Will be interesting if we rest players from the VFL this week, or manage them. But they are playing the same day. If Draper doesnt play VFL, does Hartley ruck, or does Draper just ruck 3 quarters or a half?
Langfords already had a week off so doubt we would rest him again.
Clarke can ruck VFL? Where he belongs.
Sounds like he’s fit?
Yeah will be interesting how we use VFL players this weekend given that they are playing just before hand.
Maybe 2-3 players who nearly made it into the AFL side only play 3 quarters so that if needed for Sydney on Friday, 5 day recovery won’t really affect them.
Unless they’re called Laverde, in which case playing twenty minutes of VFL is enough to make them unavailable.
Surely Draper is at least as ready as Cox was when he debuted on Anzac Day (shudders).
I am not sure if DKP knows that Uppercase letters are used for people’s names, and at the start of sentences. “draper, daniher belly ambrose” must all cringe when seeing their names listed like he does.
Please no. Just let Francis get his confidence up playing defence in the 2s and then bring him in when one of the backs gets injured
They’d be mortified lol
Agree with this totally. Just play him where he belongs when his spot opens up.
Going to get flamed here but at the moment myers is a better inside mid than Langford.
However Langford is a way better fwd then myers. Its his natural position as far as I’m concerned.
Booooooo
and now we have words
DYNAMIC Essendon duo Devon Smith and Orazio Fantasia are expected to be available for the big clash with top-of-the-table Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, with the Bombers set to give both players every opportunity to prove their fitness.
Reigning club champion Smith has a chronic knee issue that flared again following the narrow loss to Collingwood on Anzac Day, while dangerous forward/midfielder Fantasia missed the clash after being a late withdrawal with illness.
A dejected Devon Smith leaves the field on Anzac Day with his knee wrapped in ice. Picture: AFL Photos
Bombers coach John Worsfold was optimistic that, given a 10-day break, he would have both players at his disposal against the Cats’ impressive running brigade in the annual Country Game.
“They’re coming along well and we’re hopeful that they’ll both be available. We’ll find out if they get through training today, but that’s not necessarily the final decision either. We may be able to wait and see how they are later as well,” Worsfold told reporters before training on Thursday.
“(Smith) may be fit today and we’re all comfortable. It’s a bit of an unknown with him because it’s a chronic knee. It’s not like one specific little thing that’s the issue. He’s a bit harder to read. He could get through today and feel great. If not we’ll have to make a decision whether we want to name him or give him a little bit more time.”
Smith trained strongly on Thursday but his selection will depend on how he recovers from the session. Meanwhile, Fantasia appears a certain starter after showing no signs of the ailment that struck him down.
The Dons will need to replace key forward Mitch Brown, who sustained a fractured wrist on Anzac Day, and Worsfold said the flexible Aaron Francis was “certainly” an option for promotion, along with a second ruckman such as the experienced Zac Clarke or the uncapped Sam Draper.
A sore Aaron Francis limps to the bench during the Dons’ R3 clash with Melbourne. Picture: AFL Photos
Another possibility, Worsfold said, was to go with a smaller forward set-up.
Usual defender Francis, who was dropped after three rounds to make way for gun big man Cale Hooker, impressed when sent forward in the second half in the VFL at the weekend and appears the most likely choice. He trained with the Bombers’ forwards on Thursday.
Essendon has accounted for Geelong in their past two meetings – both at the MCG over the past two seasons – but Worsfold insisted those results had only “subtle relevance” to this contest.
“We’re certainly not sitting here thinking, ‘Let’s just replicate exactly what happened last year.’ We’re looking at what we’re doing this year, we’ve made some changes, Geelong have made some changes, so it’s two teams going differently at it,” he said.
After a poor start to the season, the 3-3 Bombers have become one of the form teams of the competition. However, Worsfold dismissed any suggestion his team needed a big scalp to validate their efforts.
“We’ve beaten the top team this year already. I think Brisbane were on top when we played them (in round four),” he said. (The Lions were actually second to Geelong on percentage.)
"They might be on top again at the end of the year. We beat Melbourne, who were rated as second premiership favourites, so we’re going all right.
"We don’t really get caught up in that. I’m making a joke of it because we just want to play our best footy every week, regardless.
