View Full Version : A good win BUT...
bruce29
24 May 2009, 09:58
Am I the only one concerned that the worst club in the competition dominated us for the first half and led us by nearly 3 goals?
These boys have to start playing 4 quarters. Its true teams like Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond probably won't punish you for it, but if we serve that up against Geelong next week, we'll be down by 50 by half time.
Not the only one concerned.
It sound strange but that was the most disapointed i have felt after a 40 point win ever.
The skill level was bloody terrible for the whole game.
wasn't a good win by any stretch of the imagination
Can Opener
24 May 2009, 10:07
Noone else thinks that richmond had a red hot dip at it, and fell away??
Ben the Gooner
24 May 2009, 10:08
On the other hand, good teams win on their days off.
I thought we were abysmal, but on the balance of the match deserved the win.
Agreed, yes it was a big win - in terms of margin - but I wasn't very satisfied with the win. How in the world we managed only to be 3 goals down through the first half baffles me.
That first half was awful, and against Geelong, we can't afford a very poor start like that.
AndyLesPaul
24 May 2009, 10:09
Am I the only one concerned that the worst club in the competition dominated us for the first half and led us by nearly 3 goals?
These boys have to start playing 4 quarters. Its true teams like Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond probably won't punish you for it, but if we serve that up against Geelong next week, we'll be down by 50 by half time.
Skill Level was scrappy in the first half, not much was going our way, even the ball was bouncing away from Essendon players.
Hopefully Knights give the best training sessions of his life, added with the fact that noone thinks we can get over Geelong, well we'll show them :D
bomberfan101
24 May 2009, 10:10
I was never worried about losing the match, as the dons have been awesome after half time in most of their matches this year, and Richmond have been poor. However, i was appalled at some of the skill errors we made in the first half! It wasn't one or two guys making the mistakes either - it was the majority of the team :o Hope Knighter can address this issue this week with the guys, cause we will need to come out ready to play to have any hope against geelong.
AndyLesPaul
24 May 2009, 10:10
Agreed, yes it was a big win - in terms of margin - but I wasn't very satisfied with the win. How in the world we managed only to be 3 goals down through the first half baffles me.
That first half was awful, and against Geelong, we can't afford a very poor start like that.
Answered your own question? :p
Andrew_5
24 May 2009, 10:12
I agree Ant,
But after this weeks debacle with Wallace and the players there was only one thing that they could do and come out firing..
Our palyers thought they had it won, and it would be an easy game, until they got the spray they deserved at half time...
anyway 4 points and a bit of percentage was good at the end of the game, keeps us in contention for the top 8
I agree, felt very flat even though "they say" when you win well after playing poorly, it is a good sign.
Listening to aw during the game, I cant remember who said he his word from his essendon contact was Essendon were very sore and sorry after the St. Kilda game and struggled all week to get ready for this one.
Playing such a young side, this inconsistancy will happen.
We were destroyed in clearances and 6 of their 9 first half goals were directly from our turnovers (and 2 I remember at the end of the first were direct centre clearances - 2 in 90 seconds). To be able to work through that at half time, then have the boys be able to change the flow in those 2 key areas after half time is a maturing sign.
And Richmond were up for this one, havnt seen that much passion from them that they went into the qtr time huddle with this season yet. They had everything to play for, came out breathing firing then got comprehensively beaten after half time.
Not all that bad, just disapointing to see the turnovers creep back in.
But right now, its not so much where we are, but where we are going which is the key.
bOmBeR_BoY1
24 May 2009, 10:17
Nope. I don't agree.
Richmond were ALWAYS going to come out last night and show a lot of spirit & heart after the week they had. It's some unrealistic Essendon supporters tipping us by big margins that has set in this sort of disappointment in winning by "only" 40 points. Who would of taken a 40 point win last night at Half Time? Pretty much all of us.
They were 1-7 before the game last night, yes, but this is the same side that ran Geelong to 3 goals at Shell Stadium and Port Adelaide to 3 points in Adelaide. Apart from their Round 1 performance against Carlton, they have been in ALL of their games. Our 40 point margin last night was their second biggest loss of the year.
