VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,449
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- Essendon
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
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- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
LOL NORF.
Once again, a wonderful result with an Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti master class completely destroying the dreams of the lesser letter brother who always wants to play with our toys.
Within the last 30 seconds, Walla slotted an unbelievable snap from tight up at the post to steal victory away from Norf, and it was hilarious.
While it was a rough final quarter, considering we started 18 points up before Norf decided to turn it on and start to play some decent footy, the final results were excellent.
We missed Dyson Heppell for the second week straight, but Zach Merrett stood up with a 34 touch, six clearance game.
Dylan Clarke added yet another string to his bow, with Ben Cunnington getting completely schooled by the eight-gamer. Though, according to Rhyce Shaw, he was playing the decoy role. So I guess Dylan’s 12 tackles weren’t... Right? Yeah, okay.
McKenna and Saad were dominant when running off half back again.
Zac Clarke! The big man known as tree beard was seriously impressive in the ruck, and ended up with 35 touches against Todd Goldstein, of all opponents.
Norf tried to play the tough game, but it seems that skill outweighs physicality. With that said, Zurhaar breaking Hurley’s shoulder is a real turd.
Stringer with 3; even when you don’t notice him around the field all that much, he nails goals and just makes a difference.
Darcy Parish is a king.
Marty Gleeson is, per the words of our own Zach Package, like a warm hug. You just feel so safe with him around. I love him.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 12.14 86 def. LOL NORF 12.9 81
BEST: Merrett, McDonald-Tipungwuti, McKenna, Saad, Gleeson, Parish
GOALS: McDonald-Tipungwuti 4, Stringer 3, Brown 2, McKenna, Laverde, Langford
INJURIES: Hurley (Shoulder)
REPORTS: Nil
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ADELAIDE CROWS
Well, the Crows had a nice week against the bye.
A casual 95 point win against the horrendous Gold Coast Suns, which was an utter disaster for the ever-failing experiment.
Eddie Betts slotted 6 even though his direct opponents may as well have been long spoons planted into the Metricon turf.
Big Josh Jenkins is doing some good things again and making me sad that he never got a chance with us. With that said, our makeshift forward line seems to be doing alright without him.
Stengle took the most of his first game for the Crows with 3 goals, while co-captain Tex Walker matched that effort with 3 of his own.
After getting absolutely smashed by Port two weeks ago, the Crows didn’t exactly have a good preparation for a potentially bruising encounter with us, considering how bruise-free the Suns played.
Crouch, Laird and Atkins all ended up with over 30 touches, so I wonder which one is going to get 12 this week with Clarke on them.
GOLD COAST SUNS 8.8 56 def. By ADELAIDE CROWS 23.13 151
BEST: Milera, Atkins, Laird, M. Crouch, B. Crouch, Betts
GOALS: Betts 6, Jenkins 4, Stengle, Walker 3, Murphy 2, O’Brien, Brown, Milera, Greenwood, M. Crouch
INJURIES: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES
Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Josh Begley, Jayden Laverde, Brayden Ham
ADELAIDE EMERGENCIES
Tyson Stengle, Andy Otten, Sam Jacobs, Richard Douglas
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ESSENDON INS: Michael Hartley, Mingma Snelling, Patrick Ambrose, Dyson Heppell
ESSENDON OUTS: Michael Hurley (Shoulder), Orazio Fantasia (Hip), Jayden Laverde (Managed), Zac Clarke (Illness)
ADELAIDE INS: Tom Lynch
ADELAIDE OUTS: Tyson Stengle (Omitted)
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MILESTONES
ADELAIDE CROWS
Riley Knight, Hugh Greenwood
50 GAMES
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DEBUT
ESSENDON BOMBERS
Will "Mingma" Snelling, #40
Just when we thought we'd suffered our only key injury to a player this week, we get the news that Raz Fantasia is in doubt. And what do you know, his hip is stuffed. So, that's Raz and Hurley on the sidelines now, and which gives a chance for the return of the much-loved Michael Hartley from the VFL. One of the most popular people around the club, it's great to see him make his return this week, even if it is through necessity. With Fantasia missing, it's a good time for us to introduce our first ever mid-season draft selection in Will Snelling, who hasn't missed a beat in his time in the VFL since crossing from West Adelaide. Mingma. It's eternal. A huge boost into our defence also comes with the return of power defender Patty Ambrose, while young forward Jayden Laverde is rested this week after a solid body of work in the past few months. Zac Clarke was brilliant last week, and just his luck, has to sit out this week with illness. This pushes Shaun McKernan into the ruck, while it also leaves open a spot for our inspirational skipper Dyson Heppell to return after two weeks out with a foot issue.