“We need to win 14 games to be almost guaranteed of playing in the finals, so I don’t care who they come against. I’d like to win more than that.”
As for who would be assigned the task of stopping Geelong veteran Gary Ablett, who has been in brilliant form in attack, Worsfold nominated Conor McKenna, Adam Saad, Mason Redman and Andrew McGrath as the chief candidates. Asked whether the Dons would try to make Ablett more accountable on an attacking opponent, the coach said it would be a consideration.
“You always have that debate. Everyone knows how to get him (but) not many have ever been able to do it,” Worsfold said.
“Whichever way we go we’ll be confident we’ll get a match-up that will compete really hard and have an absolute crack at playing their role for us.”
To get Ablett, you have to hurt him. He does not respond well to that. A pulverising tackle in the first quarter is the way to go. Having said that, imo the best match up is Saad.
Ambrose is the man for that job.
J Neagle vs Geelong, Shivers…
same stuff just different words - key info squad announced 6:20pm tonight, final team tomorrow arvo at 5:00pm
Essendon coach John Worsfold says there are several options to consider to fill the void left by injured forward Mitch Brown against Geelong at the MCG on Sunday.
Brown suffered a fractured wrist in last week’s narrow Anzac Day loss to Collingwood and is expected to be on the sidelines for the next three games.
The setback has further stretched the club’s forward depth following injuries to Shaun McKernan, James Stewart and Jayden Laverde, but Worsfold is confident the side can cover the latest loss.
Usual defender Aaron Francis was swung forward to effect in the VFL on Saturday once Laverde succumbed to a hamstring injury, booting two goals in an encouraging display, and Worsfold said the young Bomber is among the key chances to be named this week.
“Francis gets the nod to be an option that we look at, absolutely,” Worsfold said on Thursday.
“We’ve got a few options that we’re considering, Aaron is certainly one of those, but we’ll make that call once we get through training.”
The prospect of playing a second ruckman is also a realistic chance, with Zac Clarke in the mix to return from a calf injury and young ruck Sam Draper knocking down the selection door off the back of another sensational VFL performance.
“We can go with a second ruckman like we’ve used in that past, whether that’s Zac Clarke or Sam Draper.”
Sam Draper gathered 20 disposals and 47 hitouts against Collingwood last week. (Image: Ben Johnstone)
But with Orazio Fantasia remaining a chance to return from illness and versatile forward Josh Begley among those performing well in the VFL, Worsfold didn’t rule out using a shorter line-up.
“The other option is that we can not bring in an extra taller player and go with a smaller forward line set-up.”
The Bombers have matched up well with the Cats in the last two years, emerging victorious in both clashes including an impressive 34-point success in last year’s edition of the Country Game.
Worsfold said it is important not to read too much into that form given the style and personnel changes at both clubs since their last battle.
“There’s a subtle relevance there, but not a lot.
“We’re certainly not sitting here thinking, ‘Let’s just replicate exactly what happened last year’, we’re looking at what we’re doing this year.
“We’ve made some changes, Geelong has made some changes, so it’s two teams going differently at it.”
One of the key players behind the Cats’ strong form this season is Gary Ablett, who has recaptured some of his best form to lead the way in the forward line.
Worsfold has a plethora of defenders at his disposal to take on the veteran including former Sun Adam Saad, who played alongside Ablett at Gold Coast.
“We’ve got a few defenders that have been back there a fair bit, so you can pick one of those out; (Conor) McKenna, Saad, Mason Redman, Andy McGrath,” Worsfold said.
“(Saad has) played with him, he might have done some pre-season on him so he might know the secrets.
“You always have that debate (about how to beat Ablett). Everyone knows how to get him, but not many have ever been able to do it.
“Whichever way we go, we’ll be confident that we’ll get a match up that will compete really hard and have an absolute crack at playing their role for us.”
Adam Saad is in career-best form and could line up on former teammate Gary Ablett this week. (Image: AFL Photos)
Extended squads for the match will be announced at 6:20pm on Thursday, with the Bombers’ final team to be confirmed at 5pm on Friday.
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Doesn’t have to play same role. Let JoeDan roam up the ground, and Francis can be Smack-style clunker in the fwd 50.
