WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday, April 29, 1.10pm AEST
SUMMARY: Crunch time has arrived early for Essendon and Melbourne. One of these two much-hyped sides will have a 2-4 record by the end of Sunday’s match – and it’s a long way back from there. They’ve had a series of close matches in recent years, and the Bombers led at half-time in their most recent clash in round six last year before Joe Daniher’s one goal from seven scoring shots came back to haunt them. A year on and Daniher’s ascension to stardom has hit a road block, so he will have plenty of motivation against the Demons. Oscar McDonald, who has been in good form for the past fortnight, looms as the big Don’s opponent. The short turnaround for both teams means we will likely see multiple changes, but the midfield battle – as usual – is where this will be won. Tom Bellchambers’ ability to dull Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn’s influence will go a long way to deciding it.
LAST FIVE TIMES:
R6, 2017: Melbourne 17.10 (112) d Essendon 10.14 (74) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2016: Essendon 11.14 (80) d Melbourne 10.7 (67) at the MCG
R15, 2015: Essendon 10.9 (69) d Melbourne 7.18 (60) at the MCG
R13, 2014: Melbourne 12.6 (78) d Essendon 10.17 (77) at the MCG
R2, 2013: Essendon 28.16 (184) d Melbourne 5.6 (36) at the MCG
Father Dougal’s Tip: I have no logical reason to prefer the Demons, so I admit my gut is making this pick. Melbourne by 8
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Essendon v Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, 1.10pm AEST
NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Zach Merrett, Jake Stringer, Matt Guelfi, Ben McNiece
Melbourne: James Harmes, Charlie Spargo, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince
VC on Titch but I’m going to risk it (annoyed I took it off Cripps last minute)
TU – Gawn
TD – Fyfe
Comment – Dusty
I’d play safe with Titch, 126 is not a bad effort. If you pick someone that has an off day you’ll be even more upset..
Same boat with a close game. Gawn should destroy Bellchambers, but thinking of waiting to see how this game goes before choosing between Fyfe and Martin as captain (but my VC only scored 93)
I’m with u Dan, had the vc on Titch, did have Capt on Fyfe, but wtf, i’ll have a crack at Gawn i think
Ended up taking Gawn, and glad I went with my gut not taking Titch.
Good to see mcneice in the side!
Field Guelfi at F6;- TU
Field Fritsch at F6;- TD
I have to field both
same
Mitchell 126 or Gawn as C??
Last minute change of captain shenanigans. Ended up on Gawn to try and sync my teams with Father in the Contributors League to try and steal an unlikely victory. Our projected scores are now the same. Fingers crossed!!
I realized that with you having Banfield, Guelfi and Fritsch on field, I care more about their prices rising then I do out match. Pulling for them all to score well. Of course Guelfi and Fritsch missed their set shots!
I sure hope Gawn as captain pays off for both of us!
Will be interesting to see if Nank and Walters can outscore Banfield, Guelfi and Fritsch
Father, you’re 21st overall and I’m in contention in our H2H. I’m super stoked. Go us!!!
Anyone got a Maxxy Gawn HT score update? Cheers!
He’s at 60 I think.
VC on him, needs at least 130 to take it over Fyfe me thinks
How about Spargo for his first game, nice to see a good forward rookie this season for a change. I missed the Guelfi boat, maybe this is one for me.
Kobe Mutch looks a good one also. He’s been very consistent in the VFL, so hopefully he gets a decent run at it
HALF TIME |
Essendon 5.7.37 vs Melbourne 4.7.31
ESSENDON:
D.Zaharakis 79
D.Parish 58
M.Hurley 51
D.Heppell 51
M.Leuenberger 50
D.Smith 50
A.McGrath 50
Z.Merrett 49
C.Hooker 48
J.Laverde 47
K.Mutch 43
M.Baguley 42
B.McNiece 42
B.Goddard 41
J.Stringer 41
J.Stewart 33
P.Ambrose 30
M.Guelfi 27
J.Merrett 25
J.Daniher 23
A.Saad 22
A.McDonald-Tipungwuti
MELBOURNE:
M.Gawn 60
J.Harmes 52
M.Hibberd 52
C.Spargo 50
T.McDonald 47
M.Hannan 45
C.Oliver 39
C.Salem 35
J.Hunt 34
N.Jetta 33
A.Brayshaw 32
B.Fritsch 32
J.Lewis 31
B.Vince 31
D.Tyson 28
N.Jones 27
J.Melksham 26
O.McDonald 26
A.Neal-Bullen 16
S.Weideman 13
J.Hogan 8
J.Lever 8
This is my first good look at Hibberd and yes it does seem like his role has changed being more of a lockdown defender rather than providing run off the half back. Still uses the ball pretty well whilst taking a few intercept marks. Has done little up to date to be on 52 which is nice. We’ll see how the 2nd half goes
Gawn on 96, Q3, 19min. Looking good 😉
Please stop Maxy – decided to bank T Mitchells 126 VC score instead of taking the risk on captaining Gawn.
