Analysis i've got a high tolerance for essendon being s**t, but this game was appalling

[fairbump_playon]

I wouldn’t be too worried by this port game.

There have been times in previous years where we have been competitive for a half because we played run and gun stuff

Before it fell apart at least you could see us doing the right stuff (intense around the ball, high press) which we have done against Sydney and St Kilda

There were maybe 10 instances of bad skill errors, hit the posts or unlucky bounces that were super costly in the first half, while Port kicked 7 straight.

Felt like a truly bad night. We are still a team that needs confidence to compete unfortunately and that just fell away. And port are the comps best front runners. Once they get a roll on, it’s often ugly.

The list didn’t get any worse than it was a week ago. Yea we lack super elite stars. But duh, we knew that right? McGrath is our #1 pick. And we have Parish, Reid and Cox, not Butters and Rozee. To get those types we will need to build steadily and then actually be a club that could be a destination for a JUH, Jamarra etc in a few years time.

Biggest worry is injury and mindset after that. Really want to see what we would look like with Wright, Ridley, Reid, Durham, Perkins, Parish all firing. Even just for a few games.

 

[MiguelM]

I wouldn’t be too worried by this port game.

There have been times in previous years where we have been competitive for a half because we played run and gun stuff

Before it fell apart at least you could see us doing the right stuff (intense around the ball, high press) which we have done against Sydney and St Kilda

There were maybe 10 instances of bad skill errors, hit the posts or unlucky bounces that were super costly in the first half, while Port kicked 7 straight.

Felt like a truly bad night. We are still a team that needs confidence to compete unfortunately and that just fell away. And port are the comps best front runners. Once they get a roll on, it’s often ugly.

The list didn’t get any worse than it was a week ago. Yea we lack super elite stars. But duh, we knew that right? McGrath is our #1 pick. And we have Parish, Reid and Cox, not Butters and Rozee. To get those types we will need to build steadily and then actually be a club that could be a destination for a JUH, Jamarra etc in a few years time.

Biggest worry is injury and mindset after that. Really want to see what we would look like with Wright, Ridley, Reid, Durham, Perkins, Parish all firing. Even just for a few games.

Good post. Sometimes we throw the baby out with the bathwater after a loss, me included. I really should wait a few days before I post!!

We definitely had some unlucky moments where the ball just didn't bounce our way but fell into their laps. There were a few crucial goals that we nearly nailed only for them to get some flukey bounces, knock ons fall their way.

The first quarter and a half was where we spent our energy for no reward. There was a period where we had 8 inside 50s, for I think, a few points. Then we turned the ball over for easy goals to port late in 2nd, sucks the life out of a team. This is the difference between good teams and the rest, they make it count when they have the play. Most teams have a lull at some point during a game.

I put Port easily in the top 4 this year . They have fixed up their issues from last year. They now have the talls in defence and the best midfield in the comp if JHF can continue his form. Their only weak point is Dixon IMO. He could struggle later in the year but Port will probably be in a position to rest him up before finals.

Back to us, this week will be a good test against the Dogs. Transition goals could kill us IMO. Need our mids to on their game with the form of Liberatore. Might be worth tagging him with Setters.

 

[Agronomus]

The new Essendon could have started last year, trade Parish for a mid top 10 and a late teens pick, rebalance the midfield affording Perkins, Caldwell even Hobbs more midfield minutes in lieu of Darcy and we grow better infinitely quicker imho.

The hard (list) calls lands firmly with one man

I don't think anyone was offering a top 10 pick for Parish though?

 

[Vindicater]

I don't think anyone was offering a top 10 pick for Parish though?

Nope. I dont think anyone was even offering band 1 money for him as a free agent.

 

[Agronomus]

Nope. I dont think anyone was even offering band 1 money for him as a free agent.

We were literally stuck with him.

 

[Agronomus]

Would we have been any worse over the last 20 years if we had have just kept Sheedy?

