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Essendon - Supporter Support

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This is what I wrote with regard to last weeks game and I may as well post it for this week as well. The Bombers should be very disappointed in their performance yesterday. Knights and co must be concerned.

What happened yesterday? Was it a misfire by one of the most exciting, inexperienced and up and coming sides? Or was it a true reflection of the Bombers current list? To be fair it was probably a touch of both, BUT with a heavier weighting to the latter.

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. Slattery out, 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.

Hille and Ryder need to lift around the ground. The were always going to do it tough against Sandilands but how can two mobile ruckman not make an impact in general play against a 7foot ruckman that didn't have a break!!

As much as I have been complaining about our forward line, and in particular Mr Shuffles, Essendon has made its bed it has to lie in it. They've put all their eggs into Gumby and Neagle. They need to play them - even if they constantly frustrate supporters. If Neagle is fit (a subjective term), he needs to have game time. If they were going to drop him - play a true forward in his spot. At least try and have some structure. Williams - I'm not sure about. To be fair to Williams, as a leading forward, Essendon would be one of the worst teams to play on regarding quality ball delivery.

I'm really enjoying Pears, Hooker and Dempsey develop. They were good. Gumbleton showed some really good signs and just didn't have any support in the forward line. Hocking also tried hard all day.

Stanton was flat, Watson was flat, McVeigh out of sorts. Prismall tried. Was Welsh even out there? No impact from any of them. The bitter pill to swallow was how Freo's disposals were clean, and the decision making sharp. By contrast our disposal was very poor and decision making dreadful. And by our most experienced players as well (hand up Hille, Stanton, Fletcher and Prismall).

All in all - a very disappointing loss. For every step forward it seems we are making 3 backwards.

Before I say too mcuh more I want to see some more results this year - so I can see the "real Essendon"

Duckman
 
Disappointing is hardly the word I would use Duckman lol, bloody Dorkers supporters gave me a bit of stick yesterday arvo I can tell you, turned the phone off and went for a drive for an hour after the game to settle myself down lol. After the good signs shown against Geelong there wasn't much to go on with, I agree unless they bring Lloyd out of retirement Neagle needs to play or be gone, it's that simple, Gumbleton at least gave us something yesterday so praise the Lord and halleleuah for that. I think someone mentioned that the gameplay of the bombers was a bit one dimensional and it looked it yesterday, I don't think the players can take all the credit for the loss because they looked out of position at times and silly when the turnovers came, was it laziness on the players behalf or was the game plan exploited by Mark Harvey and co, credit where it is due the Dockers deserved the win, they looked the more convincing side after half time and the last quarter fade outs by the Bombers is handing games away on a silver platter at the moment, lets hope they get their sh*t together before Carlton this week.
 
On a lighter note the backline seems to be coming together nicely, they have gotten a lot of practise in the last half of the first 2 games while the rest of the team has a rest.
 
I went to the game, very disappointing.
The Dons lacked spark and seemed to play a bit like robots.
Hadly any flair.

Gumbleton looked good.

Mr Shuffles was sitting near me. His girlfriend was tiny except for one set of features. Maybe he is not concentrating on the game.
 
Knobby22 said:
The Dons lacked spark and seemed to play a bit like robots.
Hadly any flair.

Mr Shuffles was sitting near me. His girlfriend was tiny except for one set of features. Maybe he is not concentrating on the game.
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Sounds like Knights should have a word to Mrs Shuffles - with her permission it might be wise to put Jay on a incentive based "root for reward" system.

Yes the Dons certainly lacked spark. Although I thought the intensity was there initially. After half time the endeavour, creativity and dare I say it ...... the apparent lack of fitness seemed to tell.Was it due to the big build up and mental expenditure at the "one the got away" against Geelong? I just hope that they get it together for Carlton.

Putty - I know how you feel. I spent Easter with Mrs Duckman's family who are mostly all Collingwood supporters. So they all had their tails up after jagging Saturday's game, and gave it to me on Sunday.

Here's hoping that they all fire against the Blues.

Duckman
 
Looked slow too, for a team that prides itself on it's pace they certainly have a few plodders as well. Don't understand why Reimers was dropped, missed his pace.

Looks like the outs from last year are having more of an effect then first thought too.
 

I very much agree about the pace Nomores - I just put the lack of speed down to lack of fitness or mental fatigue, but the lack of zing was clear. We do have some player with slow leg speed - Hocking, Watson, Prismall, Slattery as some.

As far as the outs from last year - we are certainly missing Lovatt. No doubt. His unpredictability, speed, creativity and ability to break open the lines were valuable to this side. Davey doesn't have the composure nor skills to fill the gap. Jetta is still an injured work in progress. Reimers neeeds to be played regularly I think, as he is the closest to playing the role.

As for Lucas and McPhee - I'm not yet convinced we would be a better side with them still there. The game was passing Lucas by and his good games were few and far between. With McPhee we lost experience, but it was a long time since he was a player worthy of All-Australian discussion.

Lloyd is different - he certainly provided us with a focal point if nothing else (when Knights played him there). Our forward line looked better with him playing in my opinion. Although football is a funny game - in 10 weeks time we might be saying that Lloyd leaving was the best thing to happen to Mr Shuffles, Gumby and the Essendon Football Club.

