Essendon
112
30
Brisbane Lions
65
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti |  | 30:09 | ||
| 29:28 |  | Rushed | ||
| J. Stringer | | 26:21 | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 24:10 | ||
| J. Stringer | | 22:15 | ||
| 20:29 | | D. McStay | ||
| M. Brown | | 16:24 | ||
| A. McGrath | | 14:52 | ||
| 10:51 | | C. Rayner | ||
| 9:52 | | Rushed | ||
| 0:50 | | E. Hipwood | ||
| 13.8 (86) | Third Quarter [+] | 7.8 (50) | ||
| 29:03 | | D. McStay | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 26:15 | ||
| 23:16 | | C. Cameron | ||
| 17:57 | | R. Mathieson | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 16:21 | ||
| M. Baguley | | 10:48 | ||
| 9:34 | | J. Berry | ||
| 8:30 | | H. McCluggage | ||
| 4:42 | | O. McInerney | ||
| 3:43 | | C. Cameron | ||
| 11.7 (73) | Second Quarter [+] | 3.5 (23) | ||
| 31:18 | | R. Mathieson | ||
| Z. Clarke | | 0:59 | ||
| O. Fantasia | | 29:19 | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 24:14 | ||
| J. Stringer | | 21:27 | ||
| M. Brown | | 17:14 | ||
| D. Smith | | 14:48 | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 14:12 | ||
| M. Brown | | 10:24 | ||
| 8:50 | | Rushed | ||
| 6:35 | | J. Berry | ||
| 4:50 | | D. McStay | ||
| A. McGrath | | 2:52 | ||
| 7.2 (44) | First Quarter [+] | 2.2 (14) | ||
| M. Baguley | | 31:21 | ||
| 28:04 | | L. McCarthy | ||
| 26:58 | | J. Berry | ||
| M. Brown | | 24:16 | ||
| J. Stringer | | 19:38 | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 15:45 | ||
| O. Fantasia | | 13:23 | ||
| 11:30 | | H. McCluggage | ||
| Z. Merrett | | 8:01 | ||
| 7:09 | | C. Cameron | ||
| J. Stringer | | 5:53 | ||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti | | 3:46 | ||
| Rushed | | 1:15 | ||
In what promises to be a match full of curiosity and intrigue, the resurgent Essendon Bombers take on the upstart Brisbane Lions at the theatre that is the MCG. Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for live scores and updates of the game.
Coming into this matchup, if you had said that the team on a record of one win, one loss was playing one of the unbeaten sides, you would not have been alone in thinking the struggling Lions are meeting the unbeaten Bombers.
What a fascinating start to the year it has been for these two sides.
The Bombers have flattered to deceive in the opening stages of season 2019, and their last-start win over the Demons, who until Thursday had failed to win a game, will not yet silence the naysayers for good.
So what has happened to the Bombers this season? Well, it has been a couple of things.
One is that their scoring in front of goal has been atrocious.
The Bombers still manage to get inside 50, on average, about 53 times a game, yet they are only averaging about 80 points a game, and when you factor in that they scored a whopping 130 against the Dees, then they a paltry 40 against the Giants, and a slightly less satisfactory 65 against the Saints.
So the Bombers scoring efficiency in attacking positions was awful, until last week.
The second issue for Essendon is that their contested possession stats leave a lot to be desired, averaging on 140 per game, however they managed only 116 against the Giants, a significantly improved 144 against the Saints, before last week upping the ante with 162 against the Demons.
The Bombers are a team that when they play harder at the ball, and improve their efficiency in front of goal, they can win games.
It really isn’t rocket science.
As for the Lions, well their stats funnily enough in comparison with inside 50s and contested possessions are remarkable, averaging 158 contested possessions per game and 58 inside 50s per game, resulting in 316 points scored (or an average of 100+ points per game).
What the new and improved Lions are doing well is winning the ball, and scoring from it.
You throw in a dash of Charlie Cameron magic, a pinch of Cam Rayner excellence, the ball-winning output of Lachie Neale (no coincidences there), and the hard-nut toughness of warrior Luke Hodge, and the Lions have a recipe for finding and maintaining winning ways.
Essendon were last-start winners against the Lions, and have won three out of these teams’ last five confrontations, but this year is a whole new ball-game, and you can’t read too much into the recent history.
Prediction
Bombers at home and coming off a win should put them in position to land win No.2 of the season, and hand a gallant and rapidly improving Lions team their first loss of the season.
Bombers by 10.
Join The Roar from 2:10pm (AEST) for live scores and blog of the game, and don’t forget to leave a comment in the comments section below.
