VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,858
- 36,715
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- Essendon
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
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- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
Some would call it the loss we had to have, with injuries and consecutive 6 day breaks, plus the 5 comeback victories in a row finally taking their toll on our brave group.
We were never really in it. We were belted from pillar to post. Port played their best footy since their belting of Adelaide in the showdown.
To show just how on they were - Port are the worst set shot team in the league, and managed to kick 14.2 from set shots.
We let a golden chance to sure up a finals spot slip, and also managed to get slammed with even more injuries, to the point where our injury list is now among the worst in the league.
Zach and Shiel were solid, but they were really a lone hand.
Mingma Snelling was one of our best players, and he's only been in Melbourne for a couple months. While it's impressive for him, it's an indictment on the rest of our group.
Langford had a howler, but through injuries, he's held his place this week.
Efficiency inside 50 is diabolical.
Parish being knocked out by SPP's knee early on definitely didn't help us at all.
Robbie Gray is a hell of a player, but he's a rat.
Francis was knocked around by a rough sling tackle and was pretty much knocked out. He isn't playing this week. No action from the AFL on Rozee? Hmm.
Zac Clarke had a typical Clarke performance. Wish he played like he did against Norf all the time.
Meh.
Something something Ben Simmons?
ESSENDON BOMBERS 9.13 67 def. by PORT ADELAIDE POWER 19.12 126
BEST: Merrett, Shiel, Snelling, McKenna, Francis
GOALS: Fantasia, Snelling, Stringer 2, Shiel, Merrett, Francis
INJURIES: McKernan (Illness, replaced by Hartley), Parish (Concussion)
REPORTS: Nil
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WESTERN BULLDOGS
A brave performance from the Dogs against a rampant Brisbane outfit, with a quick run of goals late in the 3rd quarter sending a scare through the Lions camp.
The Dogs managed to secure 72 more disposals, 5 more inside 50s, and 10 more clearances, but just couldn't match the manic pressure from Brisbane.
The Bulldogs midfield was dominant, but good lord the rest of the team is lagging so far behind they weren't able to do much to capitalize.
Jack Macrae ended up with a mental 45 touches, and Marcus Bontempelli almost dragged his side over the line by himself.
There isn't much to add here, they were just beaten by a better team on the day.
BRISBANE LIONS 14.14 98 def. WESTERN BULLDOGS 11.14 80
BEST: Bontempelli, Macrae, Smith, Bailey, Dunkley, Daniel
GOALS: Schache, Naughton 2, English, Dale, Richards, Johannisen, Lipinksi, Bontempelli, Suckling
INJURIES: Crozier (Ankle)
REPORTS: Nil
ESSENDON EMERGENCIES
Michael Hartley, Tom Jok, Jake Long, Jayden Laverde
BULLDOGS EMERGENCIES
Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Roarke Smith, Lachie Young
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ESSENDON INS: Ben McNiece, Shaun McKernan, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Josh Begley
ESSENDON OUTS: Aaron Francis, Darcy Parish (Both head knocks), Will Snelling, Matt Guelfi, Adam Saad (Injured), Michael Hartley (Omitted)
jesus christ we are f**ked
BULLDOGS INS: Taylor Duryea, Will Hayes
BULLDOGS OUTS: Tom Liberatore, Caleb Daniel (Injured)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH.
Possibly the worst injury list we've had since we took Nathan Lovett-Murray to Adelaide as a sole ruckman, and it's been ADDED TO. **** me dead. Aaron Francis suffered neck and head soreness since he was piledriven into the turf by Connor Rozee, who faced no repercussions from the MRO. Weird. Darcy Parish was knocked out from an innocuous knee to the head from Sam Powell-Pepper, but you can't do much about that. Adam Saad has strained his hamstring, even though Woosha said it "Was sore, but isn't a strain". Will miss two weeks at least. Sexy Matt Guelfi's year is over with a stuffed knee, and something happened to Mingma which blows. Because he was great last week. How rough would you feel if you were Michael Hartley? He made a few blunders last week but so did the rest of the team. He was nowhere near the worst, and yet, amongst our immense injury list, he finds himself omitted. Stiff.
Coming in for the 30% of the list that's out is the long-omitted duo David Myers and Mark Baguley, who may very well be playing in their farewell tour. Myers was immense in the VFL last week, with 39 touches and 3 goals, so his inclusion is very much warranted. Bags though? Hmm. Ben McNiece somehow gets into the side opposed to Jordan Ridley. Somehow. The Fridge Josh Begley is back into the seniors to add some forward pressure and physical presence, while the two biggest inclusions loom after time away due to injury and sickness. Shaun McKernan has overcome gastro from last week, and is a huge inclusion back into this Essendon side that relies on him. Dyson Heppell is a risk, and no-one would argue that. He has a chronic issue with growth plates in his foot, and while he can't really get them fixed right now, he will more than likely get that surgery after the season ends. If we win this week, rest him until finals.