12.7 to 3.5 after Half Time not only showed our superior fitness, but our hunger for the ball increased and we looked good in all areas. There are, of course, bigger fish to fry this year.
Answered your own question? :p
Haha, yeh I guess. I mean if I was a Richmond supporter itwould of been: How in the world we managed only to be 3 goals up through the first half baffles me.
:p
It's some unrealistic Essendon supporters tipping us by big margins that has set in this sort of disappointment in winning by "only" 40 points. Who would of taken a 40 point win last night at Half Time? Pretty much all of us.
Yes I agree our second half was great, and a 40 point win is a great result.
But, it was just our first half performance that I was very dissappointed in.
They had loose players around the ground, we were getting smashed in the clearances, we were getting ouplayed in our defence, we weren't able to lay tackles.
And yes, Richmond came out firing, but I was upset that we couldn't step our won game up. But then again, I guess maybe some credit should be given that we did stay close in the first half and didn't fall apart.
DonMania#5
24 May 2009, 10:30
They were always going to come out firing with what has happend the past week..
Noddy Holder
24 May 2009, 10:31
Not concerned at all for reasons that others have pointed out.
- We played our worst footy of the year in the first half.
- Richmond have been doing ok this year. Almost beat Port and took it up to Geelong.
- Certain teams always match up and play well against certain other teams. Richmond always seem to play well against us no matter the ladder positions.
kelvin_sheedy
24 May 2009, 10:44
Initially I was disappointed but on reflection we should think of it as a good win by a finals side.
They had Port on toast last week and should have won so they came in playing ok footy. They were bashed in the media this week and came out breathing fire. Once they couldn't sustain the intensity we belted the crap out of them.
HighFlyer
24 May 2009, 10:46
Am I the only one concerned that the worst club in the competition dominated us for the first half and led us by nearly 3 goals?
These boys have to start playing 4 quarters. Its true teams like Collingwood, Carlton and Richmond probably won't punish you for it, but if we serve that up against Geelong next week, we'll be down by 50 by half time.
This is Richmonds problem not yours ... we did it to Geelong for a half to lead at 3/4 time, sydney for a half, brisbane for a half 7 goals to 1 ...., port adelaide for a half and north for 3/4's and you guys for a half.
Tigers problem is that they don't have the mental discipline to do it for more than a half ... Game is 4 quarters. Essendon improved in areas that had to and then believed in themselves. Starting to look really good.
Shane Hird
24 May 2009, 10:54
Yer, lets find a negative about winning. Lets ponder how Richmond kicked those first half goals.....:rolleyes:
Do you think Geelong are sitting around today wondering how the Bulldogs kicked 6 in row and nearly beat them?
No. They won and now they move on to next week's game.
Andrew_5
24 May 2009, 11:04
Lets face it, everyone is somewhat disapointed (inluding myself) because we played a side that was 1 -7 and we are on the up, and improving with every game, they came and smashed us in the centre in the first half and we didn't look like winning..
George Washington
24 May 2009, 11:28
Do you think Geelong are sitting around today wondering how the Bulldogs kicked 6 in row and nearly beat them?
No.
Err.. Yes. Of course they would be, the would analyse exactly what the bulldogs did that no one else has done in the last 50 games, and analyse what they themselves did that they havnt done in the last 50 games. I'm sure there will be plenty of time spent watching repeats of the game down at geelong......
ManWithNoName
24 May 2009, 11:30
We played like crap and won by 7 goals. I'll take that. But this was always the danger game. So I'm relieved it's over and that we got the 4 points. We can only improve for next week.
We played like crap and won by 7 goals. I'll take that. But this was always the danger game. So I'm relieved it's over and that we got the 4 points. We can only improve for next week.
Ditto just glad we got the win ....
Knights highlighted the fact this week that besides the Hawks game we have been slow to start.
We didn't get a 4 quarter effort this week and still won.
Next week without a 4 quarter effort we wont get close.
On the other hand, good teams win on their days off.
That was the stance I took, we weren't great, but we got the job done and ended up with a pretty healthy winning margin.
