AFL practice Matches: Results| Fixture| 2022 results

The Australian Football League AFL is the pre-eminent and only fully professional men’s competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport’s governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the game.

AFL practice Matches: Results| Fixture| 2022 results

Results:

Essendon has defeated last year’s grand finalists the Western Bulldogs by seven points in front of a home crowd at The Hangar, 12.9 (81) to 11.8 (74).

The Bombers and Dogs matched each other for much of the match, with the latter holding ascendancy for large parts of the game, but some polish from prospective recruit Tex Wanganeen gave them the edge at the death … before Wanganeen and fellow rookie hopeful Nick Martin were both officially put onto the rookie list.

Fixture:

These two sides met in an elimination final down in Launceston last year, with the Dogs prevailing on their way to the Grand Final, where they fell short of a second flag in six seasons.

The Bulldogs were without midfield gun Bailey Smith (groin soreness) and key defender Alex Keath (back soreness) while recruit Tim O’Brien (hamstring) is racing the clock for Round 1.

2022 Results:

Both sides looked speedy and classy moving through the midfield early on, generating marks inside 50 before Nick Hind kicked truly for the first goal of the match.

The good start from Essendon was soured shortly after, however, with Aaron Francis staying down after a marking contest and needing to be helped from the ground.

While the Dogs lost, there were impressive showings from many of their stars, with Adam Treloar looking in ominous form along with Marcus Bontempelli before they were eventually put on ice.