Preview Should we even bother turning up on Friday Night?

[Jade]

I know who the pressure is on and it isn't our guys.

We have a team absolutely stacked with young talent, send 'em to Adelaide and tell them to have it.

Nothing to lose - let her rip.

 

[jarmanagic]

Many of you complain about Essendon being treated with a lack of respect. I for one think the Bombers have done a superb job this year to make the 8 with a long and signficant injury list. Wins against Collingwood on Anzac Day and the Saints were classic finishes. Young talent is emerging, Hurley might be a champion

But... please show us some respect. Finals 8 of last 9 years and the last 5. Picked ourselves up going nowhere after R8 and turned our gameplan and season around this year. Players like Goodwin, Mcleod and Edwards have had a fair bit of finals success you know

A 2 point loss away to Hawthorn in 07 when franklin kicked 7 hardly a choke nor our brave loss to West Coast in the 2006 Prelim with a big injury toll. 2005 loss to StK the only" choke" and every club has those in their closet. 99 anyone?

I'll be treating Bombers with respect, on the way up. Hard to think we shouldn't be strong favorites though

 

[Godzke]

Many of you complain about Essendon being treated with a lack of respect. I for one think the Bombers have done a superb job this year to make the 8 with a long and signficant injury list. Wins against Collingwood on Anzac Day and the Saints were classic finishes. Young talent is emerging, Hurley might be a champion

But... please show us some respect. Finals 8 of last 9 years and the last 5. Picked ourselves up going nowhere after R8 and turned our gameplan and season around this year. Players like Goodwin, Mcleod and Edwards have had a fair bit of finals success you know

A 2 point loss away to Hawthorn in 07 when franklin kicked 7 hardly a choke nor our brave loss to West Coast in the 2006 Prelim with a big injury toll. 2005 loss to StK the only" choke" and every club has those in their closet. 99 anyone?

I'll be treating Bombers with respect, on the way up. Hard to think we shouldn't be strong favorites though

Have to admit, anyone who doesn't respect the crows is a complete moron. They're on the way up and continue to widen the gap between them and Port (who i'm really unsure are heading down or up ... probably down a little).

They were the successful smokies two years in a row back in the 90s, wouldn't surprise me if they go all the way. I'm on the Crows bandwagon when/if essendon get bowled out (gotta have faith! ).

 

[bombre-boy]

If we actually have someone pick up Tyson edwards we might have a chance to keep it close...

 

[Lebneni]

From a Pies Supporter i'd just like to say
GO BOMBERS!!!

you guys can definately win... just go all out, adelaide are way overrated and were made to look better by a rabble carlton outfit. Secondly you guys play a great exciting brand of footy and have rebuilt nicely and fairly not like those cheating scum the blues, you guys definately deserve to be in the top 8


I'll be cheering for you on Friday

 

[twentydollarnote]

Good read some of this thread about, being soft, choking etc. Personally with your outs i cant see you getting within 5 goals of us.

 

[IriDiuM]

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

Sigh, to the 4 or 5 adelaide fans who saw my post on the first page and immediately hit the quote button, it pays to read on, because then you'd know that 3 posts later i corrected myself. But my point still stands. You split the wins with 1 of the top 4 and lost against the other 3. You may beat us, but i think thats as far as you'll go.

 

[jenny61_99]

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!

Neither were we! Most "experts" had us dropping off and in the bottom 8. Some even had us in the bottom 4. I think most Crows fans agreed that we were a couple of years away from being a threat. That things have gelled so well this year is a credit to Craig and his team.

 

[Tricolours]

Sigh, to the 4 or 5 adelaide fans who saw my post on the first page and immediately hit the quote button, it pays to read on, because then you'd know that 3 posts later i corrected myself. But my point still stands. You split the wins with 1 of the top 4 and lost against the other 3. You may beat us, but i think thats as far as you'll go.

The good thing about finals is that once they start, the rest of the season becomes pretty irrelevant. Who you've beaten, and who you have lost against doesn't matter one bit. Who ever turns up to play on friday night will win. To the over confident Crows supporters on here, put your heads in, at the end of the day, it's just 22 blokes v 22 blokes; I've never seen a side give up because they lost earlier in the season.

