Essendon - Supporter Support

[Duckman#72]

New players like Howlett and Gumbleton showed some encouraging signs and had a good go. However experienced players like Winderlich and Dyson were very poor.

Based on that performance we need to make some changes next week. Lovett-Murray back in. Davey out, he continually drops the ball and is currently light years away from being an AFL footballer. After watching his brother play on Saturday, the difference is stark. Essendon want him to be another Aaron Davey, Rioli, Lovett, Leon Davis but he's just not the guy. Bring Reimers back in and tell the bugger to play defence or stay in the magoos.

Duckman

Well the hoodoo for the Blues continues!!! You beauty!!!

The ins for the Bombers were telling. Lovett-Murray played very well. As did Melksham and Colyer - great first games. Wow -leg speed with skills - lookout Alwyn Davey!! Houli got better as the game went on and for mine he should be automatic starter each week. Reimers was played well. He looked dangerous which is what Monfires wasn't doing.

And with Ryder, Gumbleton and Reimers providing targets in the forward line it took the pressure off Williams who got some ball. Dyson and Winderlich were much better this week.

Hocking is a dark horse. He gets better each week and is almost unrecogniseable from 2 seasons ago - not blessed with great leg speed but is in the Watson mould of wonderful speed of ball movement. Our ruckmen are still slightly off the pace - but Ryder showed glimpses of form tonight.

What can you say about Fletcher - he is a legend. Reads the play like no other.

It was a good win without getting carried away. A lot of Carlton goals came from Bomber stuff-ups/sloppiness (Hooker showing shades of Kepler Bradley), and Essendon were far from a well-oiled machine. But having said, the way the teams came out, it was always the Bombers game to lose particularly after half time. Well done guys. Next week Eagles in Perth. Is there a worse travelling team than Bombers? WC looked poor against Kangeroos. If we want to be in the finals, we need to win games against the likes of second tier teams like Carlton, Hawthorn and lowly West Coast.

Duckman

 

[Sean K]

Got the makings of a very good team for 2012 I reckon. Should just keep getting better and better. Those newbies went surprisingly well. Melksham especially. Any chance Hille will never recap his best form? That knee could have taken a few % out of his game perhaps. Maybe he just needs game time.

 

[Duckman#72]

Those newbies went surprisingly well. Melksham especially.

Melksham walked off the ground at quarter time as the leading possession getter. In his first game!!

As for Hille - I don't think 3 games is enough to judge whether Hille has been permanently affected by his knee. Big blokes need more game time to work into form. We'll have to judge later in the season. It is the "work around the ground" not just the ruck work that Paddy and Hille have been lacking so far this year (although Paddy showed a bit this week). I think we all remember seeing Hille bob up to take a crucial mark in defence, punch away or strong pack mark in the forward line. He is not imposing himself on the games yet. Hopefully just a mix of low confidence and lower match fitness.

What changes for WC on Friday? Hurley is due back in - is he automatic inclusion? Do you give McVeigh another week off after his five days in hospital? Monfries/Neagle - do we need another forward or is Hurley the extra forward.

Duckman

 

[Sean K]

What changes for WC on Friday? Hurley is due back in - is he automatic inclusion? Do you give McVeigh another week off after his five days in hospital? Monfries/Neagle - do we need another forward or is Hurley the extra forward.

Duckman

McVeigh should probably come back in depending on recovery I suppose.

Apparantly Hurley was very good for Bendigo and kicked 4. Straight back in I reckon.

In The Age:

Essendon defender Michael Hurley was best on ground for the Bendigo Bombers with four goals.

Hurley is eligible to play for the Bombers in their clash with West Coast on Friday night after a three-game club ban for allegedly assaulting a taxi driver after The Footy's Show's grand-final program last year.

Yesterday, he starred in the forward line for the Bombers, along with Alwyn Davey, who produced some fine defensive pressure. Jason Laycock, in the ruck, was also impressive.

