Venue: The ‘G
Time: 1:45pm AEDT
Last time: Essendon 19.10 (124) d Hawthorn 9.11 (65), R1 2023
What it means
Essendon will start its season against arch-rivals Hawthorn for the third time in four seasons and yet again with uncertainty around what each team can hope to achieve. The Bombers bolstered their best 23 with the recruitment of Ben McKay, Todd Goldstein, Jade Gresham and Xavier Duursma but will also hope their host of recent high-end draft picks help team improve.
Hawthorn has suffered a horror run with injury over the pre-season with last year’s club champion Will Day among those set to miss the start of the season. The Hawks have at least addressed concerns in their forward half with the recruitment of Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and Mabior Chol, and return of Jack Gunston, but at this stage have holes to fill in other parts of the ground.
Game shapers
Ben McKay mostly blew hot and cold at the under siege North Melbourne but will need to quickly find greater consistency as a high-priced recruit with a club looking to soar higher. The towering full-back might have started at his new club with a purely defensive role alongside Jordan Ridley until the important Bombers interceptor was struck down by a quad injury, leaving McKay with more to do.
Livewire forward Jack Ginnivan tasted the ultimate success with Collingwood last year but will now need to ensure his career stays on track after moving a few weeks later to a second club. Ginnivan showed all his potential when booting 40 goals in a breakout 2022 but only managed 12 majors in 14 matches last season, and will remain under the microscope as a focal point in a young Hawks side.
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No late changes
Substitutes:
Essendon – Elijah Tsatas
Hawthorn – Finn Maginness
had no idea a green tick next to Tsatas name means he’d be sub… ah well thats what u get for not paying attention
Missed it too. Only game I didn’t check late changes
D’Ambrosio. Wow, wow, wow.
Yup, I’m super glad I took him out at the last minute after having in my team forever.
Could you please hit the target Martin. 12 disposals at 33% DE is not what I want to see!
Hearing Reid is down in the rooms with a suspected injury in the 2nd quarter…..
Potential hamstring injury. Will be looked more at half time.
Don’t tell me both Gibcus and Reid go down this round
What’s the go with Sicily?
He is not near the ball. Hawks arnt looking for him, it is unbelievable. 9pts in a half
Is Nic Martin the worse kick in the league? Definitely has claims on the title
The role is there. He’s getting plenty of the ball, if he improves efficiency he will be a great pick
Half time, for Hawks Sicily only just above the non playing sub- with a score of 8.
Pick premiums and Rookies they said!
Yes- in this game I have Sicily & Reid- at least Reid on bench!
Reid done. “Hamstring awareness”.
Hack!!
Can’t believe I got sucked into Jai Newcomb. What a fake
You and me both. With all these rookie injuries he’s got at least a week to fix up
and me 🙁
So most coaches will have lost 2 injury prone players in this round – Gibcus & Reid (me included). Making me think about changing my Fyfe pick. Not many alternatives is the problem in the forward line.
Need a bit of cash to go Gibcus to Ambrosia next week
Williams is still there.
I think I’ll wait and see how Pink goes at a bare minimum.
Hey guys need some advice asap before giants kick off shortly. Would you go:
TU: greene and burgess
TD: Steele and S.Berry.
Sicily with 43
Nice 1 round price drop coming. Shame it isn’t there for 3 rounds
Nothing we’ve seen in preseason suggests Round 2 will be much better.