Finals aspirations are on the line at Etihad Stadium on Saturday when the Essendon Bombers take on the Gold Coast Suns. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2:00pm (AEST).
The Suns have lost four out of their last five since the loss of their inspirational captain Gary Ablett Jr. It’s hard to believe they had a 7-2 win loss record after Round 10, but the young team has struggled to keep the momentum going and have gone 3-8 since.
There were encouraging signs in the wet at Metricon last week, in their nine point loss to the Power. The final margin could have been considered flattering as the Power won the inside 50 count 72-39, and had 21 scoring shots to the Suns 12.
But the Suns suffered due to injuries to several players including Jack Martin, Charlie Dixon and ruckman Daniel Gorringe. Only Dixon is named as missing for this week’s game but Gorringe and Martin must be in some doubt as well.
The Bombers are coming off one of their best comeback wins in recent times, defeating the Eagles last week by three points after trailing by as much as 34 points at one stage of the third quarter.
They had to make a similar comeback in their previous win against the Bulldogs four weeks earlier.
Both times rising star midfielder Dyson Heppell was the inspiration behind their comeback. Against the Dogs and Eagles Heppell had been kept quiet in the first half only to cut loose in the second half, against the Eagles he had 29 possessions in the second half.
Unfortunately for the Bombers a training mishap on Wednesday, saw Heppell brake a bone in his hand and will miss Saturday’s crucial clash. Heppell leads the team for disposals, contested possessions, handballs andamp; clearance this season and his loss will be heavily felt.
If the Bombers play as poorly as they did in the first half against the Eagles then the Suns are a genuine chance, especially if their midfield can expose the Bombers for pace around the outside.
Still with tall in form forward Jake Carlisle returning the Suns will have their hands full covering him along with Daniher and Paddy Ryder in the ruck.
A loss here for the Suns would see them bow out of the finals race thanks to their poor percentage.
For the Bombers a win could seal a finals place and the in-form Blues waiting in the last round, this is a game the Bombers cannot afford to lose.
Prediction: This is only the fourth meeting between these two teams in the four years the suns have been in the competition. The Bombers have won all three previous encounters including a 43 point win last year at Etihad.
Brendon Goddard had 38 possessions and 12 marks that night, as the Bombers midfield did as they pleased despite another typical 36 possession game from Ablett.
The Bombers can’t afford to play as poorly as they have in large chunks of games this year. The Suns despite their recent struggles can cause an upset if they show as much drive and commitment as they did last week against the Power.
Essendon by 22 points
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Great game in the end especially that second half which saw both teams kick nine goals each. The Bombers led by 4 goals early in the third quarter and appeared to be cruising. A half an hour later the Suns had kicked 7 of the next 8 goals and found themselves leading by six points early in the last quarter after Tom Lynch had just kicked his fourth. The Bombers then swung Hurley up forward and Carlisle down back. The move of Hurley up forward gave the Bombers a mobile target and changed the game as the Bombers kicked five of the last six goals of the match. Zaharakis' work in the middle was influential in that last quarter and Chapman and Myers were also terrific. For the Suns, that was probably their best performance since Gary Ablett was injured. Their midfield was terrific and gave a real glimpse of why they are going to be a force in the next few years with midfielders, Bennell, Prestia, Swallow, O'Meara and Martin. These guys all have the potential to be elite. Tom Lynch up for ward was terrific, especially in the second half when the ball was delivered more efficiently. Rory Thompson at full back was also good on Carlisle. Their season may be over but the future is bright for the Suns. The Bombers can look forward to the finals (unless an extraordinary run of results goes against them) but they will have to show far more consistency and more polish if they are to advance past the first week of the finals. That's it from me and thanks for joining the Roar today.
Andrew
Guest
Suns final chance is over unless Richmand loss their game against St kilda (its pointless to make percentage gap against Richmand). They need favourable results in round 23 and win to have any chance in the final.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
FULL TIME and the Bombers have won by 19 points and virtually sealed a place into the finals. Finals race all over for the Suns. Ess 16 12 108 GC 13 11 89
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Zaharakis from half back finds Chapman...and he's off runs to 50 handballs to Ryder and he kicks it through for the sealer!! Ess 16 12 108 GC 13 11 89 Q4 1m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
howlett out of the middle passes to Hurley inside 50. Passes to Goddard in the pocket and rams it through for the Bombers. hurley to the forward line has been a inspirational move for the Bombers. Ess 15 12 102 GC 13 11 89 Q4 5m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Winderlich marks at half forward. Short pass to hurley , long kick bounces through for a point. Ess 14 12 96 GC 13 11 89 Q4 6m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From the kick out ..it goes long into the centre, Martin handballs off to Swallow who goes long and it bounces through for a goal!! End to end football. Ess 14 11 95 GC 13 10 88 Q4 9m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Zaharakis again out of the middle ...goddard marks 35m out. Misses from a set shot. Ess 14 11 95 GC 12 10 82 Q4 10m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Bombers forward again and Hurley gets a free for too high at 50. Handballs off to Myers who goes long from 50....and kicks it!! Three in two minutes. Ess 14 10 94 GC 12 10 82 Q4 11m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From the centre bounce again Daniher down to Zaharakis who goes long to full forward and Ryder marks 20m out !! Ryder kicks it and the Bombers have two in a minute to take the lead. Ess 13 10 88 GC 12 10 82 Q4 12m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From the centre bounce the Bombers get it out Hurley onto the loose ball kicks a goal!! hurley up forward and Carlisle down back. Ess 12 10 82 GC 12 10 82 Q4 12m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Steinberg and Baguley spoil each other in defence, allows Sumner to take possession, centres it with a banana kick to Lynch 15m out. Lynch kicks it and the Suns are six points up!! Ess 11 10 76 GC 12 10 82 Q4 12m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Scores level 15 mins remaining Ess 11 10 76 GC 11 10 76
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
McKenzie looks to have done a hamstring and has been subbed off. Sumner subbed in.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Goddard about to come back on....doesn't seem to have been bothered by that ankle.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
From a throw in rischitelli gathers handballs to Lemmens who runs to 45m and puts the Suns in front!! Ess 11 9 75 GC 11 10 76 Q4 18m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Oh Steinberg completely misses a spoil let's Cameron in ....who somehow misses a snap from 15m out. Shocking miss!! Ess 11 9 75 GC 10 9 69 Q4 19m remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
4th qtr under way....
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Well a what game, Bombers looked to be cruising early that qtr leading by 4 goals but the Suns surged back to kick five of the last six goals. O'Meara was huge that quarter with 13 possessions. Lynch up forward causing huge headaches and Prestia, Bennell and Swallow taking control in the midfield. The Bombers seem to have lost momentum since Hooker went off and Goddard looked very proppy at the end of that quarter. The Suns pace and carry really troubling the Bombers who are going to have to lift if they want to win this. Great quarter coming up.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
THREE QTR TIME and the Bombers lead by 7 points. A ripper final quarter coming up. Ess 11 9 75 GC 10 8 68