Come on mate dont be selfish 🙂
That’s a good decision even if it does not work out. There is a lot of downside to giving up a score that good.
Spargo could be a down grade option in a few weeks.
M/F and $117 000
61 at 3/4 time.
Gawn 136 end of 3rd quarter.. big 75 point qtr. Hopefully anoyher!
Today will forever be referred to as The Gawn Switch. Love him and his stupid hipster beard.
134 revised. Disappointing 😉
Disgusting!! Haha
MASSIVE! Sorry Fyfe your not my captain anymore.
Fritsch 65
Guelfi 46
Q3 scores: you doing them Nato or do you want me to?
Doing housework so doing them when I have the chance. You can do them I don’t mind
THREE QUARTER TIME |
Essendon 6.9.45 vs Melbourne 11.10.76
ESSENDON:
D.Zaharakis 91
M.Hurley 89
Z.Merrett 89
D.Smith 79
D.Heppell 74
C.Hooker 70
D.Parish 66
J.Stringer 63
B.Goddard 62
M.Leuenberger 57
J.Laverde 56
A.McGrath 55
M.Baguley 52
B.McNiece 51
P.Ambrose 50
K.Mutch 50
M.Guelfi 46
J.Stewart 45
A.McDonald-Tipungwuti 28
A.Saad 27
J.Daniher 27
J.Merrett 26
MELBOURNE:
M.Gawn 134
J.Harmes 84
M.Hannan 78
T.McDonald 69
C.Oliver 67
B.Fritsch 65
M.Hibberd 64
C.Spargo 64
J.Melksham 63
A.Brayshaw 61
N.Jetta 55
B.Vince 51
N.Jones 49
J.Hunt 49
C.Salem 46
D.Tyson 46
J.Lewis 44
O.McDonald 42
J.Hogan 25
A.Neal-Bullen 24
J.Lever 24
S.Weideman 17
Thanks crew and Natopotato88, I changed the C from Fyfe to Gawn on your advice and I am laughing.
you certainly are. Am grateful I got home two minutes too late to put the C on Titch yesterday!!
Can’t watch as I’m out with the kids. Does Spargo look as good as his stats?!?
Watched the game, Spargo was good and very comfortable on the ball. He didn’t look like a first gamer at all. Mainly handballed but Very encouraging
Free to good home…j daniher.
Zerrett looking good for a 100+. If you brought him in, well played, another low BE awaits …
Guelfi doing nothing for a while now … disappointing last quarter and a bit thus far … score has gone nowhere …
Going to be the round of “those who captained Big Maxie, and those who did not”!! (i’m in the not group sadly!)
Anyone thinking of bringing in hibberd..?
M Gawn:
Hitouts: 42
Hitouts to Advantage: 23
and Gawn didn’t play in the ruck (Weideman) for the last ten minutes!!
Phenomenal
I have gawn and very pleased….happy with c on cripps…..now…max was up against…oh yes….LEUNBERGER !!
FULL TIME
Essendon 10.12 72
Melbourne 16.12 108
Essendon
D.Zaharakis 121
Z.Merrett 111
D.Smith 109
M.Hurley 104
D.Parish 92
D.Heppell 89
B.Goddard 87
C.Hooker 84
J.Stringer 81
M.Leuenberger 76
J.Laverde 75
P.Ambrose 74
B.McNiece 67
K.Mutch 66
A.McGrath 65
M.Baguley 64
M.Guelfi 62
J.Stewart 59
A.Saad 44
A.McDonald-Tipungwuti 42
J.Daniher 39
J.Merrett 35
Melbourne
M.Gawn 168
M.Hannan 110
J.Harmes 103
M.Hibberd 96
B.Fritsch 90
C.Oliver 90
T.McDonald 86
J.Melksham 85
C.Spargo 80
N.Jetta 78
A.Brayshaw 78
C.Salem 75
N.Jones 71
B.Vince 67
J.Lewis 66
D.Tyson 58
J.Hunt 56
O.McDonald 55
A.Neal-Bullen 41
J.Lever 37
J.Hogan 35
S.Weideman 31
B.Fritsch 90 nice. Times like these your glad of a sheet fwd line!
boOom. Might make 2400 for the first time EVER!
and how good/comfortable was Fritsch after a rest?!
Good stuff. On the field for me for Toby Greene too 🙂
Boom. There goes my C on big maxy, and the Buddy to Zerrett Swap paid off.
Pity about Holman and Hogan punching out two disaster scores.