Preview Gather Round: Essendon vs Melbourne, Adelaide Oval, Saturday 15/4 @ 4.10PM (AEST)

[BuffDog]

Expecting up to 20mm of rain in Adelaide on Saturday so I’d be bringing in Hobbs for Weid and leaving Heppell in at the expense of Davey Jr (keep him fresh for Anzac Day).

Think we can still afford to carry two rucks in the wet as one will be resting forward.

Probably not the best game to debut Voss and I don’t think Walla is ready to come back in.

Kelly - BZT - Ridley
Redman - Laverde - McGrath
Martin - Shiel - Durham
Perkins - Jones - Langford
Caldwell - Stringer - Menzie
Draper - Parish - Setterfield

Merrett - Hobbs - Phillips - Heppell
Sub: D’Ambrosio

 

[ant555]

Maybe time to give Alwyn a rest. Snello in for the defensive pressure and composure.

Is Walla match-fit?

Not yet. Did a lot of walking yesterday.

 

[Bombers36]

We really need to try nullify their midfield - so keeping the 2 rucks against Grundy & having multiple options that can rotate through there is a must.
Hobbs comes in to provide another midfield rotation option, and I’d expect Caldwell to spend minutes through the guts as well…

OUT: Weideman, Davey
IN: Heppell, Hobbs

Ridley Zerk Kelly
Redman Lav McGrath
Shiel Setterfield Durham
Perkins Langford Martin
Jones Stringer Menzie

Phillips Parish Merrett

Bench: Caldwell Hobbs Heppell Draper
SUB: Snelling

 

[MiguelM]

If it is wet I would bring in Voss, Hobbs for Jones, Weideman

Jones needs to get a bit of confidence in the VFL IMO

 

[Pweter]

Fingers crossed the 0-20mm fizzles into not much which tends to happen to long range forecasts here, the big rain tends to get predicted only a day or 2 out where not much gets forecast prior.

Knowing my luck it'll be dumping down and make the day with my Melbourne supporting old man not so good. We won't get nearly as closer indication of where we're at either as it'll turn into a slog where game plans largely go out the window and their bigger and/or more mature bodies of Melbourne will wear us down.

 

[Call Me Cake]

After watching Melbourne yesterday this game is going to be ugly

They were playing the Eagles relax

 

[Foxx]

If it wasn't for us needing to expose Melbourne's lack of pace on the outside, I'd be wanting to bring in Hobbs and Snelling for Davey and Caldwell.
Heppell for Weidemann. Caldwell sub.

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

They were playing the Eagles relax

Sure thing champ

 

[Ati Tude]

They were playing the Eagles relax

Yep, Eagles are rubbish. The same rubbish side that beat us last year. Just hoping for a competitive performance against the Dees.

 

[srobbo]

Hobbs in for Weed & maybe Snelling for Davey (if he’s sore).

Jones stays in for structure & has to put a good game together now. Prob the litmus test he needs too!

 

[Milanista28]

Likely lose but if we won, oh baby

 

[Shanghaistu]

At least their matchwinner from last time we met will be sitting in the stands wearing an Essendon blazer this time…

 

[HirdsTheWord]

if we can get within 30 i think it's a win for us.

 

[half time raffle]

If it's wet:
Jones out, Voss in.
Heppell out, Hobbs in.
Weideman out, Snelling (sub) in.

Need to match Melbourne's physicality. All 3 outs a chance to come back in fresh for ANZAC day.

On CPH2065 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Gabe251]

Bbbbbb to kick 5 on us

 

[eth-dog]

Feel like we need another key defender in. JVR, McDonald and maybe Brown up front for Melbourne. Zerk to take Brown, Laverde on McDonald, ??? on JVR.

Expect Petty to play on the ruck, Lever on Jones and May on Stringer

 

[windyhill]

We will push Melbourne and beat collingwood next week.

 

[Gabe251]

We will push Melbourne and beat collingwood next week.

This would be wonderful. Can I take $4.00 that wont happen?

 

[citizen-erased]

glad ive made plans to get to this game.
not so glad it may rain whilst im standing on the grassy bit :S

As long as there's coopers and balfours on offer i guess.

Reckon this will be an alright match. Dees have never really blown us out of the water.
Hard part is going to be Oliver finding another level this year. Will v Clayton a key match up for me.
Shiel to Tracc
Suspect Viney goes to Merrett to rough him up a bit.

 

[Don Won]

glad ive made plans to get to this game.
not so glad it may rain whilst im standing on the grassy bit :S

As long as there's coopers and balfours on offer i guess.

A new variation of pie floater.

 

[andleanback]

If it’s going to be wet Saturday, hobbs has to play a natural for the conditions

 

[Dan26]

We will push Melbourne and beat collingwood next week.

What's with you being all optimistic?

 

[owen87]

If it’s going to be wet Saturday, hobbs has to play a natural for the conditions

I believe his father was a mudder.

 

[Chief Hopper]

Aren't we a team that haven't play well in the wet for a long time?
I'm having flashbacks of 2021 prelim finals where Western Bulldogs were better than us all over the wet ground.

Going too tall will hold us back. Players that can run, tackle and handball should win the day.

 

[Bjchan13]

Feel like we need another key defender in. JVR, McDonald and maybe Brown up front for Melbourne. Zerk to take Brown, Laverde on McDonald, ??? on JVR.

Expect Petty to play on the ruck, Lever on Jones and May on Stringer

Ridley will have to play taller. Our pressure up the ground will dictate whether or not Melbournes tall forwards dominate. Its a huge test for us