The Bombers won an important match for the context of their season. However, they did so in the most unconvincing fashion.
This was a match of two halves for the Bombers one where they appeared apathetic and slow, and another in which they brought the heat and all 22 players were able to engage.
Duzza’s debut
I will always respect the ability of Adrian Doddorro to make something out of nothing. The Midseason Draft is no exception. Both Sam Durham and Will Snelling laced up the boots on Sunday Aftrenoon (a league first), and both were able to contribute in their respective roles for the team.
It was a positive if understated first match for the young Durham, and aside from an absolute howler of a set shot he was able to play his role for the team today. I wouldn’t say that Durham set the world on fire with his 11 disposals (at 82 per cent efficiency I might add) but he was able to contribute and play a positive role for the Bombers.
Peter Wright: The sauce comes home
Peter Wright has been a solid and serviceable recruit for the Bombers since crossing from the Suns. He brings a vital strength in the air, and a serviceable set shot on goal. Wright was able to being a leading light for the Bombers in the absence of Harry Jones, and the poor form of Cale Hooker.
While these terms might seem hyperbolic for a man who was never quite able to put things together at the Suns was able to assist the Bombers with 3 goals one behind from his 20 disposals and ten hitouts to put a cameo performance in for the Bombers.
In a week dominated by the news of the exposure of a high-profile Bomber and the movement of a flexible fixture Wright brought an important stability with his performance.
Bombers reliant on fast finishing yet again
The Bombers did not appear to respect the Kangaroos, jogging for large parts of the first half and only laying a paltry seven tackles for the first quarter.
The Bombers appeared bereft of any impetus or urgency to pressure the Kangaroos with Fox Footy’s pressure gauge barely even registering pressure for the first part of their match. The Kangaroos appeared to want the win substantially more in the shadows of half time.
As I said on the live comments thread it almost felt like the Bombers were tanking as they filed yet another chapter in the strange experience that is the machinations surrounding the bottom half of the eight this season.
The Bombers were not expected to be challenging at this point of their development, however, like 2017 they are confronted with facing the red hot Swans in a potential elimination final.
While it’s good to see the Bombers over perform I can’t help but wonder whether the higher draft pick would be more important for the development of the Bombers.
Jake Stringer storming to a possible Critchon Medal
Jake Stringer has been criticised in his time at the Bombers, mainly for poor taste in tattoos, but also for lack of self-efficacy. For the second time in four rounds Stringer was able to kick four goals to take his season total to 29 as he appears to finally be able to at least match his best return of 34 goals for the Bombers.
However, he has added another string to his bow (not a pun I promise) and that is his bullocking clearance work. He had another five clearances today to go with 17 disposals and 4 goals, while he has never quite obtained the heights of his Bulldogs career, he gives the Bombers forward line and midfield something completely different that is only held by a handful of players like Dustin Martin and Jordan De Goey.
A unique mix of explosiveness and strength in the air that lends a more mercurial style to the Bombers, one that I hope will be at the Bombers for another three to four years.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Final thoughts
This season has been derailed by COVID 19 yet again, that does not shape as good for the Bombers as they lost the previous five games at Metricon leading up to today.
This was an exceptionally frustrating match to watch but the Bombers were able to grind out the win and put themselves in the Eight, hopefully next week they will be able to stay in the eight.
Best on ground:
Will Snelling (10 Votes).
Matt Guelfi (6 votes).
Zach Merrett (56 votes).
Dyson Heppell (20 votes).
Peter Wright (13 votes).
Jake Stringer (37 votes).
Leaderboard:
Zach Merrett (56 Votes).
Darcy Parish (51 Votes).
Jake Stringer (37 Votes).
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I'd get rid of Cutler I actually don't think he was that good last two games not a great kick and didn't kick set shot for goal against gws . He was slightly better but I think he's a journeyman and he , gleeson , zacharachis and perhaps Francis should be moved on to bring in new vital blood . We have brilliant finds this year . Durham a major find . Caldwell will be worth more dev than Cutler . McGrath back in . Shiels too. Ham hasn't been too effective to poor lately but has had a good game or two this year so worth seeing of he can develop a better footballing brain and some bulk.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I do wonder if we missed a beat not taking Oliver Henry as a forward as he looks good for woods we would have given up ach Reid for him though . It was a close call apparently . We now have a forward issue too . Perhaps we should move Francis on . He seems to be out long periods and better off in sa perhaps . Shame but we can't have players just dissapearing for a month
Pierro
Roar Rookie
You've got alot of that right DjCJ . We should pull the pin on the season now . Sydney at Gabba ? Bulldogs back Melbourne ? Then back to gold coast . We should now play the kids rest cox , let McGrath heal . Durham is a fantastic find and draper needs more games but could give bryant a go for experience too . Give guelfi more games and maybe one of the lower draft picks if available Eyre or the other kid (think one is injured ) . Essentially if we lose to Sydney and bulldogs we can then go for some morale buiding wins to close but we may as well get a top ten draft pick and look for the the forward we need . (Wondering if we should have gone for oliver Henry as we were on the fence to select him over Reid ). Lots of players to come back next year : McGrath, Caldwell , hopefully hurley , Langford maybe this next week or two . Also have a talented but acl prone ex youth south Australia captain to give a go if his ACL holds up . Mosquito may not make it back he's struggling .
