St Kilda have cruised to a massive 110-point win over the Essendon Bombers, raising their own stocks while also casting fresh doubt on James Hird’s coaching career.
>> MATCH REPORT: Saints smash Bombers, Hird’s future in doubt
In captain Jobe Watson’s 200th game, the Bombers served up an embarrassing display, while the Saints’ forward line fired, delivering 25 goals for the day.
Josh Bruce kicked five, Nick Riewoldt four, and the Saints had no less than 13 goalkickers, seven of them kicking multiple goals.
The final margin of 110 points was St Kilda’s greatest win over Essendon in club history.
Essendon 8.4.52 def. by St Kilda 25.12.162
The Essendon Bombers will look to regain some confidence when they host the St Kilda Saints at Docklands on Sunday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores from 1:10pm (AEST).
This match may feature 13th versus 14th, but rest assured, these teams have been on vastly different journeys in 2015.
The Bombers were supposed to shake off the black cloud of recent seasons and challenge the top eight. The Saints weren’t supposed to win a game.
Somehow then we arrive at a bottom-of-the-table clash in which one team appears to be flying, while the other tumbles.
In recent meetings, these two sides have traded blows – if the pattern is to be believed, it’s the Saints turn to secure a ‘W’.
Last time out, in Round 5 this year (a game Essendon started as $1.15 favourites), the Dons just snuck home to secure a 2-point win. We can be sure the Saints will draw lots of confidence and drive from this result, and enter the match believing they can get the win.
A big blow for Essendon on the team front is the loss of key-forward Jake Carlisle to an ankle injury. They will be boosted though by the return of David Zaharakis and Ben Howlett.
The Saints welcome back Sam Fisher, Jack Sinclair and Tom Hickey, while Hugh Goddard has been named on an extended bench to potentially make his AFL debut up against second cousin, and former Saints star, Brendon Goddard.
Can the Dons play four quarters of the kind of footy they showed early against the Hawks last week and set themselves up for a strong back-end of the season? Or will the Saints continue to play inspired, underdog football and secure their fifth win of 2015?
Join The Roar for live scores of the Bombers versus Saints clash from 1:10pm (AEST). If you are following the action live, be sure to share your thoughts on the match in the comments below.
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