TonyK
CibbuanoRound fifteen preview: Sydney v Essendon
July 10th 2009 15:19
VENUE and TIME: SCG, Saturday 11 July, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 207, Sydney 78, Essendon 128, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 21.17 (143) def Essendon 7.10 (52) Round 8 2008 at ANZ Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.
FORM: Sydney snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 15-point win over North Melbourne at the SCG last Sunday. The Swans are currently in tenth spot with a 6-8 win-loss record. Essendon occupies eighth place on the AFL ladder with seven wins.
MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney midfielder Jarrad McVeigh will play against Essendon despite tweaking his hamstring against North Melbourne while veteran defender Leo Barry remains on the sidelines with a knee injury. Swans spearhead Barry Hall has played his last game for the club after he announced on Tuesday he was quitting. For the Bombers, Jobe Watson returns from an ankle injury but Angus Monfries (hamstring) and Hayden Skipworth (kneecap) will miss. Scott Gumbleton (back) is sidelined indefinitely while ruckmen David Hille and Jason Laycock are out for the season with knee and foot injuries respectively.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Jarrad McVeigh vs. Andrew Lovett
Lovett has been one of Essendon’s most influential midfielders so far this season, averaging 21 disposals per game and booting 15 goals.
The 26-year-old is damaging with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Limiting his influence through the middle of the ground will be a key for the Swans if they are going to record a much-needed win.
McVeigh has been given the job on some of the competition’s most dangerous midfielders so far in 2009 and looms as the obvious candidate to be used in an attacking run with role.
The Sydney midfielder is more than capable of winning his fair share of the football and having an impact on the scoreboard - he will need to both on Saturday as it will force Lovett to be accountable which in turn will help limit his influence on the contest as an attacking midfielder.
Andrew Welsh vs. Adam Goodes
The last time these two sides met in round eight last year Goodes was among his side’s best with 27 disposals and five inside 50’s.
The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of the Swans’ midfield with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Essendon will be keen to quell his influence as he is the one player in the middle for Sydney that is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Welsh had the better of his duel with Carlton skipper Chris Judd last weekend and will be given the unenviable task of running with Goodes.
Not only did Welsh keep Judd quiet but he also helped himself to a game-high 30 possessions.
The Bombers will need Welsh to be proactive once again as it will force Goodes to be accountable.
Craig Bolton vs. Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd played a key role in the win over the Blues, booting four goals to take his season tally to 30 majors.
The Essendon skipper managed just one goal the last time these two sides met and faces another tough night at the office with the in-form Bolton to be his likely opponent.
Lloyd will need his midfield to break the lines and move the football quickly into the forward line if he is going to have any hope of winning his duel with the underrated Bolton.
If the Bombers overposses the football the Swans will be able to push numbers back and Lloyd will have no space in which to lead into.
Tayte Pears vs. Michael O’Loughlin
O’Loughlin starred in the win over the Bombers last year, booting six goals to help lift his side to a convincing 91-point victory.
With Hall gone O’Loughlin will most likely become the focal point up forward.
Pears has been impressive down back so far in 2009 and will most likely line-up on the Swans veteran who will be keen to help get his side to the finals in what will be his last season of AFL football.
The young Bombers defender will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters as O’Loughlin is still capable of breaking a game wide open with a quick two to three goal burst.
VERDICT: This match features two teams with very different styles with Sydney liking to play a lockdown brand of football while Essendon boasts a powerful running game. The Bombers have the pace to worry the Swans but on the small confines of the SCG they will struggle to find enough space to break the game open. Swans by 16 points.
SYDNEY SWANS v ESSENDON
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Paul Bevan, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Jared Crouch
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Martin Mattner
HF: Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O’Keefe, Craig Bird
F: Heath Grundy, Michael O’Loughlin, Adam Goodes
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Luke Ablett, Ed Barlow, Nick Malceski, Patrick Veszpremi
Emg: Ryan Brabazon, Michael Pyke, Jesse White
In: Ablett
Out: Ryan Brabazon
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Heath Hocking
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley, Dustin Fletcher
C: Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Andrew Lovett
HF: Brent Stanton, Scott Lucas, Jason Winderlich
F: Adam McPhee, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, Cale Hooker
Emg: Bachar Houli, Nathan Lovett-Murray, David Myers
In: Hurley, McVeigh, Watson
Out: Angus Monfries (hamstring), Hayden Skipworth (kneecap)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 207, Sydney 78, Essendon 128, Drawn 1
LAST TIME: Sydney 21.17 (143) def Essendon 7.10 (52) Round 8 2008 at ANZ Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: The honours have been shared in the past four clashes between these two sides.
