VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,495
- 35,316
- AFL Club
- Essendon
- Other Teams
- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
- Moderator
- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
Sigh.
Another year, another ANZAC heartbreak.
We were the better team for three of the four quarters, but as we've noticed numerous times in the past few years, Collingwood only need a quarter to put you to the sword. And put us to the sword, they did.
A disastrous final term, where the Dons simply ran out of legs, saw them concede the final 7 goals of the game to lose what would be considered one of the best games of the season so far.
If we're going to take anything from that performance, however, you have to think positively - Collingwood are almost a certainty to be a Top 4 side, and we matched it with them for most of the game.
We really should have tagged Daicos. Why does no-one tag him?
The performances of Sam Draper and Andrew Phillips, especially after such a big hype-up during the week, left a lot to be desired despite winning the hitouts, and they would be hoping for a drastic return to form this week.
I really hate Steele Sidebottom.
I really like Sam Weideman. Showed a bit.
I can't look too much more into this game, it hurts too much.
******* mongrels.
COLLINGWOOD 13.12 90
def.
ESSENDON 11.11 77
BEST: Redman, Langford, Martin, Parish, Weideman
GOALS: Langford 3, Weideman 2, Stringer, Martin, Draper, Perkins, Davey Jnr, Menzie
-----------
GEELONG CATS
In a horrifying show of strength, the Cats absolutely mauled their 2022 Grand Final opponents in the Swans to the tune of 93 points, sending notice to every other side in the league who thinks they've got a chance this year.
The Grand Final Rematch quickly turned into the Replay, but this time, the Cats kept the pedal down hard right until the end.
Granted, the Swans had a severely undermanned backline, so had to rely on their talented midfield and forward line, but the home side's engine room was far too strong.
Geelong simply didn't miss at the goal and opened up a 50-point lead into the second term.
The Cats brought in Sam Simpson for the lumbering Jon Ceglar, who actually had replaced Rhys Stanley. Whilst the makeshift ruck combo of Blicavs and De Koning were dominated in the hitouts by Peter Ladhams, the Cats read the fall of the ball better and ended up smacking them in clearances.
This was a thrashing, pure and simple.
Jeremy Cameron is the best player in the league.
And he scares me.
GEELONG CATS 20.10 130
def.
SYDNEY SWANS 5.7 37
BEST: Dangerfield, Cameron, Blicavs, Hawkins, C. Guthrie, Holmes
GOALS: Hawkins, Cameron 5, Simpson, O. Henry, Close 2, Blicavs, Dangerfield, Rohan, Tuohy
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES: Will Snelling, Harry Jones, Alwyn Davey Jnr, Jye Menzie
GEELONG EMERGENCIES: Tanner Bruhn, Mitch Knevitt, Oliver Dempsey, Jonathon Ceglar
ESSENDON OUTS: Heppell, Menzie (Both managed), Davey Jnr, Snelling (Both Omitted), Laverde (Injured)
ESSENDON INS: McDonald-Tipungwuti, D'Ambrosio, Hind, Merrett
GEELONG OUTS: C. Guthrie (Injured), Knevitt (Sub)
GEELONG INS: Bews
-------
Sub to be chosen from the emergency list one hour prior to bounce.
The Cats copped an injury to one of their stars in Cam Guthrie, but have been able to replace him with the tough Jed Bews. Mitch Knevitt drops out of the sub role.
Brad Scott did say that we'd have wholesale changes, and we certainly do. Veteran Dyson Heppell has been managed off the 5-day break, along with Jye Menzie after a promising start to the season. Alwyn Davey Jnr and Will Snelling have been dropped after quiet ANZAC Day games, so they can get more touch in the VFL. Seems like an odd choice regarding Snelling, but then again, I'm not the coach. Jayden Laverde copped an injury late in the game last week and underwent surgery on his shoulder on Thursday, leaving him out of action for 5-6 weeks.
Desperately missed captain Zach Merrett returns to the side after serving his one-week bullshit suspension, whilst fan favourite Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti gets a full game in the seniors. This is an odd choice considering his fitness is surely not up to scratch just yet, but we don't have many options. He'll be good for a couple of goals, regardless. Some pace off half-back has been injected with Massimo D'Ambrosio and Nick Hind, who could also end up getting forward if need be.
ROUND 1, 2022
MCG
19/3/22
GEELONG CATS 20.18 138
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 11.6 72
---------
GEELONG GOALS: Hawkins, Stengle 4, Cameron, Close, Holmes 2, Higgins, Dangerfield, Tuohy, C. Guthrie, Dahlhaus, Evans
ESSENDON GOALS: Martin 5, Wright, Caldwell 2, Smith, Cutler
GEELONG BEST: Dangerfield, Hawkins, Stengle, Stanley, Stewart
ESSENDON BEST: Martin, Merrett, Cutler, Shiel, Parish
----------
CHANGES SINCE LAST TIME:
GEELONG OUTS: Stengle, Stanley, C. Guthrie, Parfitt, Selwood, Dahlhaus, Higgins, Evans, J. Henry
GEELONG INS: O'Connor, Simpson, Rohan, Miers, Bews, Duncan, Bowes, O. Henry
ESSENDON OUTS: Cutler, Stewart, Smith, Wright, Guelfi, Heppell, Cox, Laverde, Ham, Baldwin
ESSENDON INS: Zerk-Thatcher, Durham, Weideman, Stringer, Hobbs, Setterfield, Phillips, D'Ambrosio, McDonald-Tipungwuti
This side is playing some seriously solid footy, but the footy world dealt us a shitty hand today. Our full back out against the best attack in the game, off a 5-day break against their 8-day one. I think we'll stick with them for most of the game, but we'll probably end up falling a little short as the Cats continue their resurgence from a slow start to the season.
Geelong by 22.
