eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Observations
Essendon: Essendon had an excellent against flag fancies and arch rivals Collingwood. Andrew Phillips was an excellent inclusion with 6 clearances whilst Dylan Shiel had 29 disposals as well as the match winning goal, whilst up front the ever reliable Jake Stringer kicked 3 goals again in an excellent display of forward craft
North Melbourne:
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 4 - 1 North Melbourne
Form Guide
Essendon: 3W 1L
North Melbourne: 2W 2L
Sportsbet odds (unavailable)
Essendon: $1.66
North Melbourne: $2.18
Line: 6.5 ($1.90)
Possible sides
Essendon vs North Melbourne
B: Aaron Francis - Cale Hooker - Adam Saad
F: Cameron Zurhaar - Tristan Xerri - Tarryn Thomas
HB: Mason Redman - Michael Hurley - Martin Gleeson
HF: Curtis Taylor - Ben Brown - Jack Mahoney
C: Kyle Langford - Zach Merrett - Brayden Ham
C: Jared Polec - Ben Cunnington - Aaron Hall
HF: Orazio Fantasia - Shaun McKernan - Devon Smith
HB: Jasper Pittard - Josh Walker - Shaun Atley
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - Jake Stringer - Jacob Townsend
B: Luke McDonald - Robbie Tarrant - Jamie Macmillan
R: Andrew Phillips - Darcy Parish - Dylan Shiel
R: Todd Goldstein - Shaun Higgins - Jy Simpkin
I: Andrew McGrath - Mitchell Hibberd - Jordan Ridley - Will Snelling
I: Jed Anderson - Marley Williams - Trent Dumont - Kyron Hayden
Essendon in: Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis; Out: David Zaharakis (I live in hope), Jayden Laverde
North Melbourne in: N/A; Out: N/A
North Melbourne defence vs Essendon forward line
First four games Essendon averaged 24.1% in terms of goals/inside 50, much improved from last year. North Melbourne has been really solid in defence this season, only conceding a goal 20% of the time it enters their defensive 50. Robbie Tarrant has been excellent this year at shutting the oppositions number 1 tall so far, and will have a tough time against the in form Jake Stringer, who has 10 goals in his 4 games, with Josh Walker being a capable second likely to take Shaun McKernan. Jacob Townsend may do a lockdown job on Shaun Atley, the redhead has been kicking goals in most of his matches. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia will likely get attention from Jasper Pittard and Luke McDonald, the two small defenders have been effective for North so far this season.
Midfield/rucks battle
North Melbourne have been excellent on the contested side of the midfield, currently 1st in clearance differential and 5th in contested possession differential, whilst Essendon are 11th and 13th in those particular areas at this point in time. North will be hoping Jy Simpkin's excellent start to the season will continue, the midfielder having dominated the first 4 games, averaging 24 touches and 6.5 clearances a game, as well as being ably supported by Shaun Higgins, Ben Cunnington and Trent Dumont in the engine room, whilst Essendon's midfield brigade is lead by Dylan Shiel, averaging 26 touches and 7 clearances a game for the Dons, who's main inside support crew will be Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and former Roo Mitch Hibberd, who will probably have a point to prove to North Melbourne. On the outside it's looking like an even contest, if slightly in favour of the Roos with the likes of Jasper Pittaard, Jed Anderson and Aaron Hall whilst Essendon will use Kyle Langford, Will Snelling and Brayden Ham as their main outside players. Rucks wise, Andrew Phillips was impressive on debut for Essendon last week but comes against Todd Goldstein, one of the best rucks in the competition, who will likely have his measure.
North Melbourne forward line vs Essendon defence
North Melbourne average a goal 22.7% of the time they enter their forward 50, around the middle of the league so far. Essendon have a middle of the road back 7, conceding a goal 23.8% of the time it goes into defence this season. Expect Cale Hooker to take young forward/ruck Tristan Xerri who has been promising this year so far, whilst Michael Hurley probably takes Ben Brown, who has always had an excellent record against Essendon. Aaron Francis is likely to go head to head with Cameron Zurhaar, the medium forward's aggression in the air and on the ground a standout feature, playing similarly to Max Rooke. Small forwards Tarryn Thomas and Curtis Taylor have also impressed for North, but will have it tough against Mason Redman and Adam Saad respectively.
X-Factor Player
Jordan Ridley has given many Essendon fans goosebumps this season, his assuredness and ability to hit a target the vast majority of the time has been really unusual for Essendon, which is why most have enjoyed him so far this season.
