Review Geelong Bombs the Dons by 66 points

[jim boy]

Club hasnt said re sdk but he didnt come back on and was at the back of bench so it must be something.

Believe it was concussion, was very minor, but will miss a week due to concussion protocols (which I fully support)

 

[foodles05]

Who was trashing Parfitt? Was clear he was mega important to our MF last season, and why we were totally f’ed when he got injured in the SF.

You only need to read any of the preseason reviews or indeed the essendon preview to find multiple people rubbishing him

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Hard too read too much into this, Essendon didn't have much in them, they didn't put the game into a phase that would challenge us. We'll live and die this year based on our inside mids. On the few time they tried they got us on a quick counter, rules favour it not much we can do, its up to Henry and Stewart to cover two leads at once. We got away with it more times then then we would against a better team.

For the obvious gameplan changes, early it looks like after an opposition turnover in the defensive half we'd do a quick short kick just to move the axis of the play to weaken any defensive zone. A couple of years back we did a similar thing but a lot slower. We were happy to move it quick through the middle with short possession chains. Hard to say if that was by design or if Essendon were sh*t enough to leave a gap to exploit.


On player thoughts

Looks like Dalhlaus has an extra 10 meters in his kick this year.
Danger back to his best but he needs to dial it down a couple of notches especially if we're up by 60.
Holmes hands during possession chains stood out to me.

With Stengle and Cameron our forward line seems to be complete, we haven't been this structurally sounds for a decade. Only gap I can see is repeat sprints.

I agree on all that it was noticeable we moved it quicker when it works our forward line has so much artillery we will squash teams (great for %) but when we turned it over we were more exposed as we pressed up higher and didnt haw our usual 1 or 2 intercept markers back. Better sides will score heavily against us on turnover that way so we need to get the balance right.

I honestly wonder if dahl had OP last year as his workrate and 1 % were great but he couldnt kick over a jam tin. Today he had speed like 4 years ago. Or maybe getting dropped lit a fire in him. Equally higgins was very good.

Agree with all that my only main gaps are key defender if dek is out long term and 2nd ruck-i doubt we use blitz there and sav doesnt look up to it..im not sure ceglar and stanley in the same team works but we need to try it. As good as cameron is we have enough fwd firepower to cover him in the regular season (need him in finals though) im more concerned about our rucks and midfield.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Believe it was concussion, was very minor, but will miss a week due to concussion protocols (which I fully support)

Honestly thats a better result ie 1-2 weeks than what i was expecting. Good news.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I know he's likely to keep his spot on the side based on no reason other than Cameron being unavailable, but surely the heat should be on Ratugolea after his performance today...

And what makes the following even more frustrating is that he had such a promising opening 15 minutes, and then you'd be forgiven for thinking he was the one subbed out of the game

View attachment 1348609


That's the lowest possession tally of all players to take to the field - yes, Cameron had 5 disposals before being subbed off

His 4 disposals all came in the first half with 3 in the first quarter. His second half stats are 2 tackles in the third quarter & 2 hitouts in the last (to go with 3 in the first quarter for a total of 5); Blicavs also finished with 5 hitouts playing as a permanent defender, while Hawkins had 4

And yes, his solo mark was a very good mark, but damn he's surely not doing enough to warrant continued selection

He will get picked purely because of lack of other options-ceglar and cameron injured and i doubt we want to ruck blitz or expose neale. But when cegs is fit surely he needs to ruck and stanley takes savs role.

 

[Partridge]

Let's be honest, none of us predicted that.
The whipping boys contributed, defensive pressure was super, ball movement and intent really impressive.

Some concerns with injuries but really good start to the season, a potential 50/50 game coming in and it ends a smashing

Holmes super I thought, Parfs best game for the club.. Stengle will be an absolute steal, Danger looked unbelievable early and Joel was really good as well.. Their management will be so important

We look fit. Ran in waves, overlap all game was super.
Blown away, good times

Pretty much sums it up. Long way to go but couldn't have gone better today all things considered.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You only need to read any of the preseason reviews or indeed the essendon preview to find multiple people rubbishing him

At times he isnt as clean as he could be but today he was first class.

 

[PeasFC]

My little mate Atkins was very good today he is in everything so many hate him but we need him....I am a Atkins fan

With our team balance this week, Atkins flexibility became so important. We know he can play forward. He has attended centre bounces before, and we know he can play small defender. Was great against the suns and good again today. His disposal is still a little way off, but he looks fit, quick and he always has a crack!

 

[giggler99]

Someone give the boy the lyrics!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Mitch Cleary reporting Jezza undergoing tests for internal bleeding.

Hopefully not a lung or kidney.

 

[Willo_]

Pretty much sums it up. Long way to go but couldn't have gone better today all things considered.

In the grand scheme of things means probably nothing, but potentially a great launching point.
Game style the key to watch and hopefully improve/refine as we go on

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Parfitt with as many clearances as McGrath, Parish, Devon Smith and Merritt combined. Gun effort.

