Where and When: Metricon Stadium, Friday 7 August at 7:50pm (AEST)
Last time they met: R15 2019 – Essendon 12.5 (77) def GWS 10.11 (71) at Marvel Stadium
What it means for the Bombers: Going from 9th to 7th if they win, and pushing the Giants out of the 8. The Bombers are 5-3 but with a .88 percentage, are a still somehow a very dodgy looking team. They were mauled by both the Dogs and Lions and have beaten the bottom four plus the Pies. It’s just like they have had a way easy schedule and are at risk of being unmasked as one of those inflatable airplanes set up in England to trick the Germans before D-Day. Not that GWS are looking to be a top team either; but beating the Giants would be a really good sign and losing to them would be a really bad one.
What it means for the Giants: Going from 8th to 7th if they win, unless they stomp so hard they add over 8 points of percentage – which is very possible. If that happens they go higher. If they lose they get pushed out of the top 8. Also, they would have lost to a team that has not looked very good yet, and it would really bring their qualifications as a finals team into question. As a good one, rather than sneaking into 7-8th a getting knocked out in their first match.
Supercoach Watch:
Essendon: Ridley, the new face of the Bombers. Dev Smith, the annoying spleen of the Bombers. Merrit, and Saad are owned by hardly anyone.
GWS: Almost easier to list who is not relevant! They have Kelly, Perryman, Haynes Whitfield, Tatanto, Coniglio, and Hopper and newly back Zac Willims.
Father Dougal’s Watch: Draper – Last match he looked like the guy who will ruck for the Bombers for the next 10 or so years. No Pressure. Traded in by 2.4% of all teams, implying that there are only about 2.5% of teams left active.
Father Dougal’s Tip: I think the Giants are better than their current record, and the Bombers are worse than theirs, so GWS by 16. It would be really cool if the Boimbers proved me wrong though. After last night I am hoping for yet more close and fun looking footy and not a blowout.
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No late changes
Giants for me. Too many classy players.
I have Kelly, Whitfield and Tatanto in this.
Opponent has Cogs as the last playing POD. 130 or below and I win my cash league matchup. 131 a tie, 132 or above and it’s another close loss (following on from last weeks 2 point devastation).
Only 1 score all season above 130, but his last 3 v the Bombers avg is 131 (138, 154, 102). Couldn’t script it.
Ladder is crazily even and every loss from here spells danger.
Add to that perfect round of tipping (even the 13 point margin!) riding on the Giants win.
Tense game ahead.
I’ve lost track.Was Jacobs named to play tonight?Ive just been on Draftstars and he’s nowhere to be seen but Mumford is listed as playing.
Jacobs is being managed in this game.
Thanks CT,no Bellchambers also
Bellchambers is also being managed.
Draper vs Mumford.
Going to be interesting, get to see what the youngster can do against brute force.
Run him round the ground.
Agree Wighty.
I have Draper on the bench. I gave up my non player ruck because he looks so promising.
I am very afraid.
Feeling your stress already Wighty. Could be a dirty night for our bombers if we play like we have the last few weeks…..
Alex Neal-Bullen has been suspended for four matches for his sling tackle on Will Hamill.
Good message
Agree Wighty, but how does Burgoyne get a fine….not once, but TWICE, and ANB gets 4 weeks. System has to be broken…
anyone know much about o’halloran? predictions?
Runs like a startled gazelle but job security is pretty woeful. Hope he has a good game tonight, but it’s hard to see him playing again in two weeks time
If I recall correctly, I rated him fairly highly going into the 2018 draft, for whatever that’s worth. Not as highly as Walsh/Smith/Rankine/Rozee/King/etc., but the next rung down from that.
He’s a natural midfielder, but, as Chillo noted, his JS (like most GWS rookies) is questionable to say the least.
Not much cash growth from Draper if this continues
Leon Cameron is lucky he isn’t in Victoria. Very average coach.
Damn SC runs slow lately
Zak-thatcher 55 in 30 mins & goes off with concussion
Typical
Phew bench Draper is good
Zerkkk wohooooooooooooooooooooo
But what a trade Rankine to Draper eeek
The Bombers are playing like I expected the Giants to, and the Giants are playing the way I expected the Bombers to.
Thatcher woah!
Zac was pretty good over the pre season
As soon as thatcher went off GWSgo bang bang bang bang
Cmon dev
Ton up
One of the great pleasures of watching AFL is Merrett copping a total Deboering.
I am missing that tonight but I bet Merrett isn’t
And i screwed up getting him in…… There was nowhere on my field to put him tonight.
These byes suck
Its all in the name. Reckon Danger would get four weeks for that????
Yep the berserker is going to be missed Q4.
Cmon Bombers
Redman Is playing so crap tonight, hard to watch
Cmon Zac
Ton up champ
Come on Devon Smith
Ski lift must be broken , all gws downhillers missing tonight.
In 3rd qtr Davis marked, walked over point line & played on around point post. Shouldn’t that be a behind?
like a dogs with a bone, but :
https://twitter.com/AFL/status/1291696242959904769
& gws won by 4 points
Bloodyhell Caldwell move it i need at least 50 from you so you can cash not lose it
Devon Smith!!!! 98*
About bloody time but he left my side a few rounds ago unfortunately.
Ward ,fine for staging!!
if papley deserves one, so does that – should be ashamed
That is bombers season over with that free…both hard at the ball..Mckernan wins it and a hb to team mate
I agree with them fake it for a free… cost essendon the game
disgusting umpiring yet again …
Ward getting a fine? that free kick was not needed………
The only way he would not have got a free is if Mckernan had pulled out of the contest
Hope the soft cock is proud of himself
Get rid of Mckernan and Francis and bombers win.
Do I rage trade Shiel?
Funny not seeing the umps singing the song in the rooms too.
Bombers still coping it for 34 non positive drug tests
Let’s all acknowledge the efforts of Draper was set to kill all of his money making being on 5 at 1/2 time but pulled out a huge 69 point second half to finish on 74
Merrett on 116 at 3/4 time, what happened?