The Event:
Round 1, Friday Night. Essendon vs Adelaide. Etihad Stadium.
The undoubted match of the round sees last years minor premiers and unfortunately (for us all) losing grand finalist matched up against the up and coming bombers. We all know the saga that has been the Essendon saga and yes they will likely remain the butt of jokes from all rival supporters for years to come, but the reality is; They are coming.
This used to be an Essendon Stronghold, remember the late 90's / early 00's when Lloyd was basically unstoppable under lights at the then Telstra Dome?
Daniher is a weapon, McGrath is a jet, overall it pains me to say it but their list is overall, well…. getting very, very good.
BUT… The crows have been the highest scoring team for the past two seasons and aren’t ‘coming’… They are already here. I mean there is a reason the Crows are the premiership favourites (or there abouts) at most bookmakers.
This promises to be a great test for both teams, but given the expectation on the crows to go one better than in 2017, you can almost smell Michelangelo Douchey at his keyboard just waiting to push send on his ‘Doomsday for the Crows’ article on Saturday morning.
If the Crows were an actor they’d be,…..
Brad Pitt.
Frequently scores a lot on weekends, Been there about for a long time, attractive to watch but never seems to get the recognition and win on the big stage, BUT we all know it’s only a matter of time.
If the Bombers were an actor they’d be,….
Macauley Culkin.
We all remember when he was great, his past has been somewhat riddled with drugs and shady headlines, but you just know at some stage, he’ll be back and we’ll respect him again.
If the Crows were a Simpsons character, they’d be,..
Nelson Muntz.
Had some dodgy haircuts over the years, beats up on kids often with clinical accuracy and muscle, but often on the big stage, ends up with their pants down.
If the Bombers were a Simpsons character, they’d be,..
Mayor Quimby.
Not very likeable, bit shady and tainted, but also always seems to land on their feet and be successful.
Likely Matchups.
FB: Matt Dea / Michael Hartley / Mitch Brown
FF: Mitch McGovern / Josh Jenkins / Eddie Betts
HB: Brendan Goddard / Michael Hurley / Adam Saad
HF: Richard Douglas / Darcy Fogarty / Lachlan Murphy
C: Darcy Parish / Dyson Heppell / David Zaharakis
C: Rory Atkins / Rory Sloane / Sam Gibson
HF: Jake Stringer / Cale Hooker / A.McDonald-Tipungwuti
HB: Rory Laird / Daniel Talia / Curtly Hampton
FF: Josh Green / Joe Daniher / James Stewart
FB: Jake Kelly / Kyle Hartigan / Luke Brown
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers / Zach Merrett / Devon Smith
FOLL: Sam Jacobs / Matt Crouch / Bryce Gibbs
INT: Josh Begley / Andrew McGrath / Kyle Langford / Conor McKenna
INT: Tom Doedee / David Mackay / C. Ellis-Yolmen / Paul Seedsman
The 5 most important matchups to win the match:
Joe Daniher VS Kyle Hartigan – The Monster – Everyone knows it, Joe Daniher is an absolute Beast. If he plays well, bombers are a chance every game; if he is quiet, they probably lose. But he is rarely quiet. This is the most key matchup for the crows to worry about. Kyle Hartigan worries me, and maybe Talia ends up on him in the end, but from experience I’m tipping Talia to go to Hooker, shut him down and push all pressure onto the success of Daniher.
Matt Dea VS Mitch McGovern – Is Gov, Is Good - With Tex and the Lynchpin sidelined, the crows forward line is significantly weakened BUT given that they are members of the best forward line the league has seen in years, they have depth. Eddie will be ever important but for me, it’s McGovern that seems most likely to unsettle the bombers defence and tear the game apart. By the end of 2018 the league will all appreciate what we already know, Gov is good; Too good for Matt Dea.
Tom Bellchambers VS Sam Jacobs – The Ruckening – with the midfield battle likely to be the basis for the winner of the match, the supply to said midfields will of course be key. BUT what makes this matchup so vital is they both have the ability to dominate around the ground. Jacobs has 3-4 games a year where he just seems to be everywhere, marking everything and chips in with a couple goals, the Crows win those games.
