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GWS Giants vs Essendon Bombers: Giants belt Bombers 112-40

Roar Guru
24th March, 2019
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GWS Giants

112

Match Complete

Essendon

40

28
GWS112 : 40ESS

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Roar Guru
24th March, 2019
132

GWS Giants

112

Match Complete

Essendon

40

Fourth Quarter
28:25M. Baguley
27:39K. Langford
22:56A. Francis
20:53S. McKernan
J. Cameron15:29
D. Lloyd12:18
L. Keeffe11:55
J. Cameron11:28
S. Coniglio8:42
S. Coniglio7:01
T. Taranto5:36
T. Greene2:28
S. Coniglio0:40
29:29K. Langford
25:52Rushed
J. Cameron23:15
21:18O. Fantasia
T. Taranto19:11
L. Keeffe17:59
13:49O. Fantasia
J. Hopper12:39
T. Greene8:50
J. Cameron7:14
B. Deledio6:26
B. Daniels4:08
J. Cameron30:23
L. Keeffe27:01
H. Shaw20:58
17:43M. Brown
L. Keeffe15:44
14:09K. Langford
H. Perryman12:45
10:31J. Stringer
L. Keeffe6:22
J. Hopper5:37
S. Coniglio2:36
H. Perryman1:20
B. Daniels0:26
J. Cameron28:33
M. D. Boer26:05
19:11O. Fantasia
J. Finlayson14:00
D. Lloyd10:15
7:32T. Bellchambers
6:19D. Myers
H. Himmelberg4:46
3:20D. Shiel

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Match result:

Greater Western Sydney have humiliated Essendon by 72 points at Giants Stadium.

Despite going into the game almost even money, the Bombers looked listless in attack, managing just five goals for the entire game.

The visitors started brightly in some respects, dominating in the midfield in the first few minutes. But the skill level across the field was poor.

The Bombers’ forward entries were shallow and impotent, an issue that would prove to be a feature of the entire game.

GWS also had trouble finding fluent, clean footy in the first quarter, but were much more efficient around goal, and took a handy sixteen point lead to quarter time.

As expected, the game opened up a little in the second term as the teams found a bit rhythm. But the Bombers still found it difficult to use the ball effectively, and began to fall behind in the midfield.

With Stephen Coniglio and Tim Taranto controlling through the centre for GWS, they pulled away from their opponents, opening up a 33-point break at half time.

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The trend continued after the main break, as GWS grew more and more and Essendon struggled. Bad mistakes racked up for the visitors, as they repeatedly conceded goals from turnovers and let the margin blew out to ten goals.

Cameron was providing a potent target up forward, ably supported by a surprising source in Lachie Keeffe, who had three goals to three-quarter time.

It wasn’t until after the three-quarter time siren that the Bombers managed their third major.

With the contest over the final term was anticlimactic, and John Worsfold would have been gnashing his teeth as his side gave up dumb mistakes and let the margin balloon out.

While Essendon had a couple of late consolation goals, they’ll wear the percentage hit from today like a weight around their necks for the whole season – that is, if they can recover to be a real finals threat.

Next week, the Bombers meet one of the wooden spoon fancies in St Kilda. That would have felt like an automatic win, but they’ll be vulnerable to any side if they play as poorly as they did today.

Certainly the Saints will feel emboldened watching the tape of this game, and the lack of potency going forward for Essendon.

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They must recover, quickly and dramatically.

GWS for their part will be thrilled with the result, and the individual performances of some of their stars and young players.

Coniglio, Taranto and Hopper were superb in the middle, Cameron kicked four goals, and Tomlinson and Finlayson had good games.

They have a tough draw to start the season, but will take a lot of confidence from this result, with key players to return.

In six days they travel to Perth to take on the reigning premiers, a game that might give us a better indication than today’s glorified training run of where they really sit in the pecking order.

Final score
GWS Giants 16.16.112
Essendon Bombers 5.10.40

Match preview:

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Round 1 continues in Sydney, as the GWS Giants host the Essendon Bombers at the Adelaide Oval. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 3:20pm AEDT.

Both sets of fans today would go in with a combination of anticipation and nervousness.

GWS have been long predicted for great things, but despite the wealth of talent they have access to they haven’t quite capitalised.

They still have a very impressive team and could easily be contenders this year, but there is a sense that their chances are slipping away.

Essendon on the other hand have been emerging from the shadow of the doping scandal that turned the club upside down, but now appear to have put together a pretty strong team.

After falling backwards out of the finals in 2018, however, they will be desperate for improvement this year.

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The big hope for the Bombers revival is in fact a former Giant; prolific midfielder Dylan Shiel.

The 26-year-old probably hasn’t quite fulfilled the promise he showed early in his career but will bolster a slightly thin Essendon centreline.

After the Bombers did so well from their last GWS recruit – best and fairest winner Devon Smith – expectations are likely to be high for Shiel.

Otherwise though it’s a familiar looking lineup for the Bombers, with no other new players.

GWS, for their part, have not named one player who hasn’t played for them before, the only side to do that in round one this year.

But despite losing players in the most recent off-season, GWS coach Leon Cameron will be looking for improvement from the team’s talented youngsters, in particular Tim Taranto and Harry Himmelberg.

They will also be hoping for a better run with injury this season, although today they are without Nick Haynes, Aidan Corr, Shane Mumford and Callan Ward, with Jon Patton to return mid year.

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Essendon for their part will be without spearhead Joe Daniher.

Prediction
It’s a pretty even contest on paper, particularly with the Giants’ absentees. Honestly, I think we’d all be forgiven for saying we just don’t know what’s going to happen this afternoon.

Essendon had a comfortable win last time they played at this venue, but nevertheless I’ll give the edge to the Giants at their home ground.

GWS by 2 points.

Kick-off: 3.20pm AEDT Spotless Stadium, 24 March 2019
TV: Channel 7, Foxsports

Last five games
Round 10, 26 May 2018, Showground Stadium, GWS defeated by Essendon 60-95
Round 11, 3 Jun 2017, Showground Stadium, GWS defeats Essendon 117-101
Round 13, 19 Jun 2016, Marvel Stadium, Essendon defeated by GWS 90-117
Round 19, 9 Aug 2015, Showground Stadium, GWS defeats Essendon 93-61
Round 12, 7 Jun 2014, Showground Stadium, GWS defeated by Essendon 66-81

GWS Giants
B Heath Shaw, Phil Davis, Zac Williams
HB Adam Kennedy, Sam Taylor, Lachie Whitfield
C Adam Tomlinson, Tim Taranto, Harry Perryman
HF Brett Deledio, Harry Himmelberg, Brent Daniels
F Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Daniel Lloyd
FOL Dawson Simpson, Stephen Coniglio, Jacob Hopper
I/C Matt de Boer, Lachlan Keeffe, Jeremy Finlayson, Sam J. Reid

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Essendon Bombers
B Adam Saad, Patrick Ambrose, Conor McKenna
HB Mitch Brown, Michael Hurley, Jordan Ridley
C David Zaharakis, David Myers, Dylan Shiel
HF Dyson Heppell, Jake Stringer, Mark Baguley
F Zach Merrett, Shaun McKernan, Orazio Fantasia
FOL Tom Bellchambers, Kyle Langford, Andrew McGrath
I/C Matt Guelfi, Devon Smith, Aaron Francis, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

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