AFL 2024: Follow live updates plus SuperCoach scores and analysis from Essendon v Sydney
It took until the third term but Sydney’s midfielders Luke Parker and Isaac Heeney starred to end the finals chances of Essendon. Check out the key takeaways and relive all the action.
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The finals race is officially over for Essendon in 2024.
Sydney smashed the Bombers in the second half to end their chances of finals and give the Swans the minor premiership with a 39-point win.
It’s the fourth minor premiership for the Swans since moving to Sydney in the 1980s.
Essendon started well and was on top in the first half of the contest, but couldn’t put it on the scoreboard only leading by seven at the main break.
In the end their lead wasn’t enough as Sydney lifted a gear or two and powered home.
Discover our SuperCoach takeaways and relive all the analysis below.
The Three Takeaways
MARTIN IN?
Nic Martin might be a final round trade for a lot of teams after his last two weeks. He scored 130 last week and scored 135 tonight against Sydney, kicking three goals and getting 32 disposals. The final game for the Bombers is against Brisbane at the GABBA and the Lions may not tag him in that game. Do you take the risk and hope Martin gets another 130+ score. At $535,000 he might be worth it, especially as a duel position player.
HEENEY IS A STAR
It took a while but once the Sydney star got going, he was unstoppable. Heeney had 17 disposals in the second half to have 22 for the whole game. His SuperCoach score was 117 for the game. He is a lock, especially as a player who can get himself out of trouble with big quarters to score large. He could make or break a lot of SuperCoach finals matches in the next two weeks.
SYDNEY PLAYERS TO AVOID
It’s not all good news for Sydney with a couple of players really struggling the past couple of weeks and should now be traded, especially at this time of the year. Brodie Grundy (47 per cent) and Errol Gulden (36 per cent) are two of the most popular players in the game but can’t score right now. Grundy has had five games in succession with less than 100 points and Gulden has failed to achieve the same mark in his last two. The form drop in Grundy is a massive worry and he got beaten by Sam Draper tonight. The time has come to trade him. Gulden is an interesting one. The Swans play Adelaide next and he has averaged 103 in his past two games against the Crows. SuperCoaches should keep him as he can bounce back but there is also a risk. Do you bank on him, or trade for another player, who could be the difference? Both players will be causing headaches.
10.12pm: Game over
Sydney wraps up the minor premiership with a 39-point win over Essendon. The contest was won with an explosive second half, which ended the Bombers season. Essendon were competitive early but were made the pay by not putting it on the scoreboard. Final score – Swans 15.8. (98) to 8.11. (59).
10.07pm: Swans destructive half
The Swans have kicked 12 of the last 15 goals of the game to really dismantle Essendon. A fourth minor premiership is on the way to Sydney. The Swans lead by 45 points.
9.59pm: Amarty party
Joel Amarty kicks two goals in a couple of minutes and this game is all but over. His second is a brilliant quick snap which is goal of the night. Swans lead by 33 points.
9.55pm: Names revealed for the subs
Nick Bryan has come off for the Bombers and been replaced by Jye Menzie. Taylor Adams is the player off for Sydney with Corey Warner on. Both are tactical.
9.53pm: Game could be over
Isaac Heeney snaps a goal from the boundary line and the Swans are out to a 27-point lead. Almost curtains for the Bombers finals hopes.
9.51pm: Subs made
Both Essendon and Sydney are about to make their subs. Jye Menzie will be on for the Bombers with Corey Warner on for the Swans.
9.49pm: Swans reply
Luke Parker kicks his third for the night and Swans lead by 21 points. It’s almost game over for the Dons.
9.45pm: Bombers kick the first
Jye Caldwell kicks the first goal of the final term to reduce the margin to 15 points.
9.40pm: Parker and Heeney show in SuperCoach
The experienced midfield duo combined for 21 disposals to not only skyrocket the Swans but their SuperCoach scores. Isaac Heeney is now on 92 SuperCoach points with Luke Parker going from -4 at half time to 47 at the final break. Oliver Florent leads everyone with 102 points in the game. For the Bombers the best is Jayden Laverde with 91 points. Nic Martin is one behind on 90. Zach Merrett is struggling with 61 with the Bombers captain being tagged by James Jordan.
9.35pm: Stringer misses after the siren
Jake Stringer misses a shot after the siren and Essendon is down by 21 points at the final break. The shot summed up the quarter for Essendon. Sydney dominated from start to finish and kicked six goals to one to take the contest away from the Dons. Essendon’s finals chances are hanging by a thread. Score: Swans 9.7. (61) to 5.10. (40).
9.33pm: Swans take commanding lead
Seven of the last eight for the Swans! ðŸ‘
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 16, 2024
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The lead is almost four goals closing in on three-quarter-time after Oliver Florent kicks his first for the night. Florent has had a strong quarter with 10 disposals and helped the Swans take control of the contest.
9.27pm: Starting to get out of control
Luke Parker takes a strong contested mark and kicks his second for the term to extend the margin to 11. The next centre bounce, Swans wins the clearance and enter their 50. Will Hayward gets space and kicks another quick goal with a snap. Sydney leads by 16.
9.21pm: Dons get one back
Harrison Jones kicks a much-needed goal for the Bombers and the margin is five points. Swans lead 42-37. The goal was set up by Kyle Langford who had plenty of composure near the 50 metre line to find Jones in the forward line.
