VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,477
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- Essendon
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
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- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
I'm not sure where you'd even start to dissect a performance like that.
If you've ever heard the phrase "A tale of two halves", then I'd consider that to be very apt in the context last week.
We obliterated the Hawks in the second quarter, opening up a 40 point lead heading into half time. Apparently we thought that was good enough and the job was done, as it all went **** up from there.
Hawthorne then came out breathing fire, with Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara leading the charge. They went completely unchecked and ended up turning the tide the Hawks way, resulting it what could be considered a completely embarrassing 1 point loss.
Andrew McGrath and Zach Merrett were excellent through the middle of the ground, whilst the tapwork of Sam Draper to Darcy Parish was excellent... In the first half.
Jordan Ridley was once again excellent floating around the back 50, and Dyson Heppell's work off half back in the first half was brilliant until he faded.
Francis and Redman are concerning, especially the latter. From the trajectory he was on a few years ago, the regression has been astounding.
Shiel's performance was also extremely concerning.
Hind, Caldwell, Cox, Jones and Wright all debuted and were all solid. Especially Caldwell and Hind.
Jones showed a lot but just had nerves in front of goal. Once he gets that right, we have a player on our hands.
As JDavey said, we had all the ups and downs of an Essington season and it's only Round 1.
Sigh.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 13.13 91
def. by
HAWTHORNE HAWKES 14.8 92
GOALS: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Shiel, Smith 2, Draper, Hooker, McGrath, Merrett, Parish, Snelling, Wright
BEST: McGrath, Merrett, Heppell, Caldwell, Hind
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PORT ADELAIDE POWER
It's difficult to get a read on how Port played last week, as their opponent was utter garbage. You got the feeling they were cruising around 60%, and yet disposed of Norf by 52 points away from home; even though they didn't show up in the first quarter.
Our old mate Orazio popped up with 4 goals and could have had eight, but inaccuracy kept him to 4.4; which goes to show that you can take the boy out of Essendon, but you can't take the Essendon out of the boy.
New recruit Aliir Aliir proved to be an astute pickup for Port, who almost made it to the big dance last year. He slotted straight into their backline and controlled proceedings near him, as he did at the Swans.
Travis Boak is aging like a fine wine, and just gets better with age. He would be a seriously strong smokey for the Brownlow this year.
Ollie Wines gathered 30 touches and made me sad that we still haven't managed to sign him.
The win was slightly soured by a nasty hamstring injury to Riley Bonner, but with handy depth waiting in the wings, the Port fans shouldn't be too concerned.
LOL NORF 9.11 65
def. by
PORT ADELAIDE POWER 17.15 117
GOALS: Fantasia 4, Boak, Dixon, Butters, Marshall 2, Amon, Bonner, Lycett, Motlop, Duursma
BEST: Boak, Fantasia, Wines, Gray, Drew, Aliir
ESSENDON INS: N/A
ESSENDON OUTS: N/A
PORT ADELAIDE INS: Hamish Hartlett
PORT ADELAIDE OUTS: Riley Bonner (Hamstring)
---
ESSENDON SUB: TBA
PORT ADELAIDE SUB: TBA
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Though it may seem a bit strange to consider one quarter of effort enough to warrant a spot on the team for the next week, Truck has delivered an unchanged line-up for the trip to Adelaide. We will need to see much better output this week from the side selected, but continuity and chemistry within the side is worth its weight in gold. The more these young blokes play together, the better they'll get. Wouldn't have minded seeing my boy Archie and Alec Waterman get in, but we know that Truck wants them at 100% before they get their shot.
Port have been forced into one change, with the nasty hamstring to Riley Bonner opening the door for veteran Hamish Hartlett to return to the starting lineup.
ROUND 17, 2020
Adelaide Oval
12/10/2020
PORT ADELAIDE 11.13 79
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 4.5 29
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ESSENDON GOALS: Cutler, Parish, Clarke, Ham
PORT ADELAIDE GOALS: Dixon 2, Boak, Gray, Ebert, Motlop, Rockliff, Wines, Powell-Pepper, Ladhams, Duursma
ESSENDON BEST: Smith, Shiel, Merrett, Ridley
PORT ADELAIDE BEST: Rockliff, Wines, Boak, Amon, Ebert, Dixon
---------
CHANGES SINCE THEN
ESSENDON OUTS: Saad, Hibberd, Guelfi, Stewart, Clarke, Daniher, Gleeson, Cutler, Townsend, Stringer, Zerk-Thatcher, Phillips
ESSENDON INS: Laverde, Hooker, Redman, Hind, Heppell, Cahill, Jones, Wright, Caldwell, McGrath, Cox, Francis
PORT ADELAIDE OUTS: Rockliff, Ebert, Bonner, Rozee, McKenzie, Powell-Pepper
PORT ADELAIDE INS: Burton, Aliir, Fantasia, Butters, Drew, Bergman
Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Port Adelaide by 75.
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