Where and when: UTAS Stadium, Sunday 29th August at 3:20pm (AEST)
Last time they met: Round 21, 2021: Essendon 15.7 (97) def Western Bulldogs 12.12 (84) at Marvel Stadium
The Doggies started with a small flurry and held the quarter-time lead but their dominance was short-lived. Under the midfield leadership of Merrett and Parish, and a dominant forward performance by Wright (with 7 goals in a career-best performance), the Dons charged back from 19 points down in the second quarter to hold the half-time lead.
The Dogs again challenged in the third and fourth quarters but Essendon responded each time and held on for a tough win that put them in the box seat for September action.
Last five: Western Bulldogs 2-3, Essendon 3-2
Match Preview: This is shaping up as the most fascinating match of the round with two teams heading in opposite directions. For weeks the Bulldogs were in contention for the minor premiership but they fell in a massive hole and dropped three winnable games in the final month of the regular season. The Bombers have looked shakey early in the season but three late wins saw them sneak into eighth position.
So can struggling teams ‘flick the switch’ and return to form after three straight losses?
I believe some teams can, but not the Western Bulldogs! They are stacked with talent and their midfield racks up possessions like no other team but they have massive structural issues at half-forward and in stifling opposition defenders. In the weeks since Josh Bruce injured himself, the Dogs have been breaking down at half-forward and seem incapable of kicking big scores. At the same time, opponent defenders are racking up touches and providing multiple scoring thrusts.
Unless Bevo can find a way to stop this trend, the Dogs will be enjoying lockdown with the rest of us next week!
Thommo Watch: This is the most exciting the Bombers have looked in years and I am actually enjoying watching the kids like Perkins, Draper and Durham go around. That’s a weird sensation for a Hawks’ fan!
Thommo’s Tip: Essendon by 10 points (tipping record 39.5/67).
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Late change for today’s elimination final.
Zaine Cordy has been replaced in the
Western Bulldogs
selected side by Ryan Gardner.
Medical substitutes
Western Bulldogs
– Josh Schache
Essendon
– Nik Cox
Got any thoughts you would like to share with us all Wighty?…..before you start squashing the grapes.
Chameleon, Its a big day for Dad. He started early going to both the 9.30 and 11am masses. I asked him why he took communion twenty times at both masses and he said it was because he needed forgiveness for what he has prayed would happen to the Doggies. I think it was because they use real wine !!
Dad has since burst through the red and black streamers at the entrance to his cellar, and has opened a box of 69 Grange…12 bottles I might add. I had to stand my ground when he asked me to go and buy a back up supply.
Am I right to be worried about Dad if Bombers lose ??
Wighty, Jam, Bomber. Good luck.
Thanks GD..lets hope luck not needed.
Thanks GD, didn’t go our way today but if you had have said at the start of the year we would play off in an elimination final then I would have laughed at you. So gotta put it in perspective.
Son, I wish you would leave family matters in the cellar.
Chameleon. I’m disappointed Clarke not playing as he could go to Macrae.
I’m very hopeful.
Wighty we all knew you would end up in cellar either way. All the best.
FFs Shiel…dogs best player
three dogs goals from frees the difference.
make that 4
In a wet weather game, these free kicks for goals are a disgrace.
the one to weightman on the boundary for a “push” was outrageous.
Hi people, you’d think the umpiring would get better in the finals. Very inconsistent
Just for those that are worried, Dad is ok…they took him off the drip today.
Casket drip??