Essendon ends pre-season unbeaten with close win over Geelong in Colac
After a summer beset by injury problems, Essendon will enter the home-and-away season with a perfect 2020 record after its victory over Geelong. How far can the Bombers go?
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Geelong and Essendon have presented pre-season watchers with their most intriguing case studies.
If you take on face value what the Cats have dished up in their two Marsh Community series games then last year’s preliminary finalists are set for an ugly start to the season.
The Cats were outplayed by Essendon in Colac for much of the afternoon despite the final margin only being four points.
Normally that could be put down to an off day but given just a couple of weeks ago they were thumped by 68-points by the Gold Coast, there seems to be more going on.
Ball movement and scoring have been the major issues – they kicked just seven goals against the Suns and only managed nine against the Bombers.
As for Essendon, all the talk of doom and gloom about injuries and a questionable pre-season has been put on hold.
They upstaged West Coast in the opening pre-season game and then found a way with an inexperienced line-up to take care of the Cats.
Darcy Parish was the spark with three goals in the third quarter, Michael Hurley was impassable at centre half-back while there were plenty of contributors through the midfield led by Andy McGrath (32 possessions).
So what are the main concerns for Geelong?
Apart from Patrick Dangerfield, who led all-comers with 33 disposals, not many others turned up in Colac and overall they looked slow with Essendon’s leg speed causing them all sorts of problems at various times.
There were plenty who had no influence.
Gary Ablett only touched it 12 times, Tom Hawkins finished on the bench after a knock with just seven touches with fellow forwards Gary Rohan and Esava Ratugolea struggling with just six disposals each.
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CAT STEVEN
The much-anticipated Geelong debut for Jack Steven got a tick.
He certainly hasn’t lost the ability to find the pill and was in everything early doors after starting in the centre square at the opening bounce.
Steven, who has battled a minor calf strain in recent weeks, clearly enjoyed running shotgun with Patrick Dangerfield in the middle of the ground with the pair sharing 30 possessions in the opening half.
The former Saint certainly looked in better condition than when we last saw him at the end of last season after a mid-season sabbatical.
While he may have been lacking his trademark burst away from stoppages Steven was clearly one of the Cats best with 26 disposals.
RUCK DILEMMA
The Geelong ruck equation has been a matter of much debate since last September and it still isn’t much clearer a couple of weeks out from the new season.
Chris Scott decided to give his two main candidates a half each in Colac with the unheralded Darcy Fort getting first crack in the opening half.
He certainly did his case no harm collecting 12 possessions – including nine contested – along with four clearances and six hit-outs.
Rhys Stanley got his chance in the second half and didn’t knock the door down, finishing with 11 possessions, 17 hit-outs and six clearances.
There was also some time sharing in the forward half with recruit Josh Jenkins sitting out the opening two quarters before replacing Ratugolea at centre half-forward.
The former Adelaide Crow kicked a goal in the last quarter but struggled overall.
NEW TOWN
Richmond premiership player Jacob Townsend put his hand up for a debut at his third club in Round 1.
With Joe Daniher, Cale Hooker and Jake Stringer (late withdrawal for personal reasons) all missing, Townsend played out of the goal square and kicked a goal in each of the first three quarters.
The desperation and forward pressure which saw him play in the Tigers 2017 premiership was evident again as he had the better of the Cats highly rated defence.
Another recruit Andrew Phillips also did enough to suggest he will be a part of the Bombers season opener against Fremantle
The former Carlton ruckman battled well against a number of different Cats finishing with 14 disposals and 17 hit-outs.
With No. 1 ruckman Tom Bellchambers touch and go for Round 1 because of a knee injury, Phillips showed he’s more than capable in filling that gap.
Another unheralded Bomber who should be there is tall defender Brandon Zerk-Thatcher who was undersized against Hawkins but clearly had his measure and finished with a handy 18 touches.
SELWOOD RACING CLOCK TO BE FIT FOR ROUND 1
Geelong captain Joel Selwood has yet to get the green light for Round 1 but says he won’t be “limping into” the Cats season opener against the GWS Giants.
The veteran will go into the new season without any practice match time after sitting out the Cats Marsh Community series clash with Essendon in Colac.
Instead he must get through five training sessions over the next couple of weeks to convince the coaching staff he is ready to go in 2020.
Selwood, 31, has spent most of the summer recovering from a post-season hamstring operation.
“It’s important that I’m feeling good rather than limping in,” he said.
Asked whether there was any doubt about his availability against the Giants, he said: “No, not really but you I can never put it in concrete.”
Selwood was joined by Essendon’s Cale Hooker in Colac as the two clubs launched the Powercor Country game to be played at the MCG on May 9.
Hooker confirmed that his captain Dyson Heppell was unlikely to be ready for Round 1 after having a screw removed from his foot over the summer.
“He (Heppell) has probably been a bit slower than expected,” Hooker said.
“He was really brave playing injured for us last year, helping us get into finals and having a crack at it and that has probably slowed him down a little bit.
“We just want him back to his best and however long that takes he needs to take even if that is a few weeks.”
Hooker confirmed he wouldn’t be available until at least Round 3 as he recovers from a hip injury while ruckman Tom Bellchambers (knee) is a chance to play in the season opener against Fremantle.
Wellbeing more important than reputation, says Geelong captain Joel Selwood #AFL https://t.co/zNWO3lBEL9
— Lachie Young (@lachie_young) February 27, 2020
Irishman Conor McKenna, who missed most of the pre-season because of homesickness, got through a hitout in the VFL at Colac.
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Originally published as Essendon ends pre-season unbeaten with close win over Geelong in Colac