VelvetSledge
Moderator
- May 24, 2007
- 17,859
- 36,717
- AFL Club
- Essendon
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- Liverpool FC, Melbourne Storm
- Moderator
- #1
ESSENDON BOMBERS
One of the advantages of being a mod and having an obligation to read basically anything posted on this forum means that you get a good feel on how the community is feeling after a game, and you can show some empathy on any hair-trigger off the handle posting.
Last week, it was utterly bizarre to see how people reacted to a fairly routine pasting at the hands of Port.
They are a premiership contender, at home, with an almost full-strength line up, and we are a bottom four side, away, which had three relatively long-term injuries occur in the game.
Frankly, I feel like the margin we held them to was a credit to our side considering how badly we started the first quarter.
Our young, undersized defence held up surprisingly well considering the sheer amount of attacking that Port laid into them for the whole game.
Charlie Dixon looked like he was going to be able to kick at least 8, but was held to 4, whilst Mitch Georgiades caught them out and slotted 4 as well.
Down the other end, Cale Hooker continued to show that he's a ridiculously consistent presence down forward, kicking 3 goals for the day, as did Walla.
Orazio Fantasia pulled on his jumper, and this forum got angry about it.
Nik Cox slotted his first goal, and even though we were way, way behind at that point, it was great to see the team get around him.
The elephant in the room was the serious injuries that will greatly hamper the chemistry that we were trying to build in this team. Sam Draper has a nasty syndesmosis injury (10 weeks), Jye Caldwell tore his hamstring apparently from his body (also 10 weeks), and Dylan Shiel has a medial meniscus injury which requires an arthroscope before we can know how long he'll be out (dead).
If you take the injuries out of the equation, it was a pretty standard loss, and not at all surprising.
The fact that three very important players for us are all going to be out for a matter of months in one hit is a bitter pill to swallow, but we all knew that this season was going to be an arduous one with limited success. At least now, we will be able to see some more of the next generation into this line-up that already looks like it needs a spark.
PORT ADELAIDE POWER 18.11 119
def.
ESSINGTON BOMBRES 9.11 65
GOALS: Hooker, McDonald-Tipungwuti 3, Langford, Cox, Snelling
BEST: Ridley, Redman, Hind, McDonald-Tipungwuti
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ST KILDA SAINTS
It's hard to say how the Saints are looking this year; the expectations were high after a brilliant 2020, but after two rounds we don't really have any answers to the questions.
The Demons were simply better on the night in what was a touching night for all involved in the inaugural Spud's Game.
The Saints weren't exactly bad, but were simply outclassed on the occasion and lacked their usual flair in what was an error-ridden contest at Marvel Stadium.
Jack Steele dragged the Saints back into the game after five straight goals to the Dees saw them break away, but his three goals weren't enough.
Veteran defender Jimmy Webster was added to a decent injury list, and was subbed out in the third quarter with a jaw injury.
Dougal Howard was a shining light for the Saints down back, whilst up forward, the usual suspects of King, Membrey, and Gresham were dangerous.
I keep forgetting McKernan plays for St Kilda now lel
ST KILDA SAINTS 11.7 73
def. by
MELBOURNE DEMONS 12.19 91
GOALS: Steele 3, King 2, Membrey, Battle, Billings, McKernan, Gresham, Higgins
BEST: Steele, Howard, Billings, Ross, Gresham
ESSENDON INS: Archie Perkins, Alec Waterman, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Matt Guelfi, Jake Stringer
ESSENDON OUTS: Sam Draper (Ankle), Dylan Shiel (Knee), Jye Caldwell (Hamstring), Cahill, Gleeson (Both omitted)
ST KILDA INS: Jake Carlisle, Brad Crouch, Daniel McKenzie, Mason Wood
ST KILDA OUTS: Jack Bytel, Tom Highmore, Paul Hunter, Ben Long (Omitted), Jimmy Webster (Injured)
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Subs announced approx. one hour before bounce.
