AZZO
Senior List
MATCH: Essendon v Fremantle
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday August 23, at Telstra Dome, 2:10pm (local time).
COVERAGE: Channel 10 – Melbourne (4pm), Perth (12 noon, live), Brisbane and Sydney (2pm, live). Fox Footy – Adelaide (1.30, live).
HEAD TO HEAD: Essendon 9, Fremantle 4.
LAST TIME: Fremantle 20.11 (131) d Essendon 15.10 (100), round 6, 2003 at Subiaco Oval. Matthew Lloyd was the game’s leading goal kicker with five, but a nine goal third term steered the Dockers to a memorable victory. Justin Longmuir, Paul Medhurst, Matthew Pavlich each kicked three goals.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: Bombers Sean Wellman (hamstring), Jason Johnson (ankle), Paul Barnard (shoulder), Jobe Watson (groin) and Jason Winderlich (groin) will be tested. Jordan Bannister (collarbone), Joel Reynolds (groin) and Adam Ramanauskas (surgery) are out for the season. The Dockers will test Paul Hasleby (knee) and Troy Simmonds (ankle) after they suffered injuries in round 20. Antoni Grover (hand) and Daniel Haines (knee) are available. Greg Edgcumbe (knee) and Clive Waterhouse (osteitis pubis) are out for the season.
THE FORM: The Dons scored an uninspiring victory over Richmond on the weekend, but the four points confirmed their spot in the eight. Essendon has won its last five matches, and is only behind seventh placed West Coast on percentage. Fremantle’s defeat of the Western Bulldogs in round 20 not only signalled the club’s third successive triumph, but confirmed it will qualify for its first ever finals series. The Dockers are sitting fifth on the ladder, but are equal with second-placed Adelaide on premiership points.
WHO’S HOT: Scott Lucas was the Bombers’ best last Sunday, playing another influential game across half-back. The erstwhile forward gathered 22 possessions, took eight marks and even dobbed a goal.
WHO’S NOT: Fremantle was horribly inaccurate on the weekend, and the goalless Justin Longmuir was the main culprit. He kicked five points in the first half, before ending the match with seven of the Dockers’ 25 behinds.
KEY MATCH-UPS: 30 year-old Docker Shane Parker should line up Matthew Lloyd, who has kicked 17 goals in the past fortnight. Pending his fitness, Simmonds will combine with Aaron Sandilands to combat Essendon duo David Hille and Steve Alessio. Mark Bolton is the Bomber most likely to get the job on Pavlich.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The Dockers scored the biggest win of their history over Essendon at Subiaco in round 12, 1997, when they creamed the travellers by 97 points. Fremantle 24.13 (157) d Essendon 9.6 (60). The Dockers’ second greatest victory was over Fitzroy in 1996.
WE THINK: Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy has set the scene for this important game, cheekily dubbing Telstra Dome the House of Horror. The Dockers might not be terrorised by their hosts, but expect them to be beaten. Essendon was flat against the Tigers last weekend, after playing an emotional contest the week before following news of Adam Ramanauskas’ health problems. The September professionals love a match at the Dome, and should be primed to upset the travellers. Unlike the Dogs, Essendon also has the talent to match the Freo side. Essendon, by 25 points.
WHEN & WHERE: Saturday August 23, at Telstra Dome, 2:10pm (local time).
COVERAGE: Channel 10 – Melbourne (4pm), Perth (12 noon, live), Brisbane and Sydney (2pm, live). Fox Footy – Adelaide (1.30, live).
HEAD TO HEAD: Essendon 9, Fremantle 4.
LAST TIME: Fremantle 20.11 (131) d Essendon 15.10 (100), round 6, 2003 at Subiaco Oval. Matthew Lloyd was the game’s leading goal kicker with five, but a nine goal third term steered the Dockers to a memorable victory. Justin Longmuir, Paul Medhurst, Matthew Pavlich each kicked three goals.
THE MEDICAL ROOM: Bombers Sean Wellman (hamstring), Jason Johnson (ankle), Paul Barnard (shoulder), Jobe Watson (groin) and Jason Winderlich (groin) will be tested. Jordan Bannister (collarbone), Joel Reynolds (groin) and Adam Ramanauskas (surgery) are out for the season. The Dockers will test Paul Hasleby (knee) and Troy Simmonds (ankle) after they suffered injuries in round 20. Antoni Grover (hand) and Daniel Haines (knee) are available. Greg Edgcumbe (knee) and Clive Waterhouse (osteitis pubis) are out for the season.
THE FORM: The Dons scored an uninspiring victory over Richmond on the weekend, but the four points confirmed their spot in the eight. Essendon has won its last five matches, and is only behind seventh placed West Coast on percentage. Fremantle’s defeat of the Western Bulldogs in round 20 not only signalled the club’s third successive triumph, but confirmed it will qualify for its first ever finals series. The Dockers are sitting fifth on the ladder, but are equal with second-placed Adelaide on premiership points.
WHO’S HOT: Scott Lucas was the Bombers’ best last Sunday, playing another influential game across half-back. The erstwhile forward gathered 22 possessions, took eight marks and even dobbed a goal.
WHO’S NOT: Fremantle was horribly inaccurate on the weekend, and the goalless Justin Longmuir was the main culprit. He kicked five points in the first half, before ending the match with seven of the Dockers’ 25 behinds.
KEY MATCH-UPS: 30 year-old Docker Shane Parker should line up Matthew Lloyd, who has kicked 17 goals in the past fortnight. Pending his fitness, Simmonds will combine with Aaron Sandilands to combat Essendon duo David Hille and Steve Alessio. Mark Bolton is the Bomber most likely to get the job on Pavlich.
ALL-TIME CLASSIC: The Dockers scored the biggest win of their history over Essendon at Subiaco in round 12, 1997, when they creamed the travellers by 97 points. Fremantle 24.13 (157) d Essendon 9.6 (60). The Dockers’ second greatest victory was over Fitzroy in 1996.
WE THINK: Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy has set the scene for this important game, cheekily dubbing Telstra Dome the House of Horror. The Dockers might not be terrorised by their hosts, but expect them to be beaten. Essendon was flat against the Tigers last weekend, after playing an emotional contest the week before following news of Adam Ramanauskas’ health problems. The September professionals love a match at the Dome, and should be primed to upset the travellers. Unlike the Dogs, Essendon also has the talent to match the Freo side. Essendon, by 25 points.
