Adelaide goes six points clear on top after belting Bombers
TODAY’S LINE-UP: Jimmy Bartel, Daniel Harford, Bruce Eva, Michael Christian, and Tiff Cherry.
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FULL TIME
Adelaide has won by 43 points.
Brodie Smith starred off half back all night, while Mitch McGovern and Josh Jenkins booted three majors.
The Crows are now six points clear on top of the table.
Cale Hooker almost single-handedly kept Essendon in the game with four monster goals.
It’s 4 minutes into the 4th quarter.
The Bomber crowd has stood as one to cheer for their retiring #4 pic.twitter.com/h38Mfec0fu
— 3AW Football (@3AWisfootball) August 12, 2017
Jimmy Bartel said Essendon gave up 119 marks, which is too many.
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HALF TIME
Adelaide leads by 32 points at the main break.
Richard Douglas (13 touches, two goals) has been influential, while Taylor Walker has soldiered on through a leg niggle to kick two majors.
Matthew Leuenberger is holding up fairly well against an All-Australian contender in Sam Jacobs.
Click play for the half-time wrap with Jimmy and Harf
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Injured Bomber Orazio Fantasia spoke to 3AW before the game
He said the club holds races at training, and even veteran James Kelly has won a couple.
But it’s Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti who’s the one to beat.
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THE BUILD-UP
The footy world is abuzz about the Bombers.
Can the Dons bounce back from the troubles of the last few years – not to mention the wooden spoon – to reach finals?
To press their credentials, they’ll have to overcome the runaway ladder leaders.
And with key playmaker Zach Merrett missing, the task only gets tougher.
A win today will surely silence the doubters… but a loss sees the finals dream hanging by a thread.
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