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Essendon - Supporter Support

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Lachlan6 said:
Could not agree more. I just hope he wants to coach this team. Yesterday was like a time warp watching the game from the G. It felt like the 'long gone' days of Peverill and the like running around. What is going on with the handball a few metres to a bloke with someone right on his hammer! It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that will be be a turnover? Is Mathew Knights just not that intelligent. I really am starting to wonder. His previous record at Bendigo was woeful and although he was only assistant coach the record at Port Adelaide (SANFL) does'nt stack up either.

The problem is we cannot start messing with our new playing groups collective psyche by continually losing. Who has a direct line to Hirdy?
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It was interesting to note during the commentary yesterday that the Dockers haven't resigned Mark Harvey yet, the trouble is they probably had their chance to get him when they took Knights and now Harv's has a team up and running seemingly from out of nowhere, doubt he would want to leave to start a rebuild again but you never know.

Bomber Thompson could be another candidate with Geelongs previous success and a proven track record, it won't be long before Geelong start to get aging legs and look to start rebuilding, a few stars destined for Gold Coast may hurt them more though, would he consider a move.

James Hird, an unknown but served his carreer under Sheeds and was a strong leader at a club that had success during his time, excels at nearly everything things he does, loves the club, much loved Essendon son and would have supporters onside, would he have the ability and would he have a go.

Unless things turn around Knights head is destined for the chopping block at the end of the year, contract or not, his decisions are slow and indecisive when it comes to countering moves made by the opposition, the overall team strategy and game plan are woeful and clearly not working ( it did give me a laugh yesterday (one of the few) when the Essendon faithfull cheered when they finally kicked the ball after 5 or 6 roundabout handballs to nowhere, nothing like tying the ball up yourselves in defense to let the opposition get back in numbers ).

Agree Duckman, start playing players who have a future at the club and persist with them for the year, either to their detriment or not, at least give them the chance to show their stuff, I know it's very early and I am being pessimistic but I haven't seen a team fielded this year which has clicked together well, there is no point recruiting players to leave them with Bendigo because they haven't quite come on, the way the season is looking we will have some priority draft picks for next season and I would rather see a new coach get those picks and have some fresh influence than wallow around for another year watching the same ol same ol, I was optimistic after the first round game against Geelong but it seems that the heart shown in that game has gone.

The first thing I would look at is the spine, from Full back to Full forward, Pears is doing well and looks to have Full back sown up for the future, from there it gets tainted and players are being thrown around a bit as the game goes on trying desperately to find a winning combination, not a good way to win games, if we get priority draft picks look to add strength to the spine, if Mr Shuffles can't cut it as Full forward then the axe should fly and recruit one, Gumby looks better as a Centre half forward with a strong leading mark as opposed to playing man on man, Hurley maybe to Centre half back, after that who knows with what we have.

Fletcher is still playing well for 35 but can't be factored in past another year or two I wouldn't think so religate him to take the third forward as has been happening.

Dempsey looked good when allowed to run through the centre yesterday and looked more potent than anyone else we had in the midfield or up forward.

Reimers seems to be the only one who knows when to kick the ball, maybe they all should get pretty boots, maybe not, he should play every week for the rest of the year.

I could go on and on but I have other things to do today, Duckman lucky you built the drive in for Mrs Duckman and the Ducklings, might give you some entertainment this year because I hate to say it but don't think it's going to come from the footy :D
 
We are missing Pears for the Hawks game nomore4s so Buddy might get his chance to kick a bag, the fate of the wooden spoon might hinge on the outcome of this game lol I hope not.
 
Putty7 said:
The first thing I would look at is the spine, from Full back to Full forward, Pears is doing well and looks to have Full back sown up for the future, from there it gets tainted and players are being thrown around a bit as the game goes on trying desperately to find a winning combination, not a good way to win games, if we get priority draft picks look to add strength to the spine, if Mr Shuffles can't cut it as Full forward then the axe should fly and recruit one, Gumby looks better as a Centre half forward with a strong leading mark as opposed to playing man on man, Hurley maybe to Centre half back, after that who knows with what we have.

Fletcher is still playing well for 35 but can't be factored in past another year or two I wouldn't think so religate him to take the third forward as has been happening.

Dempsey looked good when allowed to run through the centre yesterday and looked more potent than anyone else we had in the midfield or up forward.

Reimers seems to be the only one who knows when to kick the ball, maybe they all should get pretty boots, maybe not, he should play every week for the rest of the year.

I could go on and on but I have other things to do today, Duckman lucky you built the drive in for Mrs Duckman and the Ducklings, might give you some entertainment this year because I hate to say it but don't think it's going to come from the footy :D
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They need to start thinking outside the square and just roll the dice now. Tell the players they are playing for contracts at this point - not finals anymore.

