The Essendon Bombers host the St Kilda Saints tonight at Etihad Stadium, with both sides looking to bounce back after big losses in Round 4. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7:40pm AEST.
Both sides suffered their biggest loss of the 2014 season last week. The Saints copped an 86-point thrashing at home from the Crows, while the Bombers travelled west to face Fremantle and were thumped by 53 points.
Unsurprisingly, both teams have made significant changes to the line-ups that were so disappointing last week – the Bombers have made four changes and the Saints have made five.
Essendon welcome back regulars Patrick Ryder, Paul Chapman, Dustin Fletcher and David Myers, who will instantly strengthen their team by a great deal. Dylan Van Unen and Travis Colyer have been dropped, Jason Winderlich rested, while Brendon Goddard will miss due to the groin injury he sustained during the match in Perth.
The Saints changes are less impressive. Ruckman Tom Hickey comes in after missing last week through injury, and Sebastian Ross and Adam Schneider have been recalled. No. 3 draft pick Jack Billings will play his second game for the club, while the Saints are also debuting former GWS Giant Josh Bruce.
Beau Maister, Billy Longer and Shave Savage were all omitted form the Saints side to make way, while David Armitage (knee) and Nathan Wright (leg) will miss through injury. It’s especially disappointing for Savage, who crossed to the Saints from Hawthorn with the goal of playing regular AFL footy.
While both sides enter the clash with 2-2 records, Essendon are the clear favourites. They were dominant against North Melbourne and Carlton, and pushed Hawthorn to the edge, while the Saints were the beneficiaries of a soft opening fortnight.
The Bombers are a better quality team and should win this one comfortably.
Essendon by 54 points
TomC
Roar Guru
Good on the Saints.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Well done saints your fans deserve it.
Josh
Expert
Ha ha, congrats mate.
Josh
Expert
Missed my tip on this one, but congrats to the Saints on a great win. What did you think?
Josh
Expert
Well what an effort by the Saints tonight - after concedeing the first three goals of the game they kept the Bombers quiet from quarter time on, ultimately kicking ten goals to four in the final three quarters. Excellent stuff and they run out deserving winners by 16 points. Plenty of good performances as a win like that always has but no doubt in my mind that Nick Riewoldt was the difference tonight - outplayed Michael Hurley at every turn and snagged five goals for his trouble. Incredible stuff, 3 votes. Would also highlight Jack Billings who in just his second AFL game kicked two goals and set up another, he was close to a match-winner and has snagged the Rising Star nomination for this round in my opinion. Brent Stanton the best for the Bombers with 29 disposals and three goals on a night where there were few. But really, there were few on the Bombers side who had a big impact, even though they racked up lots of stats.
jd
Guest
Bad game for Ess but great game for Saints. Man up and take it like a man.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Couldn't care about the standard of the match, Saints got a win you beauty!!!! Nick Riewoldt you star.
Axle an the guru
Guest
Well IMO that game was an imbarasment, im gunna cop it off my NRL mates about that standard of football.
Josh
Expert
FULL TIME ESSENDON 9.11.65 ST KILDA 11.15.81
Josh
Expert
One minute left and the Saints are holding it up.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND ESSENDON Stanton has the chance to make it three in a row but Tom Hickey spoils it over the line. Saints by 16, two minutes to play - reckon they're home. ESSENDON 9.11.65 ST KILDA 11.15.81
Josh
Expert
BEHIND ST KILDA Behind to the Saints. Three minutes to play. ESSENDON 9.10.64 ST KILDA 11.15.81
Josh
Expert
GOAL ESSENDON Two in a minute! Quick clearance goes Essendon's way, and nice work from Jason Ashby gets it to Brent Stanton who snags his second in a row! Lead down to 16 points. Four minutes left to play. ESSENDON 9.10.64 ST KILDA 11.14.80
Josh
Expert
GOAL ESSENDON Nice contested mark in the forward 50 for the Dons, Stanton runs past and gets the handball dished off to him. He runs into the goalsquare alone and snags a goal! ESSENDON 8.10.58 ST KILDA 11.14.80
Axle an the guru
Guest
This kicking for goal js woeful. These blokes think they can kick, god help football.
Josh
Expert
BEHIND ESSENDON Kyle Hardinham gets a set shot but misses to the right. Five and a half minutes left in the game with the Saints holding a 28 point advantage - reckon the Dons might be done! ESSENDON 7.10.52 ST KILDA 11.14.80
Josh
Expert
BEHIND ST KILDA Rushed behind for the Saints. ESSENDON 7.9.51 ST KILDA 11.14.80
Josh
Expert
I'd say that has iced the Rising Star Nomination for Jack Billings this week, short of Tom Boyd kicking 10 on debut tomorrow...
Josh
Expert
GOAL ST KILDA Incredible! Jack Billings peels it off the pack and runs into the goalsquare to boot his second goal of the evening. In his second AFL game - he is close to a match winner! Saints lead by 28 points now and there's eight and a half minutes to play. ESSENDON 7.9.51 ST KILDA 11.13.79
joe
Guest
No way bombers are awful