Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's clash with Fremantle on Saturday.

Essendon vs Fremantle

Saturday, March 21
2:10pm (updated time) 
Marvel Stadium

THE HISTORY

Games played – 36
Won – 22
Lost – 14
Drawn – 0

LAST TIME WE MET

Essendon’s last clash with Fremantle fell at a crucial time as the side looked to secure a finals berth in round 22. It was a must-win game.

And the Bombers stood up, starting brightly with the opening three goals of the match and maintaining their momentum throughout the game to claim a stirring 33-point victory.

Young backman Brandon Zerk-Thatcher showed great signs on debut, while versatile Bomber Patrick Ambrose was an inspired choice as a tagger for star Docker Nat Fyfe.

PRE-SEASON FORM

Essendon
Defeated West Coast by eight points
Defeated Geelong by four points

Two narrow, but good victories over strong sides were encouraging for the Bombers in the Marsh Community Series.

The first of those wins in terrible conditions in Perth displayed a side built on toughness and tackling pressure, and the team backed it up with another gritty performance against the Cats.

The usual suspects were impressive, but it was the efforts of the younger brigade including Andrew McGrath, Darcy Parish, Jordan Ridley and Zerk-Thatcher, among others, that was most promising.

Fremantle
Defeated Carlton by 47 points
Defeated West Coast by one point

The Dockers also put together a solid pre-season series, proving far too strong for the Blues before closing the game out well with five of the last six goals to run over an inaccurate West Coast line-up.

Young onballer Andrew Brayshaw was among the leading performer as he warned he could take the next step this year, while Lachie Shultz kicked six goals across the two games.

TEAMS

Essendon       
FB – Aaron Francis, Michael Hurley, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
HB – Adam Saad, Jordan Ridley, Mason Redman
C – Kyle Langford, Andrew McGrath, David Zaharakis
HF – Orazio Fantasia, Jayden Laverde, Devon Smith
FF – Jake Stringer, Jacob Townsend, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
FOL – Tom Bellchambers, Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel
Interchange – Darcy Parish, Will Snelling, Matt Guelfi, Tom Cutler
Emergencies – Martin Gleeson, Brayden Ham, Andrew Phillips, Conor McKenna

The Dons will field two new faces on Saturday as Jacob Townsend and Tom Cutler make their red and black debuts. The experienced pair know what it takes to perform at the highest level and both showed terrific signs throughout their first pre-season at the club.

Zerk-Thatcher will play his second senior game among a young defensive unit, while experienced ruckman Tom Bellchambers has been named after overcoming recent knee surgery.

Jake Stringer will also take his place in the side after missing out on both Marsh Community Series games.

Fremantle
FB: Luke Ryan, Griffin Logue, Ethan Hughes
HB: Reece Conca, Brennan Cox, Taylin Duman
C: Brett Bewley, Nat Fyfe, James Aish
HF: Sam Sturt, Matt Taberner, Bailey Banfield
FF: Travis Colyer, Rory Lobb, Michael Walters
FOL: Sean Darcy, Darcy Tucker, Andrew Brayshaw
Interchange: Adam Cerra, Lachie Schultz, Mitchell Crowden, Cam McCarthy
Emergencies: Caleb Serong, Connor Blakely, Tobe Watson, Brandon Matera

The Dockers have also named a pair of new players, with early 2018 draftee Sam Sturt making his senior debut and former Magpie James Aish lining up for Fremantle for the first time.

Former Bomber Travis Colyer will take his place in the side, which features a particularly tall forward line.

BOMBER TO WATCH

Andrew McGrath

This young Don has fans excited, and for good reason.

After three terrific and patient seasons gradually building up his time on the ball, the 21-year-old looks ready to explode as a full-time midfielder.

McGrath was dominant against the Eagles in the Bombers’ first pre-season clash, proving particularly damaging in the opening half when he was given free rein in the centre and racked up 16 disposals, eight contested possessions, 397 metres gained and six clearances to half-time.

