Analysis Why are we s**t?

[Cold Sober]

Apart from a Cripps we don't need players , we need to improve our skill levels.
1. don't drill handball someone who is 2 ft away to save your own arse.
2. fumbled possessions at centre bounces are killing us.
3. go back to attacking thoughtful football. [Stringer can't think for everyone]
4. the obvious, 2 mt Pete needs a chop out up forward. Francis is the obvious, but we've pretty much decided to trade him.

 

[Call Me Cake]

When did they start

2021

 

[ant555]

What part of McGrath, Parish, Merrett, Shiel, Stringer and Caldwell are we rebuilding? See this is the problem.
Caldwell is the only player that we can possibly consider as a "rebuilding" player given his age, but that would classify Bulldogs with Smith, Carlton with Walsh or Port with Butters as rebuilding too. If Shiel or McGrath can't perform in that role, then put Dunstan in.

We talked about Hewett, but I don't accept your explanation given there is no evidence of us even inquiring.

Greenwood isn't doing much, but he has more than double the tackles (46) than Parish (16), McGrath (21), Shiel (18), Caldwell (21), Merrett (12). Goes to show just how bad our midfield really is.

You tend to take it easy on Essendon by making it look like there's nothing they could have done, but that's not the reality. If teams like Fremantle managed to do it, then there's no reason why Essendon can't either.

Well I will not quote you again if you can not take the tip. Find me a time where I have shared info on this site that has been 100% total bull shit !
I do not take it easy on them. I just know that it is not as simplistic as you say.

 

[FlyingV]

fu** me my point is you do not just go and get some average hacks either.
Where you trading out Parish to put Brodie in the side ? That is the role he plays.

Why are you getting so pissed off? Maybe Brodie and Parish can co-exist. Maybe that’s not a problem? Maybe Parish getting released from his inside role isn’t a bad thing seeing as we are getting smashed with contested ball with him in that role.

 

[ant555]

2021

View attachment 1391151

Talk to the coach for midfield and attack.

 

[ant555]

Why are you getting so pissed off? Maybe Brodie and Parish can co-exist. Maybe that’s not a problem? Maybe Parish getting released from his inside role isn’t a bad thing seeing as we are getting smashed with contested ball with him in that role.

Does brodie defend ?

 

[FlyingV]

Does brodie defend ?

Does Parish?

 

[JayJ20]

Well I will not quote you again if you can not take the tip. Find me a time where I have shared info on this site that has been 100% total bull shit !
I do not take it easy on them. I just know that it is not as simplistic as you say.

I didn't say you were bullshitting or making it up, it's just that I personally haven't seen anything to substantiate the claim. Knowing how averse we are to anything with the ability to win contested ball, it's within the club's culture to overlook recruiting Hewett types. It's more likely we looked at Hewett in the same way we looked at Dunstan. Very non-committal and probably months after Carlton had already spoken to him (given that Carlton had spoken to him during the year).

Even so, a finals side with a need for a contested ball winning defensive mid losing out to another non-finalist Melbourne club is a huge failure for the club.

 

[ant555]

Does Parish?

Are you trading Parish then ? Does Brodie give us anymore than what Parish gave us on Anzac day ? Does Brodie change the culture ? I have watched him and he is playing good footy and I was wrong on him as far as that goes but I am not sure he fixes our issues and secondly I can understand why we did not look at a midfielder that the big knock was just chases the footy and can not defend. Why do you add another maybe we can turn him around.

I think the coach is obliged to try and work with what we have on the list and Parish and Merrett did show some improvement last year. Shiel and Caldwell where out most of the year so you could not make a call there. So yes they looked at improving what they had. Now they are in a position to make a call at the end of this year.

 

[ant555]

I didn't say you were bullshitting or making it up, it's just that I personally haven't seen anything to substantiate the claim. Knowing how averse we are to anything with the ability to win contested ball, it's within the club's culture to overlook recruiting Hewett types. It's more likely we looked at Hewett in the same way we looked at Dunstan. Very non-committal and probably months after Carlton had already spoken to him (given that Carlton had spoken to him during the year).

Even so, a finals side with a need for a contested ball winning defensive mid losing out to another non-finalist Melbourne club is a huge failure for the club.

And you will not as not everything that happens goes into the media. And then you just start making assumptions that if we did it was how we did it or it was non committal. Take it to the bank. We spoke to his manager early. There where early whispers in club land that Hewett may be available. Initial contract offers where put to him. How hard is it to believe that they made inquires about getting an inside midfielder ? we may not draft them but we have tried to get Dunkley. We put in an offer for Dusty but he was never going. Caldwell is an inside midfielder although not experienced.

 

[WindyHillWarrior]

Not sure you can make judgment on a picture taken in a moment of time. Different if they are walking off the ground smiling and joking.

 

[JayJ20]

Are you trading Parish then ? Does Brodie give us anymore than what Parish gave us on Anzac day ? Does Brodie change the culture ? I have watched him and he is playing good footy and I was wrong on him as far as that goes but I am not sure he fixes our issues and secondly I can understand why we did not look at a midfielder that the big knock was just chases the footy and can not defend. Why do you add another maybe we can turn him around.

