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Knights braced for hard-fought encounter
<P style=""MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"" class=MsoNormal>Matthew Knights is confident Sunday’s twilight match against St. Kilda will provide the Bombers the opportunity they need to get their season back on track following a three-point loss to the Power last weekend. Despite having a number of chances to put last weekend’s match beyond doubt, Essendon struggled to put the game away and Knights has urged his side to take their opportunities this week.
Matthew Knights is confident Sunday’s twilight match against St. Kilda will provide the Bombers the opportunity they need to get their season back on track following a three-point loss to the Power last weekend.
Despite having a number of chances to put last weekend’s match beyond doubt, Essendon struggled to put the game away and Knights has urged his side to take their opportunities this week.
“There are six or eight play phases during a game that decides the outcome and no one knows when they are going to be,” Knights said to Bomber.tv today.
“There was a time on the weekend where we were out by 21-points and that was the time when mistakes had to be erased.
“Often in the modern game when you are out by five or six goals that is it, but if 21-points comes back to six or 12-points quickly then it’s game on again.”
Knights said he was pleased with a number of aspects of the Bombers’ game last week but conceded that his side has got a lot to work on if they are going to put the whole package together.
“I am really proud of this group in a couple of elements of their game. We are up there with our tackling and contested ball,” he said.
“Yet some of our ball use and our disposal when we had opportunities to take the game just was not quite up to scratch.
“That ruthless precision to go that extra goal or two to put the game away is not quite there at the moment but the hunger to win is there from the opening bounce so we just have to work on a few things.”
Knights says he expects St Kilda to rebound after being convincingly beaten by Carlton last night and will not be underestimating the damage they can inflict despite a short turnaround.
“St. Kilda has been one of the most consistent clubs in the last 12 months and they have played amazing football so we are not going to underestimate their ability,” he said.
“We are anticipating a really tough St. Kilda outfit to come to the table on Sunday and expect nothing less than their best performance.”
Dustin Fletcher will become Essendon's Football Club’s second most prolific player when he achieves his 321st game next weekend to eclipse club legend Dick Reynolds. To commemorate this remarkable milestone - which takes place in Round 9 - Mitchelton Wines and Essendon Football Club have produced a commemorative wine called Fletcher 321 that, like 35-year-old Dustin, keeps getting better with age.
