Preview Round 9: Essendon vs The Orange Team, Marvel Stadium, Saturday 11th May, 4:35pm

[silk]

Round 9 sees us return home after successfully securing the 4 points in Perth, in what amazingly enough, is a battle for a position in the top 4.

GWS is also looking a little bit vulnerable, with Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

expected to miss with injury and Callum Brown potentially out with suspension, though I can see GWS are already laying the seeds for a “Good Guy” plea.. To be fair though, I think Brown shouldn’t get suspended, he doesn’t jump, he quickly tucked his arms at literally the last second.. The “he elected to bump” argument isn’t really accurate here, he went right at the ball the whole time. Still we get screwed every time, so heck em!

Anyways.. Back to more important matters.. When was the last time Essendon went 4 weeks without a loss? Also, when was the last time the luck has gone in our favour multiple times instead of against? Lastly.. Can we please have an easy win soon so I just hecken relax while watching football; Feels like I’ve aged years in the last few weeks.

---

The Round That Was

Whilst we never actually lost the lead, it did feel like we were only just hanging onto it for most of the 2nd half. The Eagles put up a helluva fight and were almost able to take advantage of our mediocre accuracy, however, every time they got close, Zach hecken Merret, stood in their way. It really felt like they were pressing, Merret would kick a goal, take a big mark, get an important assist, lay a big tackle, and a goal assist.

As much as I like Heppell, I’ve never been convinced he was the one to lead up to multiple finals victories.. I don’t feel the same way with Zach; he really is one of the best captains in the league.

WEST COAST 1.1 4.2 8.5 11.5 (71)
ESSENDON 2.5 7.6 10.8 11.11 (77)

GOALS
West Coast: Watermelonman 3, J Williams 3, Darling 2, Chesser, B Williams, Yeo
Essendon: Merrett 3, Langford 3, Wright 2, Durham, Duursma, Stringer

BEST
West Coast: Waterman, Kelly, Duggan, McGovern, J Williams
Essendon: Merrett, Parish, Durham, Martin, Langford, Perkins

INJURIES
West Coast: Long (knee), Yeo (groin)
Essendon: Caldwell (calf tightness)

LATE CHANGES
West Coast: Ryan Maric (illness) replaced in selected side by Dom Sheed
Essendon: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Harvey Johnston (replaced Noah Long at three-quarter time)
Essendon: Ben Hobbs (replaced Jye Caldwell

6

Jye Caldwell

Age

23

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.3

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

6.5

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.7

5star

CL

1.8

4star

D

14.3

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

7.3

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.3

4star

CL

1.8

4star

D

13.6

4star

K

7.0

3star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.8

4star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.6

4star

in the third quarter)

Crowd: 51,751 at Optus Stadium


GWS on the other faced ladder leaders Sydney and were in the end found wanting, going down by 29 points; a score that ultimately flatters GWS.

SYDNEY 2.6 6.8 10.11 14.14 (98)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 5.3 5.5 8.5 10.9 (69)

GOALS
Sydney: Hayward 4, Rowbottom 2, Warner, Papley, McLean, McDonald, Jordon, Heeney, Gulden, Amartey
Greater Western Sydney: Hogan 2, Daniels 2, Cadman 2, Brown 2, Peatling, Jones

BEST
Sydney: Heeney, Hayward, Gulden, Grundy, Rowbottom, Warner, Rampe
Greater Western Sydney: Kelly, Peatling, Daniels, Callaghan, Ward

INJURIES
Sydney: McCartin (head knock)
Greater Western Sydney: Green (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox

42

Robbie Fox

Age

31

Ht

185cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.3

3star

K

5.7

2star

HB

5.6

4star

M

2.2

2star

T

3.6

5star

MG

151.3

2star

D

10.8

3star

K

6.5

3star

HB

4.3

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

2.8

4star

MG

151.3

3star

D

12.2

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

6.8

5star

M

0.4

1star

T

3.6

5star

(replaced Tom McCartin

30

Tom Mccartin

Age

24

Ht

194cm

Wt

99kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.3

2star

K

5.6

2star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.7

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

129.5

2star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.2

3star

T

0.8

1star

MG

87.4

2star

D

9.0

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.0

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

168.0

3star

in the second quarter)
Greater Western Sydney: Harvey Thomas (replaced Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

in the second quarter)

Crowd: 40,337 at the SCG

---

The Last Time We Met

Jesus hecken christ.. Another game I didn't want to ever relive.. Probably our 3rd worst game in the last 20 years… heck Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

