VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
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- #1
GWS GIANTS
After winning 7 straight over the past few months, the Giants are starting to look tired.
The damage was done in the first quarter against the Power, with the Giants conceding 7 goals before the first change. The result from that point was a formality - a 41-point lead at quarter time is enough to know how it'll end.
Jake Riccardi needs to be a permanent fixture in this GWS forward line going forward - the big man kicked 4 goals whilst on-baller Tom Green slotted 2 of his own to go with 31 touches.
Arguably the best player in the league, Toby Greene, ended up with 27 touches and two goals after a switch to the midfield, but he lacked mates to claw back the Port advantage.
PORT ADELAIDE POWER 21.10 136
def.
GWS GIANTS 13.7 85
BEST: Green, Greene, Briggs, Himmelberg, Ward
GOALS: Riccardi 4, Green, Greene 2, Fahey, Cumming, Coniglio, Brown, Hogan
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ESSENDON BOMBERS
Who would have thought that if you play a potential-AA winger on a wing and you'd get a better performance?
Some bizarre selection and positional changes over the past month finally ended with Nic Martin returning to a wing and ultimately finishing up with a game-winning showing.
Fair play to Norf, they played well in their second Grand Final of 2023, sticking close to us once again.
Well done to Ben Cunnington - he returned to the highest level of the game after beating cancer and didn't look out of place, finishing with two goals in his 238th and final game. I've always had a soft spot for him and I'm glad he got to go out on somewhat of a high, even though they didn't get the chocolates.
With skipper Merrett utterly blanketed by Curtis Taylor, it fell to Darcy Parish to take over the midfield, and take over he did. Even so, Merrett still finished with 21 touches and 5 clearances.
In game number 2, Elijah Tsatas showed his considerable chops. 23 touches, four clearances, three tackles and his first goal in the final quarter. All in 60% game time.
Ben Hobbs has gone from strength to strength this year. Another pre-season and this kid is going to be unbelievable in 2024.
LOL NORF 12.5 77
def. by
ESSENDON BOMBERS 13.8 86
BEST: Martin, Parish, Langford, Tsatas, Redman, Hobbs
GOALS: Martin, Langford 3, Menzie, Wright 2, Tsatas, Perkins, Guelfi
GWS EMERGENCIES: Toby McMullin, Jacob Wehr, Ryan Angwin, Matt Flynn
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES: Jye Caldwell, Will Snelling, Will Setterfield, Kaine Baldwin
GWS GIANTS OUTS: Nick Haynes (Illness), Jacob Wehr, Toby McMullin
GWS GIANTS INS: Brent Daniels, Toby Bedford
ESSENDON OUTS: Kaine Baldwin, Nick Bryan (Omitted), Will Snelling (Sub)
ESSENDON INS: Jake Stringer, Sam Draper
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Sub to be chosen from the emergency list one hour prior to bounce.
ROUND 4, 2023
Marvel Stadium
9/4/2023
ESSENDON BOMBERS 11.22 88
def.
GWS GIANTS 11.9 75
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ESSENDON GOALS: Stringer 4, Martin 2, Langford, Merrett, Draper, Redman, Perkins
GWS GOALS: Himmelberg 3, Ward, Kelly, Greene 2, Daniels, Coniglio
ESSENDON BEST: Parish, Merrett, Draper, Stringer
GWS BEST: Green, Kelly, Ward, Haynes
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CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
ESSENDON OUTS: Ridley, Jones, Caldwell, Weideman, Shiel, Setterfield, Davey Jnr
ESSENDON INS: Wright, Hobbs, Cox, Tsatas, Hind, Guelfi
GWS OUTS: Haynes, Callaghan, Stone, Flynn, Rowston, Kennedy, Hamilton
GWS INS: Fahey, Bedford, Briggs, Perryman, Keeffe, Brown
The injection of enthusiasm that the big man Draper brings may well be enough for us to get over the line. Then again, we might continue the weak run of form we've had and drop the game by 10 goals.
May as well run with the heart over the head.
Essendon by 3.
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