Almanac Footy: Community Series – Geelong v Essendon

 

 

Although Tuesday night’s Community Cup match was more or less a practice match, Essendon’s win over Geelong at Kardinia Park still had a lot to like about it for Bomber supporters.

 

Importantly, it was a win, something this team needs to experience, and to continue experiencing if Essendon is to move forwards. It was also a confidence booster desperately needed -you can only gain confidence from winning, and by winning you move forward.

 

We defeated a pretty good Geelong team on their home ground where victories have been few and far between for many years, that was a real plus.

 

The question on many supporters lips pre-season is whether our three and four year players have taken the next step which we ambitiously had been hoping for, only to be disappointingly let down over the past couple of seasons.

 

Pleasingly they played well.Tsatas and Hobbs got plenty of the ball driving it forward to the forward line, though often criticized in the past for their poor disposal progress has been made. Harry Jones looked very comfortable on the wing, took some nice marks and made good use of the ball when he had it. Archie Perkins had a very good game, kicked a couple of goals and was very busy. He will step up and take over Stringers’ role with confidence.

 

Sam Draper was inspirational, looked very fit and gave our mids first use of the ball numerous times. I like him up forward as well, he takes a mark, and crashes packs as he demonstrated so well in the final quarter that allowed Kako to goal. Bryan had his best game for the Bombers, I thought he was very dominant in the ruck and around the ground when he came on. Very mobile as well. It is hard to see how Peter Wright can be fitted into the team at the moment.

 

It was good to see Zach Reid get through the game unscathed after his horrid run of injuries. With Ridley back doing what he does best the backline looks a lot more formidable than it has in the past. Competition will be fierce for other positions down back. Prior was impressive and probably earned himself a spot for Round 1. I liked Shiel running off the backline driving the ball forward many times.

 

Nate Caddy and Isaac Kako both displayed why they will be superstars of the future. Kako, nimble, quick with very clean hands and fantastic goal sense, is the player we have looked for on the forward line for some time, if the talls don’t mark the ball he will be there for the crumbs. Caddy, well he could be anything! Mobile, great mark, fit, and kicks goals.

 

Great effort by the Bombers but the real test to see if any progress has been made will be Round 1 against the Suns.

 

Go Bombers.

 

GEELONG             2.3     8.4     10.7        12.11 (83)
ESSENDON     5.0     8.1   11.2    17.2 (104)

GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 2, Stengle 2, Neale 2, Henry, Dangerfield, Blicavs, Bowes, Miers, Clohesy
Essendon: Kako 4, Caddy 3, Martin 2, Perkins 2, Durham 2, Gresham 2, Bryan, Draper

BEST
Geelong: Miers, Cameron, J.Henry, Knevitt, Holmes, Bowes
Essendon: Kako, Tsatas, Shiel, Caddy, Jones, Merrett, McGrath

INJURIES
Geelong: Nil
Essendon: Nil

Crowd: 11, 626 at GMHBA Stadium

 

 

More from Col Ritchie can be read Here

 

 

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