VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,464
- 35,199
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
- Moderator
- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
A dismal third term was the catalyst for the Dons to trip over their own shoelaces in the race for the eight.
Too many big names not pulling their weight, and always being second to the ball, meant that the Giants gained the edge in the second half.
It's become clear that Darcy Parish needs to learn how to deal with a tag; he was clamped down by Lachie Ash and ended up with 15 touches throughout the entire game.
Skipper Dyson Heppell has really started to put together a good season, ending up with 28 touches off half-back along with Jordan Ridley, who collected it 25 times.
One goal in a half of footy is pathetic.
We've really done well in the two mid-season drafts we've completed so far; Will Snelling is one of our most consistent performers, and it looks like we've really found another player in Sam Durham. 15 touches and seven marks is no slouch in your second game.
We're going to need to pull some wins out of our arse to make it to the finals now.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 7.11 53
def. by
GWS GIANTS 9.12 66
GOALS: Hooker, Parish, Perkins, Smith, Stringer, Zaharakis, Cox
BEST: Ridley, Heppell, Durham, Cox, Perkins, Merrett
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SYDNEY SWANS
A huge 40-point smashing was meant to be soured with old mate Lance Franklin going to the MRO for purposely smashing his elbow into Luke Ryan's skull, but hey, y'know. 1000 goals and all that. Sydney being the darlings. Head is sacrosanct, except when it isn't.
God Heeney is a freak. I would love to have him at Essendon. What a player. 5 goals, a huge hanger, and 22 touches.
The Swans kicked eight straight goals in the second and third quarters to push the lead out to an unassailable margin, and from there on in it was business as usual.
Josh Kennedy ages like a fine wine, with 34 touches, seven tackles and seven clearances.
The Swans have rebuilt incredibly quickly, and will seriously worry some teams in the finals.
I sure hope they have an off night tonight.
SYDNEY SWANS 14.14 98
def.
FREMANTLE DOCKERS 8.10 58
GOALS: Heeney 5, Parker, Franklin 2, Gulden, Rowbottom, Papley, Hickey, Hayward
BEST: Heeney, Kennedy, Parker, Gulden, Hewett, Lloyd, Hickey
ESSENDON INS: Aaron Francis, Dylan Clarke, Kyle Langford
ESSENDON OUTS: Brayden Ham, Cale Hooker, David Zaharakis (All omitted), Matt Guelfi (Medi-sub)
SYDNEY INS: Callum Mills, Harry Cunningham
SYDNEY OUTS: Ben Ronke, James Rowbottom (Both omitted), Hayden McLean (Medi-sub)
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Subs are announced one hour prior to bounce
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We've all been wary that Chook looks cooked; he started the season like a house on fire but it's become apparent in the past couple months that he is struggling. Either he's tired, the body is struggling, or he's just a bit old now. He can't change direction quickly, his positioning when the ball flies in is poor, and he's just not making the right choices anymore. Regardless of whether he's been dropped or rested, he's out this week, alongside the much-maligned Brayden Ham and David Zaharakis. The former is still a kid and has time to get things right, but the latter is more than likely seeing his papers get stamped. With Hooker being dropped, there's a space for reinvented forward-turned-defender-turned-forward James Stewart to head back forward, with the returning Aaron Francis to fill his spot in defence. Kyle Langford is back, returning from a hamstring strain. The forgotten man, Dylan Clarke, is back in the senior side for the first time this year. After overcoming a nasty ankle injury and subsequent surgery, he put in a serious shift in the twos last week which is enough to see him get the call up. I suspect he'll be played off half-forward in a negating role, as we always seem to get reamed on the rebound.
The Swans have dropped Ronke and Rowbottom, and have brought in two very tidy names in Mills and Cunningham.
Thankfully, this time, they haven't brought in Mollison.
ROUND 4, 2021
SCG
8/4/2021
JACOB MOLLISON feat. SYDNEY SWANS 11.17 83
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 12.8 80
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ESSENDON GOALS: Hooker, Stringer 3, Waterman 2, Smith, Parish, Jones, Cox
SYDNEY GOALS: Franklin 3, Reid, McInerney 2, Parker, Mills, Papley, Florent
ESSENDON BEST: Ridley, Merrett, Parish, Cox, Snelling, Hind
SYDNEY BEST: Mollison, Parker, Reid, Hickey, Kennedy, Lloyd
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CHANGES SINCE THEN
ESSENDON OUTS: Hooker, McGrath, Waterman, Ham, Zerk-Thatcher, Jones, Guelfi
ESSENDON INS: Redman, Durham, Draper, Stewart, Cutler, Shiel, Clarke
SYDNEY OUTS: Warner, Campbell, McDonald
SYDNEY INS: Hayward, Fox
NSW is having a shitter of a time at the moment with lockdowns and the such. At least they can be sure that their AFL teams are playing decent footy. The Dons will know that this is a game we can't afford to lose for our finals hopes, but unfortunately, we're up against the form side of the competition. This may well finish our season off.
As always, * COVID, * ScoMo, * Gladys, and * Carlton.
Sydney by 34.
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EDIT: So now we're playing at the MCG, a place where the Swans haven't beaten us since 1933. So, as such, I should change my tip!
Sydney by 33.
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