Knights needs to look at the game plan and re-evaluate. The list does look fairly different to the one he took over a couple of years ago. He needs to take stock and seriously ask the question:

a) "Is the game plan I'm trying to implement within the team, just too difficult for the skill level, speed, decision making and experience of the current list".

If the answer is "Yes" - how much longer am I prepare to persist with it?

On a personal note. I think he is determined to prove his method will work - and it might with some better cattle out on the park. But we have a clash of two problems, the first being quality, in-form key position players. I don't care what your game plan is, it is going to be a bloody hard sell if you haven't got a strong Full Forward right through to Fullback. He is trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear at the moment. You might be the best mechanic in the world, but you are never going to win a Grand Prix with a Datsun 120Y.

Yes I have a soft spot for Reimers. He is a trier and has some spunk. Yes Dempsey looked good around the midfield and forward flank. I could see him as a Jared Brenan style ruck rover in time to come.

I totally agree with your comments about the fitness and conditioning coaches. This has been an ongoing issue for about 5 seasons now. Essendon's opponents regularly make the Bombers players look slow, one paced, lethargic and reluctant to chase. Maybe I'm being hard on the fitness coaches and Essendon's list is actually slow, one paced, lethargic and reluctant to chase!!:)

Nomores - I wouldn't be so quick to paint the Hawks as underdogs!!:D After last year your guys would love to jump on the back of the Collingwood loss just to make sure there was officially no pulse left in the Bombers. Considering Dennis Cometti said that Bombers should be looking forward to Round 12 against the Tigers, I not confident for next weekend.

Putty - yes you are right. The Ducklings and I will be making use of "Movie Nights" this winter. As if things aren't bad enough with the Bombers, the eldest duckling considers himself a Collingwood supporter.:(
 
Oh dear, I was in the Long Room by the 10 minute mark.

The best bits of the game were the Army band chick singing the national anthem, the bugler did a pretty good job, nice idea running through the one banner, and Gumby making a statement.

Really, the rest was just all average.

Fletcher just played his normal game.
Stanton gots lots of it but it was turned over or put someone else under pressure.
Reimers looks good when he gets it, but he's gotta get more of it.
Watson played his usual game.

The only other real positive out of it I think was Melksham still being in the mix after just a couple of games. Looks like a future above average runner.

Pears has a broken arm?
 
the eldest duckling considers himself a Collingwood supporter.
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Bit of controversy in the Duckman camp lol, yes Kennas, Pears did his arm yesterday so poor old Fletcher will have to carry the backline for the better part of another season.
 
Now no Reimers, Richmond in 4 weeks isn't a certainty to pencil in at the moment, I hope they have a few ideas down there this week on how to play against the Hawks.
 
Duckman#72 said:
Bombers supporters thought 2006 was bad!!! Look out 2010!!! :mad:

With the slim chance of finals now fully evaporated, the Bombers can start making some serious changes...................... Once again I can't help but think that we are no closer to finals success than we were 5 years ago. Where are our Sidebottom's , Pendlebury's, Beams' and Wellingham's?

Duckman
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Hi Duckman,
Absolutely agree, we need a serious restructure and fast. No need plodding along down the same path. It's obvious the current list isn't able to match it with the best, more focus needs to be given to the young players that are showing promise ie. Reimers, Melksham, Colyer, Howlett, Lonergan, Prismall, Dempsey etc. If we dont cut the dead wood so to speak then these promising young players will not be let to develop quickly. We need to sacrifice a few years of winning games to give them a go, so no need to play the has beens that won't play a roll once our side has developed. Give the young ones the experience i say and relegate the below players to Bendigo and get something for them at seasons end while we still can and develop a side that will mature at the same time. How much more can we take of Knights sipping from his 600ml Coke bottle when he should be on the phone moving players around or giving some direction, DO SOMETHING!!! He just looks like a dumbfounded dear in the headlights, no passion:banghead:

OK, at season end........

OUT: Knights, Winderlich, Welsh, McVeigh, Slattery, Dyson (could be more added at end of season)

IN: HIRD(coach), Lloyd(ass. coach) Draft picks for the above players.
 
JAKSPARA said:
OK, at season end........

OUT: Knights, Winderlich, Welsh, McVeigh, Slattery, Dyson (could be more added at end of season)

IN: HIRD(coach), Lloyd(ass. coach) Draft picks for the above players.
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Yes, on the right path here.

I'm not sure if Lloyd is coach material though. He's never inspired me, maybe he's better behind the scenes. Keep O'Donnell as second man I think.

