Essendon Bombers will be eager to restore faith among their supporters when they take on the ladder-leading Sydney Swans at Marvel Stadium this Friday night.
The Bombers' hopes of making the finals have all but evaporated after a devastating last-second loss to the Gold Coast Suns.
This season has turned into another disappointment for Essendon, especially considering the strong position they were in just over a month ago.
For years, there's been growing criticism and accusations of predictable collapse at The Hanger, but they have an opportunity to salvage some pride on Friday night against the Swans.
On the other hand, Sydney comes into this clash fresh off a narrow victory, having edged out the Collingwood Magpies in the final quarter to win by three points, keeping their hopes of a potential home preliminary final alive.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Essendon and Sydney in the AFL, plus plenty more.
Essendon vs Sydney date and start time
| Date | Friday, August 16, 2024 |
| Start time | 7:40 pm AEST/ 7:10 pm ACST/ 5:40 pm AWST |
| Venue | Marvel Stadium |
| Location | Docklands, Australia |
How to watch Essendon vs Sydney on TV & stream live online
There are several options to watch the Essendon vs Sydney AFL game in Australia, including Network Seven, Foxtel, Foxtel from Telstra, and Kayo Sports.
The best way to livestream the aforementioned AFL game is through Kayo with a seven-day free trial. It also does not have a lock-in contract or equipment fees, which means you can cancel anytime if you are no longer using it.
All you need to decide is whether you want to pick Kayo One at $25 per month (1 stream and up to HD), or Kayo Basic at $35 per month (2 streams and up to 4K).
What channel is Essendon vs Sydney game on?
The game will be available on 7mate on free-to-air TV and will be broadcast live on Fox Footy's subscription TV service. Triple M, ABC and AFL Nation will provide the radio coverage.
Streaming the game with a VPN
- Overview of VPN services that allow access to geo-restricted streams
- How to set up and use a VPN service to stream the match
You can watch the game from wherever you are in the world by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as NordVPN/ ExpressVPN. A VPN will allow you to create a secure connection online when you are abroad on holiday or for work and you want to stream the game live.
If you are not sure which VPN to use or how to use a VPN, we have taken a look at the best options available out there for watching live sports - check out the best VPN services review here.
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to use a VPN to watch a game when you are overseas:
- Install VPN of your choice - see our reviews here for the best options.
- Select the location you wish to connect to. This is easy - if you are visiting the UK and you wish to continue watching one of your U.S. streaming services, you would select the US.
- Grab the popcorn and get ready to watch!
Essendon vs Sydney team news
Essendon Bombers
Xavier Duursma suffered an injury during training last week, and the Bombers have set a three-week recovery period for him. If Essendon fails to make the finals, this could be the last game Duursma plays this season. Meanwhile, Nik Cox, Jordan Ridley, and Matt Guelfi are expected to be back in action in about a week.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Rucks | Draper, Goldstein, Bryan, Visentini |
| Defenders | Ridley, Laverde, Hayes, Baldwin, Reid, McKay, McGrath, Hind, Heppell, Durham, Redman, Kelly, Lual, Davey Jnr, Roberts |
| Midfielders | Parish, Tsatas, Caldwell, Merrett, Hobbs, Shiel, Cox, Setterfield, Wright, Duursma, Martin. |
| Forwards | Langford, Weideman, Perkins, Jones, Baldwin, Caddy, Reid, McKay, Hunter, Gresham, Stringer, Davey, Wanganeen, Menzie |
Sydney Swans
Tom Papley is unlikely to return before the finals, while Lewis Melican's situation remains under close observation following his recent return to play.
Melican has been striving to get back for several weeks but has yet to clear his fitness tests. Both he and Patrick Snell will be afforded as much time as necessary to regain their fitness.
Justin McInerney is still a few weeks away from recovery after suffering a PCL injury.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Rucks | McLean, Grundy, Ladhams, Green, McAndrew |
| Defenders | Cunningham, Florent, Blakey, Vickery, Edwards, Hamling, McCartin, Fox, Lloyd, Francis, McCartin, Rampe, McInerney, Edwards, Hamling, Arnold, Snell, Melican |
| Midfielders | Adams, Rowbottom, Sheldrick, Mills, Campbell, Jordon, Kirk, Cleary, Roberts, Mitchell |
| Forwards | Heeney, Hayward, Papley, Wicks, Konstanty, Magor, Warner, Buller, McDonald, Reid, Amartey |
Essendon vs Sydney Form
Essendon: LLLWL
| Round | Match |
|---|---|
| R22 | Essendon 86-87 Gold Coast |
| R21 | Essendon 90-89 Fremantle |
| R20 | St Kilda 108-55 Essendon |
| R19 | Essendon 113-115 Adelaide |
| R18 | Melbourne 84-67 Essendon |
Sydney: WLLLW
| Round | Match |
|---|---|
| R22 | Sydney 89-86 Collingwood |
| R21 | Port Adelaide 148-36 Sydney |
| R20 | Sydney 48-87 Western Bulldogs |
| R19 | Brisbane 79-77 Sydney |
| R18 | Sydney 138-59 North Melbourne |
Essendon vs Sydney Head-to-Head Results
| Year & Round | Match |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Sydney 131-101 Essendon |
| 2023 | Essendon 99-101 Sydney |
| 2022 | Essendon 95-86 Sydney |
| 2022 | Sydney 105-47 Essendon |
| 2021 | Essendon 102-109 Sydney |