Although Essendon has just one win on the board after nine rounds of the 2016 season, Richmond enters Saturday night’s annual ‘Dreamtime’ game fully aware that is not a true reflection of the Bombers’ spirited competitiveness.
“Against Sydney, the first half, they played really well . . . North Melbourne, the last half, they played really well also. So, for us, it’s about making sure we play well for four quarters, and don’t give them a chance to play how they want to play,” Richmond assistant coach Brendon Lade said on this week’s edition of Roar Vision’s ‘Opposition Analysis’.
The ruck duel between Tiger big man Shaun Hampson and his Bomber counterpart Matthew Leuenberger shapes as a key factor in Saturday night’s match.
“‘Hammer’ (Hampson) had his best game of the year last week (v Fremantle) for us,” Lade said.
“He took three contested marks in the wet and won four free kicks as well.
He’s starting to find his place in the side, and the ‘mids’ are starting to rove to him really well.
Leuenberger has been winning a lot of hit-outs . . . they’re just not getting the clearances yet. For us, we want that to continue for another week.
“You don’t want to give him an opportunity to get it to his mids. So, (it’s a) big game for Hammer . . . making sure he continues his form and wins some hit-outs in the middle.”
With the Bombers ranked No. 1 in the competition for uncontested marks, Richmond will be striving to place them under intense pressure, so they are forced to alter their playing style.
“They control the ball well by feet . . . they like to change their angles all the time,” Lade said.
“So, for us, it’s about making sure we close them down when they get an uncontested mark.
“We’d like to push right down to pin them in and make them kick long.”
Talented Essendon midfielder Zach Merrett also has figured prominently in the Tigers’ planning for the Dreamtime contest.
Merrett is averaging 28.2 disposals per game and generating plenty of drive for the Bombers.
“His contested possessions are up really high . . . 10 a game, which is really elite,” Lade said.
“He’s really good with his hands, and he normally finds a good target . . . He doesn’t fumble very much either, and generally uses the ball pretty well.
“So, we’ll have to keep an eye on him, that’s for sure.”
