Essendon
115
Match Complete
Adelaide Crows
97
| Fourth Quarter | ||||
| 30:41 |  | L. Murphy | ||
| 29:21 | | R. Sloane | ||
| 23:26 | | T. Walker | ||
| N. Martin | | 21:53 | ||
| K. Langford | | 18:42 | ||
| 17:06 | | I. Rankine | ||
| 14:28 |  | I. Rankine | ||
| 13:19 | | B. Keays | ||
| 4:46 | | B. Smith | ||
| 3:33 | | Rushed | ||
| J. Stringer | | 1:47 | ||
| 14.13 (97) | Third Quarter [+] | 9.5 (59) | ||
| P. Wright | | 27:10 | ||
| Rushed | | 25:56 | ||
| 19:49 | | D. Fogarty | ||
| 14:05 | | C. Jones | ||
| 11:56 | | M. Hinge | ||
| 10:02 | | Rushed | ||
| A. McGrath | | 9:06 | ||
| Rushed | | 8:40 | ||
| J. Stringer | | 7:17 | ||
| M. Guelfi | | 5:27 | ||
| 0:42 | | I. Rankine | ||
| 12.9 (81) | Second Quarter [+] | 7.2 (44) | ||
| M. Guelfi | | 27:41 | ||
| J. Menzie | | 22:07 | ||
| P. Wright | | 18:27 | ||
| J. Kelly | | 13:06 | ||
| 9:05 | | L. Pedlar | ||
| B. Hobbs | | 7:23 | ||
| P. Wright | | 5:07 | ||
| 3:35 | | T. Walker | ||
| A. Perkins | | 2:03 | ||
| 8.6 (54) | First Quarter [+] | 5.2 (32) | ||
| M. Guelfi | | 31:55 | ||
| Rushed | | 30:55 | ||
| K. Langford | | 0:52 | ||
| 0:20 | | T. Walker | ||
| 26:55 | | D. Fogarty | ||
| 25:17 | | N. McHenry | ||
| P. Wright | | 23:29 | ||
| 20:34 | | R. Thilthorpe | ||
| P. Wright | | 19:31 | ||
| 18:07 | | L. Pedlar | ||
| Rushed | | 16:45 | ||
| Rushed | | 15:08 | ||
| N. Martin | | 12:45 | ||
| Z. Merrett | | 11:01 | ||
| 8:21 | | B. Keays | ||
| J. Menzie | | 7:19 | ||
| K. Langford | | 6:02 | ||
| Rushed | | 4:35 | ||
| 3:57 | | T. Walker | ||
| P. Wright | | 2:10 | ||
| M. Redman | | 0:37 | ||
Essendon face a season-defining clash against Adelaide in a match that looms as decisive for both teams’ finals hopes. Join The Roar for live scores from 3:20pm (AEST).
Brad Scott’s Bombers continue to punch away in the middle of the pack, seeking a finals appearance to boost the hopes of a supporter base that can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
The Bombers did all but beat the Power last time out, and despite two losses on the trot leading into this clash, have the runs on the board in 2023 to suggest that a win is possible.
Adelaide pumped the Kangaroos last week and outside off the bad loss to the Suns in early June, have played well against the Pies and West Coast in recent weeks, with Tex Walker enjoying something of a renaissance.
The Crows have a decent run home and a win here would set them up nicely for September action, with the scalp of the Bombers a crucial one considering how close the teams are to each other on the ladder.
Prediction
Good luck tipping the winner in this one, with both teams desperate to remain in the eight and still hopeful of a late charge that threatens the top four. The Bombers will enjoy the home track, yet do need to tighten up defensively in the centre of the field.
When the Crows play with passion and intent, they can challenge any team and despite being on the road, they might just get over the line in what should be a ripping affair.
Adelaide by 11 points
Game information
Venue: Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
First bounce: 3:20pm (AEST)
TV: Channel 7, Fox Footy
Streaming: Kayo Sports
Betting: Bombers $1.81, Crows $2.00 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
Essendon
B: A. McGrath, B. Zerk-Thatcher, J. Laverde
HB: K. Langford, J. Ridley, M. Redman
C: N. Martin, Z. Merrett (c), D. Heppell
HF: S. Durham, S. Weideman, J. Caldwell
F: M. Guelfi, P. Wright, J. Stringer
R: A. Phillips, D. Parish, A. Perkins
I/C: B. Hobbs, W. Snelling, J. Kelly, J. Menzie
EMG: D. Shiel, N. Cox, N. Hind, N. Bryan
NO CHANGE
Adelaide
B: M. Michalanney, N. Murray, B. Smith
HB: W. Milera, J. Worrell, M. Hinge
C: N. McHenry, J. Dawson (c), R. Sloane
HF: J. Rachele, D. Fogarty, R. Thilthorpe
F: L. Murphy, T. Walker, I. Rankine
R: R. O’Brien, R. Laird, B. Keays
I/C: C. Jones, L. Pedlar, J. Soligo, L. Sholl
EMG: H. Schoenberg, E. Himmelberg, J. Borlase, P. Parnell
IN: Sholl (R16 sub).
OUT: Butts.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Two more wins make 11 for the season. Probably not enough to make the 8. I'm thinking they need to beat either Bulldogs or Swans at Marvel for 12 wins.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Dawson and Rankine will be the warlord and spear of the Crow’s going forward
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I think I still have questions particularly as Tex Walker isn't getting any younger, while I do think Thilthorpe will take over for him next year the output wont be exactly the same as Walker is essentially like a big half forward
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
They'll go good as they have some once in a generation players but the rate of improvement is the issue
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think more sides need to take pages out of the Bombers and Crows books the afl needs to do a better job of encouraging shootouts
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
But I think Nicks has done enough to earn a contract extension if the Crows go backwards next year he will be in trouble
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Prolly out first week.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Yep
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
From eighth?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Gritty and low scoring :laughing:
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
sucks to be you then because that is exactly what we are all going to get
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Agreed
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Their fixture is ridiculously easy though. Will it be enough ? I think it’d be better for the competition if they didn’t make it :silly:
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Saints hammered by injury though Pete?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Bombers to play a preliminary final.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Ink for Eagles and North, pencil for the rest.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
If we're not improving at a better rate it'll be 2 years before a PF. For better or worse I'm a hard marker.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Bombers have an interesting run home; Cats (A), WB (H), Swans (H), WCE (H), NM (A), Giants (A), Coll (H). All but Collingwood are below them on the ladder, for the moment. I'd love for them to play finals, but sneaking into 8th is no good for managing expectation.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Good at home, not so good away. On the right trajectory though. Expect big things from them next year but it doesn’t always work out that way.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Just not good enough. We seem to be marking time which effectively is going backwards.