 

[Lachlan6]

Very happy with the game. It was'nt the prettiest to watch but really well ground out. I was not expecting too much out of Melksham and especially Colyer early this year but both were very good. Especially Melksham. I was over the moon after the game. There was one brilliant passage of play where he tackled ran off the wing got the gave off the handball in the goal square for a goal. His pressure and usage of the ball is extremely impressive. A very astute pick up. Mini Del Santo? Time will tell.

Overall, positive signs. I am still puzzled as to why Reimers was ever dropped. Prismall back in this week and please, please, please do not put Neagle in the same category as Michael Hurley. Daylight between them. Hurley straight in, absolutely no questions asked.

 

[Putty7]

Hocking is a dark horse. He gets better each week and is almost unrecogniseable from 2 seasons ago - not blessed with great leg speed but is in the Watson mould of wonderful speed of ball movement. Our ruckmen are still slightly off the pace - but Ryder showed glimpses of form tonight.

Duckman

Hocking reminds me of Smokin Joe the way he plays, as for Hille I think he needs a bit of time to get some confidence and fitness back into the body, when your knee has buckled under you the season before it's probably going to be a mindset worry of a reoccurence as well as the lost training and game time, Dean Solomon went through the same years ago, he was never quite the same player when he came back from that pre season injury.

Not fancy but 4 points more than we were looking like getting after the previous outing and some more young guns blooded, Hurley straight in no questions asked, if Spike has been that crook leave him another week, a roadtrip to Perth won't do him any favours and he will be rested and hungrier than ever to be in the following week.

Thankyou to the Football Gods lol

 

[Sean K]

Surprised McVeigh didn't go straight back in. Maybe a sign of the strength in the team at the moment. And Hurley to FF to push 4 goal Williams onto the bench. Looking pretty good. If we're lucky with injuries this year, maybe looking to scrape into the 8 again.

 

[Duckman#72]

Surprised McVeigh didn't go straight back in. Maybe a sign of the strength in the team at the moment.

With Stanton out with a back injury, McVeigh must have been a fair way off not to have been picked. They are missing games and toughness in the midfield. But for what it's worth I'm glad they didn't rush him back in - he's not the player he was in 2008.

I hope that Hams isn't the Easgles version of Freo's Michael Barlow - a mature age rookie playing AFL for the first time who blows away his opponents. It will be an interesting game. The ruck divisions for both sides are potentially fantastic on paper, but on current form - not so good. The forward lines for both are still very much works in progress. I think Essendon has a distinct advantage in the backline, but Eagles might have small advantage in the midfield. Add in Eagles home ground advantage and Essendon's woeful away record and it makes for a good matchup.

Kenna's made the comment of "sneaking into the eight". They MUST win tonight if they are serious about finals.

Putty - good call about Hocking and Smokin Joe. Both have that "lopey" run. Are you going to the game?

Duckman

 

[Sean K]

The game is on at bloody 11.30pm in Sydney tonight.

Is it on Foxtel in a bar in Sydney somewhere?

 

[Sean K]

The game is on at bloody 11.30pm in Sydney tonight.

Is it on Foxtel in a bar in Sydney somewhere?

Ah, disregard. Not on. Looks like a late night for me.

 

[prawn_86]

Is it on Foxtel in a bar in Sydney somewhere?

We are going to have to find a place that shows the AFL games live. I think there is one in Newtown...

 

[Sean K]

We are going to have to find a place that shows the AFL games live. I think there is one in Newtown...

Seems like this game is not on anywhere until 11.30 ish.

Sydaney sux for AFL.

It's really a backward State, NSW.

Backward!!

Such a shame because it looks great.

Game will hopefully be on a radio station live from 8.30 ish, when WA wakes up.

 

[gav]

Bit quiet today boys?

 

[gav]

I hope that Hams isn't the Easgles version of Freo's Michael Barlow - a mature age rookie playing AFL for the first time who blows away his opponents. It will be an interesting game. The ruck divisions for both sides are potentially fantastic on paper, but on current form - not so good. The forward lines for both are still very much works in progress. I think Essendon has a distinct advantage in the backline, but Eagles might have small advantage in the midfield. Add in Eagles home ground advantage and Essendon's woeful away record and it makes for a good matchup.