He backed it up brilliantly against Geelong, leading the side for disposals (32), contested possessions (10), inside 50s (eight), metres gained (449), pressure acts (30) and goal assists (two).

His ability to get to the right spot to support his teammates and drive the ball forward was also plain to see as he gathered a clear game-high 19 handball receives.

Add those efforts to his prolific opening half in Essendon’s prior scratch match against Melbourne and the speedster will enter Marvel Stadium full of momentum.

DANGEROUS OPPONENT

Nat Fyfe

How will Essendon go about restricting the impact of Fyfe this time around?

The sensational midfielder’s class and athleticism make him a crucial part of Fremantle’s puzzle, so to curtail his contribution is to go a long way towards victory.

As previously mentioned, Ambrose was the man tasked with manning up on the captain late last year, but the big Bomber is stuck on the sidelines this time around as he recovers from a knee injury.

Also absent is young midfielder Dylan Clarke, who was used to great effect as a tagger in the back half of the 2019 season.

Essendon’s midfield depth and skill could see the coaches simply back in their own players to match and beat Fyfe and his fellow onballers, rather than put too much focus on negating one opponent.

It will be fascinating to see how the Bombers go about the challenge on Saturday.

FIVE TALKING POINTS

1. The coronavirus pandemic

It’s been quite the build-up. Things are different now and there is no doubt that has been the case in football ahead of round one.

How it will affect the teams remains to be seen, but Essendon senior coach John Worsfold said he is confident strong communication at the club has kept his side focused.

The disruption for Fremantle is very real; its trip east will have felt very different, as will its stay in Melbourne with strict quarantine protocols.

Essendon’s home ground advantage, at least in a crowd sense, has been wiped away. You would have to think the Dockers may feel a little more comfortable shooting for goal near the boundary line this week.

2. Shortened quarters

One tangible thing the virus has affected is each game’s length, with each quarter reduced to 16 minutes plus extra time.

Star midfielder Dylan Shiel had his say on the change on Thursday, and he believes it could encourage better football.

“We may come out of this having trialled shorter games and we may see the quality of games lift, players are able to produce better footy over the whole game, able to recover quicker and then be ready for another game in a shorter turnaround,” Shiel said on RSN.

“For someone like me, I see it as a great thing because I am predominantly a fast-twitch fibre athlete, so the shorter the game the better for me athletically.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how it affects certain teams, but you’re going to see the overall intensity be lifted and held onto for longer.”

3. Essendon’s freshened game style

The addition of new assistant coach Blake Caracella and the broadening of senior assistant Ben Rutten’s responsibility for tactics has seen the side make some minor adjustments to its game style.

In the limited time we have had to watch the side this pre-season, we have seen greater versatility with the way the team moves the ball forward, particularly with handball chains, while a strong and consistent set-up behind the ball has also been promising.

Don’t expect the Dons to turn their back on one of their most dangerous weapons; their speed. But do expect to see some more patience on the odd occasion.

4. A new-look Fremantle

It is hard to predict how the Dockers will perform on Saturday in their first game under new head coach Justin Longmuir.

Rutten believes one of the main differences to their style this year is a slower, more methodical approach to driving the ball forward.

Ensuring Fremantle can’t chip the ball around and earn easy uncontested marks could be one of the real keys to victory for Essendon at Marvel Stadium.

5. Starting on the right foot

The Bombers produced a game they would like to forget in round one last year as they were picked apart by Greater Western Sydney on the road, while the Dockers were blistering in their first game of the season, rolling North Melbourne by 82 points.

Getting off to a good start will be more crucial than ever this year with the knowledge that the home and away season will consist of just 17 games apiece.

Hopefully the Dons can rise to the occasion and put four points on the board at home to kick off what will certainly be the most bizarre season ever witnessed.

If we can take anything out of Saturday's performance from Essendon, it is that shorter quarters agree with the Bombers.

