A really interesting game today between two sides most would expect to be of similar talent and ability, despite lists built in vastly different places. Essendon win by 24 points which doesn’t reflect how competitive this match was at times, before the Bombers kicked away late.
It was clear early both teams were looking to assert dominance through different methods. Essendon, relying on contest and direct, damaging kicking, versus Hawthorn, running at all costs, looking to take the game on and create space forward of the ball.
Essendon had the ascendency early, and led for most of the game, however, the game existed largely in a goal for goal manner. It wasn’t until fatigue started to affect the young Hawks late that Essendon found some easy ball movement which, in effect, ended the game.
Neither side really played to their best, as you would expect in Round One, however, you can see what both sides are trying to do this year. It remains to be seen if these game styles stack up throughout the year. Essendon take the four points and deserved the win. Hawthorn didn’t lower their colours at all, and supporters should be pleased with the direction their club is headed.
Here’s all that mattered from the clash.
Dirty Day for Captain Sicily
James Sicily’s game started by giving up a free for a push in the back to Matt Guelfi, who kicked truly to start the scoring. He then immediately gave up a retaliatory free kick which, fortunately for Sicily, lead to a point. Soon after, he turned the ball over after a kick in, and shortly after that, was caught ball watching, leading to a goal for Peter Wright.
These first quarter moments are reflective of the poor day the Hawthorn captain had. He was nowhere to be seen for the most part, and certainly had nowhere near the influence he needed to have to help the Hawks find a way to win. When such an important player to a young team underperforms, it generally can hinder in such a way that the side is uncompetitive.
Fortunately for Sicily, that was not the case today, and his charges made a good showing of themselves.
I expect a bounce back from him next week. He would know he underperformed in this game and allowed the Essendon forwards to get the better of him. To his credit, the ball movement inside 50 from Essendon was generally accurate, but he just had to find a way to get himself into the game.
Contract Year Stringer
We’ve seen this before. Jake Stringer, out of contract, remembers how to dominate a game of football.
And while dominate is probably not quite the correct word today, he showed signs that Essendon fans would love. Four goals, one behind today for the enigma that is the String. The most pleasing thing is that he got himself into dangerous positions and made himself a target.
It remains to be seen if Essendon will go back to him in the midfield, but after today’s effort I think it shows how much more value he adds as a forward. The forward mix is still a question mark, but not in a bad way. Playing Stringer, Wright and Langford in the same front six works well because the three play in very different ways. Having Guelfi and Gresham as your two main smalls seem to balance well off those guys if today is anything to go by.
Next week will be interesting. If Stringer pops up for another three plus goals, then I wouldn’t be shocked if we see him lead the Bombers goal kicking this year. Will it just be a flash in the pan? Who knows, but if history is anything to go by, until that contract comes, he’s in for a good year.
The McGrath and Merrett Combo
Essendon’s dominant ball winners are so often these two guys and it’s easy to see why. They play a similar accumulate and feed type of game, with McGrath using the ball largely out of the back half to set up a charge forward, and Merrett finding it in the contest to start a chain out of clearance.
These sorts of players are so reliable. You know what you’ll get each week and today was no different. Modern football often doesn’t have room in the same team for players like these two to operate together, however for Essendon right now, its exactly what they need.
Essendon supporters, let me know below if you disagree, but you don’t really have a lot of flair in this side. When you lack a lot of run and gun players, you need reliability and strength to win the footy and try and get the game operating on your terms. That is exactly what these two delivered today. When Essendon needed them, these two created the chains that led to scores.
Zach Merrett, also, is a very underrated captain. We know the challenges Essendon have faced and it’s not an easy job to lead a team through that. His loyalty should be lauded more than it probably is, and his sheer consistency deserves acknowledgement.
Kick And Mark v Run and Gun
This game was a reflection in the shift of AFL football from kick mark to run and gun. Essendon played a more traditional game of obtaining the footy and hitting targets quickly and decisively to move the ball forward and running it when opportunity presented.
Hawthorn, on the other hand, are looking at playing the Collingwood run and gun method that is proving so successful in our game today, taking the game on at any opportunity.
In a game like today, what Essendon did looks great and works well. Hawthorn are a young, raw team still working on the consistency in their game, and that youth hurts them when they turn it over, often not having the legs to work back or turning the ball over with skill error.
The concern is the Collingwoods and GWS of the world won’t have these issues. They play a maximum pressure, breakneck game that strangles the life out of a kick mark side and means you need to play perfect footy to win the game, if that game style is how you want to play. As I mentioned above, Essendon don’t really have the flair to play any other way right now.
