With just over 5 days to go I thought I would start a thread regarding round 1.
Great round 1 opponant - they just kept us out of 8th last year and with only 1 spot difference there is little between these 2 teams. Bookies and most tippers have this as a genuine 50/50 game.
Grima and Ziebell are the 2 that look likely to miss from our best 22 and Essendon will be close to full strength.
Key Match Ups - Forwards:
Petrie V Hooker - great match up for us here and the Dish I think easily has Hooker covered. He is faster, stronger and much better in the air. The key is keeping Fletcher away as the third man up. Last year Fletcher spent time on Adams and will take any player that will allow him to get to contests invlovinig Petrie. Who ever Fletcher goes to will need to keep him away from Petrie. Pears will be option 2 for Drew.
Pears V Edwards - Pears has the potential to become an elite backman - he had an injured interupted 2011 season. I think he will start on Edward and will be a good match up for him. Look for Edwards to continue to push up to the wing and clear some space out for Petrie. Edwards will hae to work had for every touch.
Harvey V McVeigh - a couple of the senior statmens to go head to head. Harvey looks like he has not lost much pace and will again to a hand fully for McVeigh. Another goal in the 1st 10 seconds would be nice. McVeigh is dropping off alot fast than Harvey and can be a weak link in the backline. Dempsey is a player that may go to Boomer and try and hurt him with run the other way. Will be interesting who gets 1st crack at him.
Thomas V Hardingham - Hardingham had a very good 2011 and will match up well with Thomas - he is very good in the air and very strong. Thomas will have him covered once the ball hit the ground and will need to on to score goals. Like last year he was able to kick a few goals turning his player inside out and run into an open goal. 1st kick at goal is so important and needs to get his confidnce up early.
Tarrent V Fletcher - old v new. Tarrent looked good in the pre season. He will need to be on early to make Fletcher accountable and not push off him to make the Petrie contests. He will find it hard with Fletchers reach so will need to be taking him up the ground and out of his comfort zone. A couple of strong marks early will make Fletcher pay attention to him.
Adams V Heppell - Heppell is coming off a great debut season and I hope Adams plays him as a defensive foward. Heppell got under alot of teams guards and finds alot of it if he is left alone. Adams has the hardness to compete with Heppell and should build the pressue on him. Adams is fine over head and a great kick for goal. 2 goals from him would be draw - 3 a win.
Key Match Ups - Mids:
Swallow V Watson - lets hope this happens - let the Captains go head to head. Both players are elite clearance players and as hard at the ball as anyone. Watson took a big step last year but still his kicking (especially over 30 metres) is terrible. I would not tag their number 1 mid. You can't stop him getting his hands on it - just hope he kicks it more than he handballs it. If Watson goes foward I want McMahon going to him. Will be interesting to see how Swallow plays in his 1st game as Captain - hopefully like a duck to water.
Greenwood V Stanton - Stanton has been very consistant over the last 5 years. I don't think he is a great player but one that we should look too tag. Under pressure is when he is at his worst and I would keep that pressure on him so he has zero influence on the contest. His foot skills can be very good when he has time and space but ordinary when he has someone hunting him.
Cunnington V Melksham - great match up of 2 up and coming youngesters. Cunners having his 1st full pre-season should really be looking to take a big step in 2012. Melksham from reports has bulked up so these 2 should be a good contest head to head. Cunners should look to push forward as he is very good over head.
Hocking V Bastanic - Hocking has him for strength but Basti has him for speed. This will need to be watched as Hockings size and experience could test Basti. Ziebell would have been the perfect match up - hopefully Hocking has a quite game.
Wells V Zaka - 2 players that had very good 2011. Zaka is an attacking mid/hff that is a very good finisher. Wells is an attacking mid/hbf that can hurt the opposition the other way. Both like to run, carry and kick long. Not sure Hird will want this match up as Zaka is unaccountable when the opposition have the ball - and Wells is not a player that should be left to do what he likes. If these 2 match up on each other it is big win for us.
Key Match Ups - Backs:
Hanson V Hurley - I would send Lachie to him 1st up. Hanson is a confidence player and what a great scalp to get after all the press Hurley has recently had. Hurley hands are still very heavy and a lot of his attempted marks go to ground. This could be a worry as Hanson is not that nimble on the ground. He does however have a big tank and will be able to run with Hurley all night and he is also very brave so will not pull out of any tough contets. Grima fit is the perfect match up but they will have to wait until later in the year.