The only thing I am annoyed about is that your 3 players got rubbed out. The finals are were the best footy should be played. Players shouldnt be missing because of Jumper punches, or bumps that, after a certain round this year, became illegal.

Have fun friday night, and to those coming over, enjoy!

 

[IriDiuM]

Neither were we! Most "experts" had us dropping off and in the bottom 8. Some even had us in the bottom 4. I think most Crows fans agreed that we were a couple of years away from being a threat. That things have gelled so well this year is a credit to Craig and his team.

Heh. ALL of the scribes had us bottom 4. I love it when the media idiots are wrong

 

[Knight Ryders]

Good read some of this thread about, being soft, choking etc. Personally with your outs i cant see you getting within 5 goals of us.

We have no right to get within 5 goals given injuries/suspensions and form, but this is an elimination final and the expectation of being an out and out favourite can weigh heavily. If we can get on top of you early, it will be interesting to see how the Crows react. We all know that Essendon can pile on the goals in a short period of time. Also, the youngster have grown an extra leg this year when they have started well and have taken it up to some of the best sides in the league.

Conversely, the expectation is Essendon won't even get close to the Crows (Rowie and Cornesy are already talking about next week at the G for CS!) so there won't be the same amount of pressure on the Bomber boys.

 

[efcboy]

given all the injuries/suspensions we may not have enough numbers to field 22 players meaning we would have to bring in some extras. could be time to dust off the no.49 and bring back the great james hird!

 

[PAFC04]

This game is going to be so quick because both teams play a hard running quick movement game plan.

With all the pressure on the Crows on Friday night, it is crucial that the Bombers stay in touch with the Crows. Who has the quicker movement? I think that the Bombers have the speed but you cant use all of that in the 1st quarter. If the Bombers can learn to pace themsleves and play attractive football as they have done against top sides it will a closer game that some are expecting.

I think that the home ground is the only key for Adelaide this week, but if you shut up the supposedly 19th man that they have introduced this year then your halfway there.

The Crows have Tippet and Burton up forward but I see that Hurley and Watson will be just as impressive. Hurley is a star in the making.

Who ever settles first will win...........nerves will play a big part in this and thats where the Crows have that over the Bombers..........but if you play man on man the nerves we give that little extra, you will be in with the a chance, pressure must be applied at every minute of the game. Question is, can the young Bombers apply that for 4 quarters. Knights first match in a final's series.

Who is coming into this game in a better mind set? I would say the Bombers, last week the Bombers began there finals series last week against the Hawks.....

I dont expect the Bombers to win, but it wouldn't surprise me if you do.

Good luck to both teams, and most of all.........Go the Bombers, i will be wearing my jumper that is half Bombers and Power!!!!

Please put this country town to sleep so that I can stop avoiding listening to the 5Doublecrow show...........

 

[Redb#]

Well I'm driving over on Friday, tell me I'm not crazy.

The loss of Ryder will be hard to overcome, I'm going with a mate who is mad Crows fan, SA beer is like piss - gunna be a long night.

But I'll be there in red and black.

Go Dons!

 

[proka123]

I reckon you guys will be some sort of show. You don't make finals just to get completely dismissed by the opposition. I've learnt to never write the Bombers off after Anzac day and last week against the Hawks.

Don't know why but when Zaharakis (is that how you spell it?) kicked that goal i went ballistic.

 

[King Elvis]

Might be stating the obvious, but I think the result will either be quite close (under 2 goals, either way), or the Crows will win by 8-10 goals plus.

As I said earlier, while we have a lot of youth, they're not quite as young/skinny/raw as some of your lads; ours have already played a bit of finals footy. If your boys get overwhelmed with finals pressure, I can see it being a flogging; but if you guys play with flair and an almost carefree attitude, it'll be close.

 

[Call Me Cake]

it'll be close.

Or we can win.

I f***ing love this club.