Knights must go soley based on pushing Lloyd a year too early. He had another one in him as a forward pocket long target taking a key defender. Stupid really.

I'm on the fence with McVeigh until he gets a few games underhis belt.
 
Lloyd as a goal kicking coach could be an option Kennas, whoever is doing the scouting and recruiting might want to get the chop as well, so many promising players slipped through the fingers the last few years, one of them trained with us for a while.
 
Can someone explain how Prismall can't get a game in that team?

It's not like Essendon have too many players that can regularly put in 20+ possession games, especially when you have a host of other players under-performing.
 
nomore4s said:
Can someone explain how Prismall can't get a game in that team?

It's not like Essendon have too many players that can regularly put in 20+ possession games, especially when you have a host of other players under-performing.
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A bit like Howlett not getting a regular game, both have shown talent when played and then they get sent back to Bendigo, the mind boggles.
 
You could be right Nomore4's, he did front up for Bendigo last week along with Mr Shuffles, Prismall etc.
 
Its seems Knights doesnt have it in him to give the team a bake.
I would have thought 1/4 time v pies on Anzac day he should have gone bananas at the pathetic effort, that was THE time to go off.
I knew the game was lost when he didnt (well I knew 10 minutes into the first quarter really.:mad:
Terry Daniher as coach??????????
 
JAKSPARA said:
Hi Duckman,
How much more can we take of Knights sipping from his 600ml Coke bottle when he should be on the phone moving players around or giving some direction, DO SOMETHING!!! He just looks like a dumbfounded dear in the headlights, no passion:banghead:

OK, at season end........

OUT: Knights, Winderlich, Welsh, McVeigh, Slattery, Dyson (could be more added at end of season)

IN: HIRD(coach), Lloyd(ass. coach) Draft picks for the above players.
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I'd also add:

BETTER WATCH OUT, YOU'RE ON THE HIT LIST: Monfries, Davey and Jetta

When our forward line is as young and inexperienced as it is, and is getting the type of ball delivery from the midfield, it is very difficult to expect a small forward to be a big danger. Having said that.......Monfries needs to continue developing skills and abilities to enable him to become a forward threat week in week out. A great example of a player that has flatlined (if not downward trending) over the past couple of seasons. In 2007 and 2008 he was being spoken about as potential captain material.

I've said enough about Davey so I won't continue. As for Jetta - again it's been a few years since he came onto the scene and between injuries and not being given game time, who knows what we've got? We need to actually see why he is on the list. At the moment it looks as if our list exists to feed the Bendigo Bombers - not the opposite!! If he's fit play the little bugger.

Knights is losing me fast. While I am critical of his decision not to back Lloyd for another season, we need to remember that having Lloydy on the list would have done bugger all "on the park" as he was rubbed out for the love tap on the Hawk glass jaw.;) From memory, he'd only be available for R7 onwards (although it would be nice to have him in for the Tigers game:))

I'm not sure about Terry Daniher as coach - seems like a good support man rather than head coach. Here's a discussion point. What if Mick Malthouse was offered the position when he hands over the reins to Bucks. I think Knights and Micky come off contract at the same time. Would Micky be able to turn down another Head Coach role, when he's made it clear he wants to continue coaching?

Nomores, I have no idea why Prismall is not playing. I heard a rumour that the club was not impressed with his pressure, chase and intensity, But Prismall is not the only one in that boat. If Mr Shuffles, Prismall and to a lesser extent Howlett are fit, they need to be out there. I can't believe I'm saying this but Mr Shuffles at least provides some structure and a target! His brain explosion decisions, lack of pace, lack of conditioning and poor form, seem mild in comparison with the problems of our forward line over the past couple of weeks.

Duckman
 
nomore4s said:
Can someone explain how Prismall can't get a game in that team?
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It is absurd. The guy is a gun. The other one is Sam Lonergan. Is he injured? If not it is crazy he is not in our starting lineup. I do'nt want to think too hard about our current state, it is too damn frustrating. Especially when you pencil down our best 22. I believe we our brimming with more than capable players.
 
Duckman#72 said:
BETTER WATCH OUT, YOU'RE ON THE HIT LIST: Monfries, Davey and Jetta
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Spot on. Monfries is overated and frustratingly inconsistent. Jetta is certainly not his namesake from the Swans, but Davey I would keep him just for his forward pressure and speed. Are we going to win a flag with Stanton, Hocking, Winderlich, Slattery, Dyson (there are a few others I ca'nt think of atm), I suggest not.
 
Maybe it is time you poor agrieved Essendon supportors should change to supporting a real AFL team...like Melbourne!! Go the Mighty Dees.
 
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