Preview Should we even bother turning up on Friday Night?

[magtrev]

A little surprising from a club that has gone in as favourites in their last two Elimination Finals and failed miserably.

Pretty sure Hawthorn were favourites. But yes, we should have won it.

Teams that play very high speed, high pressure football against us for an entire game trouble us. Recently teams have been doing it for a quarter or so against us but fallen away due to the high temo and intensity required and then been smashed.

We consistently put away mediocre teams very easily and we've only really had one bad loss to a team below this year (first showdown), so you'll need to bring your A game from start to finish in my humble opinion.

 

[SMACK!]

You just snared 8th with 10 wins and a percentage below 100. I'd say there were seven quality finalists and then a crap shoot as to who was gonna snare 8th place. You guys are talking as though you are this seasoned outfit who can come across and beat anyone. You had the chance to secure finals with a win against Failmantle in round 21 and got obliterated. It was hardly inspiring stuff.

That sounds like an arrogant pile of garble but the reality is I do genuinely rate Essendon. You have a young bloke who I think is going to retire an all-time great of the game (Hurley) and some out and out super young players. I just don't think this year is your year to be travelling the countryside playing Leyland Brothers and beating allcomers. If you can establish your running game then it should be a contest but we're finals seasoned (albeit unsuccessfully) and I can't see us winning by less than 5 or 6 goals.

Also, you might find SOME supporters acting a tad arrogant due to comments such as this:

Really struggle to see us losing. We will be hungry after 5 years in the wilderness. The youngsters enthusiasm should be enough to get us up by 3-4 goals. I expect a strong start and for us to hold Adelaide off late in the game.

Ryder to dominate with Dempsey to create run off the half back. Fletcher will curtail Tippett and Neagle should be too good for Rutten.

Dons by 22 at this point.

Every club has them, just roll with it brosefs.

Good luck with the game on friday, if we do happen to lose I will be personally hunting down and beating Donakebab within an inch of his life

 

[Niximus]

I agree - that match was a good spectacle but I think that it is highly unlikely that this match will be so open and free flowing.

Essendon struggle in Perth, but the flight to Adelaide should hardly be that taxing. We beat Sydney in Sydney.

Re: Nick 85 - the game is do or die. We passed the test on Saturday, you have failed that test in the past. It's a totally different ball game to H & A scenarios.

So it's completely different to H&A games but you passed the test in round 22?

 

[Godzke]

Naturally the Crows will probably be at a $1.20 to win, but hey, all we can do is rock up and make a statement that we're here to win. I don't think our club harbours any ill-will towards the Crows. They're not a rival club, so there's nothing extra to play for apart from wanting to show we can match it with a team that is a serious contender for the flag.

Winner gets an extra 2 day break over the loser of Coll/StK too ... but let's just go out there and see what we can do, regardless of the 22 we put on the park.

 

[Redb#]

one thing for sure, if we've wrested the mantle of unsociable football of Hawthorn, we need to bring it Friday night. Adelaide look like a soft team that wouldnt like being roughed up too much.

Hocking, Hooker go to work.

Redb

 

[Macca18]

As I said in a previous post, there is absolutely no expectation on us coming into this game. We are paying $6.00 for the win and have pretty much already been written off - it has been games like these throughout the year that win, lose or draw we have generally performed well in.

The pressure is all on Adelaide, at home, to win this game and win it well.

 

[Go the Guts]

The Crows have lost 5 games at AAMI Stadium this year, by an average of 32 points - so they aren't exactly invincible at the venue.

4 of those were all in the first 8 rounds, we have won 7 of the past 8 at home.

It's absolutely crucial we start well and put doubt in the mind of the Crows straight away. There are scars there and we can expose them if we get off to a good start.

This would have been correct in previous seasons. But as has been said, we have had our last 2 opposition teams think the same thing, and get the jump on us by 5 goals in the 1st quarter, only to be reeled back in and smashed. Far mentally stronger this year than previous years.

one thing for sure, if we've wrested the mantle of unsociable football of Hawthorn, we need to bring it Friday night. Adelaide look like a soft team that wouldnt like being roughed up too much.

Yep, good thinking. Come and try to rough us up, because we'll be playing the ball while you're doing that, and will have a 10 goal jump on you early on. Many opposition coaches have said post game this year how much bigger and stonger the crows' bodies were to their teams', and it's not like Essendon are huge bodied across the board, might want to re-assess that one.

What you do have is pace. If you don't run yourself off your legs early then you could be in with a show.

