Saints Win

[Darkhour]

Good for confidence and team structure and with Harves playing great footy, goddard in the action with a goal and powell backing up when the game was on the line..

It was expected but the same could be said for the Hawks match aswell..

 

[Winmar]

Sweet! I would have gone but for the horrible weather.

 

[vergs]

Saints too solid for Dons
Paul Gough
afl.com.au
5:09:26 PM Sat 1 March, 2003


Dean Solomon made a successful comeback but there was little else to smile about for Essendon fans as their indifferent 2003 AFL pre-season continued with a loss to St Kilda at Optus Oval on Saturday.

The Saints won a dreary practice match – which was ruined as a spectacle by continual heavy showers and even hail – 11.9 (75) to 8.13 (61) at Optus Oval – to hand the Bombers their third successive loss of their pre-season campaign following their exit from the Wizard Cup to the Kangaroos last week.

In fact Kevin Sheedy’s side has still not won a pre-season match of any description since winning the 2000 pre-season competition.

While all eyes were on Solomon on Saturday as he played his first game for a year following a knee re-construction (he performed well for a half before being rested) - Sheedy was also hoping to use the match to give his youngsters the chance to push for senior places in the wake of the trading of premiership stars Chris Heffernan, Gary Moorcroft, Justin Blumfield and Blake Caracella.

But the Bombers’ youngsters failed to grasp their opportunity with only experienced players such as Dustin Fletcher – who had the better of Saints’ young gun Nick Riewoldt – and Sean Wellman, Jason Johnson and Matthew Lloyd making any meaningful contributions.

In contrast some of the Saints’ youngsters certainly grasped their opportunity as both sides played badly weakened sides with the Bombers resting Scott Lucas and James Hird while Paul Barnard, Dean Rioli, Mark Mercuri and Joe Misiti all performed well in the earlier reserves match.

With the Saints resting skipper Aaron Hamill and also without the likes of Max Hudghton, Luke Ball, Steve Lawrence and Justin Koschitzke – it gave youngsters such as top draft pick Brendon Goddard the chance to shine.

And the number one pick certainly impressed across half-forward as the Saints’ attack coped far better in the terrible conditions.

While Essendon’s attack was so poor – despite Lloyd playing well in the first three quarters in a unusual role further up the ground – it did not manage to score a single goal between the 12 minute mark of the second term and the 17 minute mark of the last, the Saints had the game’s best forward in Steven Milne.

The dangerous goalsneak kicked three goals and could have scored even more as he relished the midfield dominance of former Saints’ skipper Robert Harvey, who had more than 30 possessions.

The Bombers made a late rally in the final term to draw within a point but the Saints had been the better side all day and sealed victory when another former skipper in Nathan Burke kicked a goal on the run after a superb handball under pressure from Milne.

And just to cap off a bad day for the Bombers, rookie list player Ben Haynes suffered a serious shoulder injury in the second quarter following a heavy bump from Matt Maguire after having been his side’s best player up until that point.


ST KILDA: 4.1 8.2. 9.5 11.9 (75).
ESSENDON: 3.5 5.9 5.11 8.13 (61).

St Kilda:: S Milne 3 N Burke 2 H Black N Riewoldt B Goddard R Harvey L Montagna S Powell.
Goals: Essendon: B Haynes 2 S Wellman J Johnson M Lloyd J Lay**** D Walsh D Hille.

St Kilda:: S Milne R Harvey F Gehrig B Goddard N Burke S Powell.
Best: Essendon:: D Fletcher J Johnson D Jacobs B Haynes M Lloyd S Wellman.

Injuries: St Kilda: H Black (ankle).
Essendon: B Haynes (shoulder).

Reports: Nil.

 

[Darkhour]

same here winmar.. would've but didn't want to take the daughter in the rain and thunder..

 

[Darkhour]

From BomberLand

MATCH REPORT




It was a low scoring affair at Optus Oval today for the Bombers’ practice match against St.Kilda. Despite being the first day of autumn, the weather conditions felt like it was the middle of winter. It rained heavily for over half the match and the conditions ensured the match was a less than impressive skill display. Essendon tried hard all day but were outclassed by a young St.Kilda line-up. The final margin was 16-points.
The Bombers headed into the match without a number experienced players. James Hird, Scott Lucas, Adam Ramanauskas, Steve Alessio were all rested. Joe Misiti, Paul Barnard, Mark Mercuri and Dean Rioli played in the curtain raiser match for the Bendigo Bombers. Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy continued to blood young players, playing Darren Walsh in his first senior match and continuing to given Jason Lay**** and Jobe Watson opportunities.

