Fans attending this weekend’s match of the round at The Dome might be in for a low scoring affair according to Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy. The Bombers face Geelong Saturday night with supporters being given the chance to witness the two best defenders in the competition. Dustin Fletcher and Matthew Scarlett will battle at opposite ends of the ground as both players try to extend their respective clubs winning streak.
""Probably the two best full backs in the competition are from father and son combinations,"" Sheedy said. ""Scarlett up one end and Fletcher up the other.""
Their pedigree as backmen is well known and respected. Ken Fletcher played 264 games and captained Essendon from 1977-79 before retiring in 1980. Scarlett’s father, John, was a strong full back who played 183 games with the Cats between 1967-77 and represented Victoria in 1971.
Fletcher will most likely get the job on Geelong forward Kent Kingsley. Kingsley was the Cats leading goal scorer last week with four majors, taking his tally to 16 goals for the season. At the other end of the ground, Scarlett will have a busy night minding triple Coleman medallist Matthew Lloyd. The battle between Lloyd and Scarlett will be a feature of the Round 9 match.
""Scarlett’s been a terrific player. Probably him and Lloydy are going to be fighting for All-Australian over the next couple of years,"" Sheedy said.
Both Essendon and Geelong are on a high after recent winning runs, fans will have plenty to look forward to under lights at The Dome.
""They (Geelong) are playing well and their confidence has grown. We’re in good form ourselves and I think it will be a terrific game. I’ve got no doubt we’ll get 45 - 50,000 there,"" said the Bomber coach.
Essendon is playing with a lot of self-belief and confidence. This brand of football has turned their season upside down since their horrific start to the year. They now find themselves in the sought after top four position and will be out to confirm their standing on the league ladder this Saturday night.
""We haven’t lost a lot of AFL games since the half way mark of last season. We’ve been in pretty solid form. Our consistency has been one of our perhaps better signs over the last 12 months,"" said Sheedy.
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