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.
matt
Guest
What was the song in used on the pre-game promo before the match started.
GrantS
Guest
A great first half by the Bombers then they came out in the second half as if the game was won. Great pressure from Richmond gave them the lead in the final quarter and it could be argued that they deserved to win. Good teams do not let up on their opponents when they have them down and I'm sure that will be addressed at training this week. A very good spectacle.
Dan
Guest
Great game to watch, tigers werte amazing but the Bombers have stamped themselves as genuine top 4 chances, epic contest, 2 of the best efforts ive seen all year. Amazing contest!
zacbrygel
Roar Guru
Very entertaining and high scoring game. Good for the neutral.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Ess 19.14 128 def. Rich 15.19 109 The event deserved a fantastic battle, and that's exactly what we got. Essendon looked unbeatable at half time, Richmond showed they can match it with the top sides, but the Bombers settled to win by 19 points. Thanks for joining me tonight in what was a highlight of the season in front of 80000 fans. I'll join you tomorrow for the early afternoon game at the Gabba between Brisbane and GWS. Have a good night.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Ess 19.14 128 def. Rich 15.19 109 Quarter by Quarter Essendon 6.2 12.7 16.9 19.14 128 Richmond 4.2 6.8 11.16 15.19 109 Goalscorers Ess (9) – Patrick Ryder 4, Angus Monfries 3, Jobe Watson 2, Leroy Jetta 2, Brent Stanton 2, Alwyn Davey 2, Stewart Crameri 1, Ben Howlett 1, Nathan Lovett-Murray (sub) 1 Rich (9) – Trent Cotchin 3, Shane Edwards 3, Dustin Martin 2, Shaun Grigg 2, Robin Nahas 1, Jack Riewoldt 1, Brad Miller 1, Brett Deledio 1, Daniel Jackson 1 Player Stats Brett Deledio (Rich) 19 kicks, 16 handballs, 9 contested possessions, 10 tackles, 7 inside 50’s, 1 goal, 13 score involvements Jobe Watson (Ess) 17 kicks, 13 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 8 marks, 6 clearances, 4 free kicks, 2 goals, 13 score involvements Shaun Grigg (Rich) 21 kicks, 9 handballs, 9 marks, 7 inside 50’s, 2 goals Brent Stanton (Ess) 22 kicks, 7 handballs, 10 contested possessions, 5 clearances, 5 rebound 50’s, 3 goals Trent Cotchin (Rich) 20 kicks, 9 handballs, 12 contested possessions, 6 tackles, 6 inside 50’s, 6 inside 50’s, 3 goals Team Stats Disposals: Rich 370-363; Contested Possessions: Rich 129-123; Disposal Efficiency: Even 76%-76%; Tackles: Rich 63-54; Clearances: Ess 35-31; Inside 50’s: Rich 66-48; Time In Forward Half: Rich 55%-45%; Tackles Inside 50: Rich 16-6
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Ess 19.14 128 def. Rich 15.19 109 The winner of the best on ground tonight, the Yiooken Award, goes to Brett Deledio for 35 possessions, 10 tackles and 7 inside 50's. He really was the catalyst for the Tigers fightback.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Ess 19.14 128 def. Rich 15.19 109 A fantastic win by Essendon to assert themselves as a genuine player in the top four race. The atmosphere was just like a preliminary final and the Bombers responded to the challenge from the Tigers tonight. Essendon probably should have had the game in the bag at half time, but they let the Tigers back into the contest in the third quarter through Brett Deledio. But inaccuracy killed the Tigers in quarter three with 5 goals 8 behinds. An early surge from Richmond in the fourth quarter had them in front momentarily, but steadying goals to Nathan Lovett-Murray and Angus Monfries settled the Bombers and in front of 80,900, the Bombers win by 19 points. Stats to come...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
FINAL | Ess 19.14 128 def. Rich 15.19 109
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 3:00 left | Ess 19.12 126 | Rich 15.19 109 GAME OVER NOW! Stewart Crameri marks inside 50... gives off to Alwyn Davey - GOAL! They'll go top of the table tonight!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 3:30 left | Ess 18.12 120 | Rich 15.19 109 Bachar Houli rushes through a behind... lucky too, because it could have very easily been a goal. Time's running low though for the Tigers
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 5:00 left | Ess 18.11 119 | Rich 15.19 109 Steven Morris with a last second tackle on Nathan Lovett-Murray... just as he kicks on goal. Affects the kick. Just a behind! Crucial!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 5:54 left | Ess 18.10 118 | Rich 15.19 109 Another behind to the Tigers... they're close. But they need to score a goal pretty quickly I'd say...
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 6:40 left | Ess 18.10 118 | Rich 15.18 108 Heath Hocking kicks inside 50... to the right pocket to Jobe WATSON!!! Great contested mark. Tough angle though. Kick this and it might be just a bit too tough for the Tigers to come back. Watson... kicks... a behind.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 7:47 left | Ess 18.9 117 | Rich 15.18 108 Brad Miller with a kick on goal... just swayed off to the left. Behind only.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 8:57 left | Ess 18.9 117 | Rich 15.17 107 David Zaharakis runs free down the middle of the ground - spots up Jobe Watson! Now, can he convert from the top of 50m? This to settle the Bombers... didn't make the distance. But then Trent Cotchin turns it over to Angus Monfries inside 50! His kick - GOAL!!!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 11:14 left | Ess 17.9 111 | Rich 15.17 107 Bombers need a reply... quickly too! Tigers could very well run away with this. A chance for Alwyn Davey to run onto the footy... the ball's a bit too far for him. Tigers players swarm. Ball-up From the stoppage... comes free to the sub Nathan Lovett-Murray... tough angle, snap, GOAL!!! Ripper of a kick. BOMBERS LEAD!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 12:20 left | Ess 16.9 105 | Rich 15.17 107 Nathan Foley gets a turnover and then spots up Trent Cotchin! This kick to put them in front.... *Insert Tigers fans roaring* It's deafening! TIGERS LEAD!
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 13:10 left | Ess 16.9 105 | Rich 14.17 101 Bad turnover against the Tigers. But the Bombers having trouble to create some flow. Now they turn the ball back to the Tigers! Now Ivan Maric kicks to the top of 50 - Robin Nahas with the mark. To the goal square - Riewoldt crashes the pack... can't take it, over the line... behind only.
TheSportsFreak
Roar Guru
Q4 15:09 left | Ess 16.9 105 | Rich 14.16 100 The correlation of Dustin Fletcher's injury to the Tigers getting back into the contest is no coincidence. The Bombers have been under a lot of pressure. They've withstood for a while, but the Tigers are really hitting them hard. Brad Miller with a mark on the paint of 50m. Kicks to the goal line - EDWARDS! Having a ripper start to Q4! Shane Edwards - kick from 20m out - GOAL!!! 5 points in it!