 

[dodgey]

need it to rain......

but with our crappy interstate record, Knighta needs to hypnotise them into thinking they AREN'T getting on a plane

 

[MACDAICOS]

As I said in a previous post, there is absolutely no expectation on us coming into this game. We are paying $6.00 for the win and have pretty much already been written off - it has been games like these throughout the year that win, lose or draw we have generally performed well in.

The pressure is all on Adelaide, at home, to win this game and win it well.

I know this game is 5th V 8th but Friday night reminds me of Port Power 1st V Collingwood 4th in 2002 in the QF also the first game of the finals series and on a Friday night.

No-one gave Collingwood a hope over in Adelaide and i'm pretty sure the Pies paid $6.00 for a win. Sheehan and co said we shouldnt even turn up, 10 goals plus win for Port etc.

Anything can happen in September.

Good luck.

 

[Macca18]

I know this game is 5th V 8th but Friday night reminds me of Port Power 1st V Collingwood 4th in 2002 in the QF also the first game of the finals series and on a Friday night.

No-one gave Collingwood a hope over in Adelaide and i'm pretty sure the Pies paid $6.00 for a win. Sheehan and co said we shouldnt even turn up, 10 goals plus win for Port etc.

Anything can happen in September.

Good luck.

Good post.

The Adelaide teams over the years have made a habit of 'choking' in their first week finals at home. If the Crows players have the same mindset as some of their supporters this Friday Night then there could be a couple of surprises in store.

 

[SMACK!]

Good post.

The Adelaide teams over the years have made a habit of 'choking' in their first week finals at home. If the Crows players have the same mindset as some of their supporters this Friday Night then there could be a couple of surprises in store.

If we win by less than 300 points then I will be shattered.

 

[King Elvis]

Good post.

The Adelaide teams over the years have made a habit of 'choking' in their first week finals at home. If the Crows players have the same mindset as some of their supporters this Friday Night then there could be a couple of surprises in store.

And your teams have a habit of not making the finals

Not being silly, because you'll realise the same thing shortly; but playing in the finals is a great thing for the young kids - we wasted a couple of opportunities (without doubt, but there were other facts - like godamn Parvo virus), but we're seeing the benefits of it now.

Win or lose, the value for Essendon is getting finals games and experience into your squad, because, realistically, you've made the finals a year or two early.

Anyway, good luck - always liked the Dons, hopefully it's a great game in decent weather.

 

[dave_27]

I know this game is 5th V 8th but Friday night reminds me of Port Power 1st V Collingwood 4th in 2002 in the QF also the first game of the finals series and on a Friday night.

No-one gave Collingwood a hope over in Adelaide and i'm pretty sure the Pies paid $6.00 for a win. Sheehan and co said we shouldnt even turn up, 10 goals plus win for Port etc.

Anything can happen in September.

Good luck.

Some one is obviously taking the piss hacking into Macdaicos account.

 

[MACDAICOS]

Some one is obviously taking the piss hacking into Macdaicos account.

No. Just trying to give you lot a bit of confidence.

Anything is possible. FWIW Adelaide by 4 goals.

 

[CROW36]

2003 Elimination Final = I think we can handle matches like this.

Gee you guys love living in the past remember you are not playing the power this weekend.

 

[Knight Ryders]

So it's completely different to H&A games but you passed the test in round 22?

Our game was Rd 22, but it was do or die. Therefore it was completely different to the run of the mill H&A games. It was more or less a Rd 22 elimination final and it was played with that intensity. We didn't bring it in the first half, but the penny seem to have dropped after 1/2 time.

Crows have shown more fortitude this year, but as I stated above, if we can get a jump on you early, it could definitely have an effect on your mental state. Your players might not attack as hard or get forward of the contest as much as you would usually or your propensity to take risks could be limited (which is where you have turned the year around and enabled you to score highly). The fact that you will go in as out and out favourites will add to this as the expectation is that you will win and win easy.

Having said that, it is not necessary a Crows thing. Premilinary finals are commonly tighter than first thought because teams are scared of losing. See Geelong 2007 as evidence to that. They were a 10-goal better side than anyone else that year, but only beat Collingwood by a goal (good effort by the Pies, but that Geelong team should have won by a lot more).

I just don't think that Essendon will be scared of losing because I think they might already feel as they have won. We're not expected to win or even get close.

 

[Niximus]

Our game was Rd 22, but it was do or die. Therefore it was completely different to the run of the mill H&A games. It was more or less a Rd 22 elimination final and it was played with that intensity. We didn't bring it in the first half, but the penny seem to have dropped after 1/2 time.

