Essendon has made five changes for its clash against ladder leading Adelaide.
James Kelly, Andrew McGrath, Jayden Laverde, Matthew Leuenberger and Matt Dea have been brought in to cover a mixture of injuries, suspension and player management.
The Crows are more settled and will go in unchanged with Daniel Talia and David Mackay passed fit.
Both sides enter the match having won four of their last five matches.
You can read Robert Shaw's match preview here.
The History
R4, 2017, Adelaide 24.9 (153) d Essendon 13.10 (88) at Adelaide Oval
R19, 2016, Adelaide 22.11 (143) d Essendon 9.7 (61) at Adelaide Oval
R20, 2015, Adelaide 27.9 (171) d Essendon 8.11 (59) at Etihad Stadium
R14, 2014, Essendon 15.11 (101) d Adelaide 14.8 (92) at Etihad Stadium
R1, 2013, Essendon 18.9 (117) d Adelaide 11.16 (82) at AAMI Stadium
Sidenote:
Our Comeback Hero:
He was a star from the moment he walked onto an AFL field. Dean Rioli is Our Comeback Hero for the match against Adelaide. He played 100 games for the Club and teammates regard him as one of the best ball users in a dominant era for the Club. You can read about his story here.
Special Hindi and Punjabi radio broadcast:
As part of the Club's commitment to Embracing India, Essendon is providing a special radio broadcast featuring Hindi and Punjabi commentary.
You can access the call by clicking on the Match Centre on afl.com.au here - then just click 'listen live' and then the tab for the Hindi and Punjabi.
The Teams:
Essendon
In: James Kelly, Matthew Leuenberger, Matt Dea, Jayden Laverde, Andrew McGrath
Out: Tom Bellchambers (foot), Mark Baguley (rested), Orazio Fantasia (hamstring), Zach Merrett (suspension), Michael Hartley
B: Andrew McGrath, Matt Dea, James Kelly
HB: Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley, Patrick Ambrose
C: Darcy Parish, Jobe Watson, Dyson Heppell
HF: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Cale Hooker, Travis Colyer
F: Jayden Laverde, Joe Daniher, James Stewart
R: Matthew Leuenberger, David Zaharakis, Ben Howlett
I: Martin Gleeson, Josh Green, David Myers, Conor McKenna
E: Mark Baguley, Josh Begley, Craig Bird
Adelaide
No change
B: Jake Kelly, Daniel Talia, Jake Lever
HB: Luke Brown, Alex Keath, Rory Laird
C: Brodie Smith, Matt Crouch, Rory Sloane
HF: Tom Lynch, Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts
F: Charlie Cameron, Josh Jenkins, Riley Knight
R: Sam Jacobs, Brad Crouch, Richard Douglas
I: David Mackay, Hugh Greenwood, Rory Atkins, Mitch McGovern
E: Harrison Wigg, Paul Seedsman, Wayne Milera
Key notes:
- How the Dons match up defensively shapes as one of the interesting subplots in this match. Patrick Ambrose and Andrew McGrath did excellent jobs in the time they spent on Taylor Walker and Eddie Betts earlier in the year. Assuming those match ups remain the same, that leaves Michael Hurley as a likely opponent for Josh Jenkins while Martin Gleeson and Matt Dea will have to take Tom Lynch and Mitch McGovern.
- The Bombers don't use negative taggers but Mark Harvey told SEN they've spent plenty of time on Rory Sloane this week. Brendon Goddard could go head to head with the Crows star.
- Daniel Talia will line up on Joe Daniher, leaving Alex Keath as a potential match up for Cale Hooker. If that happens, look for Daniher to play high up the ground and Hooker to play 30m out from goal.
