is right I'd drop one of the ruckman (sorry Bellchambers) and if Watson is right out goes Davey.

We lacked run vs Richmond as well so I'd like to see one of Colyer (preferrerably) or Prismall come in too, probably for Hibberd, who hasn't done anything wrong but just for the sake of balance. NLM sub.

 

[eth-dog]

It's a game we definately should win but we shouldn't take it for granted.

From our last game we definately need to improve our kicking into the forward line and when we don't mark it at least forcing a solid contest.

We need to clamp down on Moloney who can really get them going.

Selection will be very interesting if Hurley and/or Watson are right to go.

If Hurley is right I'd drop one of the ruckman (sorry Bellchambers) and if Watson is right out goes Davey.

We lacked run vs Richmond as well so I'd like to see one of Colyer (preferrerably) or Prismall come in too, probably for Hibberd, who hasn't done anything wrong but just for the sake of balance. NLM sub.

Ryder should be the ruckman who gets dropped. Ryder has been terrible recently, give him a wake up call. Bellchambers has been our form ruckman this year. I'd get rid of Davey, Ryder and Reimers and bring in Watson, Hurley and Colyer

 

[Darealrath]

Ryder should be the ruckman who gets dropped. Ryder has been terrible recently, give him a wake up call. Bellchambers has been our form ruckman this year. I'd get rid of Davey, Ryder and Reimers and bring in Watson, Hurley and Colyer

Ryder has more versatility. IMO either he or Hille could handle first ruck duties as well as Bellchambers if given the responsibility and they give us more flexibility up forward.

 

[eth-dog]

Ryder has more versatility. IMO either he or Hille could handle first ruck duties as well as Bellchambers if given the responsibility and they give us more flexibility up forward.

Form>Versatility IMO. Bellchambers is improving, being our best tap ruckman. He ain't no slouch up forward either. Ryder should be the first dropped of the three

 

[Jesse Custer]

Don't expect Hurley or Watson to be available.

 

[stugots]

dont think the big 3 will be split up yet & as it sounds like Hurley is unlikely, there's a need for some height in the forward line.

give Reimers another go, get some speed in the midfield & maybe add Browne in to mix things up

 

[OzBomber]

Don't expect Hurley or Watson to be available.

Pretty sure Sir Jim said in the presser last weekend that Jobe will be fine for the Melbourne game. Hope it's still the case.

Melbourne will want to come out firing, we have to be on the ball from the first bounce. Will be very very disappointed if we lose this.

 

[Eleven 38]

why is this game at the MCG >?? is it because we have a contract to play 4 home games there a year ?

 

[footycool]

why is this game at the MCG >?? is it because we have a contract to play 4 home games there a year ?

Melbourne home game.

 

[Donakebab]

Back home, first game for the year! This is one of the 4 pre reserved games for AFL members, N23 front row... I can't wait!

 

[Godzke]

Demons are one of those teams that play very differently the week after a bad loss. Still a potential danger game.

As for Watson, hoping he plays (for Brownlow sakes) but I reckon he'll get in the 22 and then be a late withdrawal. Jimmy loving his mind games.

 

[Eleven 38]

Melbourne home game.

but it says on the essendon website that its a home game and we are on the top on the afl website..

 

[whats_at_stake]

but it says on the essendon website that its a home game and we are on the top on the afl website..

It is our home game. We have a 7-4 split between Etihad-MCG. Ideally I hope we can negotiate a 6-5 split soon.

 

[essendon2008]

It is our home game. We have a 7-4 split between Etihad-MCG. Ideally I hope we can negotiate a 6-5 split soon.

I agree, Etihad is too expensive and ticketed games are a hassle. Although the roof is nice to have

 

[Donakebab]

I agree, Etihad is too expensive and ticketed games are a hassle. Although the roof is nice to have

All Essendon games, home and away, are ticketed.

 

[Synth]

Trengove and Scully will be back.

Don't expect the same insipid Melbourne this week.

 

[Ess_don]

Hocking would have been the perfect matchup for Moloney.. other dangerous player Im worried about is Sylvia, very damaging player all around the ground and always chips in with shots on goals, not sure who we have to run with him and try keep him quiet.

Darn thought Trengove has another week to serve for his suspension.. cannot underestimate Dees if both Scully and Trengove comes back in. Just hope they are both abit rusty?

 

[topdon]

All Essendon games, home and away, are ticketed.

Away games we play at Etihad are not fully ticketed by default. They may be upgraded to a premium reserve or fully ticketed match if demand says so. Essendon home games are fully ticketed regardless. This really annoys me as people are forced to sit on level 3 to find many empty seats on level 1.

Would love to be able to just scan my membership and sit anywhere.