Devon Smith VS Bryce Gibbs – The battle of the newbies – Both coming off great preseasons, both keen to establish themselves in the midfield at their respective new clubs. Gibbs might be more proven, but Smith is no slouch either and both worth a cheeky $5 first goal scorer bet.
Dyson Heppell VS Rory Sloane – Hair to hair, head to head – Two genuine top level midfielders going head to head. Both have the ability to not only get a hell of a lot of the ball, but also use the well very well and hit the scoreboard. If this battle does go ahead, it could be a matter of whoever plays better, sings their song at the end.
Preseason Form:
Adelaide:
JLT –
Def Fremantle 91-81
Def by Port Adelaide 98-72
AFLX –
Def West Coast 53-46
Def Collingwood 65-37
Def Geelong 55-47 (Final)
Essendon:
JLT –
Def Geelong 101-97
Def by Richmond 124-37
AFLX –
Def by Hawthorn 54-73
Def by St.Kilda 52-37
Recent Matchups:
Rd 21, 2017 – Essendon 12.8(80) def by Adelaide 18.15(123) – Etihad
Rd 4, 2017 – Essendon 13.10(88) def by Adelaide 24.9(153) – Adelaide Oval
Rd 19, 2016 – Essendon 9.7(61) def by Adelaide 22.11(143) – Adelaide Oval
Rd 20, 2015 – Essendon 8.11(59) def by Adelaide 27.9(171) – Etihad
Rd 14, 2014 – Essendon 15.11(101) def Adelaide 14.8(92) – Etihad
Predictions:
McGovern to kick 4+ Goals.
Matt Crouch to be the leading possession winner on the ground.
Darcy Fogarty to give the selectors a really difficult decision for Round 2 when he kicks 2, has 10 touches and 5 tackles.
Me to be the only one in Southampton (UK) yelling at Kyle Hartigan over their breakfast to stop F%&ing falling over!
Andrew McGrath to go to Rory Sloane by Half time because of early dominance.
Bigfooty Crows fans to call for David Mackay to be dropped to the SANFL post-match irrelevant of performance
Daniher to get off the leash at times and keep the bombers in the game right until the final siren.
Michaelangelo Rucci to write a negative article about the crows irrelevant of the result.
The Verdict:
Crows by less than 2 goals.
Round 1, Friday Night. Essendon vs Adelaide. Etihad Stadium.
The undoubted match of the round sees last years minor premiers and unfortunately (for us all) losing grand finalist matched up against the up and coming bombers. We all know the saga that has been the Essendon saga and yes they will likely remain the butt of jokes from all rival supporters for years to come, but the reality is; They are coming.
This used to be an Essendon Stronghold, remember the late 90's / early 00's when Lloyd was basically unstoppable under lights at the then Telstra Dome?
Daniher is a weapon, McGrath is a jet, overall it pains me to say it but their list is overall, well…. getting very, very good.
BUT… The crows have been the highest scoring team for the past two seasons and aren’t ‘coming’… They are already here. I mean there is a reason the Crows are the premiership favourites (or there abouts) at most bookmakers.
This promises to be a great test for both teams, but given the expectation on the crows to go one better than in 2017, you can almost smell Michelangelo Douchey at his keyboard just waiting to push send on his ‘Doomsday for the Crows’ article on Saturday morning.
If the Crows were an actor they’d be,…..
Brad Pitt.
Frequently scores a lot on weekends, Been there about for a long time, attractive to watch but never seems to get the recognition and win on the big stage, BUT we all know it’s only a matter of time.
If the Bombers were an actor they’d be,….
Macauley Culkin.
We all remember when he was great, his past has been somewhat riddled with drugs and shady headlines, but you just know at some stage, he’ll be back and we’ll respect him again.
If the Crows were a Simpsons character, they’d be,..
Nelson Muntz.
Had some dodgy haircuts over the years, beats up on kids often with clinical accuracy and muscle, but often on the big stage, ends up with their pants down.
If the Bombers were a Simpsons character, they’d be,..
Mayor Quimby.
Not very likeable, bit shady and tainted, but also always seems to land on their feet and be successful.
Likely Matchups.
