Sydney has started the season in solid fashion and is always difficult to beat at the SCG. Despite this Essendon boasts a reasonable record when it travels to Sydney. Since 1982 Essendon has played Sydney at the SCG on 17 occasions – in that time it has won seven, lost nine and drawn one game. One of those losses was by a point in the 1996 preliminary final.
The Swans have struggled to reach great heights since the 1996 season but Harvey believes they are about to turn the corner again and challenge for a top-four position. “They have good players all over the ground and that makes them a difficult side to match up on,” Harvey said. “As the defensive coach I know we will have our hands full with their forward line – Adam Goodes is a fine young player while Michael O’Loughlin can do freakish things. Jason Ball gives them some added height – the list goes on.”
The Swans could also welcome back inspirational skipper Paul Kelly this weekend. Kelly has been missing since injuring a hamstring against Essendon in the third round Ansett Cup match at Lavington. “He is a quality midfielder as is Daryn Cresswell so we will have our work cut out,” Harvey said.
The Swans played exceptionally well against Essendon in Sydney last season in very difficult conditions with the match only slipping away from the late in the game. The Bombers eventually won by 13-points. “We really did fall in that night and we went into that game with plenty of confidence. They led by two goals at three-quarter time and gave us a real fright. It might be a positive for us – the players will know they are in for a tough night,” Harvey said.
ESSENDON V SYDNEY – THE LAST TIME
Sydney 3.3 5.6 9.10 11.10 (76)
Essendon 3.2 7.6 7.10 12.17 (89)
Goals: Sydney: 3 Matthew Nicks, Michael O’Loughlin; 2 Wayne Schwass; Jude Bolton, Simon Feast, Nic Fosdike. Essendon: 4 Matthew Lloyd; 3 James Hird; 2 Scott Lucas; Steven Alessio, Blake Caracella, Adam Ramanauskas.
Best: Sydney: Daryn Creswell, Nic Fosdike, Matthew Nicks, Michael O’Loughlin, Andrew Schauble, Wayne Schwass. Essendon: Blake Caracella, Dustin Fletcher, James Hird, Michael Long, Scott Lucas, Joe Misiti.
Brownlow Votes: 3 – Jude Bolton, 2 – Daryn Creswell, 1 – Scott Lucas.
