PREVIEW: Round 10 2003

ESSENDON

v.

WEST COAST

MATCH DATE: Sunday, 1 June 2003
MATCH TIME: 2:10 PM
VENUE: The Dome

If the jury was out before Essendon's match against Port last week they are now close to making their decision. And it might not be the verdict Essendon fans want to hear if the Bombers don't turn their form around from last week. It is a case of now or never for Essendon if they want to taste finals action come September. After nine rounds the Bombers have four wins posted on the board and have the challenge of overcoming the second top side to record their fifth win. West Coast have an exciting young team and have already proved this season they are good enough to win not only at home but also on the road. Essendon gets an injection of experience this week that will bolster their chances. In comes the skipper James Hird after missing two weeks, vice-captain Matthew Lloyd returns after a thigh injury and Dustin Fletcher comes into the team after being sidelined for three weeks. Mark Mercuri is also set to play after leaving the ground in the final quarter of the Round 9 match with slight concussion. The young kids have been good in the absence of the experienced trio. Ted Richards and Marc Bullen stood up last week and the coaching panel will be looking for a repeat performance. Bullen notched up 20 disposals in under one half of football, kicked two goals and took Port mid-fielder Nick Stevens out of the game - not a bad effort in his fifth game. The last time the two sides met was in the first elimination final last season. Essendon ended West Coast's season when they defeated them by 33-points. The Bombers were without Hird that day and Lloyd when he was knocked out in the first quarter and took no further part in the match. The defeat will still be fresh in the West Coast player's minds and they will be looking to turn that result around. The Eagles are still a young side but under the guidance of coach John Worsfold are playing an exciting brand of football. The key to the West Coast’s success this season has been its quick mid-field. Currently rated as one of the best in the competition with the likes of Ben Cousins, Andrew Embley, Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr and Michael Gardiner in the ruck. Gardiner has been in career best form and giving his teammates first use of the ball. After a disappointing match last week David Hille will need to return to his best to match Gardiner who leads the hit-outs tally in the competition. Dean Rioli will be match hardened from his return game last week and should give the Bombers spark and run through the centre. Bomber fans will also be hoping Joe Misiti can continue his best on ground performance from last week to match the West Coast engine room. Not only is West Coast dangerously quick through the mid-field their small forwards have been causing headaches for opposition defenders. Phil Matera has kicked 34 goals for the season and is speedy at ground level. He has had good support from Ashley Sampi who has found the sticks on 16 occasions. Essendon has a fairly tall backline with Sean Wellman, Dustin Fletcher, Mark Bolton and Danny Jacobs all holding down key positions. One of these defenders may start forward for team balance and Mark Johnson could be moved back to defence in an attempt to control Matera Essendon returns to close to full strength this week minus Adam Ramanauskas, Paul Barnard and Aaron Henneman so there are no excuses. It is time for the team to play four consistent quarters of football and show they can match it with the leading sides in the competition. All Bomber fans are pleading for the jury to return with a positive verdict.

	TV AND RADIO DETAILS TV COVERAGE Channel 9: Melbourne: 4.00pm Adelaide: 3.30pm Perth: 12.00pm Fox Footy (pay TV): NSW/ACT: 6.30pm QLD: 6.30pm SA: 7.00pm VIC/TAS/NT: 7.30pm WA: 3.00pm All times are local times. RADIO COVERAGE Live coverage: ABC Melbourne 2:00 PM 6PR Perth 12:00 PM ABC Perth 12:00 PM ABC Darwin 1:30 PM NewsRadio Newcastle 2:00 PM NewsRadio Sydney 2:00 PM NewsRadio Brisbane 2:00 PM ABC Canberra 2:00 PM ABC Hobart 2:00 PM All times are local times. HEAD TO HEAD RECORD GAMES PLAYED 37 ESSENDON WINS 22 WEST COAST WINS 15 DRAWN GAMES 0 ESSENDON HIGHEST SCORE v WEST COAST Round 15, 1989 ESSENDON 25.10.160 v. WEST COAST 1.12.18 ESSENDON LOWEST SCORE v WEST COAST Round 4, 1999 ESSENDON 3.5.23 v. WEST COAST 15.7.97 LAST TIME THEY MET Elimination Final 1, 2002 ESSENDON 3.4 6.6 11.7 17.9.111 WEST COAST 2.2 6.6 9.8 11.12.78 ESSENDON GOALKICKERS: Lucas 3, Moorcroft 3, Barnard 2, Caracella 2, Bolton 2, Jacobs, M Johnson, Welsh, Salmon, J Johnson WEST COAST GOALKICKERS: Munro 3, Wilson 2, Humm, Jakovich, Sampi, Banfield, Kerr, Gardiner ESSENDON BEST PLAYERS: Misiti, Lucas, Wellman, J. Johnson, Jacobs, Moorcroft Venue: Colonial Stadium     Crowd: 37,395     Full match report... LAST 10 MEETINGS YEAR ROUND SCORES VENUE 2007 22 ESSENDON 19.10.124 WEST COAST 21.6.132 Subiaco 2007 11 ESSENDON 15.5.95 WEST COAST 14.10.94 Dome 2006 8 ESSENDON 14.8.92 WEST COAST 16.17.113 Dome 2005 12 ESSENDON 12.10.82 WEST COAST 15.16.106 Subiaco 2004 16 ESSENDON 10.13.73 WEST COAST 18.9.117 Subiaco 2004 3 ESSENDON 22.5.137 WEST COAST 20.11.131 Dome 2003 10 ESSENDON 19.14.128 WEST COAST 16.10.106 The Dome 2002 EF1 ESSENDON 17.9.111 WEST COAST 11.12.78 CS 2002 15 ESSENDON 8.15.63 WEST COAST 13.12.90 Subiaco 2001 21 ESSENDON 21.10.136 WEST COAST 6.11.47 S

B A C K S	11. Damien Peverill Needs to find the footy	31. Dustin Fletcher Welcome inclusion to the side	10. Mark McVeigh Needs to be more consistent
H B A A L C F K    S	21. Danny Jacobs Has done well at fullback in Fletcher's absence	6. Sean Wellman Needs to give the team run through the centre	7. Dean Solomon One of the team's most consistent this season
C E N T R E S	23. Mark Bolton Keeps improving every week	24. Joe Misiti Needs to be at his best	33. Adam McPhee Good game last week
H F A O L R F W    A    R    D    S	43. Dean Rioli Match fitness will improve from last week's game	25. Scott Lucas Good marking target for team	5. James Hird Need his on-field leadership
F O R W A R D S	2. Mark Mercuri Back to his career best form	18. Matthew Lloyd Need a big return game from Lloyd	13. Damian Cupido Needs to be more consistent
R U C K S	19. David Hille Will have his work cut out against Gardiner	14. Jason Johnson Always gives 110%	1. Mark Johnson Always hard at it
I N T E R C H A N G E	27. Steven Alessio Another goal scoring option	37. Marc Bullen Fantastic game last week with 20 disposals	20. Ted Richards Growing in confidence with every game
	28. Cory McGrath Kicked three goals against Port - needs to back up performance	29. Joel Reynolds Still improving	35. James Davies Another opportunity for the youngster
	12. Andrew Welsh Struggling a little at the moment
IN:	James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Dustin Fletcher, James Davies
OUT:	Jason Winderlich (omitted)