Round 10: Sunday Afternoon: Sydney v Essendon
Venue: SCG (Sydney Home)
Ladder Positions: Sydney (7th); Essendon (8th)
Last three games: Sydney (lose/lose/lose); Essendon (win/win/win)
Favourite: Sydney
My Tip: Sydney
Essendon are in stellar form. They’ve won their last three games, two of which were against St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. After being subjected to close scrutiny early on in the season, coach Matthew Knights has managed to turn his group into a dangerous mid-season force. However, the big question to ask is how long can good form from a mediocre team last? Similar teams in Carlton and Hawthorn have the same curse of being able to beat the best teams one week, only to lose to the worst teams the week after.
That’s not to say that Sydney is by any measure a bad team. They had a genuine start to the season, with firing form from key new recruit Daniel Bradshaw. With news that 2010 will be coach Paul Roos’ last, many expected the Swans to rile up and pay a finals tribute to the longstanding premiership leader. However, that expectation has been significantly tempered of late with an injury to Bradshaw that has marked a dramatic drop in team form.
The win will be important for both groups in order to really establish themselves as 2010 finals contenders. The home ground advantage will help to tip Sydney into gear and I think it will be enough to get over the line against a historically inconsistent Bombers.
Sydney by 14 points
Ladder Positions: Sydney (7th); Essendon (8th)
Last three games: Sydney (lose/lose/lose); Essendon (win/win/win)
Favourite: Sydney
My Tip: Sydney
Essendon are in stellar form. They’ve won their last three games, two of which were against St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. After being subjected to close scrutiny early on in the season, coach Matthew Knights has managed to turn his group into a dangerous mid-season force. However, the big question to ask is how long can good form from a mediocre team last? Similar teams in Carlton and Hawthorn have the same curse of being able to beat the best teams one week, only to lose to the worst teams the week after.
That’s not to say that Sydney is by any measure a bad team. They had a genuine start to the season, with firing form from key new recruit Daniel Bradshaw. With news that 2010 will be coach Paul Roos’ last, many expected the Swans to rile up and pay a finals tribute to the longstanding premiership leader. However, that expectation has been significantly tempered of late with an injury to Bradshaw that has marked a dramatic drop in team form.
The win will be important for both groups in order to really establish themselves as 2010 finals contenders. The home ground advantage will help to tip Sydney into gear and I think it will be enough to get over the line against a historically inconsistent Bombers.
Sydney by 14 points
