AFLW 2024 - Round 10 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
Conversely the 'second team' is usually one you don't find a threat, semi-irrelevant, sometimes with a touch of pity for their poor long suffering fans ... so no one having Essendon as their second team could be parlayed into a compliment...I'm not suggesting the following comment is in any way scientific....
....but, as a Queenslander, watching footy since about 1982-83 when but a lad, I have NEVER heard someone having Essendon as a "second team". Ever.
Veteran
10k Posts
Brisbane Lions - Ely Smith Player Sponsor 2020
Brisbane Lions - Cam Rayner Player Sponsor 2019
Brisbane Lions - Luke Hodge Player Sponsor 2018
Brisbane Lions - Hugh McCluggage Player Sponsor 2017
Brisbane Lions - Mitch Robinson Player Sponsor 2016
Brisbane Lions - Dayne Beams Player Sponsor 2015
As a Victorian watching footy since the late 60's, I also have never heard anyone say Essendon is their second team. I expect to see a living thylacine before that happens.I'm not suggesting the following comment is in any way scientific....
....but, as a Queenslander, watching footy since about 1982-83 when but a lad, I have NEVER heard someone having Essendon as a "second team". Ever.
You missed G) Ex irrelevant Essendon players with cushy media jobs potting every other club and blow-horn views of what great football players they once were with Essendon.
No pity ... just took a short walk into the dark terrifying place that is the mind of an Essendon supporter (aided by the fact that when I was a kid all of my parents generation in the family were Essendon supporters ... so naturally we all ended up going for the TigersYou're a bad man, VR <3
When does one have pity for the Dons?
).
Im not defending the fees for no service thing, but over all i'd call that an oversimplification for sure (and my father was one of those dead people that were charged by the NAB btw).
SO, aside from schedule a review into things, what exactly do the Don's board and executive DO?
Essendon paid NFL powerbroker Michael Lombardi to assess its football department in 2019 — but failed to ever formally present his findings to the club’s board.
As the Bombers await the findings from their second formal review this season, it can be revealed Lombardi spoke to all key figures in the football department during his week-long visit to Tullamarine late in the 2019 season.
The 63-year-old attended match committee, opposition analysis, team meetings and reviews.
Lombardi sent a document filled with his observations to former chief executive Xavier Campbell, who drove the decision to engage Lombardi.
But some board members never received Lombardi’s observations while others claimed they were only given a summary.
It’s understood the Bombers covered the cost of Lombardi’s flights and paid him a small fee in exchange for his work. Lombardi also attended a luncheon with club sponsors.
The Bombers have privately conceded their old administration made a mistake by never formally canvassing the document.
It’s understood Lindsay Tanner, who was chairman at the time, did not meet Lombardi.
Tanner declined to comment on Friday.
Multiple staff members insisted that Lombardi was hands-on. They were told he would be reviewing the football program, but said they never saw any outcomes come from it.
It’s understood Lombardi spoke to staff at Essendon’s Reynolds Room and Coleman Room meeting rooms and also held less formal chats in the club’s cafe.
Lombardi has been an executive for San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders and also worked under legendary coach Bill Belichick.
The Herald Sun put questions to Lombardi recently regarding his work for Essendon.
Lombardi, who lives in the US, asked for more information and arranged a time to speak.
However Lombardi suddenly changed his mind, saying: “My relationship with Essendon is confidential”.
The Bombers are adamant the Lombardi report is irrelevant now, given the club has undergone multiple leadership transformations since.
When Lombardi visited they had John Worsfold as coach, Ben Rutten as his assistant, Dan Richardson as football manager, Campbell as chief executive and Tanner as president.
They have all departed.
The Bombers have commissioned another three formal reviews since receiving Lombardi’s observations.
Former chairman Paul Brasher commissioned an internal review after the dismal 2020 season, which uncovered a more “ruthless” coaching mantra suited the players, and then another internal review after the 2-9 start to this season.
When new president David Barham ousted Brasher in August he demanded an external review because he was not happy with this year‘s internal review, which — like the 2020 version — was led by football directors Simon Madden and Sean Wellman.
Former player Andrew Welsh replaced Madden on the board last month.
Barham’s external review, which is being led by Ernst & Young and one-day chief executive Andrew Thorburn, is being finalised now.
Unlike Lombardi, the EY review will form a set of recommendations for the entire club — starting with the board and executive. The review will cover Essendon’s culture and processes and will also assess all of the administration and football department.
Thorburn said he hoped the EY review would lead to “great change”.
I humbly put forward that once per year, the player's goal songs are compiled according to "Favourite K-Pop/J-Pop songs"
EDIT - I'll go first!!!!
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO
Actually BEYOOOOONDS has a song where the audience participates by playing castanets with them. We should do the same at the GABBA. Hand out castanets and have 30000 castanets going off at once.I humbly put forward that once per year, the player's goal songs are compiled according to "Favourite K-Pop/J-Pop songs"
EDIT - I'll go first!!!!
WOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO
We’d need a pick under 40 to get Munkara, as per NGA rules.
You think he ends up staying at North? That would be awkward.
