Essendon VFL side despite having an up and down season thus far will be out to avenge last year’s Elimination final loss to Werribee when the sides clash this Sunday at Avalon Airport Oval. Steve O’Brien previews the game.
It was a costly loss for the Werribee Tigers in Round 9, falling short by nine points against Williamstown, which saw them plummet to sixth position on the ladder . A win would have had them in second spot leading into Round 10.
The Tigers lost a lot of experience from last year’s side, with new coach John Lamont having guided a mainly unheralded group of players into a very competitive unit . Inclusions to the side this week are Majak Daw and Sam Wright who were both omitted from the Kangaroos , and Scott McMahon has been named at Centre Half Back in. Robbie Tarrant will be missing from last week, called up for AFL duties.
Aside from Jarred Moore and the returning trio there are only a handful of other big names for the club . Taylor Hine , Mason Wood and ruckman Daniel Currie headline the list of Roos while former North players Ben Warren and Ben Speight still ply their trade for the Tigers.
Essendon on the other hand have probably named their strongest unit for the season . with Tayte Pears , Jackson Merrett , Kyle Hardingham and Dylan Van Unen all of whom have recovered from injury and being named to make the trip to Melbourne's West . Lachie Dalgleish is missing from the side comfortably beaten by Richmond last outing .
Travis Colyer , Leroy Jetta, Ben Duscher, Sean Edwards and Nick O' Brien who has been in a rich vein of form this season headline the big names at the Dons .
This game may be won in the ruck contests with the Tigers holding a distinct advantage with Dan Currie and Daw a challenge for Fraser Thurlow and Sam Tagliabue. One of the key match ups in the middle could be Moore and Duscher, which will be a sideshow well worth watching .
Ben Warren who has been outstanding for several seasons was kept to 6 possesions and a last quarter goal by Josh Freezer last time the sides clashed ,and it will be interesting to see if the same match up occurs .
Former Collingwood rookie Jye Bolton has been in scintillating form for the Tigers and with 33 possessions last week the majority effective and 10 handball receives he will come under the attention of Dons coach Hayden Skipworth .
Essendon need their small forwards to get on top, with Cory Dell 'Olio , Jetta and Orazio Fantasia all dangerous around goal and Hardingham who has played forward for the AFL team this season may also find himself up forward despite the fact he has been named on the half back line .
VERDICT: If Essendon can break even in the centre clearances I believe they can cause the upset on a ground where they have struggled in previous seasons , the Dons by 11 pts
Last Modified on 13/06/2014 17:48