In the latest edition of Opposition Watch, Swans Media explores Essendon’s camp ahead of the Sydney Swans’ MCG match against the Bombers on Saturday afternoon.
Recent form
Essendon is placed 10th on the ladder and tore home to beat GWS by six points at Marvel Stadium last Thursday.
The Bombers trailed at quarter-time but piled on six last-term goals to the Giants’ three to clinch a 12.5 (77) to 10.11 (71) victory.
The Bombers’ Zach Merrett, Adam Saad, Dylan Shiel and Shaun McKernan all earned votes in the race for the AFL Coaches’ Association's Champion Player of the Year award.
Essendon has won seven games and lost seven this season, with its victories registered against Melbourne, Brisbane, North Melbourne, Fremantle, Carlton, Hawthorn and GWS.
Ins and outs
Crafty forward Jake Stringer headlines a trio of Bombers named to return for the Swans clash.
The former Western Bulldogs dynamo has overcome a leg injury and will run out for his first match since Round 11, while ruckman Zac Clarke and young midfielder Matt Guelfi are also set for comebacks.
Tom Bellchambers, Josh Begley and Kyle Langford have made way for the three Bombers.
Key match-up
Plenty of eyeballs will be locked on the makeshift ruck battle after Swan Callum Sinclair and Bomber Bellchambers were struck down by injury last week.
Sydney has opted for the double act of towering defender Aliir Aliir and athletic forward Sam Reid, while Essendon will draw on the services of Clarke and big-framed forward McKernan.
Which ruck department will find the ascendancy?
Last time they met
The most recent Swans-Bombers clash lingers in the memories of the footy world – and that’s not because just eight weeks have since passed.
Bomber David Myers lined up a set shot as the final siren roared throughout the SCG in Round 8, the Swans just five points ahead, but the kick would fall short as the red and white clung to an 11.11 (77) to 10.12 (72) win.
Young Swan Nick Blakey laid a brilliant chasedown tackle on Mason Redman with less than 30 seconds on the clock.
What they said
Essendon coach John Worsfold: “Since Round 8 we’ve been putting a lot of things in place, training hard and working on the style of footy we want to play both offensively and defensively. Sydney will challenge us in a lot of ways. We know they’ll be tight one-on-one and we’ll work our way through that.”
