Andrew McLeod
As expected it was Damien Peverill who spent the majority of the night tagging Andrew McLeod but they didn’t renew acquaintances immediately. McLeod went to half forward at the first bounce and then almost immediately to full forward where he was picked up by Dustin Fletcher.
In their first contest of the night McLeod collected loose ball 45m out but was immediately tackled by Fletcher, the ball spilling loose and the Bombers clear the ball and ultimately kicking an early goal.
After two early goals to Essendon, McLeod moved into the midfield and he immediately had an impact. Peverill went to him but McLeod immediately won a centre clearance with his first kick. He wins his second kick deep in defence soon after and the Rolls Royce looks to be moving into overdrive. Adelaide immediately look more potent with McLeod in the middle.
After another Essendon goal, McLeod won another centre clearance but his sudden dominance isn’t reflected on the scoreboard. He did however keep his side in the contest after the Bombers’ early onslaught. Hird eventually moved himself onto McLeod at centre bounces and in typical style not only stopped McLeod getting the ball but won the centre clearance himself.
In the second quarter and with Hird in hospital having received a knock to the eye, Peverill goes back onto McLeod and tightens up significantly on their first quarter battle. The highlight for McLeod during the quarter was a scrubbing snap shot under pressure from a forward pocket that dribbled through for a goal. But Peverill worked very hard in and under, laying two solid tackles and not giving McLeod any space whatsoever.
McLeod started quietly after half time but started winning some football around half forward. But as is Peverill’s knack, he was allowing McLeod to win the ball and areas that made it very difficult for him to have an impact either on the scoreboard or with his disposal.
This trend continued in the final term and by night’s end, Damien Peverill had clearly done his job. McLeod finished with 18 touches but he was no where near as damaging as he had been the week before against Port Adelaide. Damien Peverill won’t have been among his dies best players but he did a very important job particularly well after quarter time.
Mark Ricciuto
In the first surprise of the night, Mark Johnson went to Mark Ricciuto. Ricciuto started poorly giving away a free kick to Hird on the half-forward line. The Bomber captain found David Hille who goaled.
Ricciuto collected a handball-receive off half-back for his first possession of the night but Johnson is wearing him like a glove. Soon after Ricciuto collected his first effective possession of the night on centre wing, finding James Begley who in turn found Clarke who missed a very kickable goal.
Ricciuto is won his fair share of the football but Johnson hurt him the other way and was far more effective with the footy. Johnson won four hard balls around stoppages and sets up two goals for his side to clearly take the points early.
In the second quarter Ricciuto showed what a class player he is to almost square the ledger with Johnson at half-time although the pair didn’t spend the entire quarter on one another. Ricciuto continued to accumulate and his seven possessions had more telling effect in the second term but his forwards were unable to capitalise. He spent a brief period on the bench.
In the third quarter Ricciuto starts to really influence the game, winning some very important ball and Johnson looked to be running out of puff. Kevin Sheedy makes the switch and Marc Bullen goes onto Ricciuto. Bullen wins some football but doesn’t restrict the growing influence of Ricciuto.
Ricciuto played solidly again in the final quarter but didn’t exert any real influence although he did play his part in his team’s brief revival. He won some football in junk time. But in the wash up he basically broke even. Johnson spent most time on him and was very important when the bombers were running hot early.
