WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday, 7:50pm AEST
SUMMARY
Essendon’s loss to Hawthorn last week has all but ended its finals hopes. The Bombers played well against the Hawks in patches but couldn’t quite catch them despite a final-quarter run of goals. They now need to win their final three games – starting with St Kilda on Friday night at Etihad Stadium – and hope other teams contending for the top eight drop some games if they are to sneak into the finals. John Worsfold’s side will rue its start to the season, which looks set to cost it a September berth, but will be expected to comfortably beat the Saints. The Saints got off to a hot start last week against the Western Bulldogs and led by 28 points in the second quarter before falling away to a 35-point loss. Seb Ross was excellent with 40 disposals and three goals, while Jack Billings kicked 1.3 from 27 disposals to get back to some of his better form.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
R17, 2017, Essendon 17.16 (118) d St Kilda 7.15 (57) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2016, St Kilda 17.7 (109) d Essendon 14.14 (98) at Etihad Stadium
R9, 2016, St Kilda 16.13 (109) d Essendon 9.9 (63) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2015, St Kilda 25.12 (162) d Essendon 8.4 (52) at Etihad Stadium
R5, 2015, Essendon 11.16 (82) d St Kilda 11.14 (80) at Etihad Stadium
FD’s Tip: Essendon by 18 points.

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NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Mark Baguley, Dyson Heppell
St Kilda: Blake Acres, Nathan Freeman, David Armitage, Ben Paton
VC
Titch, due to a quiet one? T/U
Danger, set to explode? T/D
3 Friday nights for bombers to finish…reckon afl spewing about goddard’s overstepping
whats going on with Howe
concussion
corke
broken leg
got 1 trade left & he’s killn me
if he’s com’n back next week I can trade Mirra to Kennedy for a def / mid swing with Brayshaw
if not , its a str8 trade to Selwood
arrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggg …
have we seen another reason for send off rule ? thug brown…never could get a kick
was a perfect hip n shoulder , was just late , probably 1 week ..
late ? it was a calculated dog act from a third string player…saad was entitled to not expect that….3-4 given the result
brown on 4 sc at half time…making his ex team mate zac dawson look a gun
Agreed wighty a rediculous hit from a non talent. 3-4 weeks.
Probably the best thing for him anyway won’t have to play with the rest of the crabs for 5 months
Typical… the week I bring in Gresham in Fantasy is the week he goes back to playing deep forward.
FUAR
Is that the Bombers with both Saad and Goddard not returning? Will be able to tune in mid 2nd Qtr.
Hurley playn the worst game of his career ..
Billings kickn back with a lattte that Q ..
how crap r the Saints , 19 v 22 n they’re gettn pumped ..
Hooker might get sighted after the game for those 2 punches ..
geez Billings is lazy ..
Friday night VFL blockbuster ..
Enjoying the game pj ?
my 2nd Friday night off work this year & the second dud game to watch ..
this is a real eye opener in regards to the saints coaching staff ,
Richo clearly has no idea , sitting on his hands the whole game ,
with billings on the wing just watching since 1/4 time ,
why wouldn’t Richo try him in the middle ,
could have rotated 1/2 the team through the middle , on & off the bench n run the Bomers players ragged ,
hardly made a positional change all game ,
would be very disappointed if I was a Saints supporter ..
FULL TIME
DONS 122 vs SAINTS 79
DONS
D.Heppell 139
D.Myers 133
A.McDonald-Tipungwuti 127
Z.Merrett 120
C.McKenna 113
A.McGrath 110
D.Smith 105
K.Langford 103
D.Parish 97
A.Francis 86
O.Fantasia 85
M.Hurley 72
J.Stringer 71
D.Zaharakis 70
T.Bellchambers 62
M.Baguley 56
M.Brown 55
T.Colyer 45
B.McNiece 42
C.Hooker 38
B.Goddard 9
A.Saad 7
SAINTS
S.Ross 153
J.Steele 128
J.Billings 107
D.Armitage 102
L.Pierce 98
N.Freeman 84
R.Marshall 78
B.Acres 77
J.Steven 73
T.Membrey 69
J.Lonie 66
J.Carlisle 64
J.Geary 63
J.Sinclair 62
J.Gresham 57
D.McKenzie 56
J.Webster 54
J.Newnes 51
B.Long 44
B.Paton 33
B.Rice 24
N.Brown 11
I set up the loophole with Hurley emergency using heron as my donut.
Do I:
TU: keep Hurley’s 72
TD: roll the dice with Luke Ryan
Zach Merrett with 120 tonight just keeps delivering the Tons after it took some controlled restraint earlier in the year not to Rage Trade him.
Further confirmation of not trading guns sideways…they are guns for a reason. I considered trading him too, but wouldnt have that one precious trade left if I make the GF, and after getting Lloyd next week.
Another disappointing performance from Webster and he has just about been my worst selection of the year.
Selected him in Rd17 as a D7 using my last trade and since then he has scored 79,0,0,70 and 54 which includes 2 donuts as I also have Sicily.
Could have selected A Witherden instead who has scored 94,131,73,78 in the past month and I would have avoided 2 donuts.
Anyone reckon Carlisle is happy with his change of teams?
He should have picked Carlton (although I’m rather glad he didn’t).
I’m a bombers fan…..def not unhappy about it….he’s a tool in lots of ways.
Managed to get to my first AFL in many years and it was a cracker! Sat next to a kiwi bloke for the game and he didn’t know a single thing about the game! Taught him the game and then got him to support the home crowd. Surprisingly more passionate than many other supporters and he still had no idea what was happening. Was a great night!
The end for BJ ?
Well bombers fans should be pleased if it is.
We are RUBBISH. And with Hannebery deal all but done apparently, giving up pick 4 in the protracted trade, it looks like a few more years in the doldrums at least.
Very depressing.
Joey Montagna doesn’t rate a single player on our list as being even near elite potential. Reckons they all rate themselves highly though!
Where do you start? Richo for one. And ffs don’t do the Hannebery deal.
Was warned that Lethlean would likely destroy us. Looks like that’s playing out to a T.
Rant over 🙂
Nice rant and all valid points. You really need a new coach…
Why did you guys get Lethlean in? I never liked him when he was at the AFL (although his replacement in Hocking is even worse). I don’t know what it was about him… I guess he always just came across as a dickhead.
Also, pick 4 is way too much for Hannebery. At this stage in his career he might be worth a late first-rounder, but not #4.