 

[ghostdog]

Would we have been any worse over the last 20 years if we had have just kept Sheedy?

Yes. He would have been more interested in building some fake rivalry with GWS or promoting leprechaun recognition round or some other dumb shit.

 

[ghostdog]

Not only was the game utter BS, but all of my hopes for this list build was completely dashed because everything reminded me of the last 20 years.

What young player right now on the list can seriously project to be as good as Rozee and JHF? For a "rebuilding" side, our opposition (who are contenders) yesterday had far better youngsters. Caldwell and Rozee are from the same draft yet not even our best player in Merrett could match Rozee (and JHF).

JHF felt like prime Dusty/Cripps/Danger out there yet he is younger than Perkins. Fool us once and we get it. Fool us 20 years straight? I don't think so. Unless somehow proven otherwise, absolutely nothing changed.

JHF was touted as being one of the strongest number 1 picks of the last decade. Hard to come by. We were unlucky to get a number 1 pick in a field where high picks weren't as strong.

If we can attract one or two of those kinds of players with /warchest before drafting young Bewick in '28, who knows?

 

[ant555]

Would we have been any worse over the last 20 years if we had have just kept Sheedy?

Yes. He stayed too long as it was. The fact is we did build a side that was on the verge of doing something but we ****ed it up with the saga. My opinion is that side could have been a top 4 contender and we had a VFL side that was playing finals at the time as well. We just fumbled the ball as a club and never recovered. The next mistake in hindsight was not looking to rebuild after 2016 and looking to trade players out and start again but given recent history we could have screwed those draft picks anyway.

 

[TheGrizz]

We are still s**t for all the reasons mentioned in that thread. The 2024 version is only for those who can not read the tea leaves and have been sucked in again.

I tipped us to win 9 games this year on the pod because i didnt think we would improve as much as teams around us and we had a softer draw last year.

Looking likely at this point.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Would we have been any worse over the last 20 years if we had have just kept Sheedy?

I think he left a few years too late but the answer here has to be no as there would not have been drugs saga.

 

[Milanista28]

This performance was always coming, I knew it after the pre season games, people said "it's just pre season" but it's really not it's who we are.

That performance will rear it's head again, no doubt about it.

Belted by over 11 goals in 3 of our last 6.

 

[windyhill]

Would we have been any worse over the last 20 years if we had have just kept Sheedy?

With dodoro as assistant coach ? No.

 

[Nicholas61]

Until last night I was hopeful we might have made great strides and be a good chance on Anzac day. Now I think we will be lucky to be within 50 points.

I definitely see this as a scenario. The other is we are in it get excited thinking we are a chance then get shafted with a couple of horrid umpiring decisions, a critical poster and then get badly overrun in the last quarter. These seem our homeostasis which we need to break free from. Winning the Dreamtime match last year was against our usual flow.

Mid season draft please target speedy players. Severe lack of line breakers.

Need to keep targeting the Durham types not that they are everywhere but are out there. Seems to be the Geelong model seeing the tallish rangy guys with running power and some IQ. No more undersized one way running accumulators.

 

[jannissary]

i’m be no means in touch with the VFL in any capacity except when it’s on the televisions at the gym but are there any mid age unsigned guns who’re dominating (or have been last year)? might be wise to give them a look

 

[MiguelM]

I definitely see this as a scenario. The other is we are in it get excited thinking we are a chance then get shafted with a couple of horrid umpiring decisions, a critical poster and then get badly overrun in the last quarter. These seem our homeostasis which we need to break free from. Winning the Dreamtime match last year was against our usual flow.


Need to keep targeting the Durham types not that they are everywhere but are out there. Seems to be the Geelong model seeing the tallish rangy guys with running power and some IQ. No more undersized one way running accumulators.

A Bolton type would be nice.

 

[eighties_bomber]

We’re winning a flag in 12 years? Wow that’s fantastic. Way better than I had thought.

i'd be happy with a finals win within 12 years

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

The Dob in a Don campaign is clear to me now, it’s the only way they can find out who are Essendon supporters as most are too embarrassed to admit it.

