Essendon
84
Match Complete
Richmond
123
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| 31:46 |  | D. Rioli | ||
| 29:54 | | K. McIntosh | ||
| 26:19 | | N. Balta | ||
| A. Perkins |  | 24:14 | ||
| 22:38 | | S. Bolton | ||
| 20:56 | | D. Martin | ||
| 17:50 | | S. Bolton | ||
| 15:34 | | J. Castagna | ||
| 12:03 | | J. Aarts | ||
| A. Waterman | | 10:39 | ||
| K. Langford | | 9:26 | ||
| C. Hooker | | 7:20 | ||
| A. Waterman | | 6:19 | ||
| C. Hooker | | 3:41 | ||
| 8.10 (58) | Third Quarter [+] | 12.8 (80) | ||
| 28:39 | | D. Martin | ||
| J. Stringer | | 26:32 | ||
| Rushed | | 25:30 | ||
| N. Cox | | 24:12 | ||
| Rushed | | 23:03 | ||
| 20:41 | | J. Graham | ||
| D. Parish | | 19:24 | ||
| Rushed | | 18:00 | ||
| 16:41 | | J. Castagna | ||
| A. Perkins | | 13:34 | ||
| 12:21 | | S. Bolton | ||
| A. Phillips | | 9:02 | ||
| B. Ham | | 4:36 | ||
| 0:43 | | Rushed | ||
| 5.4 (34) | Second Quarter [+] | 8.7 (55) | ||
| P. Ambrose | | 27:35 | ||
| B. Ham | | 25:57 | ||
| 24:27 | | C. Coleman-Jones | ||
| 22:03 | | J. Graham | ||
| A. Waterman | | 18:58 | ||
| 16:24 | | J. Caddy | ||
| A. Phillips | | 14:52 | ||
| 13:26 | | J. Aarts | ||
| 11:17 | | J. Riewoldt | ||
| 9:21 | | J. Riewoldt | ||
| N. Cox | | 8:41 | ||
| 4:01 | | C. Coleman-Jones | ||
| C. Hooker | | 2:05 | ||
| 0:58 | | J. Riewoldt | ||
| 1.2 (8) | First Quarter [+] | 4.3 (27) | ||
| 26:18 | | J. Riewoldt | ||
| D. Parish | | 23:31 | ||
| 18:59 | | J. Castagna | ||
| 17:21 | | J. Riewoldt | ||
| B. Ham | | 14:33 | ||
| H. Jones | | 11:48 | ||
| 9:30 | | D. Martin | ||
| 4:18 | | C. Coleman-Jones | ||
| 2:51 | | D. Prestia | ||
| 0:15 | | M. Chol | ||
A sellout crowd is expected to descend on Optus Stadium for the annual “Dreamtime” match, with the Essendon Bombers taking on the Richmond Tigers in the most surprising of locations. Don’t miss a moment of this traditional match with live scores right here on The Roar from 7:40pm (AEST).
The “Dreamtime at the ‘G” clash between these two sides has become one of the staples of the home-and-away season, and despite moving from the MCG due to Victoria’s COVID-19 outbreak, it looks set to remain one of the year’s biggest AFL events.
The Bombers haven’t saluted on Dreamtime night since 2014, but you suspect they’ll fancy their chances of causing an upset this time. The Bombers are in superb form, with all signs pointing to a bright future for Ben Rutten and his crop of young talent. Judging by their stunning comeback win over the Eagles at this very venue in Round 11, that future may not be all too distant, either.
With Darcy Parish in All-Australian form in midfield, a group of dangerous forwards led by Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Jake Stringer in full swing and captain Dyson Heppell reviving his career with a move to half-back, the Dons are firing on all cylinders, and appear primed and ready to take on the reigning champs.
Richmond have dealt with form troughs before in their four-year stint as the AFL’s resident top dogs, but 2021 feels different somehow. Clinging onto eighth spot with a 6-5 record, albeit with a massive injury toll, the Tigers have only shown patches of their best form, with off-field issues doing nothing to address their newfound unpopularity among rival supporters.
First-choice midfielders Shai Bolton and captain Trent Cotchin were welcome returns in their crucial Round 11 win over Adelaide, while another gun in veteran Shane Edwards returns from an extended lay-off just in time for Dreamtime. However, they have been replaced in the casualty ward by ruckman Toby Nankervis, with his absence far more difficult to replace. It will be up to Mabior Chol and third-gamer Callum Coleman-Jones to ensure the Bombers don’t rule the skies in Perth.
