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It’s the highlight of the indigenous round every year. It’s Dreamtime at the G as Essendon take on Richmond in a match that will have far-reaching implications. We’ll have live scores and a blog from 7.50pm AEST.
Before talking about the two teams, let’s look at the importance of this event.
Dreamtime at the G is now into its eighth year; with some close contests throughout that time.
In 2006 Richmond scraped over the line thanks to Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls.
In 2007 Matthew Richardson thought he’d won it for the Tigers until the Bombers kicked away.
And just last year, Trent Cotchin starred as the Tigers won a beauty in front of the biggest crowd ever in these matches – just over 83,000.
Expect there to be a crowd close to 85,000 again, especially with the way both sides have been playing in 2012.
Essendon is coming off a stunning win against league leaders West Coast, while Richmond put in their best performance of the year against Sydney at the MCG last week.
The Bombers have only lost one game this season. That was to Collingwood by just one point.
It’s really hard to fault how they’ve played so far in the year. At the moment they have genuine claims to say they could be a premiership favourite… but don’t tell that to them.
This is a side that is ahead of schedule – this team is probably meant to be at its best next season.
But with Michael Hurley firing (and back this week for the Bombers), Jobe Watson running rings through the midfield and Stewart Crameri being a strong focal point up forward, is it possible the Bombers could land the top of the tree a lot earlier than thought?
Keep in mind Essendon has had a spate of soft-tissue injuries. So to come out of it the other side with such a strong record is testament to the team’s extraordinary resilience this season.
Richmond is a side that does not deserve to be 3-4. In their four losses, the Tigers have been near enough to getting the win on each occasion.
But last week could be seen as a watershed moment for the Tigers – claiming a real scalp of the Sydney Swans.
All year, I’ve believed the Tigers would be a strong 2013 prospect, but a chance to (once again) be close to the top eight without quite making it.
However, when you look at the improvement that’s been made in the midfield with Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Shane Tuck and Brett Deledio, there’s every chance it could propel them further than had thought.
It’s a theory though that has been put to many Richmond fans at the start of the year and not turned out right. Can this season be different? For the long suffering Tigers faithful, you really hope so.
Richmond’s game plan is a lot different to the Bombers – with plenty more uncontested ball. It’s led to the highest disposal efficiency count of all the teams this season, plus the best differential in disposals.
But can that game plan get past the Bombers tonight?
I suppose we’ll find that out over the next few hours. What we can say is this game will have a few twists and turns along the way as they play for the Kevin Sheedy Cup in the most anticipated Dreamtime at the G games so far.
We’ll bring you all the action from the opening bounce at 7.50pm AEST, but make sure you check in early for the team news as well as the pre-game of this brilliant night.
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