In their first assignment under the new 16-minute (plus time on) quarters, the Bombers burst out of the blocks against Fremantle. Even midway through the third term they led by 28 points.

But Essendon cruised, Fremantle began to surge. Debutant Sam Sturt was pivotal to the run, booting two last-term goals to help get the Dockers to within seven points in the dying moments.

They could have edged even closer but Andrew Brayshaw missed a simple shot running into goal that would have put Freo within one point.

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir, in his first game at the helm, will rue the miss as Essendon held on to a 9.9 (63) to 8.9 (57) victory.

The Dockers looked likely to run over the top of the Bombers had the game stretched longer under a normal format, before the time changes due to the AFL's coronavirus measures.

Essendon coach John Worsfold and understudy Ben Rutten will have equally as many questions about their side's fadeout after booting only two goals after half-time.

TOWNSEND'S IMPACT
Six months ago the Richmond premiership player's career looked over, but Essendon called with an AFL lifeline and against Fremantle Townsend showed the tenacity which made him a loved Tiger for several years. Playing as a marking option for the Bombers with their depleted key forward stocks, Townsend kicked two goals in the opening term and set up another in a dominant showing. He tackled and competed and earned every touch, finishing with three goals from nine disposals. Could be a great bargain pick-up. 

WELCOME BACK, DEV
The Bombers barely got anything out of Devon Smith last year, with the half-forward/midfielder limited to seven games before he underwent season-ending knee surgery. He looked back to his fresh and ferocious best against the Dockers, however, with Smith showing his importance to the Bombers. He booted the first goal of the game from long range, and finished with 15 disposals and five tackles – showing his value to Essendon doesn't just lie in when he's got the ball. 

STURT'S STUNNER
It was the first-gamer Sam Sturt who helped lift the Dockers back into contention late in the piece on Saturday. The first-round draft pick from 2018 impressed with his nous around goal, including booting a long shot in the first half. But his final quarter was the real highlight. His second goal came after a mark and then 50-metre penalty after Michael Hurley made him earn the grab (the match review officer appears certain to look at the incident). He then outmarked Hurley close to goal moments later to boot his third major. Sturt came into the system a little raw but looks to have benefited from some time at WAFL level before his first game. 

ANYONE FOR SOME AGGRO?
Some questioned whether the lack of crowds for the foreseeable future could see a lack of argy-bargy between players given the sanitized nature of empty grounds. But we saw a glimpse of it between Essendon and Fremantle, particularly after a long goal from Jake Stringer in the second term. Stringer immediately got in the face of dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe after it sailed through, and moments later was involved in a wrestle with the Dockers skipper, with the pair regularly matched-up at centre bounces through the afternoon.

AN INTERESTED ONLOOKER
Eyebrows were raised when Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was spotted at Marvel Stadium watching the game given the strict measures restricting access to games due to the spread of coronavirus. But the four-time Hawks mastermind hadn't called in any special favours. Under AFL rules, a rival club scout is permitted to attend but it is restricted to those clubs playing in the next two weeks. Hawthorn faces the Dockers next week, so 'Clarko' was on the list as its representative.

MEDICAL ROOM
Essendon: The Bombers appeared to get through the game unscathed.

Fremantle: There did not seem to be any major injury concerns for the Dockers.

NEXT UP
Barring any changes to the fixture as the AFL looks to accelerate its fixture, Essendon will head to Sydney to face the Swans next Friday night at the SCG.

ESSENDON               5.2     7.5     8.8     9.9 (63)
FREMANTLE             2.1     3.3     4.6     8.9 (57)

GOALS
Essendon: Townsend 3, Stringer 2, Snelling, Fantasia, Laverde, Smith
Fremantle: Sturt 3, Lobb 2, Walters, Colyer, Taberner

BEST
Essendon: Shiel, Townsend, Saad, Merrett, McGrath, Langford
Fremantle:  Fyfe, Walters, Lobb, Tucker, Sturt

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Fisher, Gavine