Our midfield is faster than yours. No question
That's not the problem
Essendons Strengths & Weaknesses
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That's not the problem
Perhaps the term "****ing massive" may be the correct one for Houli
As Timmy from Thomastown so hilariously pointed out, more Mark McGough than Mark Merenda
Houli's probably one of the biggest midfield draftees I've ever seen
Immediate thought on seeing him the first time was comparing him to Bartel's physique - & he plays a similar game. Classy, not super quick but runs all day. Just not near that level yet
Funny how Essendon were lucky to win the close ones in 2007 yet in 2006 a loss is a loss for the close ones?
There's a lot of truth in this as a matter of fact. IMHO, it's wrongly applied to the EFC list
For the 23-28s
Try Davey, Hille, Johns, Laycock, Lovett, Lovett-Murray, McPhee, McVeigh , Ramanauskas, Welsh, Winderlich. 11 players, 10 are in the 1st 22 . Watson & Nash are 22, just outside the group as well
I've been through this
It's more of a perception than fact
Finally we got there. I agree with this
Our first 20 players are alright
But after that, we rely on a mixture of fringe players & young kids. Jetta, Houli etc. I reckon we'll run out of legs and fit bodies after about rd 14
11 players is not a lot. For example Geelong had over twenty players in the 23-28s. Also take into account that Johns and Winderlich were 22 last season meaning that we only had 9 players in the age group (lowest in the league). This is one of the major problems that we are only just starting to correct.
That's why I hate all the talk about pace in terms of legspeed, its one assett, but not nearly the most important, or else we'd be drafting guys from the 100 metre sprint competition.
Essendon does have a problem in their midfield, no doubt.
But putting down as because they are slow, in terms of leg speed, isn't an issue.
Lightning quick pace should be the icing on the cake, the X-Factor player like a Davey. But if you have players like that without the grunt that wins finals and premierships, then you don't really have anything.
Port, Brisbane, Essendon 2000, Geelong's to an extent, didn't have lightning quick runners, but quality inside players who could use the ball, and made them look quick, and were strong around the contest, as well as being excellent users of the ball.
Essendon lack seasoned talent in the middle, pace isn't football talent.
the youth policy has nothing really to do with what happened to us last year.. it was never about youth it was about the best 22.. heffernan, bolton, MJ and campo were not in our best 22.. campo probably was but given he needed a knee reconstruction if he was to continue playinghe would have dropped off significantly and wouldnt have been in our best 22..
Definately. I do think the strong years in the middle from Ablett and Wojcinski helped majorly in turning a one-paced midfield into a far more potent and attacking one.
Having 6 or 7 strong midfielders with 2 or 3 quick-line breakers is the way to go. Some teams prioritise on getting the runners ahead of the genuine strong midfielders. This is putting the cart before the horse IMO.
Hardly call Kelly & Ablett lightly built and selwood was a 1st year player so meh..
Other difference is all of our players you listed are quality apart from byrnes, whereas aside from a couple of essendon players you mentioned, they are either unproven, or are taking a while to mature/not going to make it.
The toungue was firmly planted in cheek. The purpose of the post was not to attack Geelong but to compare the sizes of our midfielders to the size of midfielders from a midfield which is rated by everyone.
At least that is how I read it.
Yeah i know. But Longy413 has been laying into people about small mistakes in their posts, and if he thinks Ablett and Kelly are lightly built he'd have to be the biggest clown on here.
Maybe Longy is being a clown
Clowns make jokes
I think you're walking into one
He was making a sarcastic remark about the remarkable similarity between the flag-winning midfielders' heights and the height of midfielders on our list. It wasn't that big a leap of logic
Eastern Crow
Cancelled
IMO, the Bombers are headed for the bottom 4
As always, plenty of options forward, however lack class and pace in the midfield, this is where the games are won and loss
In defence, I believe their back 6 is better suited to 90's style of footy, Mal Michael will continue to struggle in the modern game, especially with the hands in the back rule.
Kmights will also struggle as a first year senior coach
As always, plenty of options forward, however lack class and pace in the midfield, this is where the games are won and loss
In defence, I believe their back 6 is better suited to 90's style of footy, Mal Michael will continue to struggle in the modern game, especially with the hands in the back rule.
