eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
Observations
Williamstown: The seagulls had a great win in their qualifying final against Footscray, winning by 13 points in a game that was close all day before Willy just snuck away in the last quarter. Nick Ebinger made use of his seven touches, kicking 3 goals amongst them but the match winner was Liston Trophy favourite for tonight Mitch Hibberd who had 25 disposals and a goal
Essendon: The Dons had a tight 3 point win against Werribee, their first one in five weeks. It was a rather even contribution across the board with only David Myers getting 20+ touches, having it 21 times, whilst Josh Begley's last 10 minutes were crucial to setting up the win for the Dons, he and Jordan Ridley setting up the coast to coast goal that Tom Jok finished off.
Head to Head (last 5)
Williamstown 3-2 Essendon
Form Guide
Williamstown: 4W 1L
Essendon: 1W 4L
Sportsbet odds (available Friday)
Williamstown:
Essendon:
Line: ($1.90)
Possible sides
Williamstown vs Essendon
B: Martin Gleeson - Daniel Guccione - Matthew Dea
F: Sam Dunnell - Jaylon Thorpe - Joel Pickess
HB: Jordan Ridley - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - Ben McNiece
HF: Nick Ebinger - Joel Ottavi - Ben Kennedy
C: Tom Jok - Trent Mynott - Brayden Ham
C: Liam Hunt - Mitchell Hibberd - Nick Mellington
HF: Jordan Houlahan - Josh Begley - Will Snelling
HB: Jack Dorgan - Billy Myers - Jake Greiser
F: Mark Baguley - Michael Hartley - Heath Hocking
B: Jack Charleston - Joel Tippett - Nick Sing
R: Riley Bowman - Dylan Clarke - David Myers
R: Nick Meese - Willie Wheeler - Adam Marcon
I: Aaron Heppell - Kurt Aylett - Jake Long - Josh Tynan
I: Sam Martyn - Leigh Masters - Brayden Monk - Mitch Norton
I: Nino Lazzaro - Bruno Laguda - Wilson Berry - Danny Younan
I: Jason Pongracic - Nick Rodda - Cooper Stephens - Oliver Tate
23P: Dylan Landt
23P: Tom Mundy
Williamstown defence vs Essendon forward line
Despite not having any tall targets of any quality for half the games Essendon still managed to be 2nd overall in terms of points scored this year behind Footscray. Williamstown have been the second defense in the league this year, this group has been together a while and added Nick Sing to the mix this year which has kept them fresh. Neither are particularly tall, watch Joel Tippett and Michael Hartley do battle as really the only talls up there whilst Sing, Jack Charleston and Jake Greiser will try to combat the three musketeers in Mark Baguley, Danny Younan and Heath Hocking. Josh Begley and Jordan Houlahan will also provide tall targets for the Bombers up front against the likes of Billy Myers and Jack Dorgan.
Midfield/rucks battle
Williamstown's biggest strength is that they're the best contested ball team in the league, with their midfield boasting the likes of Willie Wheeler, Adam Marcon, Mitch Hibberd, Nick Mellington and Leigh Masters, whilst the Dons will be looking to break even on the inside and get it out to the likes of Tom Jok, Brayden Ham and Will Snelling on the outside of the packs. Essendon's inside crew shouldn't be underestimated though, Dylan Clarke was putting up insane numbers before he got promoted to the AFL, David Myers was excellent on the inside and the VFL pairing of captain Aaron Heppell and Kurt Aylett should be considered one of the strongest in the VFL. Rucks wise, old vs new. Nick Meese is widely considered to be the Shane Mumford of the VFL whilst Riley Bowman is the shiny new toy Essendon got midway through the season who runs, jumps, and competes at ground level.
Williamstown forward line vs Essendon defence
Williamstown's forward line is statistically the third best in the league, and is one of the toughest ones to match up on as well, whilst Essendon have the fourth strongest defence in the league this year. Williamstown will try to expose Daniel Guccione, likely to take Nick Rodda, one out whilst Matthew Dea and Jordan Ridley probably take former Bendigo Bomber Sam Dunnell and Jaylon Thorpe respectively, however the match up to watch is Brandon Zerk-Thatcher on Joel Ottavi, the former VFL Don, who since moving has proven to be a potential draftee, Zerk-Thatcher having had his colours slightly lowered by young star of the VFL Jake Riccardi last week
Key stat
Williamstown: Defensive conversion. Every time Williamstown are able to restrict the opposition to less than 50 inside 50's they win
Essendon: Clearances. Willy are great in this area, it's a must break even if they're to win.
