Essendon
96
Match Complete
Hawthorn
77
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| A. McDonald-Tipungwuti |  | 29:48 | ||
| 23:37 | | J. O'Meara | ||
| 21:51 |  | J. Impey | ||
| 19:13 | | L. Breust | ||
| 16:58 | | B. McEvoy | ||
| 15:42 | | Rushed | ||
| J. Begley | | 12:01 | ||
| J. Begley | | 10:10 | ||
| K. Langford | | 5:49 | ||
| 2:53 | | Rushed | ||
| 2:25 | | J. Ceglar | ||
| 1:17 | | Rushed | ||
| 11.11 (77) | Third Quarter [+] | 8.6 (54) | ||
| 30:02 | | T. Scully | ||
| A. Saad | | 27:55 | ||
| S. McKernan | | 27:26 | ||
| M. Guelfi | | 23:34 | ||
| D. Parish | | 20:48 | ||
| O. Fantasia | | 19:40 | ||
| J. Laverde | | 18:07 | ||
| 12:12 | | R. Henderson | ||
| D. Heppell | | 10:57 | ||
| 8:32 | | J. Cousins | ||
| 5:30 | | L. Shiels | ||
| S. McKernan | | 4:29 | ||
| J. Stringer | | 2:57 | ||
| 6.7 (43) | Second Quarter [+] | 6.4 (40) | ||
| 28:59 | | P. Puopolo | ||
| D. Heppell | | 26:29 | ||
| 24:55 | | J. Impey | ||
| T. Bellchambers | | 21:22 | ||
| O. Fantasia | | 19:01 | ||
| J. Laverde | | 16:48 | ||
| Z. Merrett | | 14:07 | ||
| 12:56 | | C. Glass | ||
| 10:42 | | J. Gunston | ||
| Rushed | | 8:53 | ||
| 5:47 | | J. Gunston | ||
| J. Stringer | | 4:18 | ||
| S. McKernan | | 3:34 | ||
| T. Bellchambers | | 1:49 | ||
| 2.2 (14) | First Quarter [+] | 2.3 (15) | ||
| 25:37 | | D. Moore | ||
| 22:36 | | J. Worpel | ||
| K. Langford | | 19:15 | ||
| D. Parish | | 18:26 | ||
| 16:12 | | T. Scully | ||
| 9:26 | | C. Glass | ||
| O. Fantasia | | 8:16 | ||
| J. Laverde | | 3:36 | ||
| 0:49 | | J. Ceglar | ||
It’s midtable fare as both Essendon and Hawthorn come off the bye to face off at Marvel Stadium. Join The Roar for live scores and blog from 7:50pm AEST.
Before the bye, Essendon choked Carlton into submission in a coach-killing performance. In the wet and cold Essendon had enough run and skill to overcome a listless Blues by 41 points.
Hawthorn on the other hand dropped a six-goal lead in Brisbane to lose by 19 points in a result symbolic of their season so far.
Both Essendon and Hawthorn are 2-3 in their last five and, despite Essendon getting a win last week, the bye couldn’t come quickly enough for both teams.
Essendon seem to have profited more from the week off, as they recall three key players – Dylan Shiel, Orazio Fantasia and Jake Stringer – for this game.
Hawthorn lose boom recruit Chad Wingard, but will bring back Ben McEvoy to work in tandem with Jonathon Ceglar.
With key inclusions, Essendon’s 22 looks the superior on paper – however their mediocre form so far in 2019 hasn’t been predicated on a poor squad.
Coach Jon Worsfold’s challenge to date has been formulating a game plan that can get the most out of talent at his disposal.
Hawthorn also have a near full strength team, sans Wingard and of course Tom Mitchell, and need to start putting it together to sneak into the eight.
Port and Richmond are holding seventh and eighth now but neither are doing it convincingly, so a run of wins for either Essendon or Hawthorn could see them arrest one of those spots.
The team with the most functioning forward line will get the points tonight. Essendon have a high functioning backline, conceding the third fewest points so far this season (818). Given that and Wingard missing this week, it’s hard to see where Hawthorn will find enough points to get over the line.
Stringer returning for the Bombers will be significant. Against Carlton, Essendon didn’t really need a forward talent to get the job done. Against a Hawthorn team with premiership quality still in the back six, Essendon will need that extra layer of class to win enough one-on-one contests to kick a winning score.
Prediction
This game will either be won inside Alistair Clarkson’s head or in Essendon’s forward 50. Sadly for Hawthorn, even Clarkson’s best-laid plans may struggle to bear fruit with his threadbare forward line.