FORM: Sydney snapped a four-game losing streak with a much-needed 15-point win over North Melbourne at the SCG last Sunday. The Swans are currently in tenth spot with a 6-8 win-loss record. Essendon occupies eighth place on the AFL ladder with seven wins.
MEDICAL ROOM: Sydney midfielder Jarrad McVeigh will play against Essendon despite tweaking his hamstring against North Melbourne while veteran defender Leo Barry remains on the sidelines with a knee injury. Swans spearhead Barry Hall has played his last game for the club after he announced on Tuesday he was quitting. For the Bombers, Jobe Watson returns from an ankle injury but Angus Monfries (hamstring) and Hayden Skipworth (kneecap) will miss. Scott Gumbleton (back) is sidelined indefinitely while ruckmen David Hille and Jason Laycock are out for the season with knee and foot injuries respectively.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Jarrad McVeigh vs. Andrew Lovett
Lovett has been one of Essendon’s most influential midfielders so far this season, averaging 21 disposals per game and booting 15 goals.
The 26-year-old is damaging with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Limiting his influence through the middle of the ground will be a key for the Swans if they are going to record a much-needed win.
McVeigh has been given the job on some of the competition’s most dangerous midfielders so far in 2009 and looms as the obvious candidate to be used in an attacking run with role.
The Sydney midfielder is more than capable of winning his fair share of the football and having an impact on the scoreboard - he will need to both on Saturday as it will force Lovett to be accountable which in turn will help limit his influence on the contest as an attacking midfielder.
Andrew Welsh vs. Adam Goodes
The last time these two sides met in round eight last year Goodes was among his side’s best with 27 disposals and five inside 50’s.
The dual Brownlow medallist is an integral part of the Swans’ midfield with his ability to break the lines and kick goals.
Essendon will be keen to quell his influence as he is the one player in the middle for Sydney that is capable of turning a game on its head with a quick burst of brilliance.
Welsh had the better of his duel with Carlton skipper Chris Judd last weekend and will be given the unenviable task of running with Goodes.
Not only did Welsh keep Judd quiet but he also helped himself to a game-high 30 possessions.
The Bombers will need Welsh to be proactive once again as it will force Goodes to be accountable.
Craig Bolton vs. Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd played a key role in the win over the Blues, booting four goals to take his season tally to 30 majors.
The Essendon skipper managed just one goal the last time these two sides met and faces another tough night at the office with the in-form Bolton to be his likely opponent.
Lloyd will need his midfield to break the lines and move the football quickly into the forward line if he is going to have any hope of winning his duel with the underrated Bolton.
If the Bombers overposses the football the Swans will be able to push numbers back and Lloyd will have no space in which to lead into.
Tayte Pears vs. Michael O’Loughlin
O’Loughlin starred in the win over the Bombers last year, booting six goals to help lift his side to a convincing 91-point victory.
With Hall gone O’Loughlin will most likely become the focal point up forward.
Pears has been impressive down back so far in 2009 and will most likely line-up on the Swans veteran who will be keen to help get his side to the finals in what will be his last season of AFL football.
The young Bombers defender will need to be switched on defensively for the full four quarters as O’Loughlin is still capable of breaking a game wide open with a quick two to three goal burst.
VERDICT: This match features two teams with very different styles with Sydney liking to play a lockdown brand of football while Essendon boasts a powerful running game. The Bombers have the pace to worry the Swans but on the small confines of the SCG they will struggle to find enough space to break the game open. Swans by 16 points.
SYDNEY SWANS v ESSENDON
SYDNEY SWANS
B: Paul Bevan, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Craig Bolton
HB: Rhyce Shaw, Ted Richards, Jared Crouch
C: Nick Smith, Brett Kirk, Martin Mattner
HF: Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O’Keefe, Craig Bird
F: Heath Grundy, Michael O’Loughlin, Adam Goodes
Foll: Darren Jolly, Kieren Jack, Jude Bolton
I/C: Luke Ablett, Ed Barlow, Nick Malceski, Patrick Veszpremi
Emg: Ryan Brabazon, Michael Pyke, Jesse White
In: Ablett
Out: Ryan Brabazon
ESSENDON
B: Henry Slattery, Tayte Pears, Heath Hocking
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Michael Hurley, Dustin Fletcher
C: Brent Prismall, Ricky Dyson, Andrew Lovett
HF: Brent Stanton, Scott Lucas, Jason Winderlich
F: Adam McPhee, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Andrew Welsh, Jobe Watson
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Mark McVeigh, Kyle Reimers, Cale Hooker
Emg: Bachar Houli, Nathan Lovett-Murray, David Myers
In: Hurley, McVeigh, Watson
Out: Angus Monfries (hamstring), Hayden Skipworth (kneecap)
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