Unofficial Preview Round 1, 2024: Bombers v Hawks, MCG 1:10pm Sat 16th March

[HeHateMe]

Potential RD1?

Really struggled with the Don's team, didn't seem too strong on paper but maybe I'm just underrateing a few of their guys because you know... Yuck.

FB: Frost/Stringer, Phillips/Wright, Sicily/Langford
HB: Amon/Perkins, Weddle/Jones, Impey/Gresham

C: Ward/Martin, Nash/Parish, Macdonald/Duursma
Foll: Reeves/Draper, Newcombe/Merrett, Hustwaite/Setterfield

HF: Ginnivan/McGrath, Lewis/Reid, Hardwick/Redman
FF: Breust/Heppell, Chol/McKay, Gunston/Ridley

Int: Worpel/Caldwell, Mackenzie/Menzie, Scrimshaw/Leverde, D'Ambrosio/Hind

Sub: Watson/Tsatas

*I'm probably missing some obvious ess players so let me know.

 

[parsons nose]

Really hoping Watson gets busy in the next practice match. It may well decide whether he debuts in round 1.

 

[RoughysMullet]

Not letting Redman and Martin do whatever they like would be a nice start towards winning this

 

[TylerDurden]

Not letting Redman and Martin do whatever they like would be a nice start towards winning this

I noticed that Red dog prick drained another from 50m last week. Did it twice to us last year. I'll vomit if we're not onto that play again.

 

[LRobbo]

I noticed that Red dog prick drained another from 50m last week. Did it twice to us last year. I'll vomit if we're not onto that play again.

Not to mention that stupid dickhead celebration he does with the dog ears. Such a dislikable bloke

 

[TylerDurden]

Not to mention that stupid dickhead celebration he does with the dog ears. Such a dislikable bloke

Cant stand the campaigner.

 

[SSSSSS]

Both sides played bruise free uncontested footy last year and it completely played into the Bombers hands.

If we smash them physically from the start they will fold like origami. They are full of downhill skiers.

 

[LRobbo]

Both sides played bruise free uncontested footy last year and it completely played into the Bombers hands.

If we smash them physically from the start they will fold like origami. They are full of downhill skiers.

Take the mindset we had against Collingwood last year into this game and Essendon go to water.
They haven’t got a single brute that would stand up to it.
Weak club

 

[kazzooka]

No chance. Too many tall defenders.

2 is too many now?

 

[Mercy Seat]

Meek, Morrison and Frost have to be emergency depth only.

You've posted this same thing about Morrison and Frost the last 3 preseasons and they both end up playing most of the year.

Can you really see it being any different this year? They've both been staples in the probable teams all off-season, are leaders at the club and play positions where there are injuries to key players.

 

[HedgeFund]

You've posted this same thing about Morrison and Frost the last 3 preseasons and they both end up playing most of the year.

Can you really see it being any different this year? They've both been staples in the probable teams all off-season, are leaders at the club and play positions where there are injuries to key players.

One day, it will be correct. Probably from 2026 onward.
Got to admire the persistence though.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

You've posted this same thing about Morrison and Frost the last 3 preseasons and they both end up playing most of the year.

Can you really see it being any different this year? They've both been staples in the probable teams all off-season, are leaders at the club and play positions where there are injuries to key players.

IMO neither are good enough for competing teams and they would not get games in the vast majority of opposition sides.

I think we will be forced to rely on Frost due to the injury to Blanck, and the fact we have no other KPD's on the list. Though I think Morrison is not guaranteed games this season.

Hustwaite and Mackenzie have both had excellent preseasons and both have really stood out in the intra-club and practice matches.

Both will see games this year, and based on their preseason form are more deserving of a place in the side. If they are included then Ward could spend more time on a wing.

Watson and Ginnivan are two inclusions that could see MacDonald rotate through a wing. Plus there's Hardwick being moved forward.

D'Ambrosio is another that has been very impressive during preseason, and was again impressive during the practice match.

All five players are likely inclusions this season, and I think it's fair to say all five have higher upsides. They will either play the same position (D'Ambrosio), or their inclusions will allow for others to play off a wing (Ward, MacDonald and Day?).

No CJ and Amon moving to HBF obviously means there are still vacancies on the wing at the moment. But when CJ and Day are back I don't see how there would be a spot in the side for Morrison moving forward.

 

[Mercy Seat]

IMO neither are good enough for competing teams and they would not get games in the vast majority of opposition sides.

I think we will be forced to rely on Frost due to the injury to Blanck, and the fact we have no other KPD's on the list. Though I think Morrison is not guaranteed games this season.