If Essendon play with confidence and win the ball in midfield, they should have enough spark near goals to get the job done.
Essendon by 18 points.
Angela
Guest
My goodness Anon, for once I'm on the same page as you. Pathetic childish behaviour that wouldn't be accepted in kindergarten but part of a pattern the Hawks have always had of pushing the boundaries of acceptable practice for decades. Sicily last year, for example, trod on an opposition player's hand while the player was on the ground. Fantasia is a class act, so pleased the Bombers won. We'll see how the pincher goes next week at the SCG.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Emphatic win to the bombers, well done.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hawks are in limbo it seems. Not bad, not very good.
Bruce
Guest
Actually I'll retract that. Just looked like a bit of push and shove between McEvoy and Saad. Poppy looked very angry.
Bruce
Guest
Yep - reportable. But punishment will be a fine. They wouldn't have risked it otherwise. It's clearly a club sanctioned tactic.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Under law 21.2.2(t) it's a reportable offence: https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/AFL/Files/2019%20Laws%20of%20Australian%20Football.pdf But watch Chrisso give it the all clear.
Bruce
Guest
Good call Lucas
Bruce
Guest
They've shown a few replays of it and looks like Big Boy said something to Saad he didn't like which started the whole thing.
Bruce
Guest
And by that I mean the HFC would have checked with the umpiring department as to the punishment for the offence. It's probably just a fine.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Have excellent evenings and I'll catch you next week!
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
That's me signing off for the night. Next week the Bombers have the Eagles in Perth on Thursday in a big big test. They've shown they can beat mediocre teams... now let's see how they do against a good one. The Hawks are also way in Sydney desperate to regain some form and confidence.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT. The Bombers survive a late minor tremor to run out 19 point winners tonight at Marvel Stadium. The win was set up entirely in the third quarter, where Essendon put on 5 goals to 2 (1 of which was in the last second from Tom Scully). The third allowed Essendon to impose their blueprint on the game of quick transition, strong tackling and an impenetrable back zone. In contrast the first half was a more even affair, with both teams looking slightly off their best. Hawthorn dominated possession but struggled to hit targets inside 50, while Essendon were inefficient going forward and missed chances to build a lead despite looking more threatening. When it counted in that third quarter, Essendon’s big name players stood up. Dylan Shiel grew into the game in the first half, as did Zach Merrett, but in the third quarter they took over the stoppages while small forwards Darcy Parish, Josh Begley, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Kyle Langford made it near impossible for Hawthorn to escape Essendon’s forward half. And, when they did, Michael Hurley, Conor McKenna, Cale Hooker, Adam Saad and Mason Redman blunted every attack. For Hawthorn their composure in possession deserted them in that third quarter, and coupled with an already misfiring forward line, their chances of getting a result in this game seemed more marginal as the quarter unfolded. In the last quarter Essendon continued their momentum, but with the game already won, let Hawthorn in to kick the last 3 goals and provide a low-level scare. But while they took a few more risks late in this game, Hawthorn could not find a meaningful path through the Essendon defence and never looked a realistic chance of an upset. Ultimately it was the sort of game where both coaches will leave a little disappointed. Essendon only put their plan A together for about 40 minutes tonight – and may have to do without Jake Stringer for an extended period with an ankle injury - whereas Hawthorn never really got going. Hawthorn may take some comfort out of the fact that Essendon are a top-tier defence, and they won’t face another like it for a while – but tonight’s result made the point resoundingly for Alastair Clarkson that his forward structure needs a lot of work. MAN OF THE MATCH is a toss-up really. A number of players had big games and not one player really shone out for the full 4 quarters. For Hawthorn Worpel for his sheer weight of disposals was telling, as was Shiels, but similarly Michael Hurley was superb for Essendon in repelling the better work of that two. I’ll give Man of the Match to Zach Merrett – 28 touches and 4 clearances. He really shone in the third quarter when the match was won.
James Robinson
Roar Rookie
You sir win comment of the night!!!
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Roaming Brian. Shoot me please.....
Birdman
Roar Rookie
#freepinchhawthorn
anon
Roar Pro
Stratton is a coward would love to see him on the end of an old fashioned shirtfront.
Johnno
Guest
So Stratton pinched his way through the game. Didn’t Ballentyne get suspended or at least abused ...for allegedly doing the same. Get into Stratton.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Xavier Campbell is an exciting interview. Wowee
James Robinson
Roar Rookie
Agreed!! Not the worst call by far. Can't blame the umpire for being blindsided
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Commentators filling their boots post match. Stratton to be hung, drawn and quartered in Bourke street mall next Wednesday.....