Game Chat – West Coast v Essendon

Written by Gunboat Diplomacy on February 27 2020

Where and when: Mineral Resources Park, Thursday 27 February, 7.40pm AEDT

Watchlist:

Tim KELLY (WCE) MID @ $561,800

Will slot right into the Eagles’ midfield with ruck service from Nic Nat, defensive cover from Yeo and Hutchings and direction from Shuey. A must watch having increased his SC output by +10.3 in his second year – only up from there!

Jarrod BRANDER (WCE) DEF/FWD @ $133,000

Slated to play as a wingman after an impressive pre-season. Bulked up and standing 196cm, he could be in line for some early games given the Eagles’ preference for talls.

Jacob TOWNSEND (ESS) FWD @ $222,900

Could be an interesting pick to avoid fielding a low-scoring FWD rookie. Track his output.

Andrew MCGRATH (ESS) MID @ $399,400

Perhaps the biggest breakout tease in recent years. Has always been held back by inconsistency with regard to role and low TOG. Showed signs in the back-end of 2019, take a flyer.

Devon SMITH (ESS) FWD/MID @ $335,800

A very popular F3 pick over the pre-season. Selection comes down to whether he’s back in the guts as the league’s #1 tackler or floating around HF like he did prior to his injury.

Notable Absentees: Joe DANIHER (ESS), Adam SAAD (ESS), Jack DARLING (WCE).

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42 thoughts on “Game Chat – West Coast v Essendon”

  1. Thirty years or more ago (trying to hide my age !!), as a mad bombers fan, I rang my brother in Sydney after a pre-season game and told him I had seen bombers next brownlow medallist…Gavin Wanganeen hadn’t even played a senior game.
    Watch this Jones boy….no 23…surely Joe Daniher’s younger brother !!

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    1. Just like i predicted Gumbleton would be the next lloyd…
      I’m 100% positive you couldn’t be as far off as that call lol.

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  2. Hmmm, the rookie drought continues. Wonder if this means downgrade targets will be hard to find during the season.

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      1. To be honest Tigers fans were a bit too. Despite the premiership heroics.

        Tigers wanted him to add some muscle to their midfield.
        He moved to the Tigers in 2016 and couldn’t cement his spot in the midfield.
        2017 replaced Riewolt when Jack got an eye injury and came in and kicked two bags of 6 and 5 while playing full forward then 5 more in the finals, this was despite winning the VFL Liston medal playing in the midfield.

        I think he is a Josh Caddy-lite.

        You know the bomber midfield better than I would, do you think he’ll play inside mid there?

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  3. Maybe Smith is going to play all forward this game, mid half next game, then all mid next game as part of his recovery program….and thus they change their name to the Porkers LOL

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  4. With backline uncertainty :
    – Hooker out
    – Hurley ops
    – Francis potential over performance
    – Z-T getting a go
    Was hoping to find a intercept / sweeper SC scoring gem.

    Turns out… not Essendon’s style…

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  5. Just before anyone gets excited by Jordan Ridley’s performance:

    Last year, he posted 97 and 94 in his two JLT games. He went on to average 66 from 6 games in the actual home-and-away season.

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    1. From an essendon supporter, last year he should have been played more, just gets it done.
      Wasn’t sure how he would go this year but looks VERY promising.

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        1. Another perennial breakout player, poor DE. I think he can get to 105-108 but not this season.
          He hit a purple patch last season over about 5 games. outside of that not much to go on other than more mid minutes? But Heppell comes back. I’d avoid this year until he shows something.

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            1. Well he’s not best 22 to start with. (i personally think he should be) But at his price to much of a risk that he might be dropped, upgrade only.

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