West Coast v Essendon

[ziad]

Thought the eagles lifted the foot in the heat after quarter time, some poor delivery into the forward line was evident and the defensive structure was loose at time - perhaps experimenting in the NAB.

Early days but hard to see the impact of 85 rotations against 133 for efc. The season proper will perhaps give a better indication of the new interchange impact. Players tired but looked to be moving - perhaps its the decision making that dropped with fatigue.

 

[wizzard400]

Real tough on Essendon but at least Worsfold knows he essentially has a free pass this season and can try a few things. Still too early to tell how this interchange cap is going to affect things in my opinion.

 

[Yianni]

So...after taking Carlton by surprise and two heavy defeats, can anyone see the Bombers winning one this year?

 

[Hap Hapablap]

i hate these sort of games. makes our side look better then it may be.

there is a huge 8 weeks of games at the start of the season. west coast need to win at least 4 to be in the top 8 and 5 to be in the top 4. although yesterdays run was entertaining in terms of seeing west coast play freely its not even a proper indication in where they are at.

 

[ziad]

So...after taking Carlton by surprise and two heavy defeats, can anyone see the Bombers winning one this year?

there are always upsets and teams that don't come to play.

 

[citizen-erased]

Anyone who thinks we will start favourites in a game this year are kidding themselves.

Which is ok. Outside of the picks we get, the ladder position means nothing to us
What is important is how the permanent list performs and getting back the critical banned players (Heppell, Hurley, Hooker, Watson, Myers, Hibberd).

 

[DrEvil_]

I am worried that the teams that get to play Essendon twice are going to have a huge advantage when it comes to percentage.

I have always said the correct decision should've been booting Essendon out of the comp for a year. This is just a circus.

 

[citizen-erased]

I am worried that the teams that get to play Essendon twice are going to have a huge advantage when it comes to percentage.

Carlton: Not going to matter. I also worry that rd23 could be a massive tank game between the 2 clubs.
Gold Coast: If they are on the cusp of finals, the rd21 match could turn into a massive boost. That said, they have us rd1 too. So wouldn't want to slip up early
Tigers: Massive boost for them. 2x 100pt wins you would expect for a team that will be too hard and quick for our list. Adds to the suspense on whether they can capitalise on the opportunity and make top 4
Geelong: will be uglier than the tigers games. potential for records to be broken.

Ideally, we would have been playing Carlton, Brisbane, Melbourne and the Saints twice this year. It would have given them a leg up but not enough to impact finals (possibly helps Melbourne, but i don't see them higher than 10th this year)

If ever the theory of a post rd 17 conference style ladder was going to be tested, this year would have been handy.

 

[citizen-erased]

I have always said the correct decision should've been booting Essendon out of the comp for a year. This is just a circus.

Agreed.
In fact, 2013 would have been better and we could have avoided 3-4 years of a circus.
It would be a fixture nightmare though. Rebooking venues, hotels, etc etc.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I have always said the correct decision should've been booting Essendon out of the comp for a year. This is just a circus.

Also wouldn't have been a circus if Wada didn't appeal,why couldn't they just respect the decision the AFL Tribunal made.

 

[kane249]

Also wouldn't have been a circus if Wada didn't appeal,why couldn't they just respect the decision the AFL Tribunal made.

Because they knew you were guilty and wanted it out of the hands of the guys running the sport?

 

[Red Bull]

Also wouldn't have been a circus if Wada didn't appeal,why couldn't they just respect the decision the AFL Tribunal made.

Yeah , bloody WADA/CAS should have just kept their noses out of it ...

 

[The_Reaper]

Also wouldn't have been a circus if Wada didn't appeal,why couldn't they just respect the decision the AFL Tribunal made.

huh?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Yeah , bloody WADA/CAS should have just kept their noses out of it ...

Not sure if your agreeing with me or not.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Because they knew you were guilty and wanted it out of the hands of the guys running the sport?

If there was no AFL tribunal involved and the matter went straight to CAS then I would be more accepting of a guilty verdict.

Having two different outcomes has ****ed things up.

 

[Blackas87]

The AFL tribunal found them no guilty.

In the end this was political decision I'm 100% convinced Wada just like taking scalps.

The AFL sweep everything under the rug. Not guilty from them means nothing. Melbourne were found not guilty of tanking 3 times.

 

[kane249]

The AFL tribunal found them no guilty.

In the end this was political decision I'm 100% convinced Wada just like taking scalps.

Yes because the AFL have always acted with integrity and never done things for their own interests...

In the scheme of things, is a team in a sport played by pretty much one country professionally that big a scalp?

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Yes because the AFL have always acted with integrity and never done things for their own interests...

In the scheme of things, is a team in a sport played by pretty much one country professionally that big a scalp?

Iv'e changed my original post sorry.

 

[DrEvil_]

If there was no AFL tribunal involved and the matter went straight to CAS then I would be more accepting of a guilty verdict.

Having two different outcomes has stuffed things up.

You should familiarize yourself with the idea of an appeal.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

If there was no AFL tribunal involved and the matter went straight to CAS then I would be more accepting of a guilty verdict.

Having two different outcomes has stuffed things up.

There's only one outcome, the AFL Tribunal's decision was found to be incorrect, the correct decision was made at the CAS

 

[Seedsfan]

Essendon will loose by 200+ this year

 

[Ron The Bear]

The 'F' word has been uttered.

Shades of Fitzroy in bad news Bombers (paywalled)

 

[Randomizor]

You should familiarize yourself with the idea of an appeal.

Don't be silly. Only the Players are allowed to appeal apparently.

Not the thread for it though.

Perhaps Essendon should have been relegated (or something) this year. Various triple figure losses aren't a good look for the sport.

 

[Beer n Skittles]

Bit hard to tell at the minute, who were Essendon missing from best 22?

 

[citizen-erased]

Bit hard to tell at the minute, who were Essendon missing from best 22?

Hibberd Hooker Baguley
Dempsey Hurley Goddard
Stanton Watson Zaka
Laverde Daniher Howlett
Brown McKernan Langford
Leuenberger Heppell Myers
Z.Merrett Gleeson Bird Hocking

12. 2 of which aren't suspended. Arguable if TBC or Pears would be best 22 with Berger and Brown in.
Dempsey is likely to be on the fringe as the likes of Francis & Fantasia come on.
Stanton will likely handover to J.Merrett (if it doesn't happen by force this year)
Cooney out, Parish in would have been what i would expect had there been no bans.

Its not inconsiderable the damage done to our list.
The contingency plan for our players being suspended probably should have been better than grab some top ups that are relatively done at AFL level.

EDIT: forgot Goddard :S