Essendon assistant coach Ashley Prescott says the rucking efficiency of Bombers’ duo David Hille and Patrick Ryder holds the key to Essendon’s success against Richmond tomorrow night.

 

“Our ruck is definitely an area that we think we can gain an advantage over most sides and it was good that both ruckmen last week performed particularly well, both in the ruck and forward,” Prescott said to Bomber.tv today.

 

“It’s really important that they maintain that intensity going into Richmond.”
 
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The Tigers are on the improve despite still being on the hunt for their first win of the season and Prescott says the Bombers won’t be underestimating them this week.

 

“I think the last seven of their eight quarters have been particularly good so they’re not too far away,” Prescott said.

 

“If they continue to play at that intensity (they will get a win), but obviously we don’t want that to be against Essendon this week.”

 

Jarrod Atkinson - who will play in his first Dreamtime at the ‘G blockbuster - said the game would give the players added incentive to seal their fourth win against the Tigers this weekend.

 

“The Dreamtime means a lot to the boys here because we have a lot of Indigenous players,” Atkinson said.

 

“I think we’ve got five playing this weekend and it means a lot to the team itself because we do a lot for the Aboriginal communities out in Australia and it means a lot to myself as well because obviously being Indigenous I can touch base with it, all around my area and here as well.”
 
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Atkinson said the team received a big boost during the week after Essendon legend Michael Long spoke about what the club means to him.
 
A crowd of more than 70,000 is expected for the game (details below of schedule of events) which will feature Essendon 'home-game' theming of the stadium including giant four metre pillars of our eight Indigenous Bombers.
 
4:00pm - The Long Walk activities begin at Federation Square 
4.02pm - Rio Tinto Cup Curtain Raiser begins at MCG – Northern vs Southern
5:50pm - The Long Walk leaves Federation Square.
7.00pm - Dreamtime at the G presentation begins featuring:
- 600 Long Walk participants walking one lap around the boundary line (led by Michael Long)
- Call to Ceremony performed by Maurial Rose Spearim
- Archie Roach to perform
- Aunty Joy Murphy perform a smoking ceremony
- Introduction of the six creator spirits to music
- Bart Willoughby, Deline Brisco, Tjimba Possum Burns and guests to perform
7.30pm (approx) - Essendon and Richmond FC enter
7.40pm - Welcome to Country Ceremony
7.45pm - Match commences
8.50pm (approx) Half Time – Auskick / Flying Boomerangs Lap of Ground
10.20pm (approx) - On-field post match presentations of Yiooken trophy to the player adjudged best on ground and the Kevin Sheedy Cup to the winning team captain.