FB: Matt Dea / Michael Hartley / Mitch Brown
FF: Mitch McGovern / Josh Jenkins / Eddie Betts
HB: Brendan Goddard / Michael Hurley / Adam Saad
HF: Richard Douglas / Darcy Fogarty / Lachlan Murphy
C: Darcy Parish / Dyson Heppell / David Zaharakis
C: Rory Atkins / Rory Sloane / Sam Gibson
HF: Jake Stringer / Cale Hooker / A.McDonald-Tipungwuti
HB: Rory Laird / Daniel Talia / Curtly Hampton
FF: Josh Green / Joe Daniher / James Stewart
FB: Jake Kelly / Kyle Hartigan / Luke Brown
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers / Zach Merrett / Devon Smith
FOLL: Sam Jacobs / Matt Crouch / Bryce Gibbs
INT: Josh Begley / Andrew McGrath / Kyle Langford / Conor McKenna
INT: Tom Doedee / David Mackay / C. Ellis-Yolmen / Paul Seedsman
The 5 most important matchups to win the match:
Joe Daniher VS Kyle Hartigan – The Monster – Everyone knows it, Joe Daniher is an absolute Beast. If he plays well, bombers are a chance every game; if he is quiet, they probably lose. But he is rarely quiet. This is the most key matchup for the crows to worry about. Kyle Hartigan worries me, and maybe Talia ends up on him in the end, but from experience I’m tipping Talia to go to Hooker, shut him down and push all pressure onto the success of Daniher.
Matt Dea VS Mitch McGovern – Is Gov, Is Good - With Tex and the Lynchpin sidelined, the crows forward line is significantly weakened BUT given that they are members of the best forward line the league has seen in years, they have depth. Eddie will be ever important but for me, it’s McGovern that seems most likely to unsettle the bombers defence and tear the game apart. By the end of 2018 the league will all appreciate what we already know, Gov is good; Too good for Matt Dea.
Tom Bellchambers VS Sam Jacobs – The Ruckening – with the midfield battle likely to be the basis for the winner of the match, the supply to said midfields will of course be key. BUT what makes this matchup so vital is they both have the ability to dominate around the ground. Jacobs has 3-4 games a year where he just seems to be everywhere, marking everything and chips in with a couple goals, the Crows win those games.
Devon Smith VS Bryce Gibbs – The battle of the newbies – Both coming off great preseasons, both keen to establish themselves in the midfield at their respective new clubs. Gibbs might be more proven, but Smith is no slouch either and both worth a cheeky $5 first goal scorer bet.
Dyson Heppell VS Rory Sloane – Hair to hair, head to head – Two genuine top level midfielders going head to head. Both have the ability to not only get a hell of a lot of the ball, but also use the well very well and hit the scoreboard. If this battle does go ahead, it could be a matter of whoever plays better, sings their song at the end.
Preseason Form:
Adelaide:
JLT –
Def Fremantle 91-81
Def by Port Adelaide 98-72
AFLX –
Def West Coast 53-46
Def Collingwood 65-37
Def Geelong 55-47 (Final)
Essendon:
JLT –
Def Geelong 101-97
Def by Richmond 124-37
AFLX –
Def by Hawthorn 54-73
Def by St.Kilda 52-37
Recent Matchups:
Rd 21, 2017 – Essendon 12.8(80) def by Adelaide 18.15(123) – Etihad
Rd 4, 2017 – Essendon 13.10(88) def by Adelaide 24.9(153) – Adelaide Oval
Rd 19, 2016 – Essendon 9.7(61) def by Adelaide 22.11(143) – Adelaide Oval
Rd 20, 2015 – Essendon 8.11(59) def by Adelaide 27.9(171) – Etihad
Rd 14, 2014 – Essendon 15.11(101) def Adelaide 14.8(92) – Etihad
Predictions:
McGovern to kick 4+ Goals.
Matt Crouch to be the leading possession winner on the ground.
Darcy Fogarty to give the selectors a really difficult decision for Round 2 when he kicks 2, has 10 touches and 5 tackles.
Me to be the only one in Southampton (UK) yelling at Kyle Hartigan over their breakfast to stop F%&ing falling over!
Andrew McGrath to go to Rory Sloane by Half time because of early dominance.
Bigfooty Crows fans to call for David Mackay to be dropped to the SANFL post-match irrelevant of performance
Daniher to get off the leash at times and keep the bombers in the game right until the final siren.
Michaelangelo Rucci to write a negative article about the crows irrelevant of the result.
The Verdict:
Crows by less than 2 goals.
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