Adelaide v Essendon
By Will Brodie
THE Bombers are unlikely to take any risks with captain Jobe Watson's recurring hamstring injury - expect them to be conservative in his treatment, meaning he would miss one more week before returning to lead the midfield. That means the midfield will again lack class and experience. However, different players have stepped up in Essendon's consecutive wins - Jake Melksham, quiet against Richmond, led the way against Geelong, while Brent Stanton (27 possessions, 13 tackles) and David Zaharakis were prominent against the Tigers. The team looked better balanced with just two ruckmen playing, but the well-performed Tom Bellchambers remains extremely unlucky not to be in the team.
Michael Hurley has looked more settled playing in defence, where Tayte Pears is finding form after a belated start to the season. Up forward, Paddy Ryder and Stewart Crameri are back in form, and perennial small forward candidates Leroy Jetta and Alwyn Davey laid 11 tackles between them to help restore Essendon's reputation for applying finside-50 pressure.
The Age
Bombers start to soar
By Emma Quayle
JOBE Watson was still missing, a fresh hamstring injury keeping him in his suit and tie, but Heath Hocking was back in the middle. Cale Hooker was absent too, but Tayte Pears was back, lining up alongside Michael Hurley in defence again. This was a more accomplished, more settled outfit, no doubt. Hurley took yet another big step last night with his aggressive, focused job on Jack Riewoldt and others - David Zaharakis, Kyle Reimers, Stewart Crameri, Leroy Jetta and Pears, to start with - all did some meaningful things when the game was busy, and someone needed to do something. The Bombers are learning to share the load in all parts of the ground, but it was in the forward line that they found a new way last night. Having scored through their half-forwards against the Cats, the Bombers began in a more unpredictable way than they did last time around. The Bombers are a work in progress, but are starting to look a more layered side.
Sydney Morning Herald
Bombers beat Richmond by 39 points
By Roger Vaughan
Essendon smashed Richmond in the last term to win their Saturday night AFL match by 39 points at the MCG. The Bombers trailed by nearly four goals midway through the third term before they rallied to win 15.15 (105) to 9.12 (66). It was Essendon's first win in 10 matches at the MCG. The Tigers could not build on their advantage and the Bombers slowly worked their way back into the match. Essendon only trailed three points at the last change and suddenly could smell blood. But there were no signs of a clear Essendon win in the first term, when the lead changed five times. "We didn't play our best footy tonight and I thought Richmond were very good, particularly up to about halfway through that third quarter," said Bombers coach James Hird. "You can't put it down to one or two things, there are a lot of things that contribute to the game.”
essendonfc.com.au
Four players handed sanctions
FOUR Essendon players have been charged for engaging in a melee at quarter-time of the Round 16 match between the Bombers and Tigers, after the AFL’s Match Review Panel today assessed the weekend’s matches. Jake Melksham, Leroy Jetta and Ben Howlett have all been charged with a first offence and can accept a $1200 sanction with an early plea. Paddy Ryder has been charged with a second offence for his involvement in the melee, and can accept a $2100 sanction with an early plea.
Hooker tipper to make a return
ESSENDON could be bolstered by the return of Cale Hooker this week, with the key defender expected to make the trip west to play Adelaide on Friday night. Hooker, who has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a hamstring injury, will be eyeing a return to the field pending fitness tests during the course of the week. General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said Hooker’s inclusion would be a massive boost for the Bombers, following their 39-point win over the Tigers on Saturday. “Cale should be right to play. He’s missed the last three weeks and he is now really ready to go. “It’s been 28 days since he played so we do expect him to play Friday which is very pleasing and it is a massive boost for the defensive side of our game,” Hamilton said.
Pressure the key says Hird
Essendon's fierce tackling was the catalyst to its surging win over Richmond on Saturday night, according to coach James Hird. Hird admitted his side was outplayed by Richmond for most of the night and that a turnaround in pressure around the ball helped it overcome a tardy start. "On the back of some really good tackling in the third quarter and second half, I think we really got ourselves back into the game. After half-time that's an outstanding number of tackles," Hird said. In contrast to that game, when Essendon couldn't take its opportunities in front of goal, the Bombers stormed home to kick 10 unanswered goals. Hird said it was important to grind out this win when his team hadn't played to its maximum for the full game.
Despite being on the end of a heavy knock from teammate Kyle Hardingham, Michael Hurley was one of Essendon's key players in the win and kept Tigers' spearhead Jack Riewoldt to only one goal for the night. Hird said Travis Colyer was cleared of any concussion after a knock to the head, but was subbed out of the game at half-time after "not feeling good". Heath Hocking corked his gluteus muscle, but both players are expected to take on Adelaide next Friday night at AAMI Stadium.
