Review R2: The Good, Bad and Ugly vs. Essendon

[CrowBloke]

Sometimes I wake up and pinch myself and can't believe we have Rankine

I used to do that re: Rankine and Dawson, both amazing gets, but I started to look like I'd been pecked by a murder of Crows.

Speaking of bruises, who was the Essendon player with the Rankine-handprint bruise on his chest from that perfect don't-argue that pushed him back a metre on the Grandstand wing, third quarter?

 

[Captain Furious]

Good: Kicking, the best we’ve disposed of the ball for many years. The game plan looks incredible when we hit targets. Can’t see the likes of Berry, Schoey and Pedlar getting back now, modern game needs elite kickers.

Bad(ass): Hinge, such an important player for us now, not just his straight line attack and long penetrating kicks but his defensive work and tackling is elite. Total weapon.

Ugly: a little worrying we conceded a substantial score again against a nothing forward line. I get the attacking style leaves some holes but the past two years we’ve dominated teams and let them stay in the game by conceding easy goals. If we’re actually going to be a contender, need to address that. Wonder if we need 3 attacking tall defenders, the defensive solidity of Butts may be better for balance, might also need Bond in the mix for Hawks, GWS type forward lines.

 

[Slime Roy]

The Rankine gather right on the boundary, shimmy, one arm fend off of some EssenLOL spud, step turn, short sprint and lace out pass to our forward....

It was the most pure football poetry in motion.

Sophocles would be even proud.

I don't know why but I also enjoyed the Milera goal in the first just about as much too.
Maybe more on a body of work basis

 

[1970crow]

36 disposals, 4 goals, and 11 I50s is probably worthy of three votes, even in a 10 goal loss. He just had no support.

It's hard to soar like an eagle when you're surrounded by turkeys.

Probably?

 

[arrowman]

Good: pretty much everything.

Bad: nitpicking, but giving up 100 points to a team whose forward movement was pretty chaotic. Still, take out Merret's day out and it's not so bad.

Ugly: subbing off Rankine broke my multi

 

[Crow54]

I remember us playing them at Optus Oval (Princes Park) pre Etihad in the late 90’s a couple of times

Yes, I'm pretty sure we played them there in one of the last games of the round in 1997, when it was announced at the ground that Princess Diana had died. (We lost, but were heading to the finals, so it wasn't so bad.)

 

[rocket18]

You backed THE CROWS to go top, end January??
Gutsy bet .

I hope that you collect!

I thought $34 was way over the odds so was worth a little flutter.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

The bear in the square. Wow

 

[VictorianCrow85]

Something I love about how we beat up on St Kilda so badly is that inevitably they responded & come out with manic effort after copping heat all week & beat Geelong who will probably be around the mark as they always seem to be. Don't mind if Essendon do the same now we've thumped them. Happy to be that side that smacks a side & invoking a response that wreaks havoc on whoever they play after us.

 

[radiojake]

So that's a beautiful hangover cure replay for the morning - didn't get to watch any yesterday - can't remember being so happy watching a Crows game for a long time

Don't care if we give up 100 points if we are kicking more than 20 goals a game

Everyone universally agrees 1993 was the best season of footy and this type of score was regular

Bring it on

 

[FullyBigKPro]

I wouldn't mind either Peatling or Cumming as sub next week,

Not that they are bad or on the fringe etc... Just want to see Sid get a full game, he deserves it. At home in Adelaide against a young Norf midfield is the perfect time.

 

[Flip Side]

36 disposals, 4 goals, and 11 I50s is probably worthy of three votes, even in a 10 goal loss. He just had no support.

It's hard to soar like an eagle when you're surrounded by turkeys.

Honestly I don’t think he’d soar any higher if he was surrounded by eagles - they are still learning to fly

 

[1970crow]

Good: Kicking, the best we’ve disposed of the ball for many years. The game plan looks incredible when we hit targets. Can’t see the likes of Berry, Schoey and Pedlar getting back now, modern game needs elite kickers.

Bad(ass): Hinge, such an important player for us now, not just his straight line attack and long penetrating kicks but his defensive work and tackling is elite. Total weapon.

Ugly: a little worrying we conceded a substantial score again against a nothing forward line. I get the attacking style leaves some holes but the past two years we’ve dominated teams and let them stay in the game by conceding easy goals. If we’re actually going to be a contender, need to address that. Wonder if we need 3 attacking tall defenders, the defensive solidity of Butts may be better for balance, might also need Bond in the mix for Hawks, GWS type forward lines.

The tall forward line combined with 3 tall defenders and Milera, Laird means we’ll concede easy transition score. It’s matter of balance though. But I definitely wouldn’t judge our structure yet.

 

[JTGroove]

Would be interesting to break down their 15 goals and consider what is worrying, easily fixed or out of our control.