Pulling up after big efforts has been an issue all season, it was an issue last night, and we won by 7 goals.
Can't really complain too much. Let's hope we're up for next week.
Mad Bomber Sean
24 May 2009, 12:43
With such a young group I am not suprised by how we played so badly in the first half.
A sign of growing maturity to bounce back in the 2nd half & play the kind of footy we want to play.
Ultimately a wins a win and I am happy to see us win.
But I think talk about finals is premature.
Bombermania
24 May 2009, 12:55
A Win is a Win and whilst I was expecting Richmond to come out firing but still that first half was disappointing.
For some reasons we play better against the higher placed teams, maybe the reason for that is they ostly play hard running attacking footy that suits our style of play.
Clubs like North and Richmond play a more closed down type of footy that limits our run.
For some reason we have been slow started all seasons but the positive thing is we finished off strongly, at Three Quarter Time I felt if we were a good side we needed to win by six to eight goals and that's what we did.
I am happy we got the points and the percentage is healthy lets just look forward to this week in the knowledge that Geelong are the best side in the comp and we need to play as we did against Hawthorn and St Kilda if we are a chance.
Bombermania
24 May 2009, 12:57
Ditto just glad we got the win ....
Knights highlighted the fact this week that besides the Hawks game we have been slow to start.
We didn't get a 4 quarter effort this week and still won.
Next week without a 4 quarter effort we wont get close.
I'm sure we started slowly against Hawthorn, they did kick 1-8 in the first term
Ben the Gooner
24 May 2009, 12:58
To be honest, last night was all about the result.
Read the OP and I think it needs to keep a sense of perspective.
We were always going to be vulnerable this week for two reasons. Firstly, the come down after the St Kilda match (it has happened before this year). Secondly, Richmond was always going to come out like a team possessed. Further, they are not that bad, the took Port to the brink at AAMI and challanged Geelong for three quarters.
Sometimes you just need to find a way to win. Last night was one of those nights. I would say that it was a pleasing win because it shows that the players can win ugly (which is what good sides have to do - obviously we are on the road to becoming a good side) and that we can hold on against the torrent that was Richmond in the first few quarters (we won 1 clearance in the first 20 odd minutes of the match).
I cannot be the only one that thought we were set up for a loss last week given our recent record against Richmond and the media frenzy surrounding the Tigers last week.
What about the games Hooker and Pears had? Pears is the coolest and most composed player I have seen since Mercuri. He is not fazed by anything and makes excellent decisions even though the execution is a work in progress. Hooker has come from the clouds and is our CHB for the next 11 years. Both of them played on smalls for the first time in their careers and were good. They have given the coaching panel massive headaches in the last few weeks (in a good way). Hurley is BOG in the twos and will struggle to get a game (purely because of the structure). Dare I say it, Fletcher might find himself at Bendigo for a few weeks to find touch. Who would have thought that wouldbe the case at the start of the year?
Winderlich and Lovett were the cream that rose to the top and tore the game apart in a way that suggests that we have two front line (A grade) midfielders in the same side for the first time in 6 years.
Dempsey was brilliant last night.
Watson was also great. Monfries was solid and played his role to near perfection.
If we were St Kilda or Geelong it would be different and the OP would be accurate. Given where Essendon is for 2009 I think it has missed the point by a long way.
Big Blow Hard
24 May 2009, 13:02
I agree Ant,
But after this weeks debacle with Wallace and the players there was only one thing that they could do and come out firing..
Our palyers thought they had it won, and it would be an easy game, until they got the spray they deserved at half time...
anyway 4 points and a bit of percentage was good at the end of the game, keeps us in contention for the top 8
Thats about it.
sure, we could have been better, but we could have lost also.
Anyone who thinks Richmond were going to be pushovers last night has no idea. There was NO WAy they were not going to throw everything at us last night, and I think we might be getting ahead of ourselves to think that we are good enough to smash them by more than 40-50 points.
It might be worth remembering Richmond had themselves in a winning position against Geelong,and bar for a brain explosion last week, had Port Adelaide beat. Richmond might have a poor record, but to think they can not play some brilliant football is being stupid.
