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Adelaide delivered Essendon a 112-point smashing on Saturday afternoon, kicking twelve unanswered goals after a reasonably competitive start from the Bombers.
>>MATCH REPORT: Crows rout sorry Bombers
The result continues to heap doubt on the future of James Hird’s career as Essendon senior coach while also strengthening Adelaide’s chances of playing finals footy.
Essendon 8.11.59 def. by Adelaide 27.9.171
The Essendon Bombers desperately need a win to relieve the pressure on their embattled coach, but the Adelaide Crows have a spot in the finals in their sights. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 1:45pm (AEST).
It’s been a difficult three years for Essendon, but while the last two seasons have been plagued by off-field issues, 2015’s problems have all occurred on the park.
At five wins and 13 losses, the Bombers are mired in the bottom four, with a full game and percentage between them and 14th placed Melbourne.
The last fortnight has been particularly painful for Dons fans. After an encouraging 13-point loss to Port Adelaide, the club suffered an 87-point obliteration at the hands of the Western Bulldogs, before being comprehensively defeated by a Giants side playing well below their best.
The Bombers have lost nine of their past 10 matches, including the last four in a row. If they want to help out their beleaguered coach James Hird, they need to turn it around quickly.
After a 52-point loss to the Sydney Swans a fortnight ago, many suggested the emotional toll of this season’s tragic events had caught up with Adelaide.
But while the weight of Phil Walsh’s untimely passing will stick with this playing group forever, last week they put in an inspiring performance to down the white-hot Richmond Tigers by 36 points.
The Crows are a mere 0.1 percentage points out of the top eight, and the likelihood of their Round 23 clash with Geelong becoming an early elimination final grows with every week.
Essendon have won three of the last five clashes between these sides, and the Crows haven’t defeated the Bombers at Etihad Stadium since 2009.
The Bombers could welcome back key players Michael Hurley and David Myers from injury, but changes need to be made to the side after another inept performance.
Jackson Merrett, Elliot Kavanagh and Kyle Hardingham were named best on-field in Essendon’s 32-point VFL win over Collingwood, with at least one primed to replace the suspended Adam Cooney.
Adelaide on the other hand are unlikely to make any changes to their side following last week’s statement victory.
Prediction
Essendon have looked worse and worse with every passing week, and at some point you’d think they’ll decide enough is enough and turn it around. But with too much to play for, Adelaide should rise to the occasion.
Crows by 13 points.