 

[EnolaGay]

Not only was the game utter BS, but all of my hopes for this list build was completely dashed because everything reminded me of the last 20 years.

What young player right now on the list can seriously project to be as good as Rozee and JHF? For a "rebuilding" side, our opposition (who are contenders) yesterday had far better youngsters. Caldwell and Rozee are from the same draft yet not even our best player in Merrett could match Rozee (and JHF).

JHF felt like prime Dusty/Cripps/Danger out there yet he is younger than Perkins. Fool us once and we get it. Fool us 20 years straight? I don't think so. Unless somehow proven otherwise, absolutely nothing changed.

I feel your pain, however, we’re very early in (this) rebuild and hopefully Bewick might be our JHF/Rozee game breaker type


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Rick Ross]

Re the bolded:

I remember a Hird presser (maybe 2013?) when he was frustrated and angry about the soft tissue injuries preventing him from fielding his best side with any continuity. Then the Saga broke. Was reminded of this last night when Brad was asked about soft tissue injuries. Not a new story for EFC.

May affect us more than other clubs with similar injury lists because we lack depth.

Pretty sure our soft tissue injuries were minimal in the 2012 season. Been pretty crappy since then. We should get those fitness & medical staff back.

 

[Rick Ross]

I wouldn’t be too worried by this port game.

There have been times in previous years where we have been competitive for a half because we played run and gun stuff

Before it fell apart at least you could see us doing the right stuff (intense around the ball, high press) which we have done against Sydney and St Kilda

There were maybe 10 instances of bad skill errors, hit the posts or unlucky bounces that were super costly in the first half, while Port kicked 7 straight.

Felt like a truly bad night. We are still a team that needs confidence to compete unfortunately and that just fell away. And port are the comps best front runners. Once they get a roll on, it’s often ugly.

The list didn’t get any worse than it was a week ago. Yea we lack super elite stars. But duh, we knew that right? McGrath is our #1 pick. And we have Parish, Reid and Cox, not Butters and Rozee. To get those types we will need to build steadily and then actually be a club that could be a destination for a JUH, Jamarra etc in a few years time.

Biggest worry is injury and mindset after that. Really want to see what we would look like with Wright, Ridley, Reid, Durham, Perkins, Parish all firing. Even just for a few games.

Yes.

 

[MightyDon]

My favorite season of the last decade was the year the players were suspended, the guys who played showed more heart than anything since. A young Parish looked unreal in the mid field but was then set back years being played out of position, we found out AMT was an absolute star at afl level. We have held onto senior spuds that keep us just finishing mid table and offer SFA to the future of the club and rarely see the best of what we’ve drafted. Instead of having a crack we are in an endless purgatory

 

[sameolds33]

Pretty sure our soft tissue injuries were minimal in the 2012 season. Been pretty crappy since then. We should get those fitness & medical staff back.

This from 2012:

Hird's heavy, but soft, problem

Essendon coach James Hird says a pre-season bulking up players may be the reason for so many soft-tissue injuries

www.afl.com.au

 

[FlyingV]

I love this club and every year we are sh!t will just make the eventual premiership even sicker…

But it boggles my mind that we have missed the boat on drafting high level aerobic runners by about 10+ years… it blows my mind. Many of us have been begging for it to be a priority and only recently is their signs the needle is moving.
And even now, the focus on contested ‘edge’ footy opposed to structured, two way running, rebound from turnover footy… is concerning.

Anyway…. I think the modern acquisitions of Martin, Durham, Perkins, Duursma are an improvement.

 

[ant555]

This performance was always coming, I knew it after the pre season games, people said "it's just pre season" but it's really not it's who we are.

That performance will rear it's head again, no doubt about it.

Belted by over 11 goals in 3 of our last 6.

There are a lot of us who tipped us to win 9 or 10 games so you are not in rare company.