How s**t must you feel when you kick 3 and get dropped? That's what's happened to Tyson Stengle this week with the return of Adelaide star Tom Lynch.
ESSENDON BOMBERS – #40 – WILL “MINGMA” SNELLING
The man with the greatest (unbeknownst to him) nickname in the team, Mingma has been dominant in the VFL. Recruited as a Devon Smith clone, Mingma has seen his numbers rapidly increase in the magoos after a mid-season transfer from the SANFL. The former Port Adelaide midfielder is making his debut for the mighty Bombers in his home city of churches, lukewarm West End, and... Not much else. He has booted 5 goals in the twos, but has also averaged 26.2 disposals and 7.7 tackles to earn a deserved senior call up. He hasn’t missed a beat since shifting his life over to Melbourne, and the pure unadulterated memery relating to Mingma has been proper hilarious since we nabbed him.
Hiiighwaaay to the... Mingmazone
ESSENDON BOMBERS – #29 – PATRICK AMBROSE
Big Patty Ambrose is coming back from a quad injury at just the right time, considering that Michael Hurley has now just gone down with shoulder surgery. Ambrose has been in unbelievable form this year, and is one of the most underrated defenders in the league. His absence from the team has been well filled by the perennial golden boy in Aaron Francis, and the biggest silver lining of Hurls hurting his shoulder means that we can see Francis continue to play in the backline with the general in Ambrose. Strong, powerful, fast, and with the biggest tank in the entire team, Ambrose is a pure athlete with enough power to take either Walker or Jenkins with relative ease.
ADELAIDE CROWS - #18 – EDDIE BETTS
If Jenkins and Walker are kept quiet by our defenders, then we will need to watch out for Betts. Eddie Betts is one of, if not the best, small forwards of all time, and can easily take games apart with minimal time. He makes it look easy; either goals from the middle of nowhere, ridiculous marks from impossible positions, or running fast in shorts that are too big. The saving grace here is that Betts will cop a lock down small defender in either the lightning quick Adam Saad, or the brilliant Andy McGrath, who wiped Betts off the park last year. With the introduction of Tyson Stengle last week (who ended up kicking 3 goals himself), Betts is no longer the only small concern in the Adelaide forward line.
ADELAIDE CROWS - #43 – REILLY O’BRIEN
A few years ago, you wouldn’t have thought that Sauce Jacobs could be kept out of the Adelaide side by a 23 year old ruckman who’s only played 16 games. O’Brien has been one of the best ruckmen in the league this year, and has kept Sam Jacobs in the SANFL since coming in to cover his injury. This week, he comes up against Zac Clarke, who performed admirably last week against Todd Goldstein. He would have penciled this in a few weeks ago as an easy win, but considering Clarke’s size and athleticism finally merged with some half decent game sense and decision making, we may end up seeing a solid contest tonight.
Bryce Gibbs was brought across from Carlton on a huge contract, with both parties trying to do right by Bryce to get back to his home state. At his best, Gibbs was an A-Grade midfielder with skill aplenty, and his transfer over to Adelaide looked to be the missing piece to finish off the Crows list which came so close to a flag.
While there’s been plenty of rumours abounding of his off-field discretions, it’s hard to ignore just how far he’s fallen since heading back home. You feel as though it can’t just be form. It has to be something else.
For what it’s worth, he’s only this week’s nomination because I can’t think of anything else I dislike about the Crows. The city of Adelaide however?
I’d need a whole thread.
This week’s nominee is Bryce Gibbs. Poor prick.
Round 1 Nominee: Dylan Buckley, GWS
Round 2 Nominee: Dan Hannebery, St Kilda
Round 3 Nominee: Steven May's Groin, Melbourne
Round 4 Nominee: Mitch Robinson’s Fortnite Obsession, Brisbane
Round 5 Nominee: Ben Brown's limp-dicked diving, lol Norf
Round 6 Nominee: Daniel Wells' glass body, Collingwood
Round 7 Nominee: The BigFooty Swear Filter
Round 8 Nominee: Sydney's Football Department (This one didn't end well)
Round 9 Nominee: The AFL
Round 10 Nominee: The AFL again
Round 11 Nominee: Carlton's lack of perspective
Round 12: Bye
Round 13 Nominee: The AFL... Again
Round 14 Nominee: Ben Stratton and Jaidyn Stephenson
Round 15 Nominee: Israel Folau the homophobic knob
Round 16 Nominee: Marc McGowan with his **** clickbaity balls
Round 17 Nominee: Lol Norf
Round 18 Nominee: Bryce Gibbs, you poor sap
It's been a bit of a weird few months, these past few. Losing games consistently, looking like we simply didn't give two shits on-field, and making us all question the people in charge of the team and the club in general. We're a fickle bunch.