3 of those 4 were essentially chip scabbing across half back, people will look at disposals and think they played well but they had zero impact on the game.

 

[cats_09]

For those who didn't see it earlier

 

[Footy Smarts]

Can the absolute footy nuffies (you know who you are) who have been trashing Parfit shut up for at least a month now. Just keep the traps shut for a while unless you have some legitimate evidence (and that means more than just quoting numbers) and stop embarrassing yourself with you trashing of BP. It's worrying the lack of footy knowledge it shows. Anyway rant over and haters stay away at least for a little while on this guy please because he making you look stupid!

It's pretty amazing after our midfield was obliterated in the prelim final the one guy that really copped it around here was the one sitting in the stands that night.

 

[catempire]

What’s pleasant surprise that was.

I was very flat about the selection of Dahlhaus and, to a lesser extent, Higgins. I didn’t see enough faster ball movement or pressure in preseason to think we had moved the needle far enough. I thought our thin midfield would get shown up. Glad to be wrong!

Danger was back to something resembling his true self.

Hawk continues to defy the wheels of time.

Parfitt career best game? I was starting to waver.

Stengle did everything we wanted.

Holmes continues to grow.

SDK looked solid until his concussion.

Only downside is Jezza who also looked fantastic until that clash. He’s a tough bastard. Hope he recovers well.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Credit to Dahl. If he's fit again he'll at the very least give us good depth this year and from all reports he is great around the club. Dahl, Close and Stengle really complement each other well.

Our centre clearance work looked much improved with Parfitt as the inside clearance bull with some assistance from Selwood and then Guthrie covering defensive side and Danger/Holmes breaking forward with their acceleration.

Plenty of other positives. SDK looked much more assured than in preseason and Blics looked way better pushing forward from defence rather than being a lockdown full back. Hopefully they can manage similarly when we don't kill the opponents from the centre.

Higgins and injuries the only real negatives.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Looked like concussion

Apparently took a knock to the head, went down to the rooms and was pretty disappointed when he returned to the bench a little while later

There was no apparent limp or noticeable injury

Looked like a head hit from a team mate in a pack.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

He had the same sort of numbers in his last game the Prelim,excusses wearing thin here,back to the VFL.

I thought he might click after that first grab but alas went missing - went better in the ruck though.
To be honest if he keeps this form up I’d give Neale a shot - nothing to lose and he’s well suited to a forward / ruck role.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

For those who didn't see it earlier

I must formally apologise for my uncharacteristic selection outburst over Dahl and Higgins- got Dahl totally wrong but reckon Higgins goes for Duncan.
Silly old bugger I am - should have learnt by now

 

[mcwilrob]

I know he's likely to keep his spot on the side based on no reason other than Cameron being unavailable, but surely the heat should be on Ratugolea after his performance today...

There has been a very strong case that he should be dropped long before today's game (which was a further reinforcement of this). He just doesn't contribute nearly enough to earn his place in the side and its been that way for quite a while now...

 

[foxdog50]

Finally great to see Parfitt get to see 32 disposals and still play his pressure football, hopefully his taking the next step he has to take..

 

[Turbocat]

Enjoyed the game... us trying to back our talent. Even when some guys missed goals.

Having said that ... Im still not sure we learned much.

Danger fit and back to free wheeling best

Joel getting out some hard ball.

Parfit good game... but Danger was drawing heat. Our mid take aways in the first quarter showed our strength and weakness. How good we look when it works..but how bad we can look when Stanley or who ever is not competitive.

Stengle. Obviously a win. A goal hungery forward who can assess when its a good time to pass. Loved his game.

Close ..hard worker.

Zac G.. Over run but with it work...something that our Freo mate did not.


Was enjoying Sdek till he got hurt. Hopefully all good and he plays next week.


Dhouse..credit to you for a game thats was close to your 10 out of 10. Not sure how often that goal gos thru for you.


Holmes really looking comfortable now. Liked his game.


but a couple others... not so enthused. Did we learn anything?


Sav? Stanley? Higgins?


Higgins did zero to change my mind on him. Id rather have a kid in .. one only has to look at Holmes to see the upside of absorbing a kids first season.


Overall. I think the game really dropped off the longer it went... to be fair..I felt the heat walking back to Fed sqr..the side was running around in near 30c. Most will be better for the run... the next two or three weeks will fill in a few of the questions.

 

[catempire]

Also, this was a classic example of what “speed” is in Aussie rules football. It’s winning the ball and moving it quickly by hand and foot. It’s not legspeed.

 

[Turbocat]

He will get picked purely because of lack of other options-ceglar and cameron injured and i doubt we want to ruck blitz or expose neale. But when cegs is fit surely he needs to ruck and stanley takes savs role.

A bit of an inditement ... no other option etc. I will say this I think he will be better , the more he plays..I cant remember him playing well first up.

 

[00VicWard001]

In total shock really.
A more direct gamestyle.
Much better to watch.
Let’s hope they play this style all year.
Well done.

Good tactics. Well coached, drilled and trained.