I see your Hawks were gallant in defeat. It was one of my Supercoach players that effectively tipped the match towards Geelong Nomores - Shoenmachers kick across goal with about 8mins to go was unfortunate.

Duckman
 
That missed goal did cost us and so did Renoufs miss only about 30m out, but in a lot of ways we were lucky to still be in the game at that point
 
nomore4s said:
That missed goal did cost us and so did Renoufs miss only about 30m out, but in a lot of ways we were lucky to still be in the game at that point
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No I wasn't talking about Shoenmachers missed shot at goal - I was talking about his kick from Geelong's pocket across the face of goals that was marked by Byrne (I think). A goal resulted and the difference was back to 4 points. If he roosts it long down the boundary line to a contest, who knows why might have happened. But at least it wouldn't have resulted in a shot at goal 35m out on a slight angle.
 
What! I did not even realise that until now. That makes the whole debacle even more painful. I thought Reimers was one of our best last week agaist Geelong.

The match itself was terrible and altough it's only two rounds in, the finals have turned from being a mole hill to a slightly large peak.
 
nomore4s said:
Hahaha Barlow trained at Essendon

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/91832/default.aspx

The one that got away. I know I wouldn't mind having him running around in a Hawks jumper.
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I was hoping that wouldn't be mentioned. Thanks Nomores

Rumour has it that the Essendon recruiters were very keen, but it was Knights that had the final say. Possibly burnt by the Hayden Skipworth experiment in previous years. Didn't want to be seen as "wasting" a draft pick on an experienced flop

Good luck to him and Freo. It was the best thing for his career. Honestly I don't think he'd find a starting spot at the Bombers.

Duckman
 
Duckman#72 said:
Honestly I don't think he'd find a starting spot at the Bombers.
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hahaha yeah I suppose you're right, what would Essendon need with a midfielder who can kick goals, find a sh!tload of the ball and actually use it. Definitely wouldn't fit in there.:

I have noticed in the first 2 games you guys haven't had many players with more then 20 touches.
 

Unfortunately the ones who had were probably backline players, definately a find for Freo, pity Knights looked over him and also got rid of Lloyd, but whats done is done, I have a feeling after giving it to Carlton supporters last year I might be copping a bit of carma this weekend.
 
nomore4s said:
I have noticed in the first 2 games you guys haven't had many players with more then 20 touches.
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Yes you have touched on our strength Nomores - our depth Shhhhhsh!!! Don't tell the others.

Makes it very difficult and confusing for opposing teams to tag our best player when we don't have one.

Duckman
 
Putty7 said:
I have a feeling after giving it to Carlton supporters last year I might be copping a bit of carma this weekend.
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Yes - which Bombers team will turn up on Saturday night? I'm also worried about karma. We've won quite a few games we probably shouldn't have.

Duckman
 
Has Williams got a touch yet? I haven't managed to watch a game yet, even though I'm back in Oz. I put him in my Supercoach team and he's scoring zip. I was expecting more from him this year. Bloody ex Hawks.
 
kennas said:
Has Williams got a touch yet? I haven't managed to watch a game yet, even though I'm back in Oz. I put him in my Supercoach team and he's scoring zip. I was expecting more from him this year. Bloody ex Hawks.
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To be fair Kennas delivery into our forward line hasn't exactly been stellar the first 2 games especially when you are depending on Monfries and Williams, 2 small leading forwards, to carry the workload, bombing it in and kicking in hope through the centre doesn't give them much of a chance, if Gumbleton keeps improving and Hurley comes back in it takes 2 good defenders off the smaller forwards giving them more freedom to create and crumb without that additional pressure and attention, on the weekend the whole team looked flat and the skills were woeful, I think Williams still has the ability, the ball isn't coming in lace out like the Hawk midfielders were delivering it when he was doing well, even Monfries struggled to get a kick and I think well of him in our forward line. Hille still has to get some match fitness into him, once that happens Ryder will also be more settled as a forward and Hille has yet to impose himself like he was before the knee blew out, I think the positives are there but it will be a shaky first half of the season.
 
Wow the Bombers have really swung the changes this week.

Thought Prismall was a bit unlucky, surely there were worse players then him on the weekend?

I really can't see you guys beating Carlton with that many changes and without Monfries who is probably the best forward in the team. If Essendon ever wanted Williams to stand up this is the week.

On Williams:

nomore4s said:
Williams is probably past his best but could still be handy for your mob considering the lack of depth in the forward line Essendon currently have.

Only problem could be, none of your blokes will be able to hit him when he leads, lol:
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nomore4s said:
Williams is lazy at times looks disinterested, new club might do him good. Still capable of kicking 40-60 goals a year - if your midfield can deliver it to him :.
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:
 
nomore4s said:
I really can't see you guys beating Carlton with that many changes and without Monfries who is probably the best forward in the team. If Essendon ever wanted Williams to stand up this is the week.
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I thought Howlett played a fairly good game last week as well and didn't deserve the axe, what is Knights doing with Hurley, one of the young shining lights at the end of last season along with Pears but still doing pennance, Davey and Myers deserved the axe they were ordinary to say the least.

Agree nomore4's, I can't see them beating Carlton but footy is a funny game week to week, depends if they turn up to play.
 
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