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I see Reid and Bryan playing half the games next season. Cox has huge upside, how many 200cm players do you see playing every game after their draft year.
Thatsashame
Roar Rookie
True but I think most teams have their 2 key forwards in the mid to high 190cms. The 3rd tall can be less. Thats why I like the Peter Wright,Cale Hooker and Harry Jones combo with Stringer or Langford as the other tall/versatile player. There's good marking strength and then players to bring it to ground and crumb.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I believe he can play limited roles well.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Ruckman Alan Morrow from St Kilda was 183cm. Jeremy Cameron is 196cm, Ugle-Hagen is 197cm. Baldwin is listed at 193cm, sometimes listed values need to be taken with a pinch of salt but is 3 or 4cm going to make that much difference anyway? Sometimes players play smaller or taller than their size. For example, Stringer and Daniher are not good contested marks for their size.
Thatsashame
Roar Rookie
Different era. John Nicolls was 188cm and considered a giant ruckman in his day. Now the big forwards are pushing 200cm.
adhitya0710
Roar Rookie
Did anyone else think Cuttler has been way more than half-decent in the last 2 games (weaker opposition, I agree). But prior to the Crows game, he was a just heavy-bodied player who couldn't do much.
DJCJ
Guest
Some slightly better kicking at goal, combined with a few guys who should have just taken the shot, and this would have been a 40 point win. Not to mention a utterly perplexing free kick count that was nearly 3 to 1 in the Roos favor. This is an ok side turning into a good side - when they can win as poorly as that. But bring that game in the next fortnight and they will embarrass themselves. Essendon looks likely to end up with the shortest straw by a fair way in terms of # games in their home state for the year, so that should hold them in good stead for next year. Will miss the 8 by a game and a half, finish 11th, get and use Pick 9, and see Shiel, Caldwell, McGrath and possibly Mosquito return plus new tall blood in Reid and Bryan. This covid saga will eventually be over by April next year....and this gets me excited as a Bomber fan.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Agree totally, reasonable height with speed is the recipe for a full forward.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Lloyd and Lucas were both 192 cm. There are a whole lot more people 200+ Cm that are a whole lot more coordinated
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
Do you really think 6ft 4inches (193-194cm) too short for a Full Forward? Locket was 191cm and Dunstall 188cm.
Seano
Roar Rookie
Why water am would pass to snelling inside 49 was beyond me! I was there at everyone groaned when it happened, a largely pro bombers crowd. Good day at the office though! Got the job done! Always good to the bombers live!
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
And now we're ahead of richmond so don't be surprised if they try and get one over us inrevenge
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah potentially- Kaine Baldwin is a bit short to be a key forward. He's more in line of a Stringer type. I think Wright can certainly take a few steps forward and is relishing not being the main man of the forward line. I think Jones is great as well
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Who knows, perhaps Baldwin will turn out to be the forward we need — we certainly picked enough talls in the last draft. I am confident that Jones will be very good, Hooker seems nearer the end and perhaps Peter Wright will improve once Hooker leaves. Would it be worth chasing a million dollar forward? Perhaps it would be better to have the forward talent spread more widely. Waterman could turn out to be quite a good player with more games. I don’t think anybody knows where Nik Cox will finish up playing.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Stringer can turn a game around in a half and he did it again, that is a rare talent but not something anyone can produce consistently. Durham had a good first game and an important smother in front of North’s goals late when the game was to be won. He is 20yo and was overlooked in the 2019 and 2020 drafts before playing with Richmond in the VFL this year. It would have been difficult for any 2019 18yo from Victoria to be picked up in the 2020 draft because of a lack of exposure. Dodoro and Essendon’s list management team did very well to get him with pick 9 in the mid-season draft just ahead of Richmond. I have been saying for some time now that there will be some gems who missed out in the 2019 and 2020 drafts, the difficulty is in identifying them.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Seven seater has been an extremely solid pick up for the Bombers. I think he can be a good stop gap or journeyman and while he started off as a top ten selection at the he never quite made it there.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Hopefully we can beat GWS this week.