NO LATE CHANGES
FINAL INTERCHANGES
Essendon: Jobe Watson, Josh Green, David Myers, Conor McKenna
Geelong: Jake Kolodjashnij, Steven Motlop, George Horlin-Smith, Mark O'Connor
The selected teams
Essendon
In: Jobe Watson, James Stewart, Andrew McGrath
Out: Brent Stanton, Martin Gleeson, Aaron Francis
New: James Stewart
Milestone: James Kelly – 300 games
B: Matt Dea, Michael Hurley, Conor McKenna
HB: Mark Baguley, Michael Hartley, Orazio Fantasia
C: Brendon Goddard, David Zaharakis, James Kelly
HF: James Stewart, Cale Hooker, Darcy Parish
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joe Daniher, Jobe Watson
R: Matthew Leuenberger, Dyson Heppell, Travis Colyer
I: Andrew McGrath, Zach Merrett, Josh Green, David Myers
E: Kobe Mutch, Craig Bird, Shaun McKernan
Geelong
In: Tom Stewart, Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam Menegola, Mark O'Connor, Zac Smith
Out: Lachie Henderson (Chest), Aaron Black, Jackson Thurlow, Darcy Lang, Jordan Murdoch
New: Mark O'Connor
B: Jed Bews, Tom Lonergan, Tom Stewart
HB: Zach Tuohy, Andrew Mackie, Jake Kolodjashnij
C: George Horlin-Smith, Joel Selwood, Sam Menegola
HF: James Parsons, Harry Taylor, Mark O'Connor
F: Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Daniel Menzel
R: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
I: Mark Blicavs, Nakia Cockatoo, Cameron Guthrie, Zac Smith
E: Aaron Black, Jordan Murdoch, Tom Ruggles
Follow the match as it unfolds on the Essendon App.
Key notes:
- The inclusion of James Stewart provides a number of extra options for the Bombers coahcing staff. They could opt for three talls in attack with Stewart partnering Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker. Conversely, Hooker could be moved to defence in the absence of the injured Mitch Brown and Patrick Ambrose. Stewart can relieve Matthew Leuenberger in the ruck too, meaning Daniher can remain in the attacking half.
- Geelong is ranked first in the competition for handballs (averaging 197.6 a game). Essendon is a high kicking team, ranking second with an average of 227.4 a game.
- Essendon had played three games in 13 days leading into tonight's match. In that time the Bombers used 29 players but only 13 have played in all three games. Geelong has used 29 for the entire season.
A few of the boys watching the curtain raiser#DonTheSash pic.twitter.com/8Fv09lhVJ5
— Essendon FC (@EssendonFC) May 13, 2017
Thanks to @Kevin_Sheedy and @PowercorAust we have been able to bring the country to the city! #PowercorCountryFestival pic.twitter.com/LMd8SH7C9D
— Essendon FC (@EssendonFC) May 13, 2017