Is the Bombers’ backline up to the task?

Essendon’s back six are up for a challenging afternoon when they come up against the Dogs. The Dogs boast a diverse mix of players in their forward line. From tall forwards like Tom Boyd, to speedy mid sized men in Lin Jong and Tory Dickson, the Dogs have all bases covered. The defenders will additionally have to be weary of the different ways that the Dogs like to send the ball inside 50. They won’t just be sending it in long and high like the Suns did last week and are more likely to use short and direct kicks. Matt Dea, Patty Ambrose and Marty Gleeson will have to ensure that they stay with their men and work hard to kill any free space in Essendon’s defensive 50.

What do you do to stop the Bont?

At over 190cm and close to 90kg, Marcus Bontempelli is the traditional build of a key position player – not an on baller. The 20-year old is the most dangerous weapon in the Bulldogs’ arsenal, with his versatility, football smarts and athleticism sure to cause some headaches for the Bombers on Sunday. Attempting to tag him may prove to be futile according to Robert Shaw, however, this does not mean that he can be completely ignored. The Essendon midfield group will need to work together to deny Bontempelli space and force him to work hard for his possessions. When he moves forward, he will also require the full attention of the Essendon defenders.

Can the Bombers take it up to a top four side?

The Dogs will be looking to bounce back from a lackluster win over Collingwood last week and gain some momentum heading into their finals campaign. On the other hand, Essendon will be looking to capitalise on the emotion of last week’s win and push the Dogs to the brink. The game provides the boys with a great opportunity to learn and witness first hand how a top four team operates on the field.