Essendon has a lot to play for in its final game of 2014 at Windy Hill.
The Bombers host Northern Blues in a mid-season Elimination Final Saturday, with a loss to either side making the task of finals football extremely difficult, as Steve O’Brien previews the clash.
Essendon sits 12th on the ladder one game behind their counterparts the Blues, with the Bombers having the advantage of a more competitive percentage.
The Northern Blues will be striving to give a send-off to one of their greats , with Laurie Hill passing away during the week. Hill was a dual Liston Trophy winner , premiership player, captain and had the honour of the clubs best and fairest award being named after him – the Laurie Hill Trophy .
At selection Essendon welcome back Ben Howlett - a late withdrawal last week - and sees the possible inclusions of Josh Toy , Jacob Thompson and former Geelong Falcon Alex Hickey who has been named on an extended bench. Jack Langford will play his second game as 23rd man for the Dons.
The Northern Blues side is harder to get a guage on as they have named all seven of the players named on an extended interchange for the AFL side, but missing for the Blues will be the injured young gun Patrick Cripps. Mathew Watson has recovered from injury and will be a welcome addition, while Jesse Tardio who was named as his sides best in their narrow defeat to Casey, will once again be the Blues 23rd man. The young man from Marcellin and the Northern Knights has many tongues wagging about his skills.
Blues ruckman Cameron Wood was credited with 79 hit outs in the clubs previous match and his Essendon counterparts Fraser Thurlow and Sam Tagliabue will need to try and quell his dominance.
If Wood can be curtailed somewhat, then the midfield battle looms as the decider. Essendon will field Howlett , Travis Colyer , Leroy Jetta , Ben Ducher , Jason Ashby and Lachie Dalgleish who showed a return to form last week picking up possessions at will. The Blues will unleash the likes of Kane Lucas, Nick Graham, Nick Holman and Tardio. The match up to try and contain Blue Jack Anthony will likely go to Ariel Steinberg or Josh Freezer will also be pivotal in the result.
At the other end of the ground Bomber recruit Josh Mellington has been impressive across half forward and with fleet of foot goalsneaks Cory Del Olio and Orazio Fantasia at his feet may prove to elusive for their Blues counterparts .
VERDICT: I think the Bombers who had probably their best match of the season last week when they got within 18 pts of undefeated Port Melbourne and with the inclusion of Howlett will get over the Blues in the vicinity of 20 pts.
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 23/05/2014 23:36