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For the third time this season, the AFL has a first versus second battle as Hawthorn and Essendon do battle in the highlight of a massive Round 18. We’ll have live scores and commentary kick off from 7.50pm AEST.
In what is set to be a sellout at Etihad Stadium, this is Essendon’s big chance to show they belong with the big wigs, despite the axe hovering over their heads.
After another week of questions and innuendo about the club’s immediate future surrounding the ASADA enquiry, the Bombers will need to rally together again to knock off the form side of the competition.
It’s hard to know how the Bombers will respond – as much as they have forged together in these moments throughout the year, there’s a time where the pressures and stresses of the investigation will pay its toll.
This time last year, the Bombers were in a downward spiral and lost this game by 100 points.
That won’t be happening tonight, but if their defence isn’t careful, the Hawks could easily blow this game apart.
The Bombers have won six on the trot, despite their last three wins being a little below par.
Then again, they’ve done enough to get the job done, but whether that sets them up well enough for a game with Hawthorn is up for debate.
Despite losing some big names like Dustin Fletcher and Stewart Crameri, they do get back the likes of David Zaharakis, Heath Hocking and Ben Howlett, while son-of-a-gun Joe Daniher also makes his way back into the team.
Hawthorn last week were a little off the boil last week against a gallant Western Bulldogs.
But this seemed to be a one-off on a season that has been exhilarating.
Sure, you can trot out the two losses against Geelong – but they still played well in those games.
In almost every game they’ve played this year, the Hawks have been in great form, so to see them have one game away from the norm doesn’t surprise me too much.
The Hawks have seen the outstanding form of Jarryd Roughead who is arguably the most valuable player of the last two months, now sitting just a goal behind in the Coleman Medal standings.
Getting Lance Franklin back undoubtedly boosts their already powerful forward line, but we have seen in the past the extra firepower doesn’t necessarily translate into a tirade of goals.
But the options seem to be endless with the Hawks when it comes to goal-kicking.
Add the potency of Sam Mitchell into the midfield and this side looks super.
Whinge all you like about the game being played at Etihad Stadium – you cannot change that, there will still be 50,000-plus at the venue and it will sound fever pitch all night.
What you will get is a belter of a contest against two teams who have a rough history with each other.
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