Essendon will be out to reclaim top spot on the AFL ladder when they meet St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this afternoon. We’ll have live scores from 4.40pm AEST.
This afternoon all eyes will be on Brendon Goddard, who plays his first game against the club who he played 203 games for after being selected at number one in the 2002 AFL draft.
Scott Watters and the St Kilda Football Club won’t admit it, but they’ll certainly be looking for the number nine guernsey out there this afternoon.
The Saints picked up their first win of the 2013 season when they thumped GWS Giants by 72 points last Saturday, after losing to Gold COast and Richmond in rounds one and two respectively.
Despite the drama that has surrounded the club Essendon have been faultless so far this season.
They easily defeated Adelaide and Melbourne in their first two matches before erasing a 37-point deficit against Fremantle last Friday night to scrape home by four points at Patersons Stadium.
On paper this should be another routine four points against a side who look unlikely to feature in finals football in 2013.
But James Hird will be without Paddy Ryder and Nick Kommer due to suspension while Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher are in doubt with niggling injuries.
With their annual ANZAC Day clash with Collingwood only five days away it is hard to see Hird pushing them if they are 50-50.
St Kilda will sense their opportunity and they know Etihad Stadium as good as anyone, and they could steal this one this afternoon.
Skye
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The saints
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
St Kilda applying the pressure, but not the goals this quarter. BUT TWO BEHINDS Bombers: 98 Saints: 65 33 points the margin.
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
Essendon leads by 34 points
TheFootyFinatic
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Hi I'm back and commentating
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
I have to leave now so watch the scoreboard for updates.
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
Another goal for gumbleton, and extend their lead to 53 points. Bombers: 98 Saints: 45
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
Hurley gets yet another for the Bombers. Bombers: 92 St Kilda: 44 Essendon have a margin of 48 points separating them from St Kilda.
TheFootyFinatic
Roar Rookie
Awesome midfield play by Essendon. Gumbleton smashes one through. That's two for Scott this quarter. Essendon: 86 St Kilda: 44
TheFootyFinatic
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Finally Milne boots a goal for the Saints. Saints: 44 Bombers: 80
TheFootyFinatic
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Goal to gumbleton. Bombers: 80 Saints: 38 Bombers are on a winning streak here at Etihad.
TheFootyFinatic
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Bombers: 74 St Kilda: 38 Bombers with the good start to the third.
TheFootyFinatic
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Third quarter underway now
TheFootyFinatic
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Players onto the field now.
TheFootyFinatic
Guest
Half-time at the moment: Essendon bombers: 67 St Kilda Saints: 36
TheFootyFinatic
Guest
Hi, I'm TheFootyFinatic and ill be commentating the second half of the game for you. I won't be able to commentate the whole of the second half though, as I will be commentating the Port Adelaide Power VS Gold Coast Suns game. But at the moment, bombers are dominating at half time.