Despite kicking the last seven goals of the game against Melbourne in round 14, the Bulldogs still came up short and were defeated by 103 – 100.
Last week they faced fellow cellar-dwellers GWS and were trailing at three quarter time but, two majors late in the final quarter were enough for them to snatch victory and saved them from a horrible and embarrassing fortnight.
Essendon secured their fourth consecutive win when accounting for Port Adelaide last week by 30 points. The victory however, came at a cost with Brownlow Medal winner and start Bomber Jobe Watson damaging his collarbone.
He’ll miss the next few weeks at least and the Bombers performance without him will be closely monitored.
The Bombers have easily encountered for the Bulldogs in the past two season, winning by margins of 55, 49 and in the only clash last year, 84 points.
They’ve been asked to give the Bulldogs 39.5 points here which, going on the above performances and without Watson, looks well within the Bombers reach.
Tips: ESSENDON -39.5
Odds comparison by AFL Odds:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Western Bulldogs | 6.50 | 7.75 | 6.50 | 7.75 | 6.50 | 6.60 |
|
Essendon Bombers
|
1.11 | 1.08 | 1.11 | 1.08 | 1.11 | 1.12 |
Teams:
Western Bulldogs:
B: Liam Picken, Jordan Roughead, Dale Morris
HB: Adam Cooney, Michael Talia, Brett Goodes
C: Jason Tutt, Tom Liberatore, Robert Murphy
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Liam Jones, Nathan Hrovat
F: Dylan Addison, Jarrad Grant, Luke Dahlhaus
Foll: Will Minson, Clay Smith, Ryan Griffen
Int (from): Mitch Wallis, Tom Young, Koby Stevens, Lachie Hunter, Jack Macrae, Tory Dickson, Daniel Cross
In: D.Cross, D.Addison, J.Grant, L.Picken, L.Hunter, T.Young
Out: A.Cordy, J.Stringer (soreness), J.Johannisen (shoulder)
Essendon Bombers:
B: Courtenay Dempsey, Dustin Fletcher, Tayte Pears
HB: Mark Baguley, Cale Hooker, Michael Hibberd
C: Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell, Jake Melksham
HF: David Myers, Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton
F: Jackson Merrett, Jake Carlisle, Nick Kommer
Foll: Patrick Ryder, David Zaharakis, Jason Winderlich
Int (from): Nathan Lovett-Murray, Tom Bellchambers, Nick O’Brien, Travis Colyer, Leroy Jetta, Ben Howlett, Kyle Hardingham
In: N.Lovett-Murray, L.Jetta, K.Hardingham, N.O’Brien
Out: J.Watson (collarbone)