Sunday’s AFL 2018 Round 15 match is between Essendon Bombers and North Melbourne Kangaroos. The opening kick is set to commence at 15:20 local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The home team Essendon Bombers are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Essendon Bombers and North Melbourne Kangaroos.
When: 15:20 | Sunday 01/07/2018
Where: Etihad Stadium
Preview:
The Bombers were terrific with the way they moved the ball at speed against West Coast in Perth last week.
Jake Stringer booted three goals against the Eagles and his last month has been terrific.
He has been getting lots of the ball and now hitting the scoreboard.
He’s now kicked 20 goals for the year.
I’m slightly concerned about the Kangaroos.
I think they are too reliant on Shaun Higgins and Ben Brown and if these two have quiet games, it’s hard seeing them winning.
Brown is a star.
He’s a unique player with a work rate which is as good as any other player in the game.
KEY BATTLE: Ben Brown v Cale Hooker
If Hooker can keep Brown to 3 goals or under, I think Essendon win.
The Verdict
Essendon can be deadly indoors at Etihad and I think they’ll win.
The Kangaroos are 5-30 (14.3 percent) in day matches since 2016, in the “Wins by 40+ points (1-39/40+)” market.
Unibet Odds:
Essendon at $1.91
North Melbourne at $1.91
Odds:
Tip: Essendon Bombers at $2.00
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Jake Stringer at $13.00
More Info:
Teams:
Essendon Bombers: 
B Cale Hooker, Matt Dea, Brendon Goddard
HB Adam Saad, Michael Hurley, David Myers
C Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath
HF Devon Smith, Shaun McKernan, Mitch Brown
F Orazio Fantasia, Jake Stringer, Mark Baguley
FOL Tom Bellchambers, Kyle Langford, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
I/C Travis Colyer, Conor McKenna, Matt Guelfi, Patrick Ambrose
EMG Kobe Mutch, James Stewart, Josh Green, Aaron Francis
IN Travis Colyer, Patrick Ambrose
OUT Mason Redman (Injured), Josh Green (Omitted)
North Melbourne Kangaroos: 
B Majak Daw, Scott D. Thompson, Marley Williams
HB Jamie Macmillan, Robbie Tarrant, Tom Murphy
C Luke McDonald, Jed Anderson, Trent Dumont
HF Shaun Atley, Mason Wood, Jack Ziebell
F Jy Simpkin, Ben Brown, Kayne Turner
FOL Todd Goldstein, Ben Cunnington, Shaun Higgins
I/C Ben Jacobs, Nathan Hrovat, Ryan Clarke, Sam Wright
EMG Luke Davies-Uniacke, Paul Ahern, Ben McKay, Cameron Zurhaar (Four to be omitted)
IN Ben Jacobs, Ryan Clarke
OUT Billy Hartung (Injured), Paul Ahern (Omitted)
AFL News:
Essendon recruit Jake Stringer has unleashed some early carnage to help lift the Bombers to a shock 28-point win over West Coast.
The Bombers booted the first eight goals of the Thursday night Optus Stadium match on the way to a 12.8 (80) to 6.16 (52) victory in front of 51,409 fans.
Stringer booted three goals in the opening term.
And although he failed to add to that tally after quarter-time, West Coast’s wobbles in front of goal ensured Essendon secured the win, despite the visitors ending the match with two fewer scoring shots.
Essendon (6-7) have now won four of their past five matches, while West Coast (10-3) have lost two straight.
The Eagles entered the match without their best two forwards after Josh Kennedy (leg) joined Jack Darling (ankle) on the sidelines.
But it was in the midfield where the Eagles copped a first-half caning, especially in the opening term when Essendon booted six goals to nil.
The Eagles entered the first break with a solitary behind to their name – their lowest ever quarter-time score in Perth.
And when Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti snapped a clever goal from the pocket early in the second term, the scoreboard read 50-1.
Nic Naitanui scored West Coast’s first goal at the 11-minute mark of the second quarter but the Eagles fluffed a series of other opportunities during the remainder of the half.
Nevertheless, the Eagles had at least stopped the bleeding, with the home side entering the long break with some momentum.
The lead was still a daunting 40 points at that stage and West Coast sprayed even more shots in the third quarter.
Their plight was best summed up by ruckman Scott Lycett, who should have soccered through a goal from about 40cm out but missed it completely.
Trailing by 37 points, West Coast rolled the dice in the final term by moving Jeremy McGovern forward.
But the game was effectively put to bed early in the final quarter when Matt Guelfi’s long-range bomb took a lucky bounce and rolled through for a goal.
West Coast won the inside 50s 59-45 but lost the clearance (39-33) and contested possessions (143-126).