Crows have shown more fortitude this year, but as I stated above, if we can get a jump on you early, it could definitely have an effect on your mental state. Your players might not attack as hard or get forward of the contest as much as you would usually or your propensity to take risks could be limited (which is where you have turned the year around and enabled you to score highly). The fact that you will go in as out and out favourites will add to this as the expectation is that you will win and win easy.

Having said that, it is not necessary a Crows thing. Premilinary finals are commonly tighter than first thought because teams are scared of losing. See Geelong 2007 as evidence to that. They were a 10-goal better side than anyone else that year, but only beat Collingwood by a goal (good effort by the Pies, but that Geelong team should have won by a lot more).

I just don't think that Essendon will be scared of losing because I think they might already feel as they have won. We're not expected to win or even get close.

You are in the exact same position as us in 2007 - we had to win our last 3 games to make the finals (3 do or die 'elimination finals') and in the end we did win all 3 and finished 8th by just half a game.

Yet for some reason our loss to the Hawks the next week is seen as some monumental failure. Would you feel you had failed badly if you lose to us by less than a kick? Would it make you question your ability to win finals?

 

[afc9798]

one thing for sure, if we've wrested the mantle of unsociable football of Hawthorn, we need to bring it Friday night. Adelaide look like a soft team that wouldnt like being roughed up too much.

Hocking, Hooker go to work.

Redb

Please, Please do this. it doesn't work against us and never will. Adelaide is one of the most disciplined sides in the comp. Don't ever make the mistake of confusing discipline with softness. I highly doubt that any crows players are quaking in their boots about Essendon's toughness and I would suggest that in the contested stakes, we are ahead of you both mentally and physically. Bring it on, just hoping for a great game...

 

[hugorune]

Please, Please do this. it doesn't work against us and never will. Adelaide is one of the most disciplined sides in the comp. Don't ever make the mistake of confusing discipline with softness. I highly doubt that any crows players are quaking in their boots about Essendon's toughness and I would suggest that in the contested stakes, we are ahead of you both mentally and physically. Bring it on, just hoping for a great game...

I'll pay that, Adelaide are far more professional outfit than Hawthorn.

I don't think you should get the impression that Essendon are an unsociable team. Lloyd went in hard at one contest at the ball, and unintended by anyone, there was some bad luck and the opponent came off badly - it was a total accident, and that should have been that. In response, the Hawthorn players really showed their ugly side as a team and some of them (especially Hodge, Brown) started sniping Essendon players off the ball, and as you expect, a couple of the young Bombers players retaliated. The tribunal duly caught the Essendon players retaliating, and gave them one-week bans, and let the Hawks off scot free. What do you do, eh.

 

[George Washington]

If Jobe Watson turns up to play Adelaide will get a run for their money. If Watson is off, 40-50 points plus defeat. Without Ryder, our only hope is if Watson has an absolute blinder a la St Kilda.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Would you feel you had failed badly if you lose to us by less than a kick? Would it make you question your ability to win finals?

No because we weren't even expected to make the finals in 2009 anyway.

We're running a year ahead of schedule and it'll only makes the young ones more hungry for it in 2010.

We've got nothing to lose, so you better hope you don't choke as usual!

 

[The Donners]

Why are you bringing up the previous match in Melbourne @ the Dome? You lost, AND it was at the dome where Essendon play their best footy.

It's no secret that Essendon struggle away from home and that's why I think we'll win. If it was at the Dome I'd be a little more worried but I do think we'll win, regardless of Craigs "atrocious" finals record (even though he was in the coaches box in the 97, 98 premiership years )

Last 2 times we've played there you've beaten us by 5 points and we've beaten you by 31 points!

 

[The Donners]

We're running a year ahead of schedule and it'll only makes the young ones more hungry for it in 2010.

Thankyou Mr. Lloyd!!!

 

[Darealrath]

I like being the underdog. Massive challenge though. I'd rather be playing any of the top 4.

The boys need to watch Rocky IV pre-game, best away victory ever.

 

[The Sloane Ranger]

Interesting stat about Adelaide's year. They have won just 3 of 10 matches against this year's finalists. Us in mid-year, and the Carltank flogging this round are 2 of those 3. I don't know off-hand who the 3rd win was against, but their track record against the elite teams is not good. Personally I don't think they are as good as their 5th place finish suggests.

the stat is we have won 4 ot of 11, however only lost 1 game against a side below us in the 8, 5 of our losses have come against top 3 sides and we split the ledger with the Pies

read into it what you want however I would be more concerned about your away form