I think the coach is obliged to try and work with what we have on the list and Parish and Merrett did show some improvement last year. Shiel and Caldwell where out most of the year so you could not make a call there. So yes they looked at improving what they had. Now they are in a position to make a call at the end of this year.

The coach has to work with what his got, but the list managers chose to work with what we have. How can we, bigfooty posters that are not professionals, see what supposed professionals cannot?

Who believed a midfield of Shiel, Caldwell, McGrath, Parish and Merrett was good enough? Again, you're giving them the easy way out by saying they are in a position to make a call at the end of the year. Good management involves good foresight. The ability to anticipate a result makes a good coach/list manager. They don't need to wait for something to happen to make a decision. They need to envision how the midfield will perform with all available information of the current midfield mix instead of fantasising about things that haven't occurred.

This year is wasted because someone wasn't able to anticipate that the current midfield balance even at full strength was bad.

 

[FlyingV]

Are you trading Parish then ? Does Brodie give us anymore than what Parish gave us on Anzac day ? Does Brodie change the culture ? I have watched him and he is playing good footy and I was wrong on him as far as that goes but I am not sure he fixes our issues and secondly I can understand why we did not look at a midfielder that the big knock was just chases the footy and can not defend. Why do you add another maybe we can turn him around.

I think the coach is obliged to try and work with what we have on the list and Parish and Merrett did show some improvement last year. Shiel and Caldwell where out most of the year so you could not make a call there. So yes they looked at improving what they had. Now they are in a position to make a call at the end of this year.

I’m not for one second saying we are trading Parish. I’m not for one second saying Brodie changes our culture. Read what I’m saying. What a waste of time of a discussion…

 

[Call Me Cake]

Talk to the coach for midfield and attack.

It's not just the execution letting us down, it's our entire reliance on it as plan A, plan B and plan C

 

[yodellinhank]

Are you trading Parish then ? Does Brodie give us anymore than what Parish gave us on Anzac day ? Does Brodie change the culture ? I have watched him and he is playing good footy and I was wrong on him as far as that goes but I am not sure he fixes our issues and secondly I can understand why we did not look at a midfielder that the big knock was just chases the footy and can not defend. Why do you add another maybe we can turn him around.

I think the coach is obliged to try and work with what we have on the list and Parish and Merrett did show some improvement last year. Shiel and Caldwell where out most of the year so you could not make a call there. So yes they looked at improving what they had. Now they are in a position to make a call at the end of this year.

Brodie @ 190cm & 88kgs would probably add something to the mix we're lacking?

 

[yaco55]

The team has had issues with full ground defence for two years - We started this year poorly when it came to conceding scored from our defensive half, especially D50 - What's happened in the last two weeks is the coaching team has tried to shore up this part of the game by having too many midfielders fold back, which is then magnified by them moving the ball indirectly and slowly to prevent turnovers.

Coaches need to go back to the plan from round one and have confidence that full ground defence will work more effectively - Sometimes I think the back six and the three defensive midfielders are given too much grace by all and sundry - You should be able to defend and cut off scores from your defensive fifty if you are adhering to a system - You need to back the system or the rest of the game falls apart.

 

[yaco55]

It's madness to suggest trading out Parish for Brodie - Think you need to take a break.

 

[Bombers36]

I think one of the main reasons we are shit is we are unprepared to make tough calls on players. And right now a few need to be made;-

Heppell- great guy and servant of the club - but not the future. Get him to 200 then drop him and make Ridley captain
Stringer - 28 now and with his injury/ weight issues needs time out now even surgery if required to try get his body right. Reality is he might only have 1 more year in him
Baldwin - why are we recruiting guys who have had 2 knee recos? Can’t run at standard required for AFL reserves player only
Hurley - please retire - loved him in his prime but is so far past it it’s not funny - taking a list spot for no reason
Smith - knees cooked - go annoy umpires in the reserves
Waterman - another forward without zip/pace. Yes he can kick goals but doesn’t get involved enough and is a one trick pony break glass depth option only- cut at end of year
Tippa - sadly finished at AFL level - make him our indigenous liaison in 2023


May seem like harsh calls some of these but we all know they are true. We need a good clean out and refresh - use draft picks on inside mids and key forward prospects and buy some experienced players to support the youth we have coming through. After nearly 20 years of not making finals it’s time for some tough calls


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[ant555]

Brodie @ 190cm & 88kgs would probably add something to the mix we're lacking?

A bloke that is 6kg heavier than Parish that does the same thing.

 

[ant555]

The coach has to work with what his got, but the list managers chose to work with what we have. How can we, bigfooty posters that are not professionals, see what supposed professionals cannot?

Who believed a midfield of Shiel, Caldwell, McGrath, Parish and Merrett was good enough? Again, you're giving them the easy way out by saying they are in a position to make a call at the end of the year. Good management involves good foresight. The ability to anticipate a result makes a good coach/list manager. They don't need to wait for something to happen to make a decision. They need to envision how the midfield will perform with all available information of the current midfield mix instead of fantasising about things that haven't occurred.