Key stat
Essendon: Clearances. They win this, they win the game most of the time, last week was a prime example of that
North Melbourne: Defensive conversion. North's defence is the backbone of their structure, they can't afford to let Stringer and Walla off the chain
Tip
Essendon should win this after such a promising performance the week before. Dons by 22
Essendon: Essendon had an excellent against flag fancies and arch rivals Collingwood. Andrew Phillips was an excellent inclusion with 6 clearances whilst Dylan Shiel had 29 disposals as well as the match winning goal, whilst up front the ever reliable Jake Stringer kicked 3 goals again in an excellent display of forward craft
North Melbourne:
Head to Head (last 5)
Essendon 4 - 1 North Melbourne
Form Guide
Essendon: 3W 1L
North Melbourne: 2W 2L
Sportsbet odds (unavailable)
Essendon: $1.66
North Melbourne: $2.18
Line: 6.5 ($1.90)
Possible sides
Essendon vs North Melbourne
B: Aaron Francis - Cale Hooker - Adam Saad
F: Cameron Zurhaar - Tristan Xerri - Tarryn Thomas
HB: Mason Redman - Michael Hurley - Martin Gleeson
HF: Curtis Taylor - Ben Brown - Jack Mahoney
C: Kyle Langford - Zach Merrett - Brayden Ham
C: Jared Polec - Ben Cunnington - Aaron Hall
HF: Orazio Fantasia - Shaun McKernan - Devon Smith
HB: Jasper Pittard - Josh Walker - Shaun Atley
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti - Jake Stringer - Jacob Townsend
B: Luke McDonald - Robbie Tarrant - Jamie Macmillan
R: Andrew Phillips - Darcy Parish - Dylan Shiel
R: Todd Goldstein - Shaun Higgins - Jy Simpkin
I: Andrew McGrath - Mitchell Hibberd - Jordan Ridley - Will Snelling
I: Jed Anderson - Marley Williams - Trent Dumont - Kyron Hayden
Essendon in: Zach Merrett, Aaron Francis; Out: David Zaharakis (I live in hope), Jayden Laverde
North Melbourne in: N/A; Out: N/A
North Melbourne defence vs Essendon forward line
First four games Essendon averaged 24.1% in terms of goals/inside 50, much improved from last year. North Melbourne has been really solid in defence this season, only conceding a goal 20% of the time it enters their defensive 50. Robbie Tarrant has been excellent this year at shutting the oppositions number 1 tall so far, and will have a tough time against the in form Jake Stringer, who has 10 goals in his 4 games, with Josh Walker being a capable second likely to take Shaun McKernan. Jacob Townsend may do a lockdown job on Shaun Atley, the redhead has been kicking goals in most of his matches. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Orazio Fantasia will likely get attention from Jasper Pittard and Luke McDonald, the two small defenders have been effective for North so far this season.
Midfield/rucks battle
North Melbourne have been excellent on the contested side of the midfield, currently 1st in clearance differential and 5th in contested possession differential, whilst Essendon are 11th and 13th in those particular areas at this point in time. North will be hoping Jy Simpkin's excellent start to the season will continue, the midfielder having dominated the first 4 games, averaging 24 touches and 6.5 clearances a game, as well as being ably supported by Shaun Higgins, Ben Cunnington and Trent Dumont in the engine room, whilst Essendon's midfield brigade is lead by Dylan Shiel, averaging 26 touches and 7 clearances a game for the Dons, who's main inside support crew will be Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and former Roo Mitch Hibberd, who will probably have a point to prove to North Melbourne. On the outside it's looking like an even contest, if slightly in favour of the Roos with the likes of Jasper Pittaard, Jed Anderson and Aaron Hall whilst Essendon will use Kyle Langford, Will Snelling and Brayden Ham as their main outside players. Rucks wise, Andrew Phillips was impressive on debut for Essendon last week but comes against Todd Goldstein, one of the best rucks in the competition, who will likely have his measure.
North Melbourne forward line vs Essendon defence
North Melbourne average a goal 22.7% of the time they enter their forward 50, around the middle of the league so far. Essendon have a middle of the road back 7, conceding a goal 23.8% of the time it goes into defence this season. Expect Cale Hooker to take young forward/ruck Tristan Xerri who has been promising this year so far, whilst Michael Hurley probably takes Ben Brown, who has always had an excellent record against Essendon. Aaron Francis is likely to go head to head with Cameron Zurhaar, the medium forward's aggression in the air and on the ground a standout feature, playing similarly to Max Rooke. Small forwards Tarryn Thomas and Curtis Taylor have also impressed for North, but will have it tough against Mason Redman and Adam Saad respectively.
X-Factor Player
Jordan Ridley has given many Essendon fans goosebumps this season, his assuredness and ability to hit a target the vast majority of the time has been really unusual for Essendon, which is why most have enjoyed him so far this season.
Key stat
Essendon: Clearances. They win this, they win the game most of the time, last week was a prime example of that
North Melbourne: Defensive conversion. North's defence is the backbone of their structure, they can't afford to let Stringer and Walla off the chain
Tip
Essendon should win this after such a promising performance the week before. Dons by 22
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