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Saturday football kicks off at Etihad Stadium with teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, as the undefeated Essendon faces up against the winless GWS Giants. Live scores and commentary begins from 1.45pm AEST.
This seems a pretty clear-cut contest in terms of an outcome – no doubt we’re expecting to see Essendon continue their winning ways and try to get them a percentage boost.
Not only is it top versus bottom, it’s an Essendon team that is hell-bent on proving to the football world that despite every adversity they have come up against in the last couple of months, that they will overcome it.
It’s that sentiment in the team that has propelled them to a high point so far.
Yes, we saw this from the Bombers team last season. They were 8-1 and seemingly on top of the world, then seeing their season spiral out of control.
Yet this resilience seems getting them through as they all have bandied together under the one common goal.
A close to non-existent injury list is helping them out as well, unlike the back-half of 2012, and so things on the ground seem to be going very well.
They’re near the top of the list for stats like inside 50s, contested marks and contested possessions, while their defensive unit has been the stingiest in the competition.
With plenty of stocks available, Essendon may decide to rotate a few of their slightly injured players out like Jake Carlisle and keep Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher out of the match.
Greater Western Sydney’s biggest chance of a win this season has been in the last two weeks.
An atrocious Melbourne unit managed to boot 12 goals against them in the final quarter in Round 4 to escape, while the Gold Coast Suns also raced away late to boot eight goals in the last term last Saturday.
There’s no doubt the loss of Jonathan Patton has been a big negative for the Giants.
However seeing the resurgence of Setanta O’hAilpin has been pleasing for all footy fans.
After an 80-game career at Carlton, O’hAilpin has kicked eight goals in two matches this season and looking a more dangerous proposition than ever before.
While their midfield has been competitive in centre clearances, there’s no doubt their stamina has been tested so far.
To fall away as drastically as they have throughout most of their matches is clearly a sign of the second-year-blues, which we saw of the Gold Coast Suns last season.
It’s something fans of the big G will need to ride out, because the more game time into this team, the better.
Keep in mind, the team’s combined career games is only around the 25-30 mark.
I suppose the question that will come from this game is how long will the Giants be able to stay with a team that is really on a high.
The longer they stay in, the better their chances of staying away from such a big margin that could befall them.
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