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Essendon - Supporter Support

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kennas said:
I was at the G too. Good performance. Collingwood didn't play poorly I thought, they were made to play ordinary and Essendon had a few passengers.
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I thought so as well. The result showed that Essendon aren't as bad as some might have thought, and Collingwood aren't as good as some might think.

It bugs me the way all the commentators refer to the "Collingwood Press" as some radical new trend in football. Haven't they just tweaked the game plan of the Brisbane Lions in 2002-4 and Geelong in 2007-09? Like those teams they have an absolutely brilliant midfield, more than competent rucks, an attacking, dangerous and flexible forward line and a stingy, serviceable backline. Add to this Collingwood is also blessed with depth as was Brisbane and Geelong.The final piece of the puzzle is "teamwork and having a solid game plan and sticking to it".

Sometimes I think the football community looks too deeply into things. Collingwood are a good side playing well - but they are no more pioneers who have forever changed the way AFL is played, than Geelong and Brisbane before them.

As for the Bombers game against West Coast - Essendon isn't the only team that have improved. They did what they needed to do. Good quality game.

The midfield have been our big improvers. We now have quality disposals coming into the forward line. Stanton, Prismall, Dyson being the main offenders from prior years. Hocking, Watson and Winderlich have all improved.

Duckman
 
3 weeks for a tackle?



This is the Dons Thread but I am happy to share the absolute distaste I have for the punishment of 3 weeks for a hard tackle.

It's unbelievable.

It's turning into basketball, but you can kick it.

 
Im disgusted to Kennas and it was one of my fav players who was on the receiving end.

There is absolutely nothing Trengove could have done to reduce the impact. They are trained to pin the arm in a tackle and as soon as he started to fall backwards then inertia took them both to the ground. I dont mind penalising a blatant slinging takcle, but in this case you can see that Trengove didnt actually extend his arms to sling Dangerfield.

It seems now even if you accidentally injure somones head your out for a few games. Whatever happened to incidental contact/spirit of the game?
 
When I was playing I smashed a guy behind play because he was tagging me too tight and I got 1 week. 1 week for practically a king hit.

We're heading too far down to the edge of a very slippery slope I feel.

Or, we may be over the edge already.
 

I never played at the elite level but i have been on the giving and recieving end of plenty of those tackles. Get up seeing stars, shake it off and get back on with it. Its unfortunate Dangerfield got concussed but thats the risks of the game. (Although it appears the AFL doesnt want ANY concussions EVER)
 

The joke is that you can smash someone behind play with an elbow and get the less then laying a tackle where someone accidentally gets hurt.
 

I know I'm on my own here, but I think the AFL got it basically right. I say basically because it should have been one week increased to two on appeal, rather than two weeks increased to three on appeal. I think it was more than a "good, strong, solid tackle" - in my opinion it was dangerous and/or reckless. If you swing someone to the ground, with their arms pinned you have a responsibility to the player you are tackling to ensure his head is not going to make contact with the ground with undue force.

As for the Bombers - I went and saw them play at the GABBA on Saturday. Considering the Bombers road record and the record in QLD, I'd say Hirdy would take that result. Would obviously have liked to have been more dominant on the scoreboard. The forward line was at times quite dysfunctional. I'm not sure if it was the way the Lions held up the fast breaks but all too often it was a "up and under" to the talls that didn't come off (Ryder was badly out of form) or a quick kick to Monfries on a boundary line pocket.

Duckman
 
Always disappointing to lose when we probably should have won, but in retrospect it was on the cards.

I'm not blaming fatigue, but some key players out. We've been stretched too far with injuries I think.

Watson
Hurley
Welsh
Dempsey
Winderlick
Pears (long term)
Hocking (susp)

That's a third of our best team out.

Some players well down also.

Stanton needs to get his confidence back. He's doing a Mercuri at the moment.
Ryder hasn't developed any further than round one 2009.
Reimers I just don't know.
Fletch, Myers and Hooker were all down which was critical. Three best back men beaten.
Crameri didn't get the chances he needed.

Positives?
Heppell is incredible for a first year 18 yr old.
Hibberd kept his spot.
McVeigh, Lonergan and Hardingham were excellent.


Where to next?

Watson and Hurley back will be crucial.
Then Hocking from suspension.
Stanton a run at Bendigo, or put him on the back flank.
Ryder back to CHB where he plays his best footy imo.
Hurley back to CHF, although he does play well back.
Myers on a Wing.
Reimers and Davey probably have to give way for Watson and Hurley.

Once we have a rest, regroup and get those key players back in should be back to playing at our potential.
 
D's weren't that good really.

Essendon were crap.

A third of our best team out, and a a third of our best team played without spirit.

Abysmal effort.

The Hird Factor has come and gone.

Can't believe Melbourne celebrated that so proudly.

Or maybe I'm just an ugly (Collingwood like) supporter.

 

Yes Kennas - I agree with all of the above. I think the excitement shown by the Dees after the win was just a reflection on the comments surrounding the Carlton game rather than an indication of the quality of the opponent they had just beaten. It is ironic that the team known for its "bruise free" style of football were celebrating a win over another team that is playing even more "bruise free" than them at the moment!! The tackle count and contested possession stats were damning for the Bombers.