Game information
Opening bounce: 7:40pm (AEST)
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
TV: Fox Footy, Channel Seven (VIC/TAS/SA/NT), 7mate (NSW/QLD/WA)
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Now, Foxtel Go
Betting: Bombers $2.54, Tigers $1.51 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Essendon Bombers
B: 15 Jayden Laverde, 10 Aaron Francis, 14 Jordan Ridley
HB: 21 Dyson Heppell (c), 17 James Stewart, 19 Nick Hind
C: 1 Andrew McGrath, 7 Zach Merrett, 13 Nik Cox
HF: 16 Archie Perkins, 25 Jake Stringer, 23 Harrison Jones
F: 11 David Zaharakis, 26 Cale Hooker, 43 Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
FOLL: 34 Andrew Phillips, 3 Darcy Parish, 4 Kyle Langford
INT: 27 Mason Redman, 33 Brayden Ham, 35 Matt Guelfi, 45 Alex Waterman
EMG: 24 Nick Bryan, 28 Ned Cahill, 29 Patrick Ambrose, 30 Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
IN: Aaron Francis, Brayden Ham (R11 medical sub)
OUT: Brandon Zerk-Thatcher, Will Snelling
Richmond Tigers
B: 1 Nick Vlastuin, 21 Noah Balta, 2 Dylan Grimes
HB: 15 Jayden Short, 35 Nathan Broad, 14 Bachar Houli
C: 33 Kamdyn McIntosh, 9 Trent Cotchin (c), 22 Josh Caddy
HF: 16 Jake Aarts, 10 Shane Edwards, 34 Jack Graham
F: 40 Callum Coleman-Jones, 4 Dustin Martin, 8 Jack Riewoldt
FOLL: 41 Mabior Chol, 29 Shai Bolton, 3 Dion Prestia
INT: 7 Liam Baker, 11 Jason Castagna, 26 Riley Collier-Dawkins, 50 Marlion Pickett
EMG: 17 Daniel Rioli, 32 Samson Ryan, 45 Hugo Ralphsmith, 46 Ben Miller
IN: Marlion Pickett, Shane Edwards
OUT: Hugo Ralphsmith, Toby Nankervis
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Nah hope springs eternal
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
You are playing at Kardinia. Besides a Pinkie guarantee is akin to a kiss of death.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
We will beat the cats this year that’s a pinky guarantee haha
Dave
Roar Rookie
Thanks mate and likewise for yourself :)
1dog
Roar Rookie
Awesome! Might have a crack at that during the week. I hope the families well mate and chat to you next weekend :thumbup:
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Deleting this comment because it doesn’t make any sense
Dave
Roar Rookie
Nice work! Home made meatballs, mashed potatoes and veggies for tonight :)
Dave
Roar Rookie
Think you’re been a bit arrogant Chuck! We’ll just have to agree to disagree then.
1dog
Roar Rookie
Lamb roast tonight. Yourself?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
nah clearly I expect the umpires to kick the goals for us. But the umpiring was inept last night.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Lol you should cross over to Tigers doggie ???? What ya having for dinner tonight mate?
Dave
Roar Rookie
Yep, that’s the excuse he’s rolling with, and oh injuries to key players as well. I think most teams have injuries to key players on their list at present, therefore Chuck’s comment has little weight really.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Happy for the win, but yeah agree with you that Richmond really need to tighten up with conceding scores so easily. Haven’t done the math, but I think this year we’ve definitely allowed more points against on average than previous seasons dating back to 2017. Fair to say I think, our team from previous flag seasons, would’ve ensured that a comeback from the opposing team like last night wouldn’t have occurred either. Needs to be an area of focus going forward in the 2nd half of the season, that’s for certain as percentage is going to be important without a doubt too.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Chuck, that’s just a typical response from a disgruntled supporter from the losing team! Yes the bombers put up a good fight and played well, no doubt about that, but come on mate, you guys lost pretty comfortably by the final siren. Don’t think the umpires had an bearing on the end result really, you guys simply got outplayed in the 2nd half of that last quarter.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Tigers not really that impressive tonight. Essendon should never have been given a sniff. A very ordinary team although on the way up . . . perhaps. Well done to the folks of W.A. for turning up in force. hope to see you all there next week.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Mmmmaybe. Dab is no dab hand ya' know.
1dog
Roar Rookie
Does he cut timber with precision?
1dog
Roar Rookie
Bit bored Brazilian?
1dog
Roar Rookie
Ok 1 then.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Not that young, I was around for the 2000 flag