Sunday’s blockbuster AFL match is between the Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blue which will be played at 7:10pm AEST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of an expected bumper crowd. Live Scores will be provided for the duration of the match including live odds for those who wish to see how their team is faring in the market. View our Live AFL Scores for the Round 3 game between Essendon Bombers and Carlton Blues.

Round: Round 3, Sunday April 6, 7:10pm
Stadium: MCG
Weather: 22° Partly cloudy.

Preview:

Teams:

Essendon Bombers:

B Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher, Dyson Heppell
HB Jackson Merrett, Michael Hurley, Michael Hibberd
C Mark Baguley, Jobe Watson, Brent Stanton
HF David Zaharakis, Brendon Goddard, Paul Chapman
F Ben Howlett, Joe Daniher, Jason Winderlich
FOLL Jake Carlisle, Heath Hocking, David Myers
I/C Patrick Ambrose, Jason Ashby, Martin Gleeson, Jake Melksham, Leroy Jetta, Elliott Kavanagh, Kyle Hardingham
(Three to be omitted)
IN Jason Ashby, Jake Melksham, Leroy Jetta, Elliott Kavanagh, Jason Winderlich
OUT Patrick Ryder (Ankle), Zach Merrett (Omitted)
NEW Jason Ashby

Carlton Blues:
B Dylan Buckley, Sam Rowe, Michael Jamison
HB Andrew Walker, Zach Tuohy, Andrejs Everitt
C Kade Simpson, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs
HF Jeff Garlett, Lachie Henderson, Chris Yarran
F Troy Menzel, Jarrad Waite, Mitch Robinson
FOLL Robert Warnock, Dale Thomas, Ed Curnow
I/C David Ellard, Andrew Carrazzo, Brock McLean, Kane Lucas, Tom Bell, Simon White, Levi Casboult
(Three to be omitted)
IN Andrew Walker, Andrew Carrazzo, Levi Casboult

News:

Latest News:

Carlton midfielder Brock McLean has been dropped, a week after failing to attend an AFL three-quarter-time huddle when subbed out of the game.

McLean had told the Blues he wasn’t sure if he was allowed back onto the field of play during the clash with Richmond at the MCG on March 27.

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said 143-game veteran McLean’s only sin was not asking an official to clarify the rule.

But the Blues’ mentor made his frustrations clear earlier this week.

“We would have liked him, as a leader, on the ground,” Malthouse said.

“We’ve taken issue with it and we’re not going to hide it.

“He came up with the reasoning and we have to accept that.”

Carlton on Friday dumped McLean and Kane Lucas for Sunday night’s round-three game against Essendon at the MCG.

The Blues regain onballer Andrew Carrazzo and defender Andrew Walker who has served a one-game ban.

Essendon have ruled out ruckman Patrick Ryder with an ankle injury while Zach Merrett has been dropped, as Jason Winderlich returns to the forward line and 19-year-old Jason Ashby makes his debut.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos has axed Viv Michie, Jimmy Toumpas and former co-captain Jack Trengove after last week’s 93-point loss to West Coast.

Jack Viney is one of three inclusions for Melbourne.

The Demons face Greater Western Sydney, who will be without Lachie Whitfield because of a foot injury for Sunday’s game at Spotless Stadium.

North Melbourne named vice-captain Jack Ziebell in their 22 for Sunday’s match at Etihad Stadium against Port Adelaide, despite doubts over Ziebell’s fitness due to a shoulder problem.

Blues drop McLean for clash with Essendon

Carlton News:

Carlton ruckman Matthew Kreuzer needs more foot surgery and will be out of action for at least half this AFL season.

Kreuzer was a late withdrawal from the loss to Richmond last week, but was confident earlier this week that he would return for Sunday’s blockbuster against Essendon.

The Blues announced on Thursday that Kreuzer is still suffering pain in the foot and doctors have decided another operation is needed.

They said he would be sidelined for 12-14 weeks.

Kreuzer also needed foot surgery after last season.

It is a major blow for Kreuzer and Carlton, who are winless after two rounds and are also awaiting the return of veteran Chris Judd from Achilles tendon surgery.

Judd was scheduled to return this weekend, but it was pushed back a fortnight.

The Blues hope Kreuzer will return later in the season.

“We have been monitoring Matthew’s foot this week and although he has managed to participate in training, he is still experiencing significant pain,” said Blues football director Andrew McKay.

“His surgeon and our club doctor have determined it is in both Kreuzer’s and the club’s interests for him to have another procedure, to ensure he is fully fit to play a role in the later part of the season.

“Kreuzer is an integral part of our team and will be missed on the field, but we’re confident this is the best course of action going forward.”

Essendon News: 

Goddard hopes Thompson stays at Essendon

Star Essendon AFL midfielder Brendon Goddard says in an ideal world interim senior coach Mark Thompson would stay on as an assistant in 2015.

Thompson, a two-time premiership coach at Geelong, was James Hird’s assistant before Hird was handed a 12-month ban by the league in August 2013 over Essendon’s use of supplements.

Thompson has been appointed on a one-year deal as Essendon’s senior coach for the 2014 season.

Hird is contracted for 2015 and 2016 and the Bombers have locked in the club great to resume as senior coach next season.

Thompson, who like Hird is a premiership captain at Essendon, is considering his options and could be the subject of coaching offers from rival clubs at the end of 2014.

Goddard told Seven’s AFL Game Day on Sunday the players were right behind Hird’s return next season.

Reigning club champion Goddard added he wanted to see Thompson remain in Essendon’s coaching department in 2015.

“We definitely are (welcoming Hird’s 2015 return),” Goddard said.

“In an ideal world if those two can work together like they have in the past.

“Ideally if those two can work together it would be a pretty good combination.”

Goddard says Thompson is more than capable of handling the adjustment of going from senior coach back to being an assistant.

“He has in the past so there’s no reason why he can’t again,” Goddard said.

However Thompson has spoken previously about the burn-out factor in coaching.

Doubts remain over whether the 50-year-old wants to stay involved in coaching beyond 2014.

“I guess that’s a decision he has to make and what he actually wants to do,” Goddard said.

“Whether it’s to stay in footy or get away from it.”