3 minute read
Racing and Sports will provide analysis of many games in the 2022 AFL Season.
We'll endeavour to run through the form, incorporate appropriate stats and also supply a betting prediction which won't always just be who will win.
ESSENDON V CARLTON
Friday 10 June @ MCG
You'd think a 150th year anniversary celebration would be a wondrous and momentous occasion but by golly it could be the biggest wet blanket of a disaster one could imagine this Friday.
Essendon would, at season's start, never have imagined this game would set up as it does. They'd have sought an arch rival for the commemorative game and one who at worst would have been on par with their development.
But as Carlton have risen to pretty decent heights this year, Essendon have fallen into an abyss.
Talks of Reviews, internal divisions, player drafting standards and YouTube addresses have been the norm and they haven't even played a game in two weeks.
Even though they tried hard and showed something in Adelaide, they never could quite get to the lead and force any type of real pressure.
At the very least they had more of a go. But that really is scraping the bottom of any barrel if that is the high water mark – effort.
Remember they played finals last year after a long absence. Now they sit third last with a percentage of 73.5 and things are not rosy.
You should only judge a team fully when all are available and to be fair they've missed some key components but the magnitude and style of the losses is the sticking point.
The lack of output up front is alarming. Only North and West Coast below them have scored less and both those two are a complete rabble. It's hardly a great group to be in.
Now they face Carlton who will be seething after the loss to Collingwood and despairing at the loss of Jacob Weitering. Whether he's out for 6 weeks or 12 it doesn't matter – how they react and repair must be immediate.
We saw just what a dominant full back means to a side with Melbourne. Steven May's removal for a game and a half of football has seen the Premier's look decidedly timid. Will that afflict the Blues?
There is no great definite replacement – especially without Liam Jones and his self-enforced removal from the possibility of play.
Do we see the clock rolled back 30 years to when a Silvagni sits near the back of the field and marshals the troops? 'Twould be funny to see another touched on the line controversy.
With this as the backdrop, it is a danger game indeed for the Blues. How they react to life for what period it is without Weitering will explain if they play Top 4, Top 8 or worse.
But reality is you have to respect and expect the Carlton midfield, with all its depth of Cripps, Walsh, Hewett, Kennedy and Cerra, to get on top and provide enough supply to Curnow and the mosquitos.
If they do, Essendon won't be able to take enough advantage of any deficiencies down back for Carlton. However a big start is highly likely from the hosts with all that is going on.
Match Selection: Carlton by 24 points
Suggested Bets: Essendon to lead at Quarter Time @ $2.40