Kenna's made the comment of "sneaking into the eight". They MUST win tonight if they are serious about finals.

Putty - good call about Hocking and Smokin Joe. Both have that "lopey" run. Are you going to the game?

Duckman

Do Essendon even have ruckmen? If they do, I didn't see them last night! Not only did Cox/NicNat dominate the hitouts, but the "hit outs to advantage" was huge! They were great in general play as well.

West Coast pretty much laid down in the second half. Despite the half time gap, Essendon had ample opportunity to win the match.

 

[GumbyLearner]

Bit quiet today boys?

I read a recent story about this fella. Most league coaches think he will be one of the future best in league 'citing his freakish athleticism'. I had watched last night for parts and he is bloody quick and bulked up for his size and age. If he stays free of injury it's likely that he will become the best ruckman in the league.

Why have West Coast produced such good mobile ruckman in recent years? Even Freo have that monster 211. Their third choice Seaby has ended up at Sydney and is having a solid season. Gardiner ended up at St.Kilda.

Looks like WC have recruited a gun. NicNat was still running at the end of the final qtr. Huge engine.

I noticed in the 3rd qtr Gumbleton was moved into the ruck and tried his guts out against NicNat. Then Essendon kicked their 1st goal up until the 26 minute mark of the 1st qtr. After WC kicked 8 or 9 straight. Too many passengers for the Bombers imo.

 

[nomore4s]

Do Essendon even have ruckmen? If they do, I didn't see them last night! Not only did Cox/NicNat dominate the hitouts, but the "hit outs to advantage" was huge! They were great in general play as well.

That's a bit harsh, while Hille was smashed at the hitouts I thought he was one of the few Bombers that actually had a crack last night, he is just not in Cox or NicNat's class atm.

West Coast pretty much laid down in the second half. Despite the half time gap, Essendon had ample opportunity to win the match.

This I agree with, Essendon had chances to kick 5 or 6 goals in the 3rd quarter and get themselves back in the game but couldn't find the big sticks.

West Coast weren't much chop last night imo, plenty of turnovers etc but to be able to blow the Bombers out of the water like that in the second quarter highlights just where the bombers are at atm. Most of Essendon goals in that first quarter were from very poor West Coast turnovers and besides them the bombers never looked like scoring.

I was going to comment after Essendon's win last week about how ordinary they looked against the blues even though they won but thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and wait to see how they preformed against the Eagles. The Blues were woeful last week and Essendon only just managed to win it really and after last nights game I can see why.

There is pretty much no forward line atm, Gumby looks like an athletic tall forward but he has no idea how to get hold of the footy, Williams spends more time trying to get kicks up the ground cause he can't get a kick in the 50 cause it never gets there with any decent delivery, why not play him from the goal square to at least provide some sort of target? Also missed a player like Davey/Jetta (even though I don't really rate either) to provide a bit of pace and forward line pressure.

How Prismall couldn't get a game last night with both Stanton & McVeigh out is beyond me, at least he can get his hands on the footy and has a crack. Way too many passengers for the Bombers atm and there is no doubt they have taken a huge step backwards this year so far.

Bombers could be 1 or 2 and alot in a few weeks with hard games coming up, and the thing that annoys me is even though Hawthorn are playing a lot better footy then Essendon atm we could also be 1 or 2 and a lot in a few weeks.

 

[IFocus]

Bit quiet today boys?

Lets hope he stays injury free for a 19 year old he has a amazing future hopefully the Eagles will keep a close eye on him as he develops.

Pity about Kerr's injury at least he takes the top tagger all the time actually got a few frees last night which has been a long time coming.

Essendon didn't look good even with WC turn overs.

 

[nomore4s]

Lets hope he stays injury free for a 19 year old he has a amazing future hopefully the Eagles will keep a close eye on him as he develops.