These past 6 weeks have been nothing short of brilliant. Our list is completely smashed with injuries, and yet, we're grinding out tough wins against teams that are in similar or better positions than us. Wins over GWS, Norf and Sydney have been brilliant to watch, and have made us all look at this team through a different light.
With the excellent form of Dyson Heppell curtailed with a foot injury, Dylan Shiel and Zach Merrett picked up the slack. Orazio Fantasia is suffering through soreness and injury, but the slack is being picked up by Walla and Jake Stringer. Tommy Bellchambers buggered his calf and now gets to stay inside on the couch under a blanket with Olympia Valance. Something something Zac Clarke.
After a period of concern where we were all borderline convinced that the club was going to the dogs and that the boys club in the high positions in the board, we're starting to come into our own and play some solid footy again. The passion shown by clubmen such as Cale Hooker, David Zaharakis, Shaun Mckernan and Jake Stringer when on field have established enthusiasm with the fans again, and tight, exciting games means that neutral fans are tuning in to watch our boys play. This great run of form recently is coming to a head against the Crows today, but it looks as though there's a serious push from the boys from Tullamarine to play finals, and win them.
Sure, you can say that that's always been the goal, which is true, but it's always seemed a little out of reach and aloof. Not anymore, however.
The team mindset and spirit that the boys are showing is starting to look like more of a permanent thing now, and after yet another disappointing start to the season, this is our chance to cement some finals action.
No better time than the present, and no better team to play than the one that's fixtured right in front of you.
Go Dons.
ROUND 1, 2018
Marvel Stadium
23/3/2018
ESSENDON BOMBERS 14.15 99
def
ADELAIDE CROWS 12.15 87
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ESSENDON BEST: Heppell, Zaharakis, Hurley, Goddard, Smith, McDonald-Tipungwuti, McGrath
ESSENDON GOALS: Hooker, Stewart 3, Daniher, Green 2, McGrath, Bellchambers, Goddard, Begley
ADELAIDE BEST: Laird, Gibbs, M. Crouch, Sloane, Doedee, Seedsman
ADELAIDE GOALS: Jenkins, Gibbs, Fogarty 2, Hampton, McGovern, Murphy, Douglas, Greenwood, Ellis-Yolmen
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CHANGES SINCE THEN
ESSENDON OUTS: Goddard, Hurley, Smith, Stewart, Daniher, Dea, Green, Begley, Bellchambers
ESSENDON INS: Redman, Gleeson, Guelfi, Francis, D. Clarke, McKernan, Snelling, Shiel, Ambrose
ADELAIDE OUTS: Gibbs, Doedee, Ellis-Yolmen, Douglas, Jacobs, Hampton, McGovern, Fogarty
ADELAIDE INS: O'Brien, B. Crouch, Keath, Smith, Knight, Milera, Walker, Lynch
MELBOURNE:
TV: Channel 7 (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST)
RADIO: Triple M, 3AW, ABC, SEN
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
SYDNEY:
TV: 7mate (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST)
RADIO: Macquarie Sports Radio, ABC, NIRS
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
ADELAIDE:
TV: Channel 7 (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST)
RADIO: Triple M, FIVEaa, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
PERTH:
TV: 7mate (LIVE at 5.30pm AWST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 5.30pm AWST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 5.30pm AWST)
RADIO: ABC, 6PR, Triple M DAB+, NIRS
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
BRISBANE:
TV: 7mate (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST)
RADIO: Macquarie Sports Radio, NIRS, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
TASMANIA:
TV: Channel 7 (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.30pm AEST)
RADIO: Triple M, ABC, AFL Nation
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
DARWIN:
TV: Channel 7 (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST), FOX Footy (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.00pm ACST)
RADIO: ABC, AFL Nation
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
Adelaide in Adelaide is a terrifying prospect. The thought of interstate travel isn’t great right now either, considering that we haven’t actually won on the road so far this year. With that said, this is a tough, gritty group, with plenty of momentum after winning 5 of the last 6 games.
If we’re the real thing, we’ll know tonight.
Essendon by 7.