Tip
This one's tough. Last time Essendon met Willy in a Prelim, Willy won the flag. I suspect that will happen again, Williamstown by 12
Williamstown: The seagulls had a great win in their qualifying final against Footscray, winning by 13 points in a game that was close all day before Willy just snuck away in the last quarter. Nick Ebinger made use of his seven touches, kicking 3 goals amongst them but the match winner was Liston Trophy favourite for tonight Mitch Hibberd who had 25 disposals and a goal
Essendon: The Dons had a tight 3 point win against Werribee, their first one in five weeks. It was a rather even contribution across the board with only David Myers getting 20+ touches, having it 21 times, whilst Josh Begley's last 10 minutes were crucial to setting up the win for the Dons, he and Jordan Ridley setting up the coast to coast goal that Tom Jok finished off.
Head to Head (last 5)
Williamstown 3-2 Essendon
Form Guide
Williamstown: 4W 1L
Essendon: 1W 4L
Sportsbet odds (available Friday)
Williamstown:
Essendon:
Line: ($1.90)
Possible sides
Williamstown vs Essendon
B: Martin Gleeson - Daniel Guccione - Matthew Dea
F: Sam Dunnell - Jaylon Thorpe - Joel Pickess
HB: Jordan Ridley - Brandon Zerk-Thatcher - Ben McNiece
HF: Nick Ebinger - Joel Ottavi - Ben Kennedy
C: Tom Jok - Trent Mynott - Brayden Ham
C: Liam Hunt - Mitchell Hibberd - Nick Mellington
HF: Jordan Houlahan - Josh Begley - Will Snelling
HB: Jack Dorgan - Billy Myers - Jake Greiser
F: Mark Baguley - Michael Hartley - Heath Hocking
B: Jack Charleston - Joel Tippett - Nick Sing
R: Riley Bowman - Dylan Clarke - David Myers
R: Nick Meese - Willie Wheeler - Adam Marcon
I: Aaron Heppell - Kurt Aylett - Jake Long - Josh Tynan
I: Sam Martyn - Leigh Masters - Brayden Monk - Mitch Norton
I: Nino Lazzaro - Bruno Laguda - Wilson Berry - Danny Younan
I: Jason Pongracic - Nick Rodda - Cooper Stephens - Oliver Tate
23P: Dylan Landt
23P: Tom Mundy
Williamstown defence vs Essendon forward line
Despite not having any tall targets of any quality for half the games Essendon still managed to be 2nd overall in terms of points scored this year behind Footscray. Williamstown have been the second defense in the league this year, this group has been together a while and added Nick Sing to the mix this year which has kept them fresh. Neither are particularly tall, watch Joel Tippett and Michael Hartley do battle as really the only talls up there whilst Sing, Jack Charleston and Jake Greiser will try to combat the three musketeers in Mark Baguley, Danny Younan and Heath Hocking. Josh Begley and Jordan Houlahan will also provide tall targets for the Bombers up front against the likes of Billy Myers and Jack Dorgan.
Midfield/rucks battle
Williamstown's biggest strength is that they're the best contested ball team in the league, with their midfield boasting the likes of Willie Wheeler, Adam Marcon, Mitch Hibberd, Nick Mellington and Leigh Masters, whilst the Dons will be looking to break even on the inside and get it out to the likes of Tom Jok, Brayden Ham and Will Snelling on the outside of the packs. Essendon's inside crew shouldn't be underestimated though, Dylan Clarke was putting up insane numbers before he got promoted to the AFL, David Myers was excellent on the inside and the VFL pairing of captain Aaron Heppell and Kurt Aylett should be considered one of the strongest in the VFL. Rucks wise, old vs new. Nick Meese is widely considered to be the Shane Mumford of the VFL whilst Riley Bowman is the shiny new toy Essendon got midway through the season who runs, jumps, and competes at ground level.
Williamstown forward line vs Essendon defence
Williamstown's forward line is statistically the third best in the league, and is one of the toughest ones to match up on as well, whilst Essendon have the fourth strongest defence in the league this year. Williamstown will try to expose Daniel Guccione, likely to take Nick Rodda, one out whilst Matthew Dea and Jordan Ridley probably take former Bendigo Bomber Sam Dunnell and Jaylon Thorpe respectively, however the match up to watch is Brandon Zerk-Thatcher on Joel Ottavi, the former VFL Don, who since moving has proven to be a potential draftee, Zerk-Thatcher having had his colours slightly lowered by young star of the VFL Jake Riccardi last week
Key stat
Williamstown: Defensive conversion. Every time Williamstown are able to restrict the opposition to less than 50 inside 50's they win
Essendon: Clearances. Willy are great in this area, it's a must break even if they're to win.
Tip
This one's tough. Last time Essendon met Willy in a Prelim, Willy won the flag. I suspect that will happen again, Williamstown by 12
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