TonyK
CibbuanoRound four preview: North Melbourne v Essendon
April 18th 2009 15:27
VENUE and TIME: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 19 April, 1.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 143, North Melbourne 49, Essendon 93, Draws 1
LAST TIME: Essendon 19.8 (122) def North Melbourne 9.13 (67), Round 1 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won six of its past seven against Essendon with all but one of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North won its first game of the season against last year’s wooden spooners Melbourne but has since suffered losses to the Western Bulldogs and reigning premiers Hawthorn. Essendon has bounced back from a 41-point loss to Port Adelaide in round one with victories over Fremantle and Carlton.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Kangaroos are without Jesse Smith (hamstring) and Liam Anthony (foot) while midfielder Daniel Wells was ruled out indefinitely earlier in the week with a hip injury. The Bombers will be without Heath Hocking (toe) but they welcome back midfielder Mark McVeigh who will play his first game of the season after injuring his ankle in the NAB Cup. Scott Gumbleton (back) and Jason Laycock (foot) are sidelined indefinitely while young defender Michael Hurley (quad) and Kyle Reimers (tendonitis) are at least a fortnight away.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Josh Gibson vs. Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd turned back the clock against Carlton last weekend, pulling down 10 marks - six of which were contested - and booting five goals to inspire his side to a thrilling four-point win over the Blues.
The last time these two sides met in round one last year Lloyd starred, booting six goals as the Bombers cruised to a convincing 55-point win.
If the Kangaroos are going to be any hope of recording a much-needed win they will need to curtail Lloyd’s influence on the contest.
Gibson was far from disgraced in his duel with Hawthorn star Lance Franklin last weekend and could well be given first crack at the Essendon skipper.
The Kangaroos will need to shut-down Essendon’s band of runners and deny them the use of the corridor if they are going to contain Lloyd and co.
Mark McVeigh vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey racked up 23 possessions in the loss to the Hawks but he wasn’t at his damaging best with the Kangaroos skipper managing just one scoring assist, no bounces and just four contested possessions.
The 30-year-old was influential in his side’s last win over the Bombers in round 7, 2007, with 30 possessions, one goal, four inside 50’s and three goal assists.
In last weekend’s loss to the reigning premiers the Kangaroos managed just five bounces for the game while the Hawks finished the match with 20.
The Roos will need the likes of Harvey to take the game on and break the lines if they are going to be any chance of securing the four premiership points.
Henry Slattery is an option for Essendon coach Matthew Knights to tag Harvey but he will most likely get a job on one of the Kangaroos' dangerous small forwards.
With this in mind, McVeigh looms as the obvious candidate to run with Harvey.
McVeigh averaged 22 disposals per game and booted 14 goals in 2008 and has the ability to hurt Harvey the other way.
Brady Rawlings vs. Jobe Watson
Watson overcame a sluggish start to be one of his side’s best in the win over the Blues with 20 disposals and five inside 50s.
In the round one clash between these two sides last year Watson was influential with 30 touches, seven marks, five tackles, one goal and three goal assists.
Watson is an integral part of Essendon’s midfield with his ability to win the football at stoppages and use it cleanly by hand to find the likes of Jason Winderlich, Andrew Lovett and co. in space.
Limiting Watson’s effectiveness in close will be a key for the Kangaroos if they are going to shut-down Essendon’s running game.
Expect Rawlings, who is effective in close and was among his side’s best in the loss to the Hawks with a team-high 35 possessions, to go head-to-head with Watson in the middle in what will be a pivotal duel.
Darcy Daniher vs. David Hale
The Roos entered inside their forward 50 just three fewer times than Hawthorn last weekend but they had nine fewer scoring shots.
Their lack of a key marking target inside 50 proved to be costly - they will need someone like Hale to step up on Sunday if they are going to end a two-match losing streak.
Knights left Daniher on Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola all night last weekend and will most likely give him the task of matching up on Hale.
Hale showed in the latter stages of last season they he is capable of being a dangerous forward - he booted 21 of his 37 goals for the year in the last six games of 2008.
If the Roos can get the ball quickly inside 50 and not go wide then Hale is a chance to have a major impact.
VERDICT: North Melbourne has lost its past two matches but the Kangaroos are always at their best when their backs are against them wall so it would be a brave man to write them off in this clash. But on a fast track at Etihad Stadium Essendon‘s pace through the middle should prove to be the difference. Bombers by 27 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v ESSENDON
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Scott McMahon, Scott Thompson, Daniel Pratt
HB: Gavin Urquhart, Lachlan Hansen, Josh Gibson
C: Brady Rawlings, Michael Firrito, Leigh Harding
HF: Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Ben Warren
F: Matt Campbell, David Hale, Lindsay Thomas
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell
I/C: Ed Lower, Josh Smith, Sam Power, Andrew Swallow
Emg: Levi Greenwood, Daniel Harris, Todd Goldstein
In: Warren, Lower
Out: Daniel Wells (hip), Corey Jones
New: Ben Warren (Zillmere Eagles)
ESSENDON
B: Dustin Fletcher, Darcy Daniher, Henry Slattery
HB: Tayte Pears, Adam McPhee, Courtenay Dempsey
C: Angus Monfries, Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson
HF: Jason Winderlich, Scott Lucas, David Zaharakis
F: Patrick Ryder, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: David Hille, Jobe Watson, Andrew Lovett
I/C: Hayden Skipworth, Mark McVeigh, Michael Quinn, Jay Nash
Emg: Leroy Jetta, Sam Lonergan, Nathan Lovett-Murray
In: McVeigh, McPhee, Quinn
Out: David Myers, Heath Hocking (toe), Leroy Jetta
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 143, North Melbourne 49, Essendon 93, Draws 1
LAST TIME: Essendon 19.8 (122) def North Melbourne 9.13 (67), Round 1 2008 at Etihad Stadium
RECENT HISTORY: North Melbourne has won six of its past seven against Essendon with all but one of those wins coming at Etihad Stadium.
