Where and when: Marvel Stadium, Saturday, August 3, 1.45pm AEST
What it means for Essendon: The Bombers have won five on the bounce and look destined for finals action. They escaped the Gold Coast with a 10-point win last week and could all but secure a top-eight place with victory.
What it means for Port Adelaide: This is the last-chance saloon for Ken Hinkley’s side which must win to stay alive in the finals race. Port once again failed to deliver when it mattered last week – losing to GWS by one point. If Robbie Gray and co. can mastermind a victory, September will somehow remain within reach.
The stat: Port Adelaide does not hold the happiest of memories against Essendon at Marvel Stadium. The sides opened the Docklands ground back in March, 2000, with the Power suffering a 94-point thrashing. Their recent history isn’t much better either, losing their past two by an average of 46 points at the venue.
The match-up: Scott Lycett v Zac Clarke.
Port’s best chance of claiming a scalp rests on the broad shoulders of key ruck Scott Lycett. His counterpart Zac Clarke has improved slightly over recent weeks, but will face perhaps his toughest test to date this round. With Lycett likely to give Port first use, Essendon may find itself on the back foot.
It’s a big week for: Travis Boak. The Power’s ex-captain has led by example all season, culminating in a 40-disposal effort last week. Boak has averaged 32.4 disposals per game this season, sitting only behind Collingwood’s Adam Treloar. The tough inside midfielder is also the Power’s leading clearance player and will need to continue in such a vein if their season is to stay alive.
Big call: Dylan Clarke to blanket Trav Boak completely nullifying his influence and restricting him to 65 SC points.
Mottsy’s Tip: Essendon by 25 points.
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LATE CHANGES
Essendon: Shaun McKernan (illness) replaced in selected side by Michael Hartley
Port Adelaide: Nil
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Kyle Langford, Marty Gleeson, Orazio Fantasia, Matt Guelfi
Port Adelaide: Sam Powell-Pepper, Michael Broadbent, Peter Ladhams, Cam Sutcliffe
Who to loophole with Hawkins?
Heeney (Cause he’s been up and down) T/U
Boak since he will cop the Clarke tag T/D
Tough one and would lean towards Heeney due to the variance in his scores but Boak might be an astute benching potentially providing an advantage if Hawkins fires.
Did you trade in Hawkins last week or this round?
This round. I’ve had my eye on him for a while and wanted to see a clear return to form before I pulled the trigger.
Good luck. If I had less cash lying around/more trades I would have grabbed him at some stage between Rd18-20. Used my last 2 trades just before to grab Marshall and Langlands replacing Clarke and Setterfield.
FFS – Hinkley has no effing clue does he … Gray named at FF centre …. what a complete tool … probably his best contested mid and he wastes him at FF …
looks like I’ll be taking whatever Setters gets against WCE tomorrow …
The team line-ups selected don’t have much bearing as usually players are listed out of position for several clubs when teams are released.
Gray was moved in the line ups from HF to FF … think he starts there again, based on what has occurred previously … they have further limited their options by dropping Lycett and having Ryder play ruck … which means they need Gray’s help more in the forwards
Gray and Rozee are listed as FF and CHF in comparison to Dixon and Marshall being named in the pockets with the likely setup for the game to be the opposite of which is listed.
Fox just flashed up Port team lists quickly – had Gray in the roving line (followers) … fingers crossed that’s where he plays!! hopefully they show where he is on the TV before the bounce …
nup as per the team sheet – R Gray starting at FF in the goal square … FFS Hinkley!
probably carrying injuries
Mottsy – I like you … but you’re stretching the friendship with the D Clarke prediction ….
How about we change it to “Clarke and Boak both shake hands and agree to score about 100 SC each and call it a fair deal …”…. or something similar??? Sounds much better!!!
Lycett Replacement:
T/U: Daniel
T/D: Green
Comment a strong opinion on someone else, open to being swayed
Daniel far more consistent and will still be improving after his injury absence imo.
Should I bother set up a loop-hole for Boak/Chol? Thinking a tagged Boak will still score more around Chol’s average, then again there’s a chance Chol pops off v Melbourne.
Thoughts?
Boak usually scores well with a tag. I’m still loopholing to be sure…
Yeah, I’ve now benched and E’d him to be safe. Will take anything over a 60 though.
if you have Gray, I’d be loopholing him rather than Boak … only scored mid 80’s last week with three goals boosting his score … playing too much forward time again to score well sadly …
I don’t have Gray but close friend Heeney told me he’d be playing more midfield this week. I’m expecting 139 even tho he’s torn an ankle ligament.
Lol. Love your confidence, TR. I’m a broken man after Cunnington’s 65. Resisted the urge to switch that second “n” to a “t”…
T/u. Chol out for duncan. Field setterfield.
T/d. Setterfield out for treloar, field Chol
Boak will score 90
Got the E on Snelling. If he puts up a solid ton I might loophole him for Cripps (Hutchings) or Sloane (Steele).
Snelling just bagged two!!!
Huzzah!
Alright. Assuming Snelling keeps this up, who comes off for him:
T.U: Sloane v Steele tag
T.D: Cripps v Hutchings tag
Nvm, Hutchings isn’t playing.
Sloane might go huge since Adelaide are a proud club. Cripps will probably be blanketed by Yeo.
Snelling have a great game! look at him go two goals
Is parish done for the day?
Concussion test, no word though. Should come back on.
The radio said Butters is done for the day but haven’t mentioned Parish other than the concusion test.
Come D.Clarke i got ya on the field and my bench players are scoring better than you
Is anyone having trouble with fan footy SuperCoach sores? I can see the website and the scores but can’t get it to sort by sc. it appears the touch screen is disabled.
Works fine on the website
Forgot to mention I’m looking at it from an iPhone and not a pc.
On android its working i can see the SC scores!
I can see the sores. I can’t get them to list highest to lowest by touching the bolded SC text. I was wondering if others were having trouble with it.
Is there any way i can loophole one of my bench players and not take D Clarke score??
Clarke to be dropped next week. Tag no longer of utility- not to mention he just kicked it backwards.
Sold if he drop i can sell him for prem mid