Round 4 – Sydney v Essendon: I have no nails left after yet another classic!

 

By Caspar McLeod.
8/4/2021, S.C.G

 

Just another game between my beloved Bombers and Swans where, at the end of it, I have no nails left. Just another game between these two teams over the last couple of decades or so that’s ended in a heartbreaking defeat for one and a nervous victory for the other.

 

Just another game where Buddy toyed with Essendon. Now on 950 goals, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll kick 1,000 by the end of his incredible career.

 

As Jordan Lewis said in the post game analysis about Essendon’s performance: “they did nearly everything right except for kicking a winning score”. He made a good point with that one. Essendon, really, should be 2-2. Having said that, after the Port loss, to be 1-3 and within a whisker of being 3-1 (if we didn’t choke away that Hawthorn game or this Sydney game), I’m super proud of my Bombers.

 

As for the Swans, this was a massive challenge. To come in as heavy favourites for a game after the highs of beating Brisbane and Richmond earlier in the season and to respond after being challenged repeatedly throughout this game shows how mature the Swans are.

 

Tonight I learnt that since 1982, the Swans and Bombers are all tied up with 30 wins a piece and one draw. I was not surprised to learn this fact. What I am surprised about is how Sydney vs Essendon isn’t regarded as one of the best rivalries in the competition. it deserves to be mentioned amongst the best, along with the Showdown in South Australia or the GWS-Bulldogs rivalry or even the Geelong-Hawthorn rivalry.

 

Just another classic between my two beloved teams and I have no nails left. Both teams have a lot of hope after tonight. Essendon have proven the last two weeks that they match up quite well against good teams so long as they apply a lot of pressure, while Sydney are 4-0 for the first time in years. The last time they were 4-0? 2012 (yet another stat I learnt from watching the post-game analysis). Now THAT is something to be excited about as a Swans fan.

 

 

SYDNEY          2.5     7.9     9.11     11.17     (83)
ESSENDON     4.1     7.4     10.6     12.8     (80)

 

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 3, Reid 2, McInerney 2, Parker, Florent, Mills, Papley
Essendon: Stringer 3, Hooker 3, Waterman 2, Cox, Smith, Parish, Jones

 

BEST
Sydney: Parker, Warner, Lloyd, Mills, Gulden, Kennedy
Essendon: Merrett, Ridley, Stringer, Parish, Cox

 

INJURIES
Sydney: Heeney (right hand)
Essendon: Nil

 

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: James Bell (replaced Isaac Heeney)
Essendon: David Zaharakis (unused)

 

Crowd: 28,039 at the SCG

The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 will be published in the coming weeks. It will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from the Covid winter.  Pre-order  HERE

 

To return to the www.footyalmanac.com.au  home page click HERE

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

Do you enjoy the Almanac concept?
And want to ensure it continues in its current form, and better? To help keep things ticking over please consider making your own contribution.

 

Become an Almanac (annual) member – CLICK HERE
One-off financial contribution – CLICK HERE
Regular financial contribution (monthly EFT) – CLICK HERE