All eyes were on Dean Solomon in his comeback match. The 23-year-old didn’t disappoint the Essendon faithful. He moved well across half-back and notched up five possessions in the half he played. His best effort was a solid tackle planted on Montana on the outer wing mid-way through the second term. Rookie Ben Haynes was easily the Bombers best performer until he was collected by St.Kilda’s Maguire mid-way through the second term and immediately left the ground with a suspected shoulder injury. It is a big blow for the 22-year-old who is aiming to be the rookie elevated to the senior list before the start of the home and away season.

Dustin Fletcher put in a solid four quarter performance for the Bombers. He had his hands full with Nick Riewoldt, but managed to keep him to one goal. Jason Johnson was also a solid contributor and tried hard all day. The 25-year-old finished with one goal and set up another one in the fourth quarter after bursting through a pack and delivering the ball to David Hille in the goal square. Sean Wellman did well in defence in the three quarters he played, as did Matthew Lloyd. Danny Jacobs played at both ends of the ground and took a few good marks considering the wet conditions.

The Bombers struggled to convert all day and didn’t manage a goal in the third quarter. A three-goal final term wasn’t enough to get the Bombers across the line. Hille, Lay**** and Walsh snapped goals late in the term to bring the team within one point and they looked like they were going to steal the match, until Burke and Powell goaled for the Saints.

Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy moved his players around in different positions for the entire match. Hille, Lay**** and Aaron Henneman shared the ruck duties and Marc Bullen, Damien Peverill, Mark Johnson, Jason Johnson, Mark McVeigh all had time in the mid-field. In his first match for the season, Peverill did a few good things and the match will give him much needed match conditioning heading into next week’s practice match.

St.Kilda’s Stephen Milne kept Andrew Welsh busy in defence. Milne was clearly the best player on the ground and booted three goals for the Saints. His best goal came late in the second quarter when he side stepped around three Essendon defenders and goaled from 30m out.

Essendon missed it’s experienced players today in the practice match against St.Kilda, however the young players will greatly benefit from the hit-out. The Bombers’ were over run by a determined St.Kilda line-up in difficult conditions at Optus Oval.

 

[St-KriS]

Even though it was a practice match against an undermaned team, its got to notch a victory up on the board.

 

[Darkhour]

Does anyone have any info on what positions all the youngsters played and how some of the fringe players etc.. went?.. We all know that Harves and milne went but what about the others.. powell etc..

 

[St-KriS]

Yeah, I wouldnt mind knowing that either...also, who played CHF if Nick spent the match at FF?

 

[MightySaint]

Met up with with Sav, everton and saint_paul. Here are some recollections

Schwartz was BOG.
Hayes was solid, but not spectacular.
Harvey is our most important player. We will win a lot more games if he plays most of the year.
Burkey struggled a bit.
Dal Santo put his body on the line a fair bit and used every one of his disposals perfectly. Really is top notch
Montagna was good.
Murray was probably equal BOG with Troy in the second half
Moyle was quiet
Powell is slow but knocks up getting the ball. Will be VERY good for us.
Goddard can play and then some. Will be in the round 1 side.
Thompson got the ball but turned it over too much. MUST improve disposal.
Milney was milney
Baker did not do much
Aussie was good, but was taken off for precautinary reasons early in the last quarter
Maguire will be a VERY good CHB in a couple of years. Good mark and can kick it a mile. Slow decision making tho. Needs to go first option every time.
Brooks did very well in the ruck. Will need to add a lot of bulk tho. Bomber ruckmen were nothing special, so...

Pretty tired, can't remember any more. Will edit tommorow if i remember more details.

 

[MightySaint]

Originally posted by Vaul Darkhour
Does anyone have any info on what positions all the youngsters played and how some of the fringe players etc.. went?.. We all know that Harves and milne went but what about the others.. powell etc..

No CHF. Open forward line with Reiwoldt one out vs Fletcher and either Burkey or Milney along side them. Goddard, Dal Santo played as attacking midfielders/forward flankers.

 

[HTB Saints]

I only saw the 2nd half, but was very impressed with Schwarze. He backed into packs, took strong marks, showed very good judgement on occasion and outpaced several smaller Bomber players.

Goddard is a very good mover, had Wellman on him when he played off forward.

Murray looked a lot better than last week, though he was primarily opposed to Essendon youngsters as well.

I assume 24 was Brookes. He and Capuano did ok, but Essendon are the only team worse off for ruckman than we are.

Harvey did as he pleased. Good to see.

Burke worries me a bit, I think he may struggle.

Riewoldt had Fletcher and the conditions to contend with.