How/why Melb took Jack Watts over him will forever be one of the worlds great mysteries

 

[Duckman#72]

This thread isn't titled "Supporter Support" for no reason Gav

Another abysmal interstate visit. Weak as the proverbial. Where to start? I'll gather some thoughts and post later on about our "long term prospects". For now I'll just respond to some comments.

That's a bit harsh, while Hille was smashed at the hitouts I thought he was one of the few Bombers that actually had a crack last night, he is just not in Cox or NicNat's class atm.

Both Hille and Ryder were shown up last night. Hille did his best work in the last quarter when the game was all over. There were a number of times in the first two quarters when he squibbed the contest. Absolutely atrocious. Unfortunately for the Bombers Nicnat played his best game of the season proper, and as for Cox, Dennis Cometti commented that it was Cox's best game for 18 months. But Essendon has bigger problems than just the ruck!

This I agree with, Essendon had chances to kick 5 or 6 goals in the 3rd quarter and get themselves back in the game but couldn't find the big sticks.

If it's not bad enough that we have a dysfunctional forward line - we miss set shots that 3rd grade country players should be making.

West Coast weren't much chop last night imo, plenty of turnovers etc but to be able to blow the Bombers out of the water like that in the second quarter highlights just where the bombers are at atm. Most of Essendon goals in that first quarter were from very poor West Coast turnovers and besides them the bombers never looked like scoring.
I was going to comment after Essendon's win last week about how ordinary they looked against the blues even though they won but thought I would give them the benefit of the doubt and wait to see how they preformed against the Eagles. The Blues were woeful last week and Essendon only just managed to win it really and after last nights game I can see why.

You could argue Nomores that it was last weeks game in reverse (with the exception of the 2nd quarter burst of goals). Last week Carlton's forward line was in complete disarray and really relied on umpiring decisions and poor Essendon turnovers to stay in the game. Carlton were pathetic last week. Essendon were pathetic this week.

There is pretty much no forward line atm, Gumby looks like an athletic tall forward but he has no idea how to get hold of the footy, Williams spends more time trying to get kicks up the ground cause he can't get a kick in the 50 cause it never gets there with any decent delivery, why not play him from the goal square to at least provide some sort of target? Also missed a player like Davey/Jetta (even though I don't really rate either) to provide a bit of pace and forward line pressure.

Agree - the forward line was always going to be our big problem this year. The Bombers have only got themselves to blame. Gumby out with injury over the past 3 years doesn't help - but you show me one other club that has put all its eggs in so few baskets in the forward line.

How Prismall couldn't get a game last night with both Stanton & McVeigh out is beyond me, at least he can get his hands on the footy and has a crack. Way too many passengers for the Bombers atm and there is no doubt they have taken a huge step backwards this year so far.

With hindsight Prismall should have played. I'm not sure that we've taken a huge step backwards this year - because realistically with the retirement of Lloyd, the changeover to the new forward line and with the draw I don't think Essendon were ever likely to figure in the finals anyway. We overachieved last year. A huge step backwards is winning a grand final and then not even playing finals the following year! Let's keep things in perspective Nomores - this is a side that was bundled out of the finals by 100 points last September.

Bombers could be 1 or 2 and alot in a few weeks with hard games coming up, and the thing that annoys me is even though Hawthorn are playing a lot better footy then Essendon atm we could also be 1 or 2 and a lot in a few weeks.

You're right - it doesn't mean much at the end of the day.

 

[nomore4s]

I'm not sure that we've taken a huge step backwards this year - because realistically with the retirement of Lloyd, the changeover to the new forward line and with the draw I don't think Essendon were ever likely to figure in the finals anyway. We overachieved last year. A huge step backwards is winning a grand final and then not even playing finals the following year! Let's keep things in perspective Nomores - this is a side that was bundled out of the finals by 100 points last September.

lol, Fair point but injuries played a big part in that.

I think you guys have taken a big step backwards. You are nowhere near as competitive as you were for most of last year, that run & flair you showed signs of last year is completely missing this year.

On a side note - How slow is Hocking? lol.