Essendon Bombers vs Geelong Cats: JLT Community Series AFL live scores, blog

Expert

11th March, 2018

Where: Central Reserve, Colac
When: Sunday 11th March 2018, 1.05pm(AEDT)
TV: Fox Footy, Live Stream on Foxtel Now
Betting: Essendon $2.55 Geelong $1.52

Essendon
Andrew McGrath, Tom Bellchambers, Darcy Parish, Devon Smith, Joe Daniher, Zach Merrett, Martin Gleeson, Brendon Goddard, David Zaharakis, Mark Baguley, Josh Green, Josh Begley, James Stewart, Michael Hurley, Jackson Merrett, Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Jordan Houlahan, Jake Stringer, Cale Hooker, Patrick Ambrose, Jake Long, Matt Guelfi, Dylan Clarke, Ben McNiece, Adam Saad, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Shaun McKernan, Conor McKenna, Matt Dea.

Geelong
Rhys Stanley, Zach Tuohy, Brandan Parfitt, Harry Taylor, Jake Kolodjashnij, Zac Smith, Daniel Menzel, Tim Kelly, Wylie Buzza, Joel Selwood, Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Constable, Jordan Murdoch, Mitch Duncan, Jed Bews, HAWKINS Tom, Sam Menegola, Cory Gregson, Cameron Guthrie, Jurdan Cunico, Gryan Miers, George Horlin-Smith, James Parsons, Patrick Dangerfirld, Zach Gutherie, Jackson Furlow, Jamaine Jones, Mark O’Connor, Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs.

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Devon Smith as a fresh-faced debutant. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Stuart Thomas

Expert

11th March, 2018

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Match result:

Essendon have come from 27 points down at three-quarter time to beat the Bombers by three points in Colac.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Geelong 15.7 (97)
Essendon 15.11 (101)

Match preview:

The Essendon Bombers and the Geelong Cats face off in their last hit-out before the season proper of 2018.

Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from the JLT Community Series game at Central Reserve in Colac on Sunday afternoon, starting from 1:05pm (AEDT).

With quality personnel coming into both these squads for this fixture, it is very much a wait and see approach with now only days remaining until the first round of the AFL season.

After the quirkiness of AFLX and a tentative start for both teams in the JLT Community series, now is the time to lay the cards on the table and start to show everyone just how strong they will be in the upcoming season.

For Geelong, it is the midfield that will draw the headlines and until a certain new signing does join ‘Dangerwood’ in the centre, their true potential will not be unveiled.

Essendon bring all-Australian quality back into their squad for this one with Michael Hurley and Cale Hooker joining the rest of the experienced leadership group on which the Bombers will rely heavily in 2018.

It looks an intriguing clash with both teams having realistic finals aspirations and hoping to make an early statement. This match could be the first step towards that impressive start.

Prediction
Silly to really even think about predictions in pre-season games such as these yet from what I have seen so far, Geelong look fit, hungry and appear more advanced in their preparation than Essendon. On that basis, I’ll predict a 24 point victory for the Cats.

Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from the JLT Community Series game between the Essendon Bombers and the Geelong Cats at Central Reserve in Colac on Sunday afternoon, starting from 1:05pm (AEDT).

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Stuart Thomas

Expert

Stuart Thomas is a sports writer and educator who made the jump from Roar Guru to Expert in 2017. An ex-trainee professional golfer, his sporting passions are broad with particular interests in football, AFL and rugby league. His love of sport is only matched by his passion for gardening and self-sustainability.