Round 12 - Port Adelaide Match Preview
By No.5
Regular match previewer No32 is having a birthday and has been given the week off, so we move down the number scale as guest previewer No. 5 takes a look at the Port game!
This week the Bombers are out to record there fifth straight win against Port in a twilight special at AAMI stadium on Sunday afternoon. AAMI stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground in recent years with the Bombers failing to record a victory against Port there since the immortal days of 2000.
Essendon is yet to finalise its side for Sunday but have added Chris Heffernan, Courtney Johns and Jay Nash on an extended interchange. The Bombers will be buoyed by there recent performances by defeating the last two premiership sides in successive weeks and with King Jim in Brownlow form they go into the match confident as Port’s recent form has been nothing short of abysmal. This is Essendon’s match to not only boost percentage, but to show the league they are no fluke artists with lucky 1 point victories but rather a force to be reckoned with come September.
The season opening win against Port’s cross town rivals in Adelaide will give the Dons renewed enthusiasm and confidence that they can do the job home and away.
Key Match Ups
Hille vs. Lade – Lade has shown why is considered the best ruckman in the AFL and no doubt he will be ready and firing come Sunday to tear Essendon a new one. Hille though last week showed he can match it with the best, with the Port midfield class of the Burgoyne’s and Cornes’ we need to have first possession.
Slattery/McVeigh/Peverill vs. S. Burgoyne – Whoever gets him will have to not leave his side for the entire match, this guy is the clearance king and with his silky skills he can tear a team to shreds in minutes.
Lucas vs. C. Cornes – I suspect this match that Lucas may play a defensive forward role to shutdown Cornes if he lines up at CHB to try and stop his explosive rebounding runs. We cant allow him to roam free like teams have let Fletcher, it wastes our F50 entries as the ball will come straight back out if Cornes is given enough room.
Stanton V Cassisi – If Stanton comes up ripe he will have Dom Cassisi not doubt following his every move. Stanton’s endurance running will test Cassisi and if let free Stanton will become that vital linkman between our rebounds and inside 50’s.
Keys To The Game
1. Do not let Chad Cornes roam free, our forward 50 entries will be rendered useless
2. First use of the ball vital, Burgoyne’s and Pearce are lethal
3. Run, Run, Run! Ports inexperienced side can be ran of its legs and with Stants and Winda in tow we can break them open.
The X Factor
Winda/Stants… If these two can both be those gut running midfielders we know they are Port don’t stand a chance because Port play an unaccountable game style and will be left in their wake.
Predictions
First Goal – Alwyn Davey
BOG – James Hird
Result – Essendon by 36 points
| The Team | |||
| B: | Hird | Michael | Bolton |
| HB: | McVeigh | Ryder | Fletcher |
| C: | Slattery | Stanton | McPhee |
| HF: | Peverill | Lucas | Welsh |
| F: | Davey | Lloyd | M. Johnson |
| R: | Hille | Watson | Winderlich |
| INT: | Camporeale | Heffernan | Johns |
| J. Johnson | Laycock | Monfries | |
| Nash | |||
| EMG: | |||
| Port Adelaide Team | |||
| B: | Wilson | Wakelin | Thurstans |
| HB: | Symes | C. Cornes | Surjan |
| C: | Cassisi | S. Burgoyne | Salopek |
| HF: | P. Burgoyne | Tredrea | Pearce |
| F: | Ebert | White | Westhoff |
| R: | Lade | K. Cornes | Rodan |
| INT: | Bentley | Boak | Brogan |
| Gray | Lower | Pettigrew | |
| Thomson | |||
| EMG: | |||
| Last Time – Round 9 2006 – Phone Dome | ||||
| 1 / 4 | 2 / 4 | 3 / 4 | Full Time | |
| Essendon | 3.6 | 4.9 | 7.10 | 9.15.69 |
| Port Adelaide | 7.1 | 9.5 | 15.9 | 20.9.129 |
| Best Players | |
| Essendon | Watson, McVeigh, Lovett-Murray, Welsh, Lucas, Winderlich |
| Port Adelaide | Lade, Salopek, S. Burgoyne, Pearce, K. Cornes, Symes |
| Goals | |
| Essendon | Lucas 3, Stanton, Bradley, Watson, McPhee, McVeigh, Bolton |
| Port Adelaide | Tredrea 4, White 3, Ebert, Dew 2, Lade, S. Burgoyne, Wilson, Thomson, Lonie, Thurstans, Brogan, Pearce, Chaplin |
| TV Coverage | ||
| Fox Sports 1 | 4:30pm AEST | Australia Wide |
| Seven SA | 4:30pm | Delayed |
| Radio Coverage | |
| 3AW Melbourne | 4:30 PM |
| Triple M Melbourne | 4:30 PM |
| ABC774 Melbourne | 4:00 PM |
| SEN Melbourne | 4:00 PM |
| 5AA Adelaide | 3:30 PM |
| Triple M Adelaide | 3:00 PM |
| ABC891 Adelaide | 3:30 PM |
| 6PR Perth | 2:30 PM |
| ABC720 Perth | 2:00 PM |
| ABC936 Hobart | 4:00 PM |
| ABC105.7 Darwin | 3:30 PM |
| IASbet.com Betting | |
| Essendon | $1.95 |
| Port Adelaide | $1.87 |
| BomberBlitz.com ‘Expert’ Tips | |
| Andy | Port Adelaide by 27 points |
| Mr. Charles Bronson | Essendon by 6 points |
| Pazza | Essendon by 33 points |
| Bomberman007 | Port Adelaide by 1 point |
| Koala | Essendon by 32 points |
| Awesome_Scotty | TBA |
| No32 | Port Adelaide by 15 points |
Posted 15 June 07 in Match Preview News
Next Article: Round 12 - Port Adelaide Match Review
