After a disappointing loss to an experienced Geelong side, Essendon will now face the in-form Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
There is plenty of selection pressure at Windy Hill with a number of key players now pushing up for selection after playing in the VFL so, in this week’s poll, we ask which player you most want to see back in the Essendon team?
The Bombers’ VFL squad currently includes veteran Scott Lucas; young guns Kyle Reimers, David Myers and Brent Prismall, and the experinced Andrew Welsh and Jason Laycock.
In last week’s poll we asked who was the most important Geelong player to stop and 50.46% of the voters thought it was Gary Ablett ahead of Steve Johnson with 33.21%, Joel Selwood with 6.86%, Jimmy Bartel with 4.08%, Cameron Mooney with 3.34% and other with 2.04%.
Here’s what some of the fan’s had to say:
Dave from Melbourne says: Gary is going to get 30-40 touches every game regardless. It is more important to stop the players that are influential in Geelong’s forward 50. We've shown that our style of play relies on run and carry through the corridor and we are most dangerous on the rebound. Stop Steve Johnson and clear the ball quickly and then kick it straight down Lloyd or Neagle’s throat. That’s the way to beat the cats.
Richard from Yarra Junction / VIC says: I was the first to vote for Cameron Mooney, but look at last week against the Bulldogs, if Mooney doesn't get a hand on the ball Geelong has no effective forward line structure, take Chapman out and this will be even more so.
Greg Sloan from Somerville VIC says: Clearly Gary Ablett is the best player in the comp right now but we really need to shut down all of these guys. I believe we can beat Geelong if we can stick to the plan, run hard and apply constant pressure. If we can frustrate them and take them out of their comfort zone they might begin to crack. It can work in your favour mentally going into a game as the underdog. It would be great if we were the first team to beat them this year. Go Dons.
Clinton Fisk from Caulfield says: Joel Corey is a player who needs to be stopped. He is responsible for a lot of the feed given to Bartel, Selwood and Ablett.
Tony Beattie from Hobart says: While Ablett & Johnson are the key players to stop, Geelong are good all over the ground and Essendon needs a good team effort to beat them. It is not impossible because in the games that I have seen on TV they are not blowing sides away but doing just enough in patches to win. Catch them off guard and you can defeat them.
Jeremy from Victoria says: I actually wanted to choose all of them! They are all dangerous! Steve is the danger man mainly in the forward. I hope Essendon can pull of a freakish win just like against the hawks and the pies!!! GO BOMBERS!!!
G Shegog from Burnie Tasmania says: We will need to stop the lot. I think if we can maintain our great form and apply the pressure then who knows. Geelong is not invincible! This game will be a fantastic learning experience for our boys. Carn the Dons!!
Joseph Attard from Taylors Hill says: Gary Ablett at all costs. That sums it up pretty well.
Brad from Vic says: You can't stop Ablett but you can stop Steve Johnson and doing so will go a long way towards winning.
Rochey from Torquay says: Steve Johnson Why bother shutting down Ablett it’s almost impossible. If you shut down Steve Johnson you will probably save about 4 - 5 goals.
DaveK from Wellington, NZ says: Johnson gets himself involved in so many of Geelong's goals that if you don't shut him down then he will bring so many other players into the game.
