Faltering due to a string of underwhelming performances, Essendon will attempt to rediscover its form when hosting Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. Essendon dropped to its fourth loss in six matches via last weekend’s disappointing 84-67 result against a depleted Melbourne lineup at the MCG. In contrast, Adelaide triumphed over St Kilda in South Australia, claiming a 71-39 victory despite the absence of Izak Rankine due to suspension.
Essendon’s Recent Struggles
Are we seeing yet another collapse from Essendon in the second half of a season? Fans would be anxious that this might just be the case. After losing just twice in the first 11 rounds of the season, the Bombers head into Friday night’s match having lost four of their past six outings. The Demons dealt the Bombers their most recent defeat to the tune of 17 points (67-84). The Dons led at quarter time in tough conditions at the MCG but fell away after the first break and were never able to recover or truly threaten for the four points.
Deciding the right mix of talls for their ruck/forward line has been an ongoing issue for the Dons. Interestingly, they’ve opted to drop Peter Wright this week and have gone with the dual-ruck approach with Todd Goldstein coming in to support Sam Draper.
Adelaide’s Mixed Season
After missing the 2023 finals in controversial fashion, Adelaide has arguably been the most disappointing side this season. They currently occupy 14th spot on the ladder and are 3.5 wins outside the eight with only six games remaining, so it’s fair to say they won’t be featuring in September. However, the Crows have found some of their better form in recent weeks and head into Round 19 having won two of their past three matches. In treacherous conditions at Adelaide Oval last weekend, the Crows dismantled the lowly Saints by 32 points (71-39).
Former #2 pick Riley Thilthorpe made a successful return from injury in their recent win. The key forward started as the sub despite conditions not suiting someone of his huge stature, yet he made a fantastic impact when injected in the fourth quarter to finish the game with a couple of goals. Unsurprisingly, the Crows were reluctant to make too many changes to their winning formula this week. Their sole change will see veteran Taylor Walker be managed, while classy halfback Mitch Hinge returns after a short injury layoff.
Historical Context
The Bombers upset the Crows 78-75 at the Adelaide Oval earlier this season, completing that victory after trailing by 19 points midway through the third quarter. Essendon finished that fixture with 19 extra inside 50s and eight more scoring shots, indicating it could have been a more straightforward result with better conversion. Notably, the Bombers have booted 72 goals and just 45 behinds from five matches under the roof at Marvel this season, leading to five wins. Essendon has also won seven straight against Adelaide.
Key Matchups
Essendon will need to leverage its strong record at Marvel Stadium to halt its recent slide. The dynamic between Todd Goldstein and Sam Draper in the ruck will be crucial for the Bombers, especially with the strategic decision to drop Peter Wright. For Adelaide, the inclusion of Mitch Hinge and the form of Riley Thilthorpe could prove pivotal in their quest to upset Essendon on their home turf.
