It has been a case of deja vu for Essendon this week. They face Port Adelaide in a rematch of the 2002 first Semi Final and will be without key defender Dustin Fletcher again after he was suspended for two weeks. However, there are a few things different as well. Triple Coleman Medallist Matthew Lloyd is fit and firing after he missed the Port final last year with concussion and according to coach Kevin Sheedy the team is in the best shape in a finals series that it has been since 2000. One thing does remain the same though and that is there are no second chances and a loss on a Saturday night will signal the end of the season for one team.
Port Adelaide has enjoyed recent success against Essendon – beating them on the last four occasions. Since Port joined the AFL competition they have played 11 times and Port has taken the honours six times. The last time the teams met was earlier this year in Round 9 at the Dome, when an undermanned Essendon lost to Port by 50-points. The skipper James Hird, Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher all missed that game with injury.
There has been a lot of talk this week about Port Adelaide choking in the finals after their shock loss to Sydney last Sunday and their 1:6 win loss finals ratio. However, Sheedy was the first to point out this week that Port deserve more respect. “He (Mark Williams) will be right on top of things this week. He is a brilliant young coach that has got his side up there for two years in a row. It is a fantastic achievement and a lot of people don’t pay it the respect it deserves. Just winning is very difficult in AFL football. They are a younger club than Fremantle and have been on top for two years – that’s a sensational effort,” Sheedy said.
Last weekend against Fremantle was a big game for Essendon, but one senses this match is even bigger. A spot in the Preliminary final against Collingwood is up for grabs and also an opportunity for Essendon to make amends for Port ending their 2002 finals campaign. Essendon knows what finals pressure is all about and last week they proved that they can win on the road. In its history, Essendon has never traveled two weeks in a row, let alone for successive finals. However, the Bomber coaching staff believe that a change in the interstate routine and accommodation style proved effective last week and are hoping the success will be repeated this week.
All Australian centre half forward Warren Tredrea has been one of the keys to Port’s success this season. He has booted 53 goals and taken 185 marks. His physical presence up forward has also hurt a lot of teams this season. Fletcher would have been the player to take Tredrea, but with his omission, Scott Lucas or Danny Jacobs are likely to get the job. Essendon are fortunate they have a number of tall defenders that are able to match it with Tredrea as well – including Sean Wellman, Mark Bolton and Aaron Henneman.
Up the opposite end of the ground, Essendon has its own All Australian forward. Lloyd has been in close to career best form of late and currently has eight goals remaining to reach the ton. Darryl Wakelin is Lloyd’s usual opponent and is likely to get the task of shutting down the triple Coleman medallist. Damian Cupido showed glimpses of brilliance last week when he booted two goals in five minutes in the third quarter. He will need to contribute again on the scoreboard if Essendon are any chance of getting across the line.
After demolishing an injury riddled James Hird in last year’s corresponding final, it would seem the obvious move for Gavin Wanganeen to take the Essendon skipper this Saturday night. Both players are in brilliant form and integral to their respective sides success. Hird was sensational in the final Fremantle finishing with 28 touches and two goals. A fantastic effort considering he was rested for the majority of the final term. With Hird playing in the mid-field in recent weeks and Wanganeen playing across half-back, it remains to be seen if the two will line-up on one another.
With AAMI Stadium being such a big ground, the mid-field will be crucial to the outcome of the final. Key Essendon on-baller Jason Johnson is likely to match-up with Josh Carr. The two players are very similar in the way they go about their football and Johnson said it is always a challenge playing on the Port mid-fielder. "I probably might get Josh Carr again this week - that is the way it has panned out the last few times we have played them. On the last few occasions we have been fairly even, so if it happens this week it will be a good match-up," Johnson said.
Nick Stevens is Port’s highest possession gatherer and was a key to the team’s semi final win against Essendon last season. Youngster Marc Bullen got the job on him in Round 9 and shut down the experienced midfielder. Bullen also kicked two goals in the process, so the coaching staff may give him the job again on Saturday night. Jarryd Schofield is another of Port’s key ball carriers. He is the team’s third highest possession getter behind Stevens and Wanganeen. After a solid performance against Fremantle, Joe Misiti is the likely option to get Schofield.
Ten weeks ago, Essendon supporters would have been happy for the Bombers just to make the finals. Now that the team is there and has an opportunity at making a Preliminary Final the expectations have lifted. The Essendon team is in the form and has the self-belief to make an impact at the business end of the season. Beating Port on Saturday night is another hurdle in their journey but their form in recent weeks suggests they are good enough to get across the line.
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