Essendon’s bright start to the season has faded

that time. They were away to Port Adelaide last Sunday and are on the road again just six days later, facing the Lions at the Gabba.

Brisbane is a formidable force at home, but Essendon is playing with spirit and pluck and will be no pushover.

For those not sitting down to Mother’s Day lunch, the first of Sunday’s two games is a beauty. Adelaide should have beaten Collingwood and then got some looks against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium last week.

The Crows host the Saints, who rise or fall to the level of their opponent, but invariably get the win. They kicked 8.16 against the Kangaroos last week, but still won by 30 points.

Ross Lyon’s men will need to straighten up to get past the Crows.

He played his junior football at PHOS Camden – the original club of Brayden Maynard (Collingwood), Will Day (Hawthorn) and Ryan Burton (Port Adelaide)

His father Sam Phillipou played 106 games and kicked 180 goals with Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL. He also played three AFL games with the Western Bulldogs in 1995 and 44 with Port Adelaide Magpies.

Phillipou joins Mitch Owens as the second St Kilda player to be nominated in 2023.

ASHLEY BROWNE