The frustrating thing is the inconsistency. Last year we lost games to Melbourne and West Coast and then beat teams like Hawthorn and St Kilda. Nothing has changed this year. Losses to Richmond and Melbourne were disappointing in that yes, the Tigers and Dees played well - but Essendon were still in both of those games despite playing very, very average, listless, uninspired football. Hirdy needs to insert a couple of well placed rockets in the locker room .

Essendon have been playing poorly for a few weeks now. Had Brisbane been a better opponent the same result would have happened at the GABBA. The games were almost identical. Very close at half time with big discrepancies in the inside 50's. It is just that Dees did what the Lions couldn't.

In my post on 16th May, I made the comment that our forward line was dysfunctional for the majority of the night. Nothing has changed. The only thing that playing 3 ruckman has done is upset the form of Crameri. Who knows where we are going to get our goals from?

Unfortunately injuries and suspension don't help - Hurley, Watson and Hocking will be big inclusions shortly.

For those of you that have been following this thread for some time, I posted a lengthy comment some time ago last year, asking the question "If Essendon was a glass of water would it be half full or half empty?" After 11 rounds so far it would seem that the answer to the question is still in doubt?

What will the next 11 weeks bring? Anybody prepared to predict a Top 8 finish of the Bombers at this stage of the season? Their fast start to the season is quickly being eroded away.

Duckman
 
Hi Duckman,

I think you guys have made progress this year, very quickly too. After the start to the season the Bombers had there was always going to be a period where they struggled for a bit imo, what happens over the next month will be interesting.

I think they are a chance for the top 8 still, especially considering spots 6-12 are still wide open, and I think Essendon are probably a better side then most of those teams.
 
Ahh Kennas, we love to celebrate at every win, be an even bigger celebration if we win on Monday : )

Lets hope it turns out a lovely day
 

I hope you are right Nomores.

Very disappointing result again yesterday. The reason Essendon supporters were disappointed with the loss to the Dees last week, hit home today. As Collingwood demonstrated this arvo, the Dees are still pretty crud. It could be the loss that keeps us out of the finals. Tink and Nulla Nulla will be pleased

Yes it was annoying to lose to Freo, but going into the season most supporters would not have pencilled that game in for a win anyway.

Duckman
 
Ah well, cant win them all, stupid mistakes. At least I was in with the Melbourne Members
 
On a serious note though.....

It looks like it is time for a serious clean out at Essendon as the list is obviously not good enough to become a serious contender despite the promising signs early in the season.

McVeigh, Welsh and Davey have to be moved on at the end of the year imo.

Monfries, Prismall, Reimers and Ryder need to have a good hard look at themselves and the coaching staff need to find out if guys like the above are long term prospects of a successful team.

There are enough players there with ability to build around - Watson, Hocking, Zaharakis, Pears, Hooker, Hurley and even Bellchambers with Heppell, Hibbard, Hardingham, Howlett, Jetta, Cameri, Dempsey and Gumbleton all showing promise.

Last night Ryder and Hille were very ordinary, how many times did Hille get out muscled by Lisle? A guy 5cm and 10kgs+ smaller! Hille just did not look interested last night and gave up on the contest way too easy that is just not good enough from a senior player. Ryder needs a spell in the VFL, just even to send him a message that his efforts are just not good enough.

Might be time to bring in Neagle, Gumbleton, Williams, Reimers, Carlisle, Dyson etc etc and give them a extended run at it to see who is worth keeping on the list and who isn't.
 
nomore4s said:
Might be time to bring in Neagle, Gumbleton, Williams, Reimers, Carlisle, Dyson etc etc and give them a extended run at it to see who is worth keeping on the list and who isn't.
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Great Nomores!!! You know how rub the salt right into the wound!!! Our future hope lies with Neagle, Gumbleton, Dyson and Williams - all players that have frustrated, been disappointing or totally injury prone in the past.

It is always a danger posting after a disappointing loss - but the manner in which some of our players played last night was an absolute disgrace. I fully agree with your position on Hille. At times he was a passenger. Bellchambers is progressing well enough for them to consider offloading Hille and Ryder for some great midfielders.

I realy don't know what is happening down at Windy Hill - even Dustin Fletcher has been poor based on his high expectations. It was only 2 monhs ago there were artuiles talking about him playing on for another 2 seasons. At times last night I'm not sure that he'll make another 2 months. I'm the last person to criticise Fletch - I love the guy - but even he looks completely "out of sorts".

On the positive Zaha and Jetta are showing signs of continual improvement as valuable midfielders (or maybe our other midfielders have gone backwards that fast that Jetta and Zaha now stand out!)

This should be the last year for Welsh, McVeigh and Davey. I have never seen anybody do as much work for so little reward as Davey last night. It was like watching a Year 7 kid try to steal the ball off the Year 12 School side. Plenty of endeavour but it all resulted in nothing. He looked like a headless chook most of the time running from player to player.

I was never a big fan of Welsh and was surprised he was made co-captain last year. He seems to play 1 great game every 6.

Although the Bombers had a great start to the year, we should put the wins in perspective because, with time we can now see the wins over St Kilda and the Bulldogs were perhaps saying as much about the slide of those clubs as the improvement in ours.

Maybe we need a new coach.......

PS - Supercoach teams is going to do it tough this week with two hamstrings in the first game (Rioli and Watson).

Duckman
 
Go the mighty Demons. Smacked richmond in the kisser and now sitting in the top 8 above....wait for it....Essendon. How sweet it is.
 
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