For starters:

Keane falls over and gifts Merrett 1 goal - easily fixed.

Keane gives away (I'm biased) soft free against Draper straight in front for 1 goal - out of our control.

ROB gets confused and gives away a ruck infringement in the goal square for 1 goal - easily fixed

Merrett kicks another 3 goals, absolute gun player - largely out of our control

...

 

[GrommoT]

It was a sideways floating drop-torp. Never looked like missing

 

[VictorianCrow85]

Goal of the year.

 

[1990crow]

Would be interesting to break down their 15 goals and consider what is worrying, easily fixed or out of our control.

For starters:

Keane falls over and gifts Merrett 1 goal - easily fixed.

Keane gives away (I'm biased) soft free against Draper straight in front for 1 goal - out of our control.

ROB gets confused and gives away a ruck infringement in the goal square for 1 goal - easily fixed

Merrett kicks another 3 goals, absolute gun player - largely out of our control

...

I was at the game yesterday with birds eye view.
Was noticeable when there was turnovers at HB or between HB and C that Essendon simply moved the ball far too easily.

That's what needs to be looked at.
We struggled to force them wide, missed tackles which allowed overlap run etc.

Most of the goals were because the ball got into our back 50 with minimal pressure and to the forwards advantage one on one.

 

[1990crow]

Imagine that on Grand Final Day. Opposition fans would be celebrating mid flight, then gobsmacked as it sails through.

Just needs Celene Dion music behind it.

 

[GROTTO]

Would be interesting to break down their 15 goals and consider what is worrying, easily fixed or out of our control.

For starters:

Keane falls over and gifts Merrett 1 goal - easily fixed.

Keane gives away (I'm biased) soft free against Draper straight in front for 1 goal - out of our control.

ROB gets confused and gives away a ruck infringement in the goal square for 1 goal - easily fixed

Merrett kicks another 3 goals, absolute gun player - largely out of our control

...

What was more frustrating with that ROB free kick against him, is that Milera should have been awarded the mark in the first place, immediately before this.

The play on call was wrong and its what led directly to a ball up in the goal square.

 

[VictorianCrow85]

I was at the game yesterday with birds eye view.
Was noticeable when there was turnovers at HB or between HB and C that Essendon simply moved the ball far too easily.

That's what needs to be looked at.
We struggled to force them wide, missed tackles which allowed overlap run etc.

Most of the goals were because the ball got into our back 50 with minimal pressure and to the forwards advantage one on one.

How much of it is just early part of the year with better conditions, particularly on a big ground like MCG do you think? It's very common for the first 3-4 rounds of a new season to be more open & free flowing then as weather changes, players tire, coaches dissect things tighten up. I don't know the answer, I'm not saying this is it for sure, just wondering if you'd think it plays some role?

 

[GrommoT]

What was more frustrating with that ROB free kick against him, is that Milera should have been awarded the mark in the first place, immediately before this.

The play on call was wrong and its what led directly to a ball up in the goal square.

Anything remotely close to a free for Bummers got paid and anything for us had to be blatantly obvious to get paid

 

[Mutineer]

Top 5's
Disposals

Disposal efficiency

Metres Gained

i50's

Contested Possessions

Ground ball gets

Intercepts

Clearances

Marks

Goal Assists

Score Involvements

Tackles

Pressure Acts

Hit Outs

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

I don’t want to start an argument about ratings stats, but if you want an indicator of how dominant a game that was by us, have a look at this. 17 of the top 20 rated players on the ground were crows. And would have been 18 if Rankine wasn’t subbed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so lopsided sided.

 

[CrowBloke]

The Rankine gather right on the boundary, shimmy, one arm fend off of some EssenLOL spud, step turn, short sprint and lace out pass to our forward....

Yes, beautiful; elite skill execution.

Sophocles would be even proud.

... of such a great 'play'?

 

[rabidcrow]

Good: Kicking, the best we’ve disposed of the ball for many years. The game plan looks incredible when we hit targets. Can’t see the likes of Berry, Schoey and Pedlar getting back now, modern game needs elite kickers.

Bad(ass): Hinge, such an important player for us now, not just his straight line attack and long penetrating kicks but his defensive work and tackling is elite. Total weapon.

Ugly: a little worrying we conceded a substantial score again against a nothing forward line. I get the attacking style leaves some holes but the past two years we’ve dominated teams and let them stay in the game by conceding easy goals. If we’re actually going to be a contender, need to address that. Wonder if we need 3 attacking tall defenders, the defensive solidity of Butts may be better for balance, might also need Bond in the mix for Hawks, GWS type forward lines.

Good point re the backline. Oh to have Daniel Tahlia again - just a defensive hard nose general. We could do worse than try Butts


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