As has been well documented, Hawthorn cut deep on their list, and have committed to what Sam Mitchell is trying to do. While it may take another year or two for it to fully come into effect, they’re definitely on the right path. When it worked today, they got out the back of Essendon with relative ease and lead to one on ones forward and goal scoring opportunities. Essendon won the game, but as I watched the game, I couldn’t help but feel that they’re outdated, and need to change what they’re doing if they want to seriously compete.
New Clubs, Mixed Results
A lot of new guys out there today for both sides, let’s take a quick look through them and see how they went:
Jack Ginnivan: Lit the game on fire in the first half with two goals and was the most impactful player out there. Really looked a class above and on track to break the game apart. Unfortunately, he dropped off the Earth in the second half, with only three disposals for the rest of the game and virtually had no impact at all from then on. Still, a lot to be excited by for Hawthorn supporters.
Xavier Duursma: Strange game from Duursma today. He needed a change of scenery and pregame I had him down for 25 plus on a wing for the Bombers. Ended it with 13 disposals and looked really shaky at times. Had very little impact on this one and Essendon supporters probably expected more than that.
Jade Gresham: Similar to Duursma, couldn’t really work himself into this one, with just the 12 disposals and a goal. He did look dangerous at times, but they were few and far between. I’m less worried about him than Duursma, as his position is tougher to learn in a new side. He’s a classy player, and I expect him to bounce back quickly.
Ben McKay: I must admit, I was in the camp of believing McKay was overrated and not deserving of his contact. If he plays like he did today for the rest of the year, then he has well and truly earnt it. Won his match ups all day and looked really reliable down back. Essendon really needed him to do exactly what he did, and if he keeps it up, then his price tag will be more than justified.
Todd Goldstein: Did what he does – hit the ball. 41 hit outs today against the much younger Ned Reeves. He’s such an expReeves.d, reliable player that you always knew he’d have an instant impact. It remains to be seen how much footy he plays for the Dons, but he’s such an asset to have on the list. A great pick up.
Massimo D’Ambrosio: The pick of the bunch. Played largely between half-back and wing today and really stood out with his creativity and ball use. 30 touches that were important to his side. Leaving looks to have been the right call if that’s the sort of game we come to expect from him. Great game, arguably Hawthorns best.
The Side Notes
Does Mitch Lewis have the biggest chest in the comp? Bloke looks absolutely massive.
Unfortunately for him, it mattered for little today. Was well beaten down forward today and never looked overly dangerous. I still rate him highly but needs to give more than that.
Ginnivan copping huge boos early. No idea why. Never played for Essendon. Thankfully he played well early and quietened them quickly, but still, why?
Harrison Jones needs to look at Kyle Langford’s game as a learning experience today. Neither of them had any impact on the game at all, until Langford kicked three in the second half to become a difference-maker in the game. Jones got nowhere near it. I’m not sure how long Essendon will persist with him, and yes, he is young and needs time, but he needs to find a way to impact games more than he has done to this point of his career.
Archie Perkins looks to have developed a bit this off season. 24 disposals and two goals in a dominant showing from him today. When he got the ball, he looked dangerous and 12 tackles show he’s worked on his game defensively. I hope we get more of this from him this year. He seems a good type, and his development can offer a point of difference in that midfield.
Dylan Moore with three goals and 17 disposals. Such an impactful player with ball in hand. Could be looking at a surprise All Australian year if he can maintain this level. So important to his team and a fantastic player to watch.
What Mattered Most
Efficiency in front of goal. Yes, it’s the most basic aspect of our great game, but bad kicking is bad football and Hawthorn butchered it when it was there to be won.
Hawthorn had more scoring shots in this game and missed some really gettable opportunities. Two goals seven in the first quarter really set the tone and meant that the Hawks were largely fighting from behind the entire game.
While the young Hawks tired late and Essendon were able to put the game beyond doubt, when it was there to be won, the Hawks missed the ones they should have kicked. They may not have won the game given how Essendon finished, but the scoreboard advantage is so crucial. Who knows how this game could have finished, had Hawthorn kicked straighter.
So that’s all that mattered from the hit out today. Hawthorn plays Melbourne next week in a tough game. I expect them to take the game to the Dees much like today, and so long as they keep doing that, they’re on the right track.
Essendon bank the four points and have the tough ask of Sydney in Sydney next week. A really difficult game lined up which will make today’s win all the sweeter for them. They did what they needed to do today to win and showed enough to have a bit of hope for a better year than last, but question marks remain.
