Roar Guru
Essendon Bombers 17.14 (116)
Port Adelaide Power 20.9 (129)
The Essendon Bombers showed glimpses of great football early in the game against Port Adelaide Power showing former Don Patrick Ryder how they play football.
Both teams demonstrated strong football in a high-scoring encounter with both teams eclipsing 100 points.
>>MATCH REPORT: Ryder kicks four in Port’s win
The game came right down to the wire in one of the most exciting matches of the season, Ryder silenced the Bombers with a four-goal haul; Chad Wingard, Jay Schulz and Cale Hooker all scoring three goals each.
The Power’s season stays alive with the club required to win every game from here on out if they are to qualify for the Finals come September.
James Hird’s Essendon Bombers will want to improve on their 2015 campaign with a win over the Port Adelaide Power at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar from 7.10pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
It is a do-or-die game for the Power, with the South Australian club needing to win in order to keep their finals hopes alive.
Port have failed to show consistency throughout the 2015 season, after beginning the year as hot favourites to win their second flag. The Power showed what they can do in their 3-point loss last week against emotionally-charged rivals, Adelaide, going down 17.11 (113) to 18.8 (116) in one of the most entertaining matches of the season.
James Hird’s young Bombers have also shown glimpses of their best this season but have failed to encapsulate the style of football required to be a premiership force.
The Bombers are missing several of their first-string midfielders giving the Echuca-Bendigo junior Ollie Wines a chance to exploit Essendon’s woes and play his game out in the middle with his contested ball winning for the Power.
The Bombers and Power have met 25 times since 1997, Port Adelaide winning 14 matches with Essendon taking out 11 including their most most recent in Round 16, 2014 at Adelaide Oval 8.14 (62) to 7.18 (60).
In their past five matches, Essendon have won just one match and have a season record of 5-10, currently placing them at 14thon the table. Port Adelaide have also won just one match in their past five matches and have a season record of 6-9, putting them in 12th place.
Prediction:
The Bombers will continue their lull, in a close battle.
Power by 15.
Join The Roar from 7.10pm (AEST) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.