Bemused Essendon coach Brad Scott has performed down solutions the Bombers are sad to be going through the Cats in Geelong this weekend, declaring the scheduling makes “perfect sense”.
Essendon will go to GMHBA Stadium for simply the third time in 30 years on Saturday and will meet a robust Geelong ahead line with out star defender Jordan Ridley, who stays beneath an damage cloud with knee soreness.
With either side within the high eight and coming off convincing victories, the match has been slated as the sport of the spherical, however commentators have slammed the choice to not shift the sport to the MCG, which is vacant on Sunday.
Geelong’s residence floor is present process renovations that have been anticipated to be completed when the fixture was initially introduced earlier than a difficulty with building pressured a big delay, leaving the capability decreased.
But on Wednesday Scott mentioned he couldn’t perceive why individuals anticipated Geelong to routinely play residence video games on the bigger venues in Melbourne regardless of 1000’s of Essendon supporters not having the ability to attend what can be captain Zach Merrett’s 2 hundredth sport.
“I feel for our fans that want to go to the game and won’t be able to get a seat, but you don’t move a game from the Adelaide Oval when it’s a sellout,” he mentioned.
“It’s Geelong’s home ground, it’s their home game. It’s interesting when people talk about fairness for different reasons, but we are as a club more than happy to play an opposition club at their home ground.
“I’m looking forward to going down there, and to me, it makes perfect sense – we played Geelong earlier this year at our home ground, being one of our MCG home games, and now it’s Geelong’s home game, so playing Geelong in Geelong for their home game makes perfect sense.”
When requested if Ridley would be capable to overcome a knock to his knee in time to face the Cats, Scott mentioned: “I wish I knew. It was obviously pretty clear to the medical guys that his knee was structurally sound, so he could come back on the ground (against the Crows).
“He’ll be probably expecting to be a bit sore but he’s saying all the right things, and he’s really positive for this weekend.”
Star duo Mason Redman and Jake Stringer didn’t be a part of major coaching at Tullamarine on Wednesday, however Scott mentioned they might each be match to face the Cats.
Defender Jayden Laverde wore a no-contact cap however skilled with the principle group, whereas Nik Cox was put by way of his paces within the ruck throughout stoppage drills as he closes in on his first senior sport for the season.
Scott mentioned ruckman Nick Bryan would virtually definitely play within the absence of Sam Draper and the suspended Andrew Phillips, however Cox might be included as a back-up choice and to supply extra top in defence after Tom Hawkins torched the Bombers with eight targets of their final assembly in spherical 7.
Originally printed as Essendon didn’t attempt to transfer Geelong conflict to MCG
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
