Game Chat – Melbourne v Essendon

Written by Motts on April 5 2019

Where and when: MCG, Friday April 5, 7.50pm AEDT

Last time they met: Marvel Stadium, round six, 2018: Essendon 10.12 (72) lost to Melbourne 16.12 (108)

Bayley Fritsch, Charlie Spargo and Mitch Hannan combined for eight goals as Max Gawn ran riot in the ruck. Both sides were coming off short breaks after Anzac Day and Anzac Eve fixtures, but Melbourne got the upper hand early with seven goals to one in the opening term.

What it means for Melbourne: At 0-2, Melbourne’s slow start to the season is worrying. The Demons need to find form and quickly before the season slips away from their grasp.

What it means for Essendon: After a calamitous beginning to the season, the Bombers’ confidence has been severely dented. The pressure is well and truly on coach John Worsfold and his team to deliver. There are no more excuses.

How Melbourne wins: Convert 72 inside 50s into more than six goals. Efficiency going inside 50 will be a key focus area for Melbourne on the training track this week after the drubbing in Geelong.

How Essendon wins: Match Melbourne for contested possessions and limit their effectiveness going inside 50 from a defensive point of view. Their small forwards also need to lift their own rate and start trapping the ball inside 50.

The stat: Melbourne has started the season with a win-loss record of 0-2 36 times in club history. The Demons have only made the finals once (2006) from that position.

The match-up: Max Gawn v Tom Bellchambers

Gawn is ranked at No.7 in the Schick AFL Player Ratings based on his form across the past two seasons, although his latest form is nowhere near comparable to that. Bellchambers, the 10th-ranked ruckman in the AFL, has also struggled in Essendon’s first two games.

It’s a big week for: John Worsfold

The Bombers coach is under a great deal of pressure after his side’s horrendous start to the 2019 season. Getting a win on the board is vital, but rediscovering the brand of football they played at the back-end of last season is the starting point.

Big call: Three goals apiece to Tom McDonald and Sam Weideman to lead the Demons to their first victory of the season.

Mottsy’s Tip: Melbourne by 40

**Our Admin isn’t always online.  If you have access to the SuperCoach scores, the SCT Coaches would be very appreciative if you could pop them into the comments below. Thank you!**

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106 thoughts on “Game Chat – Melbourne v Essendon”

  1. Ridley late in for Myers for the Bombers. No changes for the Dees. Hopefully ppl didn’t trade him out. PA thinks the Dees by 39.

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  2. Re: My previous letter (in Last minute queries)
    CC: Whoosa
    Dear Mr Ridley
    You have one hour remaining. Consider this your final warning! My finger hovers wearily over the trade button…….
    Your Sincerely a frustrated supercoacher

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    1. Re: My previous letter
      CC: Whoosa
      Damn your cunning Mr Ridley!
      Changing your mind as I commented. How very wise of you to be a late in. Till we tussle again
      Your Sincerely a slightly less frustrated supercoacher

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  3. Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaark.

    Went Ridley to Scrimshaw. If Scrimshaw plays at Box Hill, I’m going to……………………………………..

    Do something bad. The cat looks good..shame to wake him up.

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        1. Nothing to worry about Wighty that’s because he was listed on the extended bench. Every player on the extended bench is listed in the VFL teams. Once the teams are finalised then the vfl teams remove the four players who’ve been selected.

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        2. AFL clubs name players from there extended benches on there VFL team sheets so if they don’t get named the friday evening they are all good to play VFL… Scrim was named at 5 oclock in hawks 22 so disregard his name on the boxhill lineup

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  4. I went Ridley to Rozee yesterday, I have no patience. I’ll never forget the Newman scenario when he was a late in on a Sunday.Everybody had him as their loophole captain and were swearing up a storm as they were locked out of everything else. He then went on to score 150+ and eveyone was like whaaaaat?

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    1. Yeah a gave it to a mate for that, but he ended up beating me by about 15 points so I ended up copping it big time

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    2. Lol, hated it so much, think he was in then out a few games and I had enough so I traded him, thinking haha suckers when he was named. Bloody 150 points later lol.

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  5. Friday night poll

    TU – Feel the feels for those who ditched Ridley before final teams.
    TD – Nope. If you don’t follow simple SC rules like waiting for final teams before trading then you need to cop what cometh.

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    1. I held off trading Ridley early. But I’m at work and have had to take a break specifically to check teams and make necessary adjustments. Life would certainly be easier if it were the old 1 lockout per round

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      1. Second that, working had to make the call. Went rozie, wanted someone to get to 300k asap.

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    2. Some of us dont have that luxury ALL week end. Sometimes its “make the trade or miss out”. For whatever reason.

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            1. He’s probably a SC coach which is why he had a cardiac arrest…….he’ll understand……M.

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              1. Its cool roo…. So was my response.
                Had a cardiac arrest myself four years ago. Really shouldnt be here but for teo fireys on the tram.

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  6. Is hore to Burgess worth a trade?
    T/u yes
    T/d no
    Last second thoughts! Opens up DPP with Moore. Thanks guys

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    1. 23 at full time…. should drop in price nicely. I’ll be watching his form over the next few weeks with great interest.

