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Hawthorn vs Essendon Bombers Tips & Preview - Dons to start the new season with a win

By Ben Darvill

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Ben Darvill

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Hawthorn vs Essendon Bombers tips for Sunday's AFL Round 1 match (04:20 GMT)
The Bombers are hoping to start their new campaign with a win
Can Hawthorn give their home fans something to shout about?

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Essendon Bombers vs Hawthorn Hawks (Getty Images)

Hawthorn vs Essendon Bombers Predictions

The Hawthorn Hawks arrive for this one hoping to better what was a disappointing home and away season last time out as they finished with just eight wins.

Hawthorn vs Essendon Bombers Predictions
Head to Head
Hawthorn Form
Hawthorn Team News
Hawthorn Team List
Essendon Bombers Form
Essendon Bombers Team News
Essendon Bombers Team List

The Essendon Bombers were also poor as they could only snare seven wins across their campaign, but they are back to make an encouraging start to the season.

Head to Head

Over the last three years, the sides have met three times, with Essendon coming out on top in the last two.

In 2022, Essendon won 108-81, while they also triumphed in 2021 in a tight 86-73 win. The last time the Hawthorn Hawks won was back in 2021 as they edged past the Bombers in a 92-91 win.

Hawthorn Form

Hawthorn could only secure eight wins in 22 attempts last year, with this seeing them end 40 points short of Geelong at the top.

Frustratingly, they were also 16 points short of the Bulldogs in eighth to miss out on moving into the post-season finals.

They lost their final two matches of the season and also went down 106-100 to Collingwood in the Community Series.

Hawthorn Team News

The Hawks are seen as a wooden spoon contender after the likes of Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell and Jack Gunston all moved on.

Ben McEvoy and Liam Shiels have also retired.

The Hawks have brought in Karl Amon from Port Adelaide, Lloyd Meek from Fremantle and Cooper Stephens from Geelong.

Hawthorn Team List

B: Jiath, Blanck, Frost

HB: Impey, Sicily, Day

C: Bramble, Newcombe, Amon

HF: Mackenzie, Koschitzke, Breust

F: Wingard, Greene, Moore

FOL: Meek, Maginness, Worpel

I/C: Reeves, Ward, Hardwick, Macdonald

EMG: Nash, Long, Brockman, Scrimshaw

Essendon Bombers Form

Essendon struggled to really get going in 2022 as they finished 20 points clear of North Melbourne at the bottom and 44 points shy of Geelong at the top.

Their record of 7-15 was simply not good enough and something needs to change this time out.

The Bombers were beaten 67-32 by St Kilda in their Community Series warm-up game.

Essendon Bombers Team News

Frustratingly, Jake Stringer will have to wait another week before coming back into the forward line.

They have brought in Will Setterfield from Carlton and Sam Weideman from Melbourne Demons along with father-and-son picks Alwyn Davey jnr and Jayden Davey.

The departures this year include Aaron Francis to Sydney and the retired Michael Hurley and Devon Smith.

Essendon Bombers Team List

B: Redman, Ridley, Zerk-Thatcher

HB: Kelly, Laverde, McGrath

C: Heppell, Setterfield, Shiel

HF: Durham, Weideman, Langford

F: Davey Jnr, Jones, Perkins

FOL: Draper, Merrett, Parish

I/C: Caldwell, Phillips, Martin, Menzie

EMG: Snelling, D’Ambrosio, McDonald-Tipungwuti, Baldwin

Verdict

Hawthorn v Essendon

I am backing Essendon to squeeze home in this one and pick up a win in the opener. As I think this one will be a tight game, I am backing Essendon to win by 1-39 points.

Essendon

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