9.17pm: Sydney’s dominant spell
Sydney has had 12 inside 50s to three in the first 10 minutes of play in this half. The Swans also won the centre clearances and reduced the contested possessions margin they conceded to the Bombers in the first half.
9.14pm: Swans on top
Suddenly Sydney leads by almost two goals. Braeden Campbell gives the Swans the lead with a wonderful left foot running shot for goal. Isaac Heeney then makes the margin 11 with a set shot from 45 metres out. He also has two goals for the night and Sydney leads by 11 points.
9.10pm: Sydney is firing up
Luke Parker kicks a long goal and the margin is one point. Sydney then has a chance to take the lead through Taylor Adam after he won a free kick. But he missed everything.
9.07pm: Third quarter
The third term is underway and Luke Parker has been moved into the middle. Sydney’s intensity has also lifted. This is a big 10 minutes.
8.53pm: SuperCoach half time stats
Dylan Shiel has been one of the best players in the game and it is showing in SuperCoach. He has 69 points with 20 disposals, three marks and a tackle. Next best for Essendon is Nic Martin with 64. Zach Merrett is on 52 after only getting 19 points in the term. For Sydney, Oliver Florent leads with 57 points with Jake Lloyd on 54. It’s been quiet halves for Errol Gulden (25), Sam Durham (19), Isaac Heeney (40) and Taylor Adam (27). Luke Parker has had a shocking half and is on -4.
8.44pm: Half time
Essendon leads at the main break by seven points but it should be a larger margin. Sydney have not been at their best tonight but Essendon has not punished them. It’s 37-18 in inside 50s, 81-63 in contested possessions and Essendon has had 39 more disposals. It’s a surprise the Swans are still in it. Score: Essendon 4.5. (29) to Swans 3.4. (22).
8.38pm: Dons can’t extend margin
Essendon leads 35-17 in inside 50s but only lead by seven points to show for it. The issue right now is that can the Bombers continue the fight when the stats turn the other way and Sydney gets on top.
8.25pm: Dons lead by two goals
Jake Stringer kicks the only goal of the second term to extend Essendon’s lead to two goals.
8.15pm: SuperCoach stats at first break
Nick Blakey leads all players in SuperCoach with 39 points in the first term. He’s had seven disposals including six kicks. For Essendon, Zach Merrett leads with 33 points despite only having five touches. Nic Martin has 32 points after kicking two goals in the first term.
8.09pm: Quarter time
Essendon leads but the margin should be much more. The team is +9 in inside 50s and +20 in contested possessions but were not able to put it on the scoreboard. Last week Brisbane failed to put it on the scoreboard against the Giants in the first term and got punished. Will history repeat? Score: Essendon 3.1. (19) to Swans 2.2. (14).
8pm: Essendon leads late in the term
Draper with the snap from directly in-front 🤯
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 16, 2024
📺 Watch #AFLDonsSwans LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/flleVgcK88
âœï¸ BLOG https://t.co/ubVjcZSkAP
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The Bombers lead by 12 after Sam Draper gets his first goal for the night with a weird set shot. He snapped the ball from straight in front. Essendon deserves the lead. The Bombers are dominating contested possession 31-17.
7.58pm: Heppell’s farewell
Essendon fans got the chance to farewell and say thank you to Dyson Heppell before the game. It was a special moment for the retiring player and the club, despite the former captain not playing tonight.
7.55pm: Dons kick another
Warning signs for Sydney early with Essendon kicking their second. Nic Martin kicks a long bomb from 55 metres out to get his second for the might. Sydney is struggling to get into the contest in the early stages.
7.51pm: Bombers get the first
It took a while but Essendon finally makes their inside 50 dominance count. A mistake from Sydney gives Essendon a second inside 50 in the space of 30 seconds. Nic Martin misses a mark but is able to get a handpass from a teammate to snap the first goal of the game.
7.45pm: No score early
Essendon has all the play early, getting the first four inside 50s of the game, but no team has scored yet.
7.40pm: Game underway
The match has started and Essendon wins the first clearance of the game.
7.30pm: What to look out for
It’s a massive game for both teams. If Sydney wins, Essendon’s finals chances are over and the Swans win the minor premiership. If Essendon wins then Sydney could be joined on 60 points on the ladder by three other teams by the end of the round. Essendon would also remain in the hunt for the top-eight. Sydney has won five of the past six against Essendon, including a 30-point win earlier this season. The Swans have also won five of their past six at Marvel Stadium but lost the last time they were there to St Kilda. Essendon have lost their past three at Marvel.
7.15pm: Final teams for clash
The teams have been locked in with no changes late for either team. Essendon has named Jye Menzie as the sub with Corey Warner the Swans sub.
7.05pm: Welcome to the live blog
Welcome to what is shaping to be a pivotal match in the context of the season for both sides. Final teams will be in the next post.
PREVIEW
Essendon can keep its season alive for at least one more week – all it has to do is take down the AFL’s best team.
The Bombers appeared to blow their finals chances with an agonising loss to Gold Coast thanks to Mac Andrew’s goal after the siren.
But they can jump back into the eight with a win on Friday night in round 23 – and stay there if teams around them falter.
The only issue is they are facing a Sydney side that roared back to form with a miracle win of its own against Collingwood.
This game also kicks off preliminary final weekend in most SuperCoach leagues and features a series of fantasy stars including Zach Merrett, Isaac Heeney, Brodie Grundy and Errol Gulden.
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL 2024: Follow live updates plus SuperCoach scores and analysis from Essendon v Sydney
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