29

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

.. heck this stat line.. 9 Goals 1, 24 Disposals, 17 marks, 6 Contested marks…

The silver lining was this was probably the game that had us going all out for Ben “Buckets” McKay.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 7.3 13.5 20.6 25.12 (162)
ESSENDON 1.0 2.1 4.4 5.6 (36)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Hogan 9, Daniels 3, Greene 2, Bedford 2, Riccardi, Lloyd, Himmelberg, Green, Fahey, Coniglio, Brown, Ash, McMullin
Essendon: Langford 2, Phillips, Menzie, Caldwell

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Hogan, Green, Coniglio, Himmelberg, Ward, Whitfield, Kelly
Essendon: Parish, Hind, McGrath, Merrett

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
Essendon: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Toby McMullin (replaced Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

30

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

in the third quarter)
Essendon: Jake Stringer

25

Jake Stringer

Age

30

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.8

5star

D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

3star

HB

1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

4star

G

2.5

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

(replaced Matt Guelfi

35

Matt Guelfi

Age

26

Ht

184cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

8.1

3star

HB

6.1

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.9

4star

G

0.2

2star

D

10.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

5.5

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

G

0.0

1star

D

17.2

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

6.2

4star

M

5.0

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.2

3star

in the second quarter)

Crowd: 10,281 at Giants Stadium

---

The Selection Table

Possible Outs -
Hobbs -
Davey - Conflicted here - isn’t getting enough of the ball or impacting the scoreboard, but is still one of our better pressure players.
Cadwell - If Injured
Lav - Won’t happen but I wanna see Hayes
Goldy - Rest

Possible Ins -
The lack of a VFL this week sucks.
Hayes -
Roberts -
Shiel - (Solid Sub choice)
Hind - (Could he just play as a pressure forward?)

---

My Prediction

Still carrying the scars of the last game - GWS by 15

 

[JayJ20]

GWS gettable at home with Brown and Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

out.

If Draper is fit, then give Goldstein a rest for Draper.

Changes
Out: Goldstein, Caldwell (inj) and Davey
In: Draper, Tsatas and Hind

 

[MiguelM]

GWS gettable at home with Brown and Tom Green out.

If Draper is fit, then give Goldstein a rest for Draper.

Changes
Out: Goldstein, Caldwell (inj) and Davey
In: Draper, Tsatas and Hind

Huge if Green is out.

 

[mcgrath_truther]

i'm confident

 

[Westlo]

We won't get them at a better time this year, if we want to do something this year need to win 2 out of this, blues and suns at the gold coast... as well as not dropping any game we should win (north, tigers & eagles again) in the next 7 weeks.

 

[ghostdog]

Didnt Brad make them listen to the GWS song on the bus all the wa y to the airport? ...or am I imagining that.

I think we'll rise to this one.

 

[Happyskeret]

Didnt Brad make them listen to the GWS song on the bus all the wa y to the airport? ...or am I imagining that.

I think we'll rise to this one.

Yeah I think we are a good chance too.

 

[ghostdog]

GWS gettable at home with Brown and Tom Green out.

If Draper is fit, then give Goldstein a rest for Draper.

Changes
Out: Goldstein, Caldwell (inj) and Davey
In: Draper, Tsatas and Hind

Taylor and Coniglio?

 

[TheUnicorn]

Green copping an injury couldn't have come at a better time.

 

[Vindicater]

First thought.

Out: Caldwell (injury)

In: Shiel

 

[DallasCrane316]

Scott confirmed Caldwell is fine and will play next week.

 

[justlookingaround]

Boys will be keen to make up for last year, no doubt Merrett will lead from the front.
Can't help but feel like a loss is around the corner though.
Who played on Hogan last time when he kicked 10 goals?
out: Davey
in: Draper

 

[mcgrath_truther]

Taylor and Coniglio?

taylor played today, unsure on cogs.

 

[Happyskeret]

My first thoughts are that I never liked that show….. the OC.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Taylor and Coniglio?

Cogniglio didn’t play this week but GWS said he will play against us.

 

[Bombers36]

We have to be a chance with Tom Green

12

Tom Green

Age

23

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

3star

CL

2.8

4star

D

11.5

3star

K

4.3

2star

HB

7.3

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.3

4star

CL

2.8

5star

out and Brown will get suspended for sure - not going to get a better shot than this. Current odds for the Bombers of $2.40 very tempting…After the trip West I think Scott will look to freshen up the team a little - but I’m hoping Caldwell is right to go he’s been super in 2024…I’d like to see Bryan get a run - he should be able to at least negate Briggs, Tsatas very good in the VFL & has to be close to a call up and Shiel might get his first run for the year against his old club…I think Jones, Hobbs & Davey are the players likely to make way.