This year is wasted because someone wasn't able to anticipate that the current midfield balance even at full strength was bad.

Everyone knows we need a different type of midfielder. What we do not need is more list fillers.
At the end of last year we had our 5 midfielders on contracts with varied lengths so unless they where trading any of them that was locked in. They made an approach to one young midfielder who they did not get. They drafted an inside midfielder that ended up being available but they where looking to draft one anyway.
Good management also involves trying to improve what you have. It does not always come off but they have guys on contracts that have to play and also have to work on improving them.
The fact that they have looked at various midfielders in the last two years shows they know the issue.

 

[JayJ20]

Everyone knows we need a different type of midfielder. What we do not need is more list fillers.
At the end of last year we had our 5 midfielders on contracts with varied lengths so unless they where trading any of them that was locked in. They made an approach to one young midfielder who they did not get. They drafted an inside midfielder that ended up being available but they where looking to draft one anyway.
Good management also involves trying to improve what you have. It does not always come off but they have guys on contracts that have to play and also have to work on improving them.
The fact that they have looked at various midfielders in the last two years shows they know the issue.

I really don't care about what they are looking at. I care about results. Improving what they have only works when the balance is right. If the balance isn't right, then internal improvement won't really do much because we'd still end up with an undersized and unbalanced midfield.

Again, you're being way too easy on them when you say that we had 5 midfielders on contracts with varied lengths. How did we get 5 similar sized midfielders on contracts with varied lengths? How did we get the current midfield mix? Is it not the list managers that put this midfield together? You have this strange perspective that we somehow forget everything that happened prior to 2021 when we've been saying the same thing since before even Woosha came.
I don't care about what they attempted to do. Is Dunkley still a Dogs players? Yes he is. So our list management team deserve no credit for chasing Dunkley when he has nothing to do with our premiership hopes given he isn't on the list. What DID they do? What HAVE they done? Who put us in the current position? Those are the questions I care about.

The reality is that the've failed to build an adequate list. As far as I'm concerned, we have enough evidence to remove Dodoro and any other person responsible for our current list and chase a list manager with a proven record.

 

[Mercurial89]

Can we also not ignore the fact that the defence last year was shit as well? What has changed was our offence covered up some of those cracks and everyone jumped up and down thinking we were improving.
We had a soft draw on the run home and an over reliance on certain players playing absolut blinders to get us over the line.

Second year blues, an attempt to really focus on protecting ourselves from mistakes has blunted our movement and some big smacks by top teams have wrecked the confidence.
Throw in injuries to key pieces (two great role players in Snelling and Langford, stringer and Merrett missing) our lack of small forwards to apply any pressure (they start the pressure in the forward line allowing the rest of the team to get set) the lack of a real forward line in general aside from Wright.

That is why we are shit.
Those things wont stay the same and are far more relevant than
who the CEO is,
how long the list manager (who has had his role changed) has been there
or whether we brought in one bigger mid who couldn't get a game at another club for defensive issues (oh look he fixed them at a club that's going well, in what world have we shown we could fix that issue).

 

[ant555]

I really don't care about what they are looking at. I care about results. Improving what they have only works when the balance is right. If the balance isn't right, then internal improvement won't really do much because we'd still end up with an undersized and unbalanced midfield.

Again, you're being way too easy on them when you say that we had 5 midfielders on contracts with varied lengths. How did we get 5 similar sized midfielders on contracts with varied lengths? How did we get the current midfield mix? Is it not the list managers that put this midfield together? You have this strange perspective that we somehow forget everything that happened prior to 2021 when we've been saying the same thing since before even Woosha came.
I don't care about what they attempted to do. Is Dunkley still a Dogs players? Yes he is. So our list management team deserve no credit for chasing Dunkley when he has nothing to do with our premiership hopes given he isn't on the list. What DID they do? What HAVE they done? Who put us in the current position? Those are the questions I care about.

The reality is that the've failed to build an adequate list. As far as I'm concerned, we have enough evidence to remove Dodoro and any other person responsible for our current list and chase a list manager with a proven record.

There is crossover in what you are saying. Yes the issues are from building the wrong list profile. I have been saying that for five years.
You are not wrong with a lot of points.
You say I am going easy but I am looking at as a supporter that knows we are years away from fixing the issues we have created.
I admit I have the advantage of having some good AFL contacts from outside of Essendon that work in the recruiting / list management side of thing so I hear a lot more than the average punter.
I m not going easy. I am just seeing everything in front of me.
IMO we do not need to be e sifting through other peoples trash . That is why you do when you top up.
I can only say what I know about Hewitt. People can take that or leave it.
What you say about Dunkley is incorrect. He wanted to come . The Dogs refused to trade. They rejected our offer and did not even put in a counter offer. The just said No. Not dealing
You say waste of a year by trying to find some internal improvement despite the fact we need to improve the list balance.
Is it a waste?
We get a better idea of the current list . We are getting game time into Hobbs and others .

 

[ant555]

We actually need to have what is happening now happen. We could top up with fringe players but that is just a few more band aids .
Things are now out in the open.

 

[Bjchan13]

Strength and conditioning