Game Day Vs. GWS (Skoda Stadium - 7.40pm)

[VelvetSledge]

The past 5 weeks:
ESS: W-L-W-W-W
GWS: L-L-L-W-L

Sportsbet odds:
ESS: $1.01
GWS: $21.00

The Teams:

ESSENDON:
B: Dyson, Hooker, Carlisle
HB: Hardingham, Pears, Dempsey
C: McVeigh, Watson, Stanton
HF: Melksham, Ryder, Monfries
F: Hurley, Crameri, Zaharakis
Foll: Lonergan, Hocking, Bellchambers
I/C: Davey, Howlett, Lovett-Murray, Colyer

IN: McVeigh, Colyer, Pears
OUT: Fletcher (groin), Heppell (Knee soreness), Jetta (Suspension)

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GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY:
B: Power, Davis, Bugg
HB: Kennedy, Mohr, Cornes
C: McDonald, Scully, Shiel
HF: Treloar, Cameron, Hampton
F: Smith, Folau, Adams
Foll: Ward, Coniglio, Giles
I/C: Darley, Phillips, Reid, Tyson

IN: Hampton, Kennedy, Smith, Shiel, Bugg, McDonald
OUT: Palmer, Hoskin-Elliott, Buntine, Tomlinson, Wilson, Greene


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All game day discussion / running commentary here.

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Thoughts:

A lot has been made of this game- Hird v Sheedy, Master v Apprentice, etc. A lot of us here on this board are glossing over that, and deservedly so. GWS are the fledgling team in the competition, they have the youngest team in the competition, and they generally lack experience right across the board.

Since GWS came into the competition, they have been victims of some absolute hidings, as expected. Two weeks ago, they garnered their first win in the AFL, defeating a rather flat Gold Coast Suns. The celebration was short-lived, however, as they were dismantled by the Brisbane Lions last week to the tune of 92 points.

Essendon, in stark contrast, are flying along at seven wins and one loss. Their midfield unit is among the best in the competition, Tom Bellchambers as a number one ruck is in career best form, and the defence is the most improved aspect of the entire club. Brent Stanton is absolutely tearing games apart, is borderline Brownlow favourite after Pendlebury, and his gut running is the best in the league. The skipper Jobe Watson is also in flying form, and is racking up massive possessions consistently.

This is a massive occasion for the Giants- The opening of Skoda Stadium, their first "true" home game, but, honestly, I can't see them coming within a whisker. Hirdy knows that we don't travel well so he will have drilled this into the mindset of all the players. We can't be a contender unless we have a massive percentage, so I expect us to be relentless. We need to win, and win big.

Essendon by 110.

(I'm not being generous am I?)

Broadcasting:

TV: LIVE on Channel 7 and FOX

Radio: SEN/ABC774

Internet Streams:
International viewers can get live video of games from http://www.afl.livesport.tv/. Please do not post in this thread asking for links to streams. Your account will be suspended for a day.

Text: http://twitter.com/#!/Essendonlive is doing live text updates.

 

[Macca18]

If we cannot win this game it will be our worst defeat in over a decade.

And like I say every week... still not confident. We better not put in a lazy & complacent performance like we did against the Suns.

 

[SirJimi05]

If we cannot win this game it will be our worst defeat in over a decade.

And like I say every week... still not confident. We better not put in a lazy & complacent performance like we did against the Suns.

How come you constantly bag out people on the main board for not rating Essendon as highly as you think they should, but then are less positive about us than the people you bag out?

 

[Macca18]

How come you constantly bag out people on the main board for not rating Essendon as highly as you think they should, but then are less positive about us than the people you bag out?

Because...

Nobody can bag my team except for myself & my fellow club supporters.

The rest of the competition can eat a you-know-what as far as I'm concerned.

 

[SirJimi05]

Don't get me wrong I love your passion, but a lot of the time it comes across as false bravado, given the lack of confidence you often show for our team, on our board.

 

[Macca18]

Don't get me wrong I love your passion, but a lot of the time it comes across as false bravado, given the lack of confidence you often show for our team, on our board.

Mate, when I give a shit about what somebody on an Internet forum like Bigfooty thinks of me, I will let you know first...

Go Bombers.

 

[Macca18]

One late change for GWS.

IN: Townsend
OUT: Folau

No changes for Essendon

Our sub is Ben Howlett. Their sub is Darley.

 

[daz17]

Would not have guessed Howlett to be our sub.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Howlett as sub, interesting choice :|

We might see him activated at half time, replacing one of the returning boys.

Folau out is a problem for us, lolololo

 

[Phone]

would rather hocking be the sub, if we're going down that sorta path

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Apparently Andrew Lovett-Murray is playing for us according to afl.com.au.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Apparently Andrew Lovett-Murray is playing for us according to afl.com.au.

God dammit.

 

[The Speaker]

You would've thought people would stop making that mistake by now.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Tom Beachcomber and David Aisle have been forgotten.

 

[Loonerty]

The stadium looks great. Nice and open

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Have a feeling Colyer is in for a big one.

 

[Tassieboy]

Plenty of leg room in the outer.

 

[monty1104]

Slattery named on channel 7 team list. Mistake or something else?

 

[Tassieboy]

Christ, please tell me no.

 

[white stain 3]

Christ, please tell me no.

give him a chance for this season

 

[Bennett.]

Hardingham out

 

[Phone]

Hardingham's troubled calf = slattery in. In the warm up

 

[Jobe Watson]

Slattery in, Hardingham out.

Oh dear.

 

[Tassieboy]

****ing **** sake Hardingham.

 

[monty1104]

Hardingham calf injury in warm up. Slattery now sub. Channel 7 confirmed.