 

[muzz777]

Good to see some well thought out, intelligent posts rather than the usual baiting and trolling in a thread like this. Thanks crows + neutral supporters.

I dont think we deserve to be anywhere near adelaide on friday night, but as history tells us, nothing in football is a certainty.

 

[fryingpan]

Good luck to both teams, and most of all.........Go the Bombers, i will be wearing my jumper that is half Bombers and Power!!!!

Got nothing else to do with your September?

 

[Godzke]

I reckon you guys will be some sort of show. You don't make finals just to get completely dismissed by the opposition. I've learnt to never write the Bombers off after Anzac day and last week against the Hawks.

Don't know why but when Zaharakis (is that how you spell it?) kicked that goal i went ballistic.

As much as I want to agree with you, I can't. Never forget Port belting the shit out of North at Telstra Dome.

Was the most inspid display of football from the Kangas that year.

 

[fryingpan]

Bock trained the entire session tonight and is apparently "85 % certain to be okay"

 

[Wanna B Hird]

Just a reminder to a select few on talk back radio and this forum suggesting its an "unlosable final".1999 PRELIM.Its a final and no final is a certainty

 

[Elite Crow]

This game is going to be so quick because both teams play a hard running quick movement game plan.

With all the pressure on the Crows on Friday night, it is crucial that the Bombers stay in touch with the Crows. Who has the quicker movement? I think that the Bombers have the speed but you cant use all of that in the 1st quarter. If the Bombers can learn to pace themsleves and play attractive football as they have done against top sides it will a closer game that some are expecting.

I think that the home ground is the only key for Adelaide this week, but if you shut up the supposedly 19th man that they have introduced this year then your halfway there.

The Crows have Tippet and Burton up forward but I see that Hurley and Watson will be just as impressive. Hurley is a star in the making.

Who ever settles first will win...........nerves will play a big part in this and thats where the Crows have that over the Bombers..........but if you play man on man the nerves we give that little extra, you will be in with the a chance, pressure must be applied at every minute of the game. Question is, can the young Bombers apply that for 4 quarters. Knights first match in a final's series.

Who is coming into this game in a better mind set? I would say the Bombers, last week the Bombers began there finals series last week against the Hawks.....

I dont expect the Bombers to win, but it wouldn't surprise me if you do.

Good luck to both teams, and most of all.........Go the Bombers, i will be wearing my jumper that is half Bombers and Power!!!!

Please put this country town to sleep so that I can stop avoiding listening to the 5Doublecrow show...........

No offence, but if your going to give an independent view you might want to be a little more accurate.

The Crows have more than just Tippett and Burton up forward, you forgot our leading goal kicker, Porps, then there is Knights, Hentschell and Danger.

As for the better mindset and the Bombers starting their finals last week, if Im not mistaken we had a pretty important game last week which gave us this home final.

As for the home ground being the only key, whats our away record like this year?

Listen the Crows are favourites not just amongst their fans but every independent observers and the bookies. The reasons are obvious but does that mean we are guaranteed a win? No its doesnt.

 

[Macca18]

Just a reminder to a select few on talk back radio and this forum suggesting its an "unlosable final".1999 PRELIM.Its a final and no final is a certainty

Exactly. You'd swear we weren't even playing in the finals.

For all the Crows supporters continually disagreeing with every potentially negative comment about the Crows and anybody else giving the Dons a chance - get over yourselves. This is the Essendon board... not everybody here is going to just bend over and accept the game is a foregone conclusion like some on your own board.

You finished 5th for a reason. You're good, but not that good no matter what may happen on Friday Night. 0-2 against Saints this year, 0-2 against Cats this year, 0-1 against the Bulldogs this year, 1-1 against the Pies ... will be a tough away game at the MCG against a very good side in the Saints or Pies. I doubt either of them will be too nervous about playing the Crows.

You've got your own board to keep stroking your own egos.

 

[fryingpan]

You've got your own board to keep stroking your own egos.

Actually, if you'd kindly take a wander over to our board you'd see that there's a few Essendon supporters acting as though they've got it in the bag.