After a flying start to this year’s AFL home and away season, this week’s opponents Essendon have hit a hurdle, losing their past two games to Melbourne and Sydney.
The blueprint to beating the Bombers that the Demons and Swans executed so well is a simple one: pressure.
Essendon possesses a strong-bodied, contested-ball-winning midfield, led by Jobe Watson and Brent Stanton.
In its loss to the Swans, the Bombers won the contested possessions by 30, the clearances by 20 and the inside 50 count by a staggering 28 entries.
This should have equated to a comfortable victory, but Sydney’s ability to apply intense pressure on its opponents forced them into sloppy disposal and wayward kicking at goal - Essendon was 2.15 at three-quarter-time.
Melbourne applied a similar pressure barrage on the Bombers the week before.
Freo assistant coach Mark Stone said Freo had to ensure it pressured the Bombers on Saturday night.
“Sydney applied really strong pressure and then broke into open space when they won the ball,” Stone said.
“They used their outside players really well, like Lewis Jetta, to get out into space and test Essendon defensively with their spread.
“The Swans’ pressure, in the first three quarters in particular, didn’t give the Bombers the space that they like to use the ball and the room to run.”
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