Delaney V Carlie - I think Carlie will go forward to try and stretch us. Delaney is a good match for him. Carlie has good hands but is young and does not always get to the best spots. Delaney's other option will be to take the resting ruckman - Ryder or Hille. This will be a bigger challenge and will need to stay very close to these 2.
McMahon V Monfries - Good match up again - McMahon is comfortable if Monfries takes him up the ground. McMahon is a good match up in the air and just needs to be careful as Monfies is from the Matty Lloyd school of diving. Angus is good at turning his opponant inside out so Scott will need to be mindful once the ball goes over their heads.
Thompson V Cameri - A good find for Essendon in 2011. I think Scott will be a good match up here as he can play on the talls as well as the smalls. Cameri is very good in the air and also once the ball hits the ground. Scott will need to give him little space as he can to the mercurial and kick a goal from out of his backside.
McMahon and Thompson could swap which I would not mind Thompson stirring up Monfries.
Key Match Ups - Rucks:
Goldy/McIntosh V Ryder/Hille - these match ups are very imnportant to the outcome. Goldy coming off a great 2011 will ruck for most of the time. Will be interesting to see how H and Goldy work together this year. If H gets back to his best we have 2 tall weapons. Hille will need to be watched when he goes forward but he is not the player he once was - both our ruckman will have him covered around the ground. Ryder is an unknown - if he is on can be damaging and if he is not in the mood is a lazy, sloppy player that will have zero impact on the game. We should get 1st use of the ball and H should push forward and Goldy back to support the back line.
Really looking forward to Saturday night - with GWS after the Bombers it would be great to start 2-0. Lets hope Essendon can raise some funds so they can build a ground the size of the MCG and Eithad. Even though it is being built in the windest place in Victoria I am sure it will be very similar to playing under a dome roof.
Don't let the Bombers supporters try and convince you that this is just another game. It has been a while since we have both been up but with both teams having good young lists this game will continue to build - and hopefully explode into another Marshmellow final. We love to beat Essendon and over the last 10 years have easily had them covered. They can pretend not to care but it cuts them and the more they pretend this is a nothing game the more stuipd they look.
The heat that will be placed on the loser will be immence. Bigfooty may melt down - and I hope it is us with the blow torch........
Great round 1 opponant - they just kept us out of 8th last year and with only 1 spot difference there is little between these 2 teams. Bookies and most tippers have this as a genuine 50/50 game.
Grima and Ziebell are the 2 that look likely to miss from our best 22 and Essendon will be close to full strength.
Key Match Ups - Forwards:
Petrie V Hooker - great match up for us here and the Dish I think easily has Hooker covered. He is faster, stronger and much better in the air. The key is keeping Fletcher away as the third man up. Last year Fletcher spent time on Adams and will take any player that will allow him to get to contests invlovinig Petrie. Who ever Fletcher goes to will need to keep him away from Petrie. Pears will be option 2 for Drew.
Pears V Edwards - Pears has the potential to become an elite backman - he had an injured interupted 2011 season. I think he will start on Edward and will be a good match up for him. Look for Edwards to continue to push up to the wing and clear some space out for Petrie. Edwards will hae to work had for every touch.
Harvey V McVeigh - a couple of the senior statmens to go head to head. Harvey looks like he has not lost much pace and will again to a hand fully for McVeigh. Another goal in the 1st 10 seconds would be nice. McVeigh is dropping off alot fast than Harvey and can be a weak link in the backline. Dempsey is a player that may go to Boomer and try and hurt him with run the other way. Will be interesting who gets 1st crack at him.
Thomas V Hardingham - Hardingham had a very good 2011 and will match up well with Thomas - he is very good in the air and very strong. Thomas will have him covered once the ball hit the ground and will need to on to score goals. Like last year he was able to kick a few goals turning his player inside out and run into an open goal. 1st kick at goal is so important and needs to get his confidnce up early.
Tarrent V Fletcher - old v new. Tarrent looked good in the pre season. He will need to be on early to make Fletcher accountable and not push off him to make the Petrie contests. He will find it hard with Fletchers reach so will need to be taking him up the ground and out of his comfort zone. A couple of strong marks early will make Fletcher pay attention to him.
Adams V Heppell - Heppell is coming off a great debut season and I hope Adams plays him as a defensive foward. Heppell got under alot of teams guards and finds alot of it if he is left alone. Adams has the hardness to compete with Heppell and should build the pressue on him. Adams is fine over head and a great kick for goal. 2 goals from him would be draw - 3 a win.
