Preview Essendon vs St Kilda Saints - 7:25pm Saturday, 1st of April 2023 at the MCG

[Ambrosia]

I only noticed Cordy rucking when the ball was forward. If he rucked elsewhere then sure, no worries.

Marshall spent 85% TOG the week before. He generally runs solo with very little chop out.

He will destroy Draper if the plan is to let them run head to head. There's a reason we're choosing to not do that.

Think Draper is critical to our forward structure as well

 

[HirdsTheWord]

stringer comes in?

 

[jdstorm]

Could see stringer playing another game in the VFL. Probably more of a Sub candidate with this team given his endurance and pressure.

Would be a great guy to bring in as a closer against tired players as a mid/FF for 1-2 quarters.

Think Weid for Heppel and maybe Baldwin for Zerk (if injured) are the only changes to make.

If Hobbs keeps playing at this level might be worth starting him at half back in the Mass Role. Just have to try and fit him in somewhere.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Ah the tin rattlers. Surely they don’t actually think they’ll get 75k on Saturday night

They may do. Essendon supporters will be keen to show up to this game

 

[TheGrizz]

Agreed. Its why I'm dropping Harry to accommodate Weid and Stringer.

It will be Weid for Heppell, Langford to the wing if I had to guess.

Reckon Stringer gets another week in the VFL.

 

[EnolaGay]

It will be Weid for Heppell, Langford to the wing if I had to guess.

Reckon Stringer gets another week in the VFL.

Agree with this ^

 

[Don Won]

WhyCan’tWeHaveBoth.gif

Stringer sub, then getting a full game in the VFL on Sunday (7 day break before giants the following week) makes a lot of sense. If he has to come on early, manage his VFL minutes

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Could see stringer playing another game in the VFL. Probably more of a Sub candidate with this team given his endurance and pressure.

Would be a great guy to bring in as a closer against tired players as a mid/FF for 1-2 quarters.

Think Weid for Heppel and maybe Baldwin for Zerk (if injured) are the only changes to make.

If Hobbs keeps playing at this level might be worth starting him at half back in the Mass Role. Just have to try and fit him in somewhere.

yep needs to be put in only when he is ready.

if he is not putting pressure on than dont play him.

 

[bombreys]

Even sans Hobbs, i expect us to really compete with the Saints. They haven't shown a propensity to score enough to beat our early efforts.
Suns were a good warm up to this.
Suns backs are alright, but elite in the middle/ruck. Similar forward line (both missing a potent King)

As horrible as it is for Steele himself and as much as you don't want to see injuries to anyone, he will be a handy out for us too.

 

[Godzke]

There needs to be a focus on how we start quarters this week.

We did well to kick a goal after the 30min mark in each of the four quarters vs Suns, but we need to go through the gears quicker. Up until 3QT, Davey's goal in the 2nd quarter was the only goal (out of 11) kicked before the 14min mark of the quarter.

Saints kicked the opening goal in every quarter vs the Dogs.

 

[Godzke]

Also curious to see the midfield rotation vs Saints

Parish and Shiel had very low ToG% vs Suns despite winning a heap of ball. Not sure if they are carrying knocks, or their conditioning is being managed or Scott doesn't see the value of rotating them through a secondary position.

 

[Le Archie]

If the players are as arrogant as the supporters on the Saints board they are going to be in for a rude shock come Saturday. I don't for one instance think we are a good side but I am happy with the progress so far. The Saints board are predicting a smashing and a lot of belief they are a much better side than us (regardless of injuries) and they've turned the corner already and it's blue skies ahead. It is going to be a tight game Saturday night IMO. Dons by 35 with Stringer to kick 5 and 3 condescending head rubs. Congrats on 150 yers of mediocrity Sainters.

 

[Don Won]

If the players are as arrogant as the supporters on the Saints board they are going to be in for a rude shock come Saturday. I don't for one instance think we are a good side but I am happy with the progress so far. The Saints board are predicting a smashing and a lot of belief they are a much better side than us (regardless of injuries) and they've turned the corner already and it's blue skies ahead. It is going to be a tight game Saturday night IMO. Dons by 35 with Stringer to kick 5 and 3 condescending head rubs. Congrats on 150 yers of mediocrity Sainters.

I suspect if they read their 2021 and 2022 preview and autopsy threads around our game they would think twice

 

[Beerfish]

Well I imagine the recent practice match where they beat us plus their 2 zip start multiplied by their 150th celebration equals why they're up and about a bit.

 

[DallasCrane316]

It could possibly be wet weather footy. In that case, we wouldn’t really be playing two rucks, would we?

 

[fishardansin]

That’s all you need to know about Harry’s game yesterday. 15km as a key forward is huge, no way voss comes close to that.

View attachment 1641297

Voss's opponents are pinged 15km out of the contest.

 

[eth-dog]

To the St Kilda fans reading this thread, you are unhinged. Be aware that we don't really care about your club other than when we play each other. And even then it's just another 4 points. Quite funny to read your thread, really.

I'm interested in seeing who Windhager goes to. Logic would dictate Merrett but if it's wet then I'd go Parish instead.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Langford’s comments today probably are going to rile the Saints up though

 

[ghostdog]

Scott made it pretty clear in his presser that he's playing his role and doing a good job of it. Goals not the only measure, by any definition. I'd be shocked if Jones was dropped

Seen the presser now, makes sense. Still, if Weid doesn't get up I'm keen to see Voss.

 

[andleanback]

Langford’s comments today probably are going to rile the Saints up though

What did he say?

 

[Beerfish]

Langford’s comments today probably are going to rile the Saints up though

It seems everything is riling them up atm.

 

[eth-dog]

What did he say?

He says they probably thought we were easy beats

 

[DallasCrane316]

What did he say?

He said that the Saints booked Essendon for this game to get a win because they considered us “easy beats”. Said the boys will be coming out “nice and hot” against them this week.

 

[andleanback]

He says they probably thought we were easy beats

Well it’s clear to see why they didn’t pick collingwood, who would be a logically choice seeing as they won their only flag against them, they thought the would get embarrassed on their big night celebrating mediocrity.

 

[DougalHoward]

Well it’s clear to see why they didn’t pick collingwood, who would be a logically choice seeing as they won their only flag against them, they thought the would get embarrassed on their big night celebrating mediocrity.

No collingwood was our first choice, out of the big 4 melbourne clubs you're the smallest so probably our last choice.