Game Day Round 1 - Essendon v Hawthorn, MCG, Saturday 16/3/24, 1.45pm AEDST

[Shanghaistu]

Poor skills,
Fumbly,
Bad decision making,
Inability to wrap up a tackle,
Inability to break a tackle,
Poor defensive running,
Reliance on small number of players to provide individual moments of brilliance.

Could say it is only round 1 but this has been this team for God knows how long.

Positives - goal kicking, Gresham, McKay, McGrath some good run.

Agree with everything as above, would also add Stringer as a positive at this stage

 

[ghostdog]

Fair point but he's gotta do better.

He needs support as well.

 

[Happyskeret]

Please let my boy be ok

 

[sameolds33]

I think we should and will. We've trained for it all preseason. It can work but it probably relies on runners up field finding space and his other defenders helping take the heat off him. Heppell isn't that player. Cox has to now try to support him down back as well. Parish up field would have been useful using his tank to find space or drawing opposition players to him and freeing up others.

missing Parish and Ridley

 

[wichidi]

ABC reporting Reid pointed to hammy coming off. They reckon it looks like he will play in second half

 

[JT_the_Man]

If Martin tidies up his disposal he’s playing the role well enough. He’s had 18 disposals.

Just has to tidy it up.

 

[Call Me Cake]

We need Reid to be okay, not for the outcome of this game, but for the future.

 

[ghostdog]

missing Parish and Ridley

Terribly so.

 

[bombreys]

So, now can we have a discussion about Martin’s disposal?

More concerned about our vice captain than a 23 year old we picked up in a rookie draft

 

[Nifft]

Watching this makes me sad. Why do I do this to myself? I could be enjoying the sunshine, cooking a great dinner, preparing lessons, listening to music, or giving the missus one to remember.

It’s half time… throw on some music, put some pasta in the pot, take care of the missus, and be back in time for the second half!

 

[MiguelM]

Hind would have been great as the sub IMO.

Tsatas will get a chance soon maybe don't risk Reid, but Hepps should be subbed too, just struggles to get to contests.

 

[Beerfish]

ABC reporting Reid pointed to hammy coming off. They reckon it looks like he will play in second half

Give him the opportunity to tear it properly.

 

[JT_the_Man]

More concerned about our vice captain than a 23 year old we picked up in a rookie draft

McGrath wasn’t bad that quarter. I’ve been one of his bigger critics recently, but that quarter wasn’t bad. I agree with the general sentiment.

 

[Call Me Cake]

More concerned about our vice captain than a 23 year old we picked up in a rookie draft

Other than one bad play he's been pretty solid so far

 

[jannissary]

not a bad half, should likely be down by a goal or two

but: the signs are there; mckay has been a rock so far, doing very well wrt intercepting marks, stringer doing well, too.

here's the question, with jones, stringer, langford and 2mp, are we going into the f50 too tall?

 

[JT_the_Man]

not a bad half, should likely be down by a goal or two

but: the signs are there; mckay has been a rock so far, doing very well wrt intercepting marks, stringer doing well, too.

here's the question, with jones, stringer, langford and 2mp, are we going into the f50 too tall?

Based on that half Jones makes way for Draper.

 

[Happyskeret]

ABC reporting Reid pointed to hammy coming off. They reckon it looks like he will play in second half

 

[ghostdog]

I'd like to see Caldwell get more involved, and Perkins. Merrett and Perkins need to tidy up the fumbles. Wright and Stringer looking good. Hawks obviously focusing on Langers. Goldy and McKay getting a good workout. Stoked with McKay so far.

 

[fishardansin]

It’s half time… throw on some music, put some pasta in the pot, take care of the missus, and be back in time for the second half!

Being Italian ... I can do all of that at 3/4 time!! lol

 

[JT_the_Man]

The McGrath criticism is actually kinda out of hand, aside from that one play he’s actually been good.

 

[Blind Turn]

Hawks moving it far more quickly allowing space out the back and (surprise, surprise) full ground transitions.

We move it slowly allowing congestion in our forward line.

Martin is not playing well. Scratchy is how I’d describe him. His role is too important to be making the errors he’s made today.

I expected more from Duzza after his pre-season hype.

Our tall marking presence is still poor and our small forwards are not preventing easy transitions out of our forward half.

Setterfield has been fantastic.

McKay looks great.

Cox doing enough to keep the faith.

 

[MiguelM]

Hope noboby picked Jones in Supercoach, currently sitting on -1!

 

[fishardansin]

It looks like it is a three-way battle for the spoon this year. We'll be playing our finals in rounds 8 - 10 - 15

 

[MightyDon]

First dons games on kayo in 4K and I can clearly see how shit we are

 

[ghostdog]

Hind would have been great as the sub IMO.

Tsatas will get a chance soon maybe don't risk Reid, but Hepps should be subbed too, just struggles to get to contests.

Yep. I'd f*** Hepp off, move Kelly back and put Tsatas on a wing.