FORM: North won its first game of the season against last year’s wooden spooners Melbourne but has since suffered losses to the Western Bulldogs and reigning premiers Hawthorn. Essendon has bounced back from a 41-point loss to Port Adelaide in round one with victories over Fremantle and Carlton.
MEDICAL ROOM: The Kangaroos are without Jesse Smith (hamstring) and Liam Anthony (foot) while midfielder Daniel Wells was ruled out indefinitely earlier in the week with a hip injury. The Bombers will be without Heath Hocking (toe) but they welcome back midfielder Mark McVeigh who will play his first game of the season after injuring his ankle in the NAB Cup. Scott Gumbleton (back) and Jason Laycock (foot) are sidelined indefinitely while young defender Michael Hurley (quad) and Kyle Reimers (tendonitis) are at least a fortnight away.
KEY MATCH-UPS: Josh Gibson vs. Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd turned back the clock against Carlton last weekend, pulling down 10 marks - six of which were contested - and booting five goals to inspire his side to a thrilling four-point win over the Blues.
The last time these two sides met in round one last year Lloyd starred, booting six goals as the Bombers cruised to a convincing 55-point win.
If the Kangaroos are going to be any hope of recording a much-needed win they will need to curtail Lloyd’s influence on the contest.
Gibson was far from disgraced in his duel with Hawthorn star Lance Franklin last weekend and could well be given first crack at the Essendon skipper.
The Kangaroos will need to shut-down Essendon’s band of runners and deny them the use of the corridor if they are going to contain Lloyd and co.
Mark McVeigh vs. Brent Harvey
Harvey racked up 23 possessions in the loss to the Hawks but he wasn’t at his damaging best with the Kangaroos skipper managing just one scoring assist, no bounces and just four contested possessions.
The 30-year-old was influential in his side’s last win over the Bombers in round 7, 2007, with 30 possessions, one goal, four inside 50’s and three goal assists.
In last weekend’s loss to the reigning premiers the Kangaroos managed just five bounces for the game while the Hawks finished the match with 20.
The Roos will need the likes of Harvey to take the game on and break the lines if they are going to be any chance of securing the four premiership points.
Henry Slattery is an option for Essendon coach Matthew Knights to tag Harvey but he will most likely get a job on one of the Kangaroos' dangerous small forwards.
With this in mind, McVeigh looms as the obvious candidate to run with Harvey.
McVeigh averaged 22 disposals per game and booted 14 goals in 2008 and has the ability to hurt Harvey the other way.
Brady Rawlings vs. Jobe Watson
Watson overcame a sluggish start to be one of his side’s best in the win over the Blues with 20 disposals and five inside 50s.
In the round one clash between these two sides last year Watson was influential with 30 touches, seven marks, five tackles, one goal and three goal assists.
Watson is an integral part of Essendon’s midfield with his ability to win the football at stoppages and use it cleanly by hand to find the likes of Jason Winderlich, Andrew Lovett and co. in space.
Limiting Watson’s effectiveness in close will be a key for the Kangaroos if they are going to shut-down Essendon’s running game.
Expect Rawlings, who is effective in close and was among his side’s best in the loss to the Hawks with a team-high 35 possessions, to go head-to-head with Watson in the middle in what will be a pivotal duel.
Darcy Daniher vs. David Hale
The Roos entered inside their forward 50 just three fewer times than Hawthorn last weekend but they had nine fewer scoring shots.
Their lack of a key marking target inside 50 proved to be costly - they will need someone like Hale to step up on Sunday if they are going to end a two-match losing streak.
Knights left Daniher on Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola all night last weekend and will most likely give him the task of matching up on Hale.
Hale showed in the latter stages of last season they he is capable of being a dangerous forward - he booted 21 of his 37 goals for the year in the last six games of 2008.
If the Roos can get the ball quickly inside 50 and not go wide then Hale is a chance to have a major impact.
VERDICT: North Melbourne has lost its past two matches but the Kangaroos are always at their best when their backs are against them wall so it would be a brave man to write them off in this clash. But on a fast track at Etihad Stadium Essendon‘s pace through the middle should prove to be the difference. Bombers by 27 points.
NORTH MELBOURNE v ESSENDON
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: Scott McMahon, Scott Thompson, Daniel Pratt
HB: Gavin Urquhart, Lachlan Hansen, Josh Gibson
C: Brady Rawlings, Michael Firrito, Leigh Harding
HF: Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Ben Warren
F: Matt Campbell, David Hale, Lindsay Thomas
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Adam Simpson, Jack Ziebell
I/C: Ed Lower, Josh Smith, Sam Power, Andrew Swallow
Emg: Levi Greenwood, Daniel Harris, Todd Goldstein
In: Warren, Lower
Out: Daniel Wells (hip), Corey Jones
New: Ben Warren (Zillmere Eagles)
ESSENDON
B: Dustin Fletcher, Darcy Daniher, Henry Slattery
HB: Tayte Pears, Adam McPhee, Courtenay Dempsey
C: Angus Monfries, Brent Stanton, Ricky Dyson
HF: Jason Winderlich, Scott Lucas, David Zaharakis
F: Patrick Ryder, Matthew Lloyd, Alwyn Davey
Foll: David Hille, Jobe Watson, Andrew Lovett
I/C: Hayden Skipworth, Mark McVeigh, Michael Quinn, Jay Nash
Emg: Leroy Jetta, Sam Lonergan, Nathan Lovett-Murray
In: McVeigh, McPhee, Quinn
Out: David Myers, Heath Hocking (toe), Leroy Jetta
| 19 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