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DEBUTS:
ARCHIE PERKINS, ESSENDON - #16
Pick #9, 2020 National Draft, Sandringham Dragons
ALEC WATERMAN, ESSENDON - #45
Rookie Selection - 2021 Pre-season
BRAD CROUCH, ST KILDA - # 5
Traded from Adelaide, 2020 Trade Period
MASON WOOD, ST KILDA - #32
Picked up as a delisted free agent, 2021 Pre-Season
A raft of changes at both clubs after losses last week. The Bombers have been forced into three of them, and the Saints have been forced into one.
The Dons see young gun ruck Sam Draper go out of the side with a nasty syndesmosis injury, which will keep him out for around 10 weeks. Star midfielder Dylan Shiel has suffered a medial meniscus injury - torn cartilage which they cut out as it can't heal, and the flap irritates the surrounding area. He'll end up bone on bone, so we're looking at pain killers before every game, whenever he returns. Could be 6 weeks, could be 8. Wonderful. Jye Caldwell's injury is a little more straight forward, yet still severe. He's had a nasty hamstring injury, which will see him miss 8-10 weeks. Christ. Ned Cahill and Marty Gleeson have been dropped after having very little impact in the opening two rounds. With Dyson Heppell missing again through a back issue, our injury list is almost as long as the available playing list.
The Bombers have turned to youth this week with the chips being down. 2020's Pick #9, Archie Perkins, is making his debut this afternoon against the Saints, and has caught the eye of onlookers with two classy performances in the VFL practice games. He's also caught the eye of every teenage/20s female (and male) fan, because he is really, really, ridiculously good looking. Every woman that is at the game today will leave pregnant. The Dons have also recalled Matt Guelfi, who has recovered from injury and looked to be a real improver in the pre-season, alongside key defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, who will have his work cut out for him today. Making his first appearance in 2020 is the leaner, faster, fitter Jake Stringer, who looks to have dropped around 6-7kgs in preparing for this season. When he's on, he's one of the most dynamic forwards in the game, and our forward line has certainly missed him this year so far.
The feel-good story of the year has to be Alec Waterman, however. After being picked up by West Coast as a father son, he contracted glandular fever and was so sick that he was basically bed-ridden for a year. He was delisted by the Eagles, but never gave up, and got back to WAFL level. He was a class above all year last year for Claremont, and it caught the eye of numerous clubs in the AFL. Essendon invited him to train, and his commitment and talent was on show to all. Today, he makes his AFL debut. A true testament to never giving up, and becoming a brick shithouse forward and telling West Coast to get ****ed.
The Saints are debuting two names today also, with Mason Wood, who was delisted from Norf (lol, imagine the luck! What a winner), and Brad Crouch, who was brought across from Adelaide before having to serve some more time suspended for his piss poor Tony Montana impression. Ex-Bomber Jake Carlisle returns to the Saints lineup (probably to chop out in the ruck), and Daniel McKenzie returns with him. The Saints have lost Jimmy Webster to a busted jaw, whilst Ben Long, Jack Bytel, Tom Highmore, and Paul Hunter have been given the arse.
ROUND 12, 2020
The Gabba
16/8/2020
ST KILDA SAINTS 10.8 68
def.
ESSENDON BOMBERS 5.3 33
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ESSENDON GOALS: Townsend, Langford, Saad, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Begley
ST KILDA GOALS: King 3, Membrey 2, Ryder, Lonie, Butler, Battle, Hind
ESSENDON BEST: Shiel, McGrath, Hurley, Saad, Parish
ST KILDA BEST: Ryder, Billings, Marshall, Battle, Membrey
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CHANGES SINCE THEN
ESSENDON OUTS: Shiel, Hurley, Saad, McKenna, Gleeson, Cutler, Mutch, Townsend, Clarke, Draper, Stewart, Begley, McKernan
ESSENDON INS: Laverde, Francis, Hind, Cox, Smith, Hooker, Perkins, Jones, Waterman, Wright, Ham, Stringer, Redman
ST KILDA OUTS: Marshall, Geary, Bytel, Long, Ryder, Hind, Paton
ST KILDA INS: Higgins, Gresham, McKernan, Carlisle, Wood, Crouch, McKenzie
I think this one will be closer than expected considering we have some decent ins to make up for the decent outs, but I'm thinking we're going to go 0-3 here for the first time in a very long time.
St Kilda by 23.
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