The Bulldogs have two huge outs, with the league's largest midget Caleb Daniel out alongside the personification of a Sunday morning hangover - Tom Liberatore.
Ex-Hawk Taylor Duryea and Will Hayes are their replacements.
ESSENDON BOMBERS – #25 – JAKE STRINGER
Two weeks in a row that Package is a key player, but he really needs to have a huge Stringer performance this week against his old side. We got him for an absolute steal, and this is the sort of situation where he will stand up. Backs against the wall, one more win needed for finals. He is a power athlete who is made for these situations, and he has been one of our best all season. Just another push against his old club, and we will be there.
Please don't get injured.
ESSENDON BOMBERS – #23 - DAVID MYERS
We were all resigned to the fact that we were never going to see Myers in the seniors again. We all thought that he was a great VFL player, but never really got it together at AFL level. Now, he needs to get it together. After a huge performance last week in the twos, and after we were completely bullied out of the game against Port after Parish was knocked out, a big body in the midfield is what we need. Myers has been dominant as a clearance midfielder in the VFL, but we desperately need that dominance into the seniors.
Looks as though the VFL missed him, damn
WESTERN BULLDOGS - #4 - MARCUS BONTEMPELLI
Let's be honest, Bont is going to have a day out tonight. He is one of the best players in the league, and he's not the sort of player you tag; he just goes forward and dominates down there. He's a freak, and one of the most incredible athletes one can witness. I'm a huge admirer, and I honestly can't even imagine just how we could even hope to counteract his influence, especially when one considers our immense injury list. Unless Ambrose nails one of his spine-shattering tackles.
WESTERN BULLDOGS - #11 - JACK MACRAE
Another nomination for the Dylan Clarke Belt of Scalps. Macrae has been dominant in 2019, and is a member of this insane Bulldogs midfield who are so dominant. Macrae averages 32.8 touches and 5.2 tackles per game. He gets a lot of it, and is seriously damaging when paired with Josh Dunkley. With the likely scenario of Tim English destroying Zac Clarke, quelling Macrae in the middle needs to take priority.
Sorry, no rant again this week. I didn't watch the match all that much last week, but I know we were shit.
I blame Matthew Knights. Or something.
ROUND 3, 2018
Marvel Stadium
8/4/2018
WESTERN BULLDOGS 14.20 104
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 12.11 83
---------
ESSENDON BEST: Zaharakis, Smith, Stringer, Hurley
ESSENDON GOALS: Green, Daniher, Stewart 2, Hooker, Smith, Stringer, Merrett, Parish, McDonald-Tipungwuti
BULLDOGS BEST: Hunter, Dahlhaus, Macrae, McLean, Wallis
BULLDOGS GOALS: Bontempelli 3, McLean, Dale, Dunkley 2, Wallis, Johannisen, Hunter, Gowers, Williams
---------
CHANGES SINCE THEN
ESSENDON OUTS: Green, Daniher, Stewart, Smith, Parish, Goddard, Bellchambers, Hurley, Saad
ESSENDON INS: Redman, Gleeson, Ambrose, McNiece, Shiel, McKernan, Z. Clarke, D. Clarke
BULLDOGS OUTS: Wallis, Gowers, Williams, Dahlhaus, Jong, Redpath, Honeychurch, Daniel
BULLDOGS INS: Duryea, Trengove, Smith, Schache, Lloyd, Crozier, Lipinski, Hayes
MELBOURNE:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST)
RADIO: Triple M, 3AW, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
SYDNEY:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST)
RADIO: Triple M, Macquarie Sports Radio
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
ADELAIDE:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 7.50pm ACST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.50pm ACST)
RADIO: Triple M, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
PERTH:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 5.20pm AWST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 5.20pm AWST)
RADIO: Triple M DAB+, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
BRISBANE:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST)
RADIO: Macquarie Sports Radio
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
TASMANIA:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 7.20pm AEST)
RADIO: Triple M, AFL Nation, ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
DARWIN:
TV: FOXTEL (LIVE at 6.50pm AEST), Kayo Sports (LIVE at 6.50pm AEST)
RADIO: ABC
MOBILE: AFL Live Official App with LIVE Pass (Unmetered on Telstra Mobile Network)
Please win. We can rest players and relax after we secure finals. I don't think we will get the chocolates, but god I want to.
Please win.
Bombers by 2.