Hustwaite and Mackenzie have both had excellent preseasons and both have really stood out in the intra-club and practice matches.

Both will see games this year, and based on their preseason form are more deserving of a place in the side. If they are included then Ward could spend more time on a wing.

Watson and Ginnivan are two inclusions that could see MacDonald rotate through a wing. Plus there's Hardwick being moved forward.

D'Ambrosio is another that has been very impressive during preseason, and was again impressive during the practice match.

All five players are likely inclusions this season, and I think it's fair to say all five have higher upsides. They will either play the same position (D'Ambrosio), or their inclusions will allow for others to play off a wing (Ward, MacDonald and Day?).

No CJ and Amon moving to HBF obviously means there are still vacancies on the wing at the moment. But when CJ and Day are back I don't see how there would be a spot in the side for Morrison moving forward.

I agree with a lot of what you’re saying and I hope that the natural evolution of the team sees those guys eventually surpassed, but per my original point, this gets discussed here year in year out and yet here we are again.

The reality is these guys are loved and respected internally by the club and the coaching group, and whilst pound for pound don’t perhaps have the same upside as some of our younger talent, they offer a huge amount in terms of structure and experience that sees them get picked most weeks.

I don’t see that changing much this year.

 

[Sixpence]

IMO neither are good enough for competing teams and they would not get games in the vast majority of opposition sides.

Nah, that's BS. Premierships are won by squads, not best 23s. You need 30+ players to get through a season. These kind of blokes will get games in any side throughout the year. If they're lucky, they may even get a run in a GF.

Just remember, Billy Frampton is a Premiership player!

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Nah, that's BS. Premierships are won by squads, not best 23s. You need 30+ players to get through a season. These kind of blokes will get games in any side throughout the year. If they're lucky, they may even get a run in a GF.

Just remember, Billy Frampton is a Premiership player!

Fair point, I'll rephrase - when we are competing again neither will be first choice in their respective positions.

 

[Dewnior]

If we play both Reeves and Meek in the next practice match you'd have to assume we'll be going into R1 with two rucks.

Interestingly, I can't recall seeing any teams named in this thread with two rucks.

 

[peetoo]

I didn’t see Chol ruck at all, has he trained with the rucks? Perhaps they are prioritising bedding down the fwd line first

 

[TylerDurden]

If we play both Reeves and Meek in the next practice match you'd have to assume we'll be going into R1 with two rucks.

Interestingly, I can't recall seeing any teams named in this thread with two rucks.

We did it last year in the same fixture. And it backfired badly.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

I didn’t see Chol ruck at all, has he trained with the rucks? Perhaps they are prioritising bedding down the fwd line first

He played as relief ruck during the match sims at Waverley. Though having said that both teams were made up by our squad, so we needed four ruckmen.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

If we play both Reeves and Meek in the next practice match you'd have to assume we'll be going into R1 with two rucks.

Interestingly, I can't recall seeing any teams named in this thread with two rucks.

Nah I don't think so tbh, might be wrong but I reckon Meek only got as much run as he did because we wanted to give Reeves a pretty light day. From memory Ned only played 50% of the game or thereabouts.

Although if it happens again this week without Chol taking a couple of CBAs then who knows?

 

[dermott]

Chol is much more useful as a tall forward with Lewis. We would not want him to risk injuries rucking if we have other options.

 

[Newmo89]

If we play both Reeves and Meek in the next practice match you'd have to assume we'll be going into R1 with two rucks.

Interestingly, I can't recall seeing any teams named in this thread with two rucks.

Meek played last week as Noodle was played for 75% of the time - Meek was on for roughly 6 minutes per quarter and spent little to no time up forward.
Hale said after the intra club in his press conference that if we do play two rucks, they have to have some forward craft to add to the team, which you could infer would mean that Ramsden would be that player at times.

 

[TylerDurden]

Just got tix. Felt an adrenaline spike.

On my signal.

 

[Dewnior]

Meek played last week as Noodle was played for 75% of the time - Meek was on for roughly 6 minutes per quarter and spent little to no time up forward.
Hale said after the intra club in his press conference that if we do play two rucks, they have to have some forward craft to add to the team, which you could infer would mean that Ramsden would be that player at times.

That's good to hear as I really don't like both rucks in the 22.

Hopefully Reeves is fit enough to play a full game on Saturday.

 

[Buttonsticher]

Just got tix. Felt an adrenaline spike.

On my signal.

Me too. Level 4, woo whoo