When: Saturday, 13 April 2019, at 2:10 PM
Where: Melbourne, the MCG
TV: Fox Sports 3, AFL app and live streaming
Betting: Bombers $1.74, Lions $2.10, Lin 4.5 $1.90
Essendon Bombers
B Jordan Ridley, Patrick Ambrose, Conor McKenna
HB Andrew McGrath, Michael Hurley, Adam Saad
C David Zaharakis, Zach Merrett, Mason Redman
HF Darcy Parish, Zac Clarke, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
F Devon Smith, Mitch Brown, Mark Baguley
FOL Tom Bellchambers, Orazio Fantasia, Dylan Shiel
I/C Cale Hooker, Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Jake Stringer
EMG Kyle Langford, Aaron Francis, Matt Guelfi, Sam Draper
Brisbane Lions
B Luke Hodge, Harris Andrews, Daniel Rich
HB Alex Witherden, Darcy Gardiner, Mitch Robinson
C Jarrod Berry, Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage
HF Cam Rayner, Eric Hipwood, Lincoln McCarthy
F Charles Cameron, Daniel McStay, Oscar McInerney
FOL Stefan Martin, Dayne Zorko, Jarryd Lyons
I/C Allen Christensen, Josh Walker, Nick Robertson, Rhys Mathieson
EMG Ryan Bastinac, Lewis Taylor, Connor Ballenden, Archie Smith
perry cox
Roar Guru
I assure you I wasn't implying anything to suggest it wasn't entirely accidental.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
An accident, Ambose bodied Hipwood when he was airborne causing him to lift his leg, thankfully the injury to Myers wasn't as bad as it could have been.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
TBH I'd prefer to lose Fyfe over Neale.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
We're Baaack!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Welcome, Brisbane fans, to what it's like having Neale dominate whilst the team loses heavily. It's a bittersweet feeling.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Essendon have put the opening two rounds of the season well and truly into the scrapbook, with a dominating win over the Brisbane Lions 17.10 (112) to 9.11 (65). The man of the match was one Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, who owned the game singlehandedly with a seven goal haul, his best match to date. He was ably supported by Dylan Shiels in the middle, proving his worth for the Dons, while Zach Merrett and Mitch Brown were able servants for the home side. The game was essentially won and lost in the first quarter, as Essendon asserted their authority early with seven goal first quarter, that left the Lions in their wake. Essendon took a 49-point lead into the break, and looked unstoppable from there. to Brisbane’s credit, they came out firing in the second half, chipping away at that lead, and when Eric Hipwood scored early in the fourth quarter, anything looked possible. However, the final quarter, and ultimately the match, belonged to McDonald-Tipungwuti, who kicked his seventh with mere seconds on the clock. The match was ultimately won by the Bombers with a higher intensity on the ball, and accuracy in front, summed up perfectly by Brisbane, when in the final quarter they dominated the ball with 14 inside 50s to 1, but could only manage one goal. While the Lions are still tracking well, they will be reminded that to win in this competition, you cannot rest on your laurels, and they will have learned some solid lessons today. A disappointing day out from Charlie Cameron also did not help. As for the Bombers, this is the type of team they promised to deliver in the pre-season, and while the first two rounds would have been concerning, their last two efforts have been exhilarating. Bombers win by 47. Essendon Bombers – 112 Brisbane Lions – 65
Downsey
Roar Pro
Didn't get this broadcast in WA and I would have loved to watch Walla hit 7 freaking goals. And Neale with 40 disposals... Gah!
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Reality check for the Lions on the road while the Bombers find their mojo
30
29
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Goal 31' - And it is SEVEN FOR ANTHONY McDONALD-TIPUNGWUTI! What a performance, what a players, what a day out. The siren sounds to the cheering for a great performance by the Bomber. Essendon Bombers – 112 Brisbane Lions – 65
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Well, this is disappointing.
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 29‘ – Well what an absolutely dominating performance by the Bombers. All the more reason to ask what on earth was going on in those opening two rounds. The Bombers look frighteningly good, and ready to rumble. Lions have been solid, at times, but that slow first quarter ultimately cost them the chance to win. We are into the last minute of the game. Essendon Bombers – 106 Brisbane Lions – 64
26
karl serci
Guest
That would be Anthony
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q - Behind 27‘ – Stringer from the pocket set shot, he snaps, just missing the goal though. Essendon Bombers – 106 Brisbane Lions – 64
24
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q – Goal 25‘ – If there was any doubt about best on ground today – and there wasn’t – Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti puts the doubt to rest, with his sixth, likely the cream, and the crowd in raptures. It has been AMT’s day, and the Bombers have arrived in season 2019. Essendon Bombers – 105 Brisbane Lions – 64
22
perry cox
Roar Guru
4th Q 24‘ – Cameron burns up the middle with some pace. Makes sense, he's done little else today, so he wouldn't be tired. Rayner takes the mark inside 50, in the pocket, and his snap misses the lot. That kind of day for Brisbane really. Essendon Bombers – 99 Brisbane Lions – 64