So as an early call I’d go;-

OUT: Jones, Hobbs, Davey
IN: Bryan, Tsatas, Shiel

Team;-

Cox McKay Laverde
Martin Redman McGrath
Kelly Merrett Duursma
Perkins Langford Shiel
Stringer 2MP Gresham

Bryan Durham Parish

Bench: Caldwell Tsatas Heppell Goldy
SUB: Guelfi

 

[TheGrizz]

Scott confirmed Caldwell is fine and will play next week.

Actually fine, or like Connor Rozee 'fine'?

 

[jdstorm]

Still some structural things to work out with the side.

Thought the team really missed having a 2nd big body in the forward line. Jones has been playing well but he’s just too slight to hold position/establish a contested spot. But does really well as the 2nd man up.

Caldwell looked really good working back and playing outside/off HB as a mid. Still going to spruke for that being his full time role (HB/Mid)

Perkins was rusty but should be much better for the hit out.

Probably the best game I’ve seen Jake Kelly

29

Jake Kelly

Age

29

Ht

190cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

8.3

3star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

157.8

2star

D

8.1

2star

K

6.3

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

104.1

2star

D

14.8

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

5.8

4star

M

6.0

5star

T

4.2

5star

MG

107.0

2star

play for Essendon. Ran hard tackled well and even showed some run and willingness to move the ball.

Credit to Redman for doing the team thing and unselfishly playing Ridleys role while he’s out since he’s the most reliable guy back there.

Ridley/Reid/Setterfield/Draper to walk straight back into the side when healthy is going sure some things up

Jake Stringer

25

Jake Stringer

Age

30

Ht

192cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.8

5star

D

8.5

2star

K

7.0

3star

HB

1.5

1star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

4star

G

2.5

5star

D

7.2

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

2.4

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

is both Essendon and the Oppos biggest structural headache.

For me for the giants game keep things mostly the same.

Lav Mckay redman
Martin Cox Caldwell
Dursma merrett Kelly
Draper parish Durham
Perkins Jones Gresham
Langford Wright Davey

IC Hepp, Hobbs, Stringer, Goldy
Sub: Guelfi

Persisting with Davey because I think he’ll be better for it. Could easily drop him (start Guelfi and have Hind as Sub)

 

[Howard Moon]

Need the 2nd ruck, Goldy is only a 50% option at best, Briggs will monster the clearance

 

[Gabe251]

Ridley back?

 

[jdstorm]

Ridley back?

Says 3 weeks on the injury report.

 

[eth-dog]

We'll go in underdogs but a win would be huge.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Going to be one of the more interesting selections this week.

In: Hayes, Setterfield, Draper, Davey

Out: Laverde, Hobbs, Goldstein, Roberts

 

[Chief Hopper]

Persisting with Davey because I think he’ll be better for it. Could easily drop him (start Guelfi and have Hind as Sub)

Davey still looks to thin to be effective just yet. He was largely missing in the WC game. Swap in Hind for him.
Guelfi played pretty well, he should stay.

 

[MiguelM]

Still some structural things to work out with the side.

Thought the team really missed having a 2nd big body in the forward line. Jones has been playing well but he’s just too slight to hold position/establish a contested spot. But does really well as the 2nd man up.

Caldwell looked really good working back and playing outside/off HB as a mid. Still going to spruke for that being his full time role (HB/Mid)

Perkins was rusty but should be much better for the hit out.

Probably the best game I’ve seen Jake Kelly play for Essendon. Ran hard tackled well and even showed some run and willingness to move the ball.

Credit to Redman for doing the team thing and unselfishly playing Ridleys role while he’s out since he’s the most reliable guy back there.

Ridley/Reid/Setterfield/Draper to walk straight back into the side when healthy is going sure some things up

Jake Stringer is both Essendon and the Oppos biggest structural headache.

For me for the giants game keep things mostly the same.

Lav Mckay redman
Martin Cox Caldwell
Dursma merrett Kelly
Draper parish Durham
Perkins Jones Gresham
Langford Wright Davey

IC Hepp, Hobbs, Stringer, Goldy
Sub: Guelfi

Persisting with Davey because I think he’ll be better for it. Could easily drop him (start Guelfi and have Hind as Sub)

Who did Kelly stop last night?