Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 9 match is between Essendon Bombers and Geelong Cats. The opening kick is set to commence at 16:35 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The away team Geelong Cats are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and Geelong Cats.
When: 16:35 | Saturday 19/05/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
Some are saying it’s time for John Worsfold to swing the axe and I expect him to do that this week and I’m anticipating 4-5 changes to the line-up.
Cats are coming off a game which has been labelled a ‘defence obsessed, pressure-crazy’ game but I say good luck to Geelong.
If I was a Cats supporter, I’d just want the win and wouldn’t be too concerned with what it looks like.
Geelong’s new defensive style is proving effective and it will work very well against the Bombers.
Essendon are without their best forward in Joe Daniher and their best defender in Michael Hurley.
They are in all sorts.
KEY BATTLE: Essendon v Geelong’s midfield
I don’t see a key battle in this one but Essendon will have to stop Geelong’s new-look midfield to have any chance
The Verdict
Geelong are one of the form teams in the comp and Essendon are arguably the worst.
The Bombers are 11-25-0 (30.6 percent) in day matches since 2016 in the “Second (Highest scoring quarter)” market.
Unibet Odds:
Essendon at $4.75
Geelong at $1.20
Odds:
OFFER: Deposit $50 BET with $200 via this link – Ends Soon!
Tip: Geelong Cats at $1.22
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Gary Ablett at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
Essendon Bombers: 
B: Hooker, Ridley, Baguley
HB: Saad, Ambrose, Heppell
C: Goddard, Guelfi, McKenna
HF: Clarke, Stewart, McDonald-Tipungwuti
F: Langford, McKernan, Fantasia
FOLL: Bellchambers, Zaharakis, Smith
I/C: Stringer, Laverde, Z.Merrett, Dea
EMG: Parish, J.Merrett, Long, McNiece
IN: Ridley, Guelfi, Clarke, Langford, Dea
OUT: Hurley, Mutch, Myers, Parish, McNiece
Geelong Cats: 
B: Stewart, Taylor, Kolodjashnij
HB: Tuohy, Blicavs, Henry
C: Thurlow, J.Selwood, Cunico
HF: Menegola, Crameri, Murdoch
F: Parsons, Hawkins, Gregson
FOLL: Smith, Dangerfield, Ablett
I/C: Bews, Duncan, Horlin-Smith, Kelly
EMG: Black, Z.Guthrie, Jones, Stanley
IN: Hawkins
OUT: Ratugolea
AFL News:
Geelong coach Chris Scott has rubbished suggestions Essendon are a team in disarray and backed under-pressure counterpart John Worsfold ahead of the AFL country game.
The Bombers’ woeful run continued on Saturday when they handed strugglers Carlton their first win of the season, going down to the Blues by 21 points at the MCG.
Talked up as finals contenders after recruiting Jake Stringer, Devon Smith and Adam Saad, the Dons have now lost four games on the trot and sit 15th on the ladder with two wins and six losses.
Essendon’s struggles have led to the blowtorch being applied to Worsfold with retired Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney suggesting the “spiritless” Bombers weren’t playing for their coach.
The third-placed Cats will start strong favourites in Saturday’s annual MCG clash in support of Australia’s rural community but Scott is expecting a strong response from the wounded Bombers.
“We just assume that they’re going to play their best,” Scott said after Geelong’s 21-point victory over Collingwood on Sunday.
“I have some empathy for those internally at footy clubs that have to listen to people saying they’re in disarray and don’t have any method.
“I’m very confident knowing John Worsfold and the coaching staff. I know (assistant coach) Mark Harvey well; he’s a very smart football person. They’d be clear on what they’re trying to do.
“Just because they’re not executing as well as they can, doesn’t mean that they’re unsure as to what they’re trying to achieve. They were a finalist last year with virtually the same personnel; probably their personnel wasn’t as good as it is now. We’re aware that it can turn around really quickly.”
The Cats will welcome back key forward Tom Hawkins from suspension but Daniel Menzel remains sidelined with a groin issue while midfielder Scott Selwood is no certainty to return from a back complaint.
The feedback we’ve got is that it’s not serious … but we have had a few issues with acute back (injuries) that have been hard to predict,” Scott said of Selwood.
“He just jarred his back at training; there was no contact or anything.
“He had surgery in 2011 on a back issue. They’re not saying this is related but I guess if you wanted to go back a long way, there’s a history there.
