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Essendon Bombers vs Port Adelaide Power: AFL live scores, blog

Roar Guru
15th April, 2018
Kick-off: 1.10pm AEST, Sunday 15 April 2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
TV: Fox Footy

Last five games
R12, 2017, Essendon 19.17 (131) d Port Adelaide 8.13 (61) at Etihad Stadium
R3, 2016, Port Adelaide 17.10 (112) d Essendon 7.9 (51) at Adelaide Oval
R17, 2015, Port Adelaide 20.9 (129) d Essendon 17.14 (116) at Etihad Stadium
R16, 2014, Essendon 8.14 (62) d Port Adelaide 7.18 (60) at Adelaide Oval
R15, 2013, Essendon 18.10 (118) d Port Adelaide 12.16 (88) at Etihad Stadium

Essendon Bombers
B Mark Baguley, Michael Hurley, Adam Saad
HB Zach Merrett, Mitch Brown, David Zaharakis
C Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer, Andrew McGrath
HF Matt Guelfi, Joe Daniher, Devon Smith
F Dyson Heppell, Cale Hooker, James Stewart
FOL Tom Bellchambers, Brendon Goddard, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
I/C David Myers, Josh Green, Josh Begley, Darcy Parish

Port Adelaide Power
B Riley Bonner, Tom Jonas, Dan Houston
HB Darcy Byrne-Jones, Tom Clurey, Hamish Hartlett
C Brad Ebert, Ollie Wines, Jared Polec
HF Travis Boak, Jack Watts, Chad Wingard
F Justin Westhoff, Charlie Dixon, Steven Motlop
FOL Dougal Howard, Tom Rockliff, Robbie Gray
I/C Trent McKenzie, Karl Amon, Sam Gray, Todd Marshall
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Roar Guru
15th April, 2018
148
2355 Reads

Match result:

Essendon became the first team to defeat Port Adelaide on Sunday in 2017 as new recruit Jake Stringer booted for goals.

Final score
Essendon 16.10.106
Port Adelaide 12.12.84

Match preview:

Round 4 continues from the Docklands as the Essendon Bombers host the Port Adelaide Power. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 1:10pm (AEST).

After a big offseason, adding experience and talent at the trade table, big things were expected of the Bombers in 2018. Two disappointing losses have taken some of the steam out of the early season.

In fact, the media reaction to their admittedly poor display against the Dogs last week has probably been a bit over the top.

Port Adelaide, on the other hand, are sitting pretty as the league’s only undefeated team.

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Mind you, they did it tough last week at home to the fast-finishing Lions, just holding on to win by five points.

But while the two sides might have had different fortunes in the season so far, nevertheless this looks like an intriguing contest.

Travelling and beating good teams proved too much for the Power last season, and while they’ve already had a commendable victory at the SCG, they’d be keen not to fall back into bad habits.

Port have been strong across the ground so far this season, with the ruck probably the sole area of real concern.

They would, however, like to get a bit more out of key forward Charlie Dixon, who has had an indifferent start to the year.

For their part, the Bombers have had a bit of trouble in the middle of the ground, where young star Zac Merrett has struggled since copping a heavy knock in round one.

At selection, Essendon are forced to make do without the suspended Conor McKenna, while Matt Guelfi comes in for his debut.

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Port Adelaide lose Sam Powell-Pepper to a club-imposed suspension, while Dom Barry is dropped. Karl Amon comes in for his first game of the year and former Sun Trent McKenzie makes his debut for his new team.

Prediction
Surely Essendon will put out something better this afternoon than they did last week. At home, they’re always a chance.

But the Power’s form is much better, and they’d be expected to have an advantage in the middle of the ground.

Port Adelaide by 12 points.

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