Key Match Ups - Mids:
Swallow V Watson - lets hope this happens - let the Captains go head to head. Both players are elite clearance players and as hard at the ball as anyone. Watson took a big step last year but still his kicking (especially over 30 metres) is terrible. I would not tag their number 1 mid. You can't stop him getting his hands on it - just hope he kicks it more than he handballs it. If Watson goes foward I want McMahon going to him. Will be interesting to see how Swallow plays in his 1st game as Captain - hopefully like a duck to water.
Greenwood V Stanton - Stanton has been very consistant over the last 5 years. I don't think he is a great player but one that we should look too tag. Under pressure is when he is at his worst and I would keep that pressure on him so he has zero influence on the contest. His foot skills can be very good when he has time and space but ordinary when he has someone hunting him.
Cunnington V Melksham - great match up of 2 up and coming youngesters. Cunners having his 1st full pre-season should really be looking to take a big step in 2012. Melksham from reports has bulked up so these 2 should be a good contest head to head. Cunners should look to push forward as he is very good over head.
Hocking V Bastanic - Hocking has him for strength but Basti has him for speed. This will need to be watched as Hockings size and experience could test Basti. Ziebell would have been the perfect match up - hopefully Hocking has a quite game.
Wells V Zaka - 2 players that had very good 2011. Zaka is an attacking mid/hff that is a very good finisher. Wells is an attacking mid/hbf that can hurt the opposition the other way. Both like to run, carry and kick long. Not sure Hird will want this match up as Zaka is unaccountable when the opposition have the ball - and Wells is not a player that should be left to do what he likes. If these 2 match up on each other it is big win for us.
Key Match Ups - Backs:
Hanson V Hurley - I would send Lachie to him 1st up. Hanson is a confidence player and what a great scalp to get after all the press Hurley has recently had. Hurley hands are still very heavy and a lot of his attempted marks go to ground. This could be a worry as Hanson is not that nimble on the ground. He does however have a big tank and will be able to run with Hurley all night and he is also very brave so will not pull out of any tough contets. Grima fit is the perfect match up but they will have to wait until later in the year.
Delaney V Carlie - I think Carlie will go forward to try and stretch us. Delaney is a good match for him. Carlie has good hands but is young and does not always get to the best spots. Delaney's other option will be to take the resting ruckman - Ryder or Hille. This will be a bigger challenge and will need to stay very close to these 2.
McMahon V Monfries - Good match up again - McMahon is comfortable if Monfries takes him up the ground. McMahon is a good match up in the air and just needs to be careful as Monfies is from the Matty Lloyd school of diving. Angus is good at turning his opponant inside out so Scott will need to be mindful once the ball goes over their heads.
Thompson V Cameri - A good find for Essendon in 2011. I think Scott will be a good match up here as he can play on the talls as well as the smalls. Cameri is very good in the air and also once the ball hits the ground. Scott will need to give him little space as he can to the mercurial and kick a goal from out of his backside.
McMahon and Thompson could swap which I would not mind Thompson stirring up Monfries.
Key Match Ups - Rucks:
Goldy/McIntosh V Ryder/Hille - these match ups are very imnportant to the outcome. Goldy coming off a great 2011 will ruck for most of the time. Will be interesting to see how H and Goldy work together this year. If H gets back to his best we have 2 tall weapons. Hille will need to be watched when he goes forward but he is not the player he once was - both our ruckman will have him covered around the ground. Ryder is an unknown - if he is on can be damaging and if he is not in the mood is a lazy, sloppy player that will have zero impact on the game. We should get 1st use of the ball and H should push forward and Goldy back to support the back line.
Really looking forward to Saturday night - with GWS after the Bombers it would be great to start 2-0. Lets hope Essendon can raise some funds so they can build a ground the size of the MCG and Eithad. Even though it is being built in the windest place in Victoria I am sure it will be very similar to playing under a dome roof.
Don't let the Bombers supporters try and convince you that this is just another game. It has been a while since we have both been up but with both teams having good young lists this game will continue to build - and hopefully explode into another Marshmellow final. We love to beat Essendon and over the last 10 years have easily had them covered. They can pretend not to care but it cuts them and the more they pretend this is a nothing game the more stuipd they look.
The heat that will be placed on the loser will be immence. Bigfooty may melt down - and I hope it is us with the blow torch........
