The Essendon Bombers are back in business, with a fast start leading them to a 17-point win over the Geelong Cats on Saturday night.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Essendon Bombers 17.8.110
Geelong Cats 13.15.93
It’s an important match this week for the Geelong Cats as they take on the Essendon Bombers at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game from the MCG, starting from 7:25pm (AEST).
Both the Cats and the Bombers are desperate to get their seasons back on track, having both lost their last two matches. The Bombers were impressive in the early rounds of the season, as they rebuild after the doping saga bans.
Inaccurate kicking from key forwards such as Joe Daniher which has led to lacklustre performance leaving many Essendon fans disgruntled with the state of their forward line.
With that said, the Bombers should be bolstered by the return of Jobe Watson into the side, providing much-needed leadership as always.
Geelong were atrocious against the Gold Coast last week, reflected by four omissions from Chris Scott coming into this match.
Their defence needs a major lift to stop leaking easy goals forward.
The killer Selwood-Dangerfield is always strong, but at least one of these two greats getting tagged is inevitable so Geelong’s younger players really need to lift across the ground.
Player to watch
James Kelly is celebrating his 300th AFL game tonight. A huge accomplishment no matter where your side is on the ladder and the perfect reason to have a huge night out – and it’s great that he gets to bring up the milestone playing against the club he won three premierships with.
Prediction
Chris Scott won’t tolerate mediocrity from his side and I’m fully expecting them to bounce back tonight.
Geelong by 30 points.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match and a blog of the game from the MCG, starting from 7:25pm (AEST)
FreoFan
Roar Rookie
Cats are in a bit of a hole right now. Not sure where they fit in anymore. Although I don't think anyone knows where anyone sits anymore after some of the recent results.
Barb
Guest
Way out of his depth along with about 15 of his teammates.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
They have a good spine Essendon — a lot they can build around. They'll be formidable in the coming years and most dangerous should they make the finals. Don't think they will, but they certainly played well tonight on the counter. Signs of a positive aggressive team in the making.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Yeah, that was class.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Well, well well, Geelong have just lost 3 games in a row for the first time in a very long time and learnt absolutely nothing from last week. They won the contested ball, but allowed the Bombers to gather uncontested possessions with ease and score easily from turnovers on the half back flank, again, bringing up the same issues with their defence that came up last week against the Suns. Critically, they were unable to score consecutive goals up until the exciting last quarter. At that point the Bombers had a 7 goal head start and it was too little to late. Additionally, Selwood and Dangerfield were quiet again - leading questions as to whether the Cats can cope if their leading two men get taken out of the game. It's back to the drawing board again for Chris Scott and his men. On the other side of the coin, Essendon were absolutely incredible - particularly in the first half. They dominated the game in the first and second quarters with their speed and ease of ball movement through the ground. They left the Cats for dead. Early in the match, games Kelly enjoyed an excellent 300th game, while Tippinwotti, Fantasia and Daniher were integral parts of an exciting, fast paced game. The Bombers are now 4 and 4 after 8 rounds and knocking on the door of the 8. Tonight proved they are good enough to be playing finals footy. Ensuring they realise they need to play 4 quarters (as evidenced by Geelong's voracious comeback in the final quarter), it's best not to right the Bombers off in 2017 just yet.
michael treacy
Guest
How did young irish fella play for Geelong
XI
Roar Guru
Nice calling, Caitlin. It was sweet to see Selwood and Heppel carry James Kelly off.
Barb
Guest
And The Cats resigned their Coach. Cheers to that!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Better second half from the Cats, even in the 3rd quarter. Poor kicking is @#$% football, but that's not the reason they lost tonight. Bombers played very well tonight with the Cats' zonal structures failing to hold the ball in their forward half allowing for rebound football. Scott needs to address if it's speed or positional play that is breaking down. I suspect a bit of both. Thanks for the call Caitlin.
XI
Roar Guru
That, plus the fact they've laid less than half as many tackles
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
SIREN SOUNDS It's the Bombers in an upset by 17 points.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Fantasia slots one through the middle and that should be the final nail in the coffin for the Cats this evening.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
2 Behinds in a minute for the Cats. Bad kicking has haunted them all night and will probably be the reason they won't be sneaking a win tonight.
XI
Roar Guru
Jeez, Daniher needs to learn to take calls he doesn't agree with better. He's going very close to giving away 50s and probably reports.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Motlop needs to go and kick this one quickly if that Cats want to steal this game. BEHIND The Cats have most certainly had their chances.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
BEHIND Hawkins hits the post in a kick that could have changed the game for the Cats...
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Daniher bags his fifth for the evening and the Bombers stop the momentum in the favour of the Cats. The commentary team said that the next goal would win the game and I have to agree. Essendon by 16 points.
XI
Roar Guru
If this Bombers drop this one, it might be worse than all those smashings they had last year.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Smith kicks a massive goal from outside 50 and the margin is back to 10 points. The Cats are running at 83% kicking efficiency this quarter...
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
GOAL Parsons snaps one from around the shoulder and the Cats have got the margin back to 16 points...