Two young sides will do battle to claim victory over their old rival and it will not just be the players who are desperate to make their mark. The battle of wits in the coaches box will also be one to watch with Matthew Knights and Brett Ratten boasting a combined total of 10 games as AFL coaches. Both coaches will be desperate to secure the four points this week after suffering losses in Round 2.
Knights has made multiple changes to his side off the back of a disappointing loss to the reigning Premiers last weekend. With Courtenay Dempsey and Nathan Lovett-Murray set to miss through injury, Knights has given a number of players the opportunity to prove themselves in 2008.
Angus Monfries, Damien Peverill, Kyle Reimers and Andrew Lovett with take to the main stage for the first time this season, and all will be keen to inflict some damage on the opposition in order to retain their hotly contested position in the side.
Poor disposal by hand and foot made a mess of the Bombers gameplan last week and with extra focus centred on this area at training throughout the week, the team from Windy Hill are ready to atone for last week’s dismal display. The team have shown throughout the preseason competition that they have the skills to match it with the best sides in the competition and must not allow the opposition to unnerve them.
This big question will be whether Essendon’s confidence has been dented by the Cats. The players know they have the ability and need to back themselves in a contest and reignite their strong tackling pressure around stoppages that had opposition sides running for cover earlier in the year.
The opportunity to take on football’s golden boy, Chris Judd, will be a highly sought after role this week and it is likely to be given to Mark McVeigh who has a history of shutting down some of the best midfielders in the competition. It is crucial McVeigh is at the top of his game this week because Judd is improving each round, and knows how to wreak havoc upon his opponents.
Patrick Ryder was a shining light in defence last week, with the young Essendon tall taking the points against a more experienced Cameron Mooney. Ryder made the most of the challenge to curb the influence of the premiership forward and is likely to be given another weighty task this week on Carlton’s Brendan Fevola.
Another player likely to have a large influence on the match this week is Essendon spearhead Matthew Lloyd. After blinding the competition with a six goal haul in the first game of the year, Lloyd was quiet against Geelong and will be desperate to add to his tally, as he gets used to being without the support of fellow scoring comrade Scott Lucas.
The lack of talls up forward last week made converting difficult but the skipper is not one to give up easily. With the aid of small forwards in Monfries, Lovett and Alwyn Davey, the Bombers certainly have numerous avenues to goal and it is critical they are taken advantage of in order to expose the Carlton backline led by Setanta O’hAilpin, Heath Scotland and Jarrad Waite.
The Blues have also added another element to the big occasion with last year’s number one draft pick, Matthew Kruezer, set to make his debut.
The Essendon team is:
Backs: Ramanauskas Michael Fletcher
Half-backs: Houli Ryder Winderlich
Centres: Davey Watson Nash
Half-forwards: McVeigh McPhee Reimers
Forwards: Jetta Lloyd Lonergan
Followers: Hille Stanton Dyson
Interchange: Lovett Laycock Monfries Peverill
Emergencies: Johns Johnson Slattery