Kmights will also struggle as a first year senior coach
I’m pretty excited about Essendon’s 2008 campaign:
Strengths: That I’m gonna make out like a bandit with the bookies betting on Dons’ losses.
Weaknesses: leadership, speed, midfield, coaching, defence, etc, etc, etc.
All teams are "training down the house," all players are bulked up, and everyone’s currently healthy.
This is still Sheedy’s team and I’m "betting" on Knights& Co being lost in box. It’s been a magical 25 years of success, but it’s over.
Now what will I spend all my money on ?
Strengths: That I’m gonna make out like a bandit with the bookies betting on Dons’ losses.
Weaknesses: leadership, speed, midfield, coaching, defence, etc, etc, etc.
All teams are "training down the house," all players are bulked up, and everyone’s currently healthy.
This is still Sheedy’s team and I’m "betting" on Knights& Co being lost in box. It’s been a magical 25 years of success, but it’s over.
Now what will I spend all my money on ?
bomber gus 6
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would even open my mouth if i was you
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I’m pretty excited about Essendon’s 2008 campaign:
Strengths: That I’m gonna make out like a bandit with the bookies betting on Dons’ losses.
Weaknesses: leadership, speed, midfield, coaching, defence, etc, etc, etc.
All teams are "training down the house," all players are bulked up, and everyone’s currently healthy.
This is still Sheedy’s team and I’m "betting" on Knights& Co being lost in box. It’s been a magical 25 years of success, but it’s over.
Now what will I spend all my money on ?
Agreed.
sez it all for mine. Enjoy the next few years guys at the ass end of the ladder.
Blueinblood
Cancelled
i cant wait for 2-3 years when michael lloyd lucas fletcher and co retire........hehehehe if i were u id savour the 3-4 wins this year and get ready for the big slide...beleive me ..i know what its like
Just because a directionless Carlton did it, doesn't mean Essendon are on the same pathway
We're on the way up in recent times
We're on the way up in recent times
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TheBrownDog
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I think Essendon will go okay this year, however, Fletcher turns 33 this year, Mal 31, Lucas is 30 and Lloyd turns 30. With Hird hanging up the boots that is another 4 very good players in key positions that need to be replaced soon.
Bombers have some pretty good kids coming through, but, I don't think the quality of what is coming in is at the level of what has been and what is going to depart from what we have seen to date so there is a bit of concern in that department.
Bombers are not alone there, a few teams are looking down the barrel of losing their core group of players.
The strength of the bombers for this year will be the spine; Mal, Fletcher, Lucas and Lloyd are good quality players.
A weakness is the midfield, and it starts in the ruck. Hille and Laycock over the last few years have been competitive but are not the kind of star tap ruckmen that some teams have which can put the midfield on the back foot.
Hard to say how the team will change from last year, you would expect Knights to make changes but it can sometimes take a while for teams to adjust to a new coach or new game plan.
I think they will do okay this year, they performed pretty well against some pretty good teams, I think at times they play like a team of individuals each worried about their man, their stats and not focusing as much on the team effort but that is something easily fixed.
Bombers have some pretty good kids coming through, but, I don't think the quality of what is coming in is at the level of what has been and what is going to depart from what we have seen to date so there is a bit of concern in that department.
Bombers are not alone there, a few teams are looking down the barrel of losing their core group of players.
The strength of the bombers for this year will be the spine; Mal, Fletcher, Lucas and Lloyd are good quality players.
A weakness is the midfield, and it starts in the ruck. Hille and Laycock over the last few years have been competitive but are not the kind of star tap ruckmen that some teams have which can put the midfield on the back foot.
Hard to say how the team will change from last year, you would expect Knights to make changes but it can sometimes take a while for teams to adjust to a new coach or new game plan.
I think they will do okay this year, they performed pretty well against some pretty good teams, I think at times they play like a team of individuals each worried about their man, their stats and not focusing as much on the team effort but that is something easily fixed.
That last bit is why I'm not so worried about Sheeds' departure
Against the more organised sides - NM, Collingwood, Hawthorn - we were hopeless
Whereas we showed we could compete with good sides - WCE & Geelong - who relied more on individual players than a relentless team effort
As for the rucks, Laycock is a giant wildcard
Could be a fantastic ruckman, once he gets some consistent gametime. His 07 was about 50 times better than his 06, if he does the same again then look out
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