Saturday’s third AFL Round 21 match is between Essendon Bombers and North Melbourne Kangaroos. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The away team North Melbourne Kangaroos are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and North Melbourne Kangaroos.
Round: Round 21 4:40 PM August 17, 2013
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 15° A little rain.
Featured Bookmakers:
Essendon Bombers $2.85 vs North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.42 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match
Essendon Bombers $2.85 vs North Melbourne Kangaroos $1.42 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match
Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:
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| Essendon Bombers | 2.85 | 2.80 | N/A | 2.80 | 2.85 | N/A |
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North Melbourne Kangaroos
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1.42 | 1.43 | N/A | 1.43 | 1.42 | N/A |
Preview:
The off–field drama has finally caught up with Essendon who, in the past three weeks, have suffered heavy defeats to Hawthorn (56 points), Collingwood (79 points) and last week, West Coast (53 points).
In each of these performances they have look like a club that is tired and under siege. The above losses have seen them slip to seventh on the ladder.
With news during the week that Essendon Coach James Hird, along with three other Essendon officials have been charged with bringing the game into disrepute, the news is only going to get worse for the Bombers players and supporters before it gets any better.
Expect North Melbourne to show no mercy though.
The Kangaroos were themselves poor last week and after registering a big win over Geelong in round 19, were always on the back-foot against Adelaide and in the end, fall nine points short.
They’ve been a hard team to get a handle on all year as their 8 – 11 record would indicate however, Essendon appear to be crumbling at a rapid rate.
In the past there has been little between the two sides with honours split 2 – 2 over the past few years however, this game will be played under unique and trying circumstances for the Essendon footy club and, as their past month of performances would suggest, they can longer shoulder the pressure from the off the field.
Teams:
Essendon Bombers: 
B: M.Hibberd T.Pears K.Hardingham
HB: M.Baguley C.Hooker B.Goddard
C: H.Hocking J.Watson L.Dalgleish
HF: J.Daniher S.Crameri D.Heppell
F: N.Kommer J.Carlisle A.Davey
FOLL: T.Bellchambers J.Melksham B.Stanton
I/C: L.Jetta D.Zaharakis B.Howlett N.O’Brien
EMG: N.Lovett-Murray E.Kavanagh D.Hille
IN: Joe Daniher, Lauchlan Dalgleish, Nick O’Brien, Leroy Jetta, Stewart Crameri
OUT: Patrick Ryder (suspension), Scott Gumbleton (soreness), Dustin Fletcher (suspension), David Myers (rested), Jason Winderlich (hamstring)
North Melbourne Kangaroos:
B: L.Hansen S.Thompson A.Mullett
HB: J.Macmillan N.Grima S.Atley
C: R.Bastinac D.Wells S.Gibson
HF: L.Adams R.Tarrant B.Harvey
F: L.Thomas D.Petrie A.Black
FOLL: T.Goldstein B.Cunnington J.Ziebell
I/C: B.McKenzie B.Jacobs L.Delaney S.Wright
EMG: M.Firrito L.Greenwood T.Garner
In: Nathan Grima, Brad McKenzie
Out: Taylor Garner (omitted), Taylor Hine (omitted)
Hird rejected AFL offer to save colleagues
Essendon coach James Hird reportedly turned down a chance to have three of his Bombers colleagues cleared by pleading guilty to an AFL charge over the supplements saga.
The offer was made by the AFL before the Bombers, Hird, Essendon senior assistant Mark Thompson, football manager Danny Corcoran and club doctor Bruce Reid were all charged by the league on Tuesday night with bringing the game into disrepute.
The AFL told Hird’s lawyers that if Hird pleaded guilty, they would charge only him and the club, meaning Thompson, Corcoran and Reid would avoid charges, the Seven Network reported on Thursday night.
But Hird rejected the offer, meaning the club, him and the three other officials were all charged, although the Bombers plan to vigorously defend themselves and their representatives.
All parties are scheduled to face an AFL Commission hearing on August 26, although there is speculation the Bombers will instead seek a court injunction.
That has prompted former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett to call on the AFL to set the Bombers an ultimatum.
Kennett says the club shouldn’t be allowed to play in the AFL next season if the saga isn’t resolved by the end of November.
The former Victorian premier says the AFL must put the reputation of the code first, even if it means playing with just 17 teams next year.
“I don’t like courts,” Kennett told Melbourne’s SEN radio on Thursday.
“I do think there is a circuit-breaker.
“If I was the AFL Commission I would say to Essendon `You do whatever you like. But if this is not resolved by the end of November, you will not as a team be competing next year.’
“We are not going to have 17 clubs and the reputation of our code become the top priority next year when we’re trying to play a competition.
“It’s just too costly.
“The AFL and Essendon are dragging down the reputation of the code.”
The commission has the power to hand out suspensions and fines, and strip the Bombers of premiership points and draft picks, should the charges be sustained.