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  7. I dont barrack for either team these umpires are totally shhhhhhhiiiiittttt riuned what was once a great game

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    1. I don’t like bagging on the umpires either but when did ‘any contact’ equal ‘illegal contact’. Some of these frees……fair dinkum………

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      1. I love my footy but if this no contact rule continues the game is stuffed. Old timers would be having a chuckle.

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    2. Correction: The umps made an ugly game even uglier in the first quarter. Some AMT class improved matters slightly!

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    1. he’s back to getting some ‘nice’favourite scores from CD it seems already … not really sure he has ‘truly earnt’ his score thus far … but sitting on 35 already with 2 kicks and 7 HBs at only 66% DE … 6CP’s – not sure he has actually got all of those stats though …

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  8. Petracca seriously needs to reinvent himself, he just looks too bulky and slow. What’s his ideal position?

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        1. Thinking the same thing, the stings gone out and the games come back to him.Bombers with 2 injured on the bench. Uphill struggle from here. Hmmmm, anyone else you want me to put the anti-moz on?

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  9. Zac Clarke – couple of useless plays there costing bombers … ignored two unmarked players and missed shot, then gets outmarked in def by someone half his size not really trying to mark the ball at all – two goal turn around just from him!! Get the big hook out and get him off!!

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  10. VC on big Maxy is looking like paying off. Have had some poor luck with captaincy picks the last two weeks (not horrible, just middle of the road) but hopefully the big fella can make up for it.

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  11. Half Time scores:

    Demons 61 lead Bombers 54
    Melbourne Demons: 10.1.61
    Max Gawn  78
    Angus Brayshaw 59
    Christian Petracca 53
    Christian Salem 47
    Joshua Wagner 47
    Clayton Oliver 46
    Jack Viney  44
    Corey Wagner 44
    James Harmes 43
    Jayden Hunt  41
    Jay Lockhart 38
    Jake Melksham 37
    Sam Frost 36
    Alex Neal-Bullen +4 35
    Nathan Jones 31
    Sam Weideman 31
    Neville Jetta 28
    Michael Hibberd 27
    Bayley Fritsch  26
    Kade Kolodjashnij  25
    Tom McDonald 19
    Oscar McDonald  11

    Essendon Bombers: 8.6.54
    Conor McKenna 67
    Zach Merrett 61
    Shaun McKernan* 57
    Dyson Heppell 56
    Orazio Fantasia 55
    A. M-Tipungwuti 54
    Darcy Parish 48
    Dylan Shiel 47
    David Zaharakis 46
    Jake Stringer 36
    Patrick Ambrose +3 35
    Matt Guelfi 35
    Zac Clarke 33
    Jordan Ridley 33
    Aaron Francis 31
    Michael Hurley 30
    Adam Saad 28
    Devon Smith 26
    Andrew McGrath 24
    Tom Bellchambers 21
    Mark Baguley 21
    Kobe Mutch 1

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  12. Just a lazy 81 for SuperMax in the first half, he’s baaaack

    The downward spiral continues for Zerrett, only 61 at halftime…

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    1. Poor kid……washed up at 23……never a chance again to regain that old form…..ever……

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    2. Hey Chillo, is that a joke? 61 a half could be 122 for the game, not bad..But if the bombers come back Zerrett should lift. Just worried about these 3 injuries

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  13. I know he’s had a couple of clangers, but Shiel has been Bombers best by far. Harsh scoring by CD I reckon

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  14. Watching the game on TV and Tippa is on fire!!!
    And I’m a Dees fan. What he is doing tonight is incredible to see!

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  15. 3 Qtr time scores
    Bombers Lead 96 to 75

    Melbourne Demons: 12.3.75
    Max Gawn 93
    Angus Brayshaw 85
    Clayton Oliver 73
    Christian Petracca 67
    Christian Salem 65
    Jack Viney 63
    Bayley Fritsch 63
    Joshua Wagner 61
    Jayden Hunt 59
    Sam Weideman 59
    Corey Wagner 55
    Sam Frost 55
    Neville Jetta 55
    James Harmes 53
    Nathan Jones 49
    Jake Melksham 43
    Jay Lockhart 41
    Alex Neal-Bullen 38
    Kade Kolodjashnij 29
    Michael Hibberd 25
    Tom McDonald 24
    Oscar McDonald 22

    Essendon Bombers: 15.6.96
    Dyson Heppell 112
    Conor McKenna 95
    David Zaharakis 89
    Zach Merrett 87
    A. M-Tipungwuti 81
    Devon Smith 78
    Orazio Fantasia 74
    Shaun McKernan* 72
    Darcy Parish 70
    Dylan Shiel 68
    Jake Stringer 59
    Mark Baguley 58
    Aaron Francis 56
    Andrew McGrath 52
    Michael Hurley 51
    Jordan Ridley 45
    Patrick Ambrose 44
    Matt Guelfi 40
    Zac Clarke 38
    Adam Saad 37
    Tom Bellchambers 31

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    1. Back to the draft. At least Hawks, Geelong & Sydney have shown that early picks are the key to ongoing success.

