Sunday’s third AFL Round 15 match is between Essendon Bombers and Port Adelaide Power with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with home team Essendon Bombers currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Essendon Bombers and Port Adelaide Power.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Sunday 7 July, 4:40pm
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Opening odds comparison:
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| Essendon Bombers | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.30 | 1.25 | 1.25 | 1.29 |
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Port Adelaide Power
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3.90 | 3.90 | 3.65 | 3.90 | 3.90 | 3.95 |
Preview:
The last game of round 15 is between Essendon and Port Adelaide, 4.40pm on Sunday at Etihad Stadium. The Bombers are expected to win here, coming off a great win against the Eagles last round, their first in Perth since 2001. Saying that, however, Port Adelaide are offering good value for punters, coming off two great wins over the last fortnight against the Swans and the Magpies. Essendon are also travelling well at the moment though, having won their last three matches and keen to protect their place in the top four. This looks like a close contest.
Teams:
Essendon Bombers:
B: Mark Baguley, Dustin Fletcher, Tayte Pears
HB: Courtenay Dempsey, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd
C: Brendon Goddard, Jobe Watson, Jake Melksham
HF: Jackson Merrett, Jake Carlisle, Jason Winderlich
F: Nick Kommer, Michael Hurley, David Zaharakis
Foll: Patrick Ryder, Brent Stanton, Dyson Heppell
Int (from): Tom Bellchambers, Will Hams, Travis Colyer, Alwyn Davey, Ben Howlett, David Myers, Kyle Hardingham
In: K.Hardingham, T.Colyer, W.Hams, D.Fletcher
Out: S.Crameri (ankle)
Port Adelaide Power:
B: Jack Hombsch, Alipate Carlile, Thomas Jonas
HB: Jasper Pittard, Jackson Trengove, Cameron O’Shea
C: Chad Wingard, Travis Boak, Kane Cornes
HF: Andrew Moore, Justin Westhoff, Angus Monfries
F: Robbie Gray, Jay Schulz, Paul Stewart
Foll: Matthew Lobbe, Oliver Wines, Hamish Hartlett
Int (from): Nathan Blee, Tom Logan, Brad Ebert, Jake Neade, Matt Thomas, Aaron Young, Matthew Broadbent
In: M.Thomas, P.Stewart, N.Blee, A.Young
Out: D.Cassisi (hamstring)
Bombers’ AFL chief defends Watson
Essendon AFL chairman David Evans on Thursday defended Jobe Watson against suggestions the skipper should be stood down following his drugs confession.
Watson last week admitted being injected with the banned substance AOD-9604 in 2012, saying he took the drug after being told it was legal.
While some have called for Watson to be stripped of his 2012 Brownlow Medal and banned from playing, Evans says such talk is premature and irresponsible.
Essendon and Watson are being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) about their use of supplements last season.
Evans says the Bombers expect the investigation to be completed in early August.
Huge interest surrounds possible penalties which could be imposed on the third-placed Bombers, such as losing premiership points or having players banned if they are found guilty of breaching anti-doping rules.
Evans says AOD-9604 isn’t a performance-enhancing drug and he has rubbished claims the Bombers are gaining an unfair advantage in 2013 from their possible use of the substance in 2012.
“There have been calls for players to step down and for the club to be punished,” Evans told essendonfc.com.au.
“It is very important to state that new information is still being uncovered about what may have occurred at the club in the 2012 season including actions by people external to our club.”
Evans says the investigation is complex and he has urged the media and the public to be patient.
“The club feels very strongly that our players should be given the right to the presumption of innocence before being judged and we ask that the public await the outcome of the investigation,” Evans said.
“We are particularly concerned that our players are being denied due process and in Jobe Watson’s interview, he stated that he had been told that the substance he was given was AOD-9604.
“Whether the substance was AOD-9604 and further, whether it was a prohibited substance last year are questions that can only be answered after the ASADA-AFL investigation is completed.
“Any suggestion that Jobe Watson should be stood down from playing or be stripped of his Brownlow Medal is premature and inappropriate and strongly rejected by the club.”
The Bombers had sought expert advice over the effects of AOD-9604, Evans said.
“Our medical and pharmacological advice is that even if the players were given AOD-9604 last year, it is not a performance-enhancing substance and it certainly would not have a carry-forward effect into this year,” Evans said.