Dockers Bring Eight-Game Run to Essendon Vs Fremantle

Walyalup took an eight-game winning streak into essendon vs fremantle at the MCG on Sunday, carrying an 8-1 record into round 10. The Dockers arrived with their longest run since 2015, while Essendon came in at 1-8 after another uneven week.

Walyalup's Run At The MCG

The streak had already become the main line of the round. Walyalup beat Hawthorn after kicking the last five goals of the game, and that finish pushed the club into its longest winning run since 2015.

Sunday's meeting also carried a rare venue note. It was Walyalup's second meeting at the MCG against Essendon since 1999, so the trip added another layer to a matchup that does not come around often at that ground.

Essendon's Midfield Changes

Essendon made changes in the middle of the ground, adding Jye Caldwell and Will Setterfield to its midfield group. Ben McKay and Elijah Tsatas were left out for another week, leaving the Bombers to lean on a reshaped side against one of the league's form teams.

The Bombers still had a recent warning sign from their loss to Greater Western Sydney. They led well into the last term, but lost despite having more scoring shots and inside 50s, a line that left them at 1-8 before facing Walyalup.

Dockers Bring In Three

Walyalup also adjusted its team, bringing in Oscar McDonald, Nathan O'Driscoll and Chris Scerri. Alex Pearce, Hayden Young and Corey Wagner were out because of injury, so the Dockers had to manage that eight-game surge with three changes to the lineup.

That left the match with a clear split in momentum and personnel. Walyalup entered with an 8-1 record and a run that had stretched to eight straight, while Essendon tried to regroup around a midfield refresh and a 1-8 start that had already forced weekly changes.