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  16. dodgy scoring happening ATM – watching lives scores through FF Oliver on 93 and free against – his score has remained on 93 even though is showed -3 … suss!!

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    1. now dropped to 92 … hmmm

      Must say, even though a bombers fan, some very suspect umpiring in this game … both ways, but think bombers have gotten the better of the calls …

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      1. That was one of the worst umpiring performances i have ever seen, ever and who do they answer to , nobody, disgraceful.
        No i don’t barrack for melb.

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  17. FT scores Bombers defeat Demons 130 to 112
    scores below before scaling …

    Essendon Bombers: 20.10.130
    David Zaharakis 132
    Dyson Heppell 126
    Zach Merrett 117
    Darcy Parish 110
    Conor McKenna 106
    Shaun McKernan* 103
    A. M-Tipungwuti 102
    Devon Smith 101
    Orazio Fantasia 97
    Dylan Shiel 92
    Jake Stringer 90
    Andrew McGrath 87
    Jordan Ridley 65
    Aaron Francis 65
    Mark Baguley 61
    Michael Hurley 59
    Adam Saad 54
    Zac Clarke 50
    Patrick Ambrose 50
    Matt Guelfi 49
    Tom Bellchambers 47

    Melbourne Demons: 18.4.112
    Max Gawn 128
    Angus Brayshaw 105
    Clayton Oliver 94
    Sam Weideman 86
    Christian Salem 83
    James Harmes 82
    Jack Viney 82
    Jayden Hunt 79
    Bayley Fritsch 75
    Christian Petracca 75
    Joshua Wagner 71
    Neville Jetta 71
    Corey Wagner 68
    Nathan Jones 67
    Jake Melksham 59
    Sam Frost 59
    Jay Lockhart 57
    Kade Kolodjashnij 56
    Alex Neal-Bullen 40
    Michael Hibberd 35
    Oscar McDonald 29
    Tom McDonald 26

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  18. Can Melbourne supporters please enlighten me………… Petracca looks great when Melbourne get going, but he goes missing for large chunks of the game. Why does he never get a run in the middle? If only for a few minutes?

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    1. he is a hard nut for sure , pretty reliable with ball in hand & reads the play well , but you need very good peripheral vision of whats around you to play in the middle , otherwise you just get cleaned up all the time ,
      he seems to me ( personal opinion ) to be more of an old school , straight line player , which would lead me to believe he would have more of a tunnel vision type of awareness

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    2. petracca has tools to play forward better than many of his midfield teammates. Hence his lack of midfield time.

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  19. Who was the person who continuously said Merrett was a bad supercoach selection? Was tagged for 3 quarters and still managed 26 touches, 7 tackles and 12o points.

    Stop doubting him ……

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    1. probably me mate , he’s just like dusty , looks great when the team is on but couldn’t be bothered when he has to earn his money

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    2. Apparently I should stop pumping him up because he’s on a downward trajectory and no longer SC relevant.
      It’s easy to be chirpy when he just scored 120………..all I’m saying is…….he’s still only 23 years old and has already been a Top8 MID over two seasons (and a Top10 scorer overall to highlight his durability). He still has plenty of good football left in him and it would be extremely short-sighted to dismiss him completely for the next 5-8 years.
      Watching the game, he barely got out of a jog, looks like the ankle is still troubling him, still working his way to full fitness……

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      1. He’s a ball magnet and will always just do his thing. 110 player when fit.

        Despite his Rd1 score, I still wish I started him.

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      2. 100% agree. Im even more talking from a supercoach perspective than a real life point of view as well. When in comes to his actual performance i still think he has a lot of things to improve to ensure that he fully impacts a game.

        Was in my team for alot of the pre season however i had to squeeze him out to fit Neale in. But he will be an upgrade target for sure once his fully fit.

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  20. What’s the bet Steve Hocking comes out and does a victory lap tomorrow after tonight’s high-scoring match, claiming credit for it? “How great are my new rules!!!???”

    So, I thought I’d get this out there first: I’ll grant that 6-6-6 meant we got a few more goals late in the 4th than we otherwise might have, but it was a high-scoring game all night – and the new rules had nothing to do with that. That was down to both coaches pursuing fast, attacking gameplans. Just like the low scores in most of the other games this year were due to the coaches playing defensive gameplans.

    It’s all or nothing, Steve: you either claim credit for ALL the scorelines, high and low, or you admit you had nothing to do with ANY of them.

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    1. Every bad decision the AFL have made over the past couple of years has Steve Hockings name attached to it.

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    2. To his credit, I think there seems to be better flow, more one on one, less congestions, when some teams used to kill the game and ball in srums. Would love to see the stats on that.

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      1. definitely agree – there is far more quick exits out of centre bounces and many more incidences of back to back goals (for either team) as the congested centre square is no longer there … blind freddy can see there is some impact and freeing up of space and players …

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        1. Well, call me blind, because I can’t see it. The centre bounces were haven’t been congested since they brought in the centre square in the 70s.

          It’s true that scores from centre bounces are up slightly on last year, but with scoring down overall, that just means that scores from general play are down even more than it first seemed.

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