On top of that, History shows Richmond turn up to play against Essendon, without fail.
I would not read into it too much.
Initially I was disappointed but on reflection we should think of it as a good win by a finals side.
They had Port on toast last week and should have won so they came in playing ok footy. They were bashed in the media this week and came out breathing fire. Once they couldn't sustain the intensity we belted the crap out of them.
Probably could have just quoted this.
AndyLesPaul
24 May 2009, 13:03
Not concerned at all for reasons that others have pointed out.
- We played our worst footy of the year in the first half.
- Richmond have been doing ok this year. Almost beat Port and took it up to Geelong.
- Certain teams always match up and play well against certain other teams. Richmond always seem to play well against us no matter the ladder positions.
Great points. I feel slightly less concerned.
lemon chicken
24 May 2009, 13:24
Fantastic win last night. We are a young side who will be up and down for the rest of the year but last night showed we will win more than we lose. Most games are won/lost in players heads and Richmond showed it in the first half they had everything to play for. They were first to the ball and played with passion whilst we were flat footed. It wasnt till the second half we got any run going through the middle and once it did the floodgates opened. Good sides win those sort of games especially when coming off a finals like game the week before.
bipolarbeaR
24 May 2009, 13:46
If we play that first half against Geelong the game will be dead and buried within the first 15 mins. Simple.
essendon2008
24 May 2009, 13:50
It is a bit of a concern.
Interesting stats so far this season:
Geelong 9 wins, Essendon 5 wins
1st quarters won Geelong 8/9, Essendon 2/9
2nd quarters won Geelong 7/9, Essendon 4/9
3rd quarters won Geelong 6/9, Essendon 7/9
4th quarters won Geelong 6/9, Essendon 5/9
Our second halves, considering only 5 wins, have been superb but that first quarter stat is terrible. Our worst quarter stacks up against Geelong's best quarter. To have any chance against them, a good start is crucial, as many people have already said. Also interesting to see that although Geelong have won 6 third and fourth quarters, when you have won 9 games and haven't lost one, thats a fairly poor stat. Hopefully we can stay even to half time and run over them in the second half.
We were outplayed by a team hell-bent on redemption in the first half.. we then had the maturity to dig deep and come out with a 40pt win... that IS a sign of good things. We were able to regroup and run away with it.
We will get smashed by Geelong next week, just like we got smashed last year. Hopefully however we are able to take some things away from the game and put forward a competitive effort just like with did against the saints.
How smug we are, as essendon supports, to go from bottom four finishes to being disappointed with 40 point wins.. :rolleyes:
AndyLesPaul
24 May 2009, 14:10
We were outplayed by a team hell-bent on redemption in the first half.. we then had the maturity to dig deep and come out with a 40pt win... that IS a sign of good things. We were able to regroup and run away with it. That I agree with.
We will get smashed by Geelong next week, just like we got smashed last year. Hopefully however we are able to take some things away from the game and put forward a competitive effort just like with did against the saints. This, not so much, because we are very much different to the team which lost by 99 points to Geelong in round 2 last year.
How smug we are, as essendon supports, to go from bottom four finishes to being disappointed with 40 point wins.. :rolleyes:
Only because of the first half, because if we do that against Geelong, we're done for. Unless Geelong is extravagantly inaccurate that is.Thats all i have to say about that.
stay true
24 May 2009, 14:30
Well that win was more "season defining" than I thought.
To win by 40 points in a generally poor performance is a very good sign. The Tigers had a real dip and smashed us in the contested ball and won almost every clearance. No coincidence that Jobe had little impact in the first half and when he did get his hands on the ball in the second half we won almost every clearance and had first use so we could exploit them with our pace.
We came off a very tough game against the Saints the week before and that would have an impact on a young team. We soaked it up though and stayed in the game, maybe a bit fortuitously, and ran away with it. A Bombers side of a few years ago would not have.
Disposal was a worry and we're definitely going to have to improve that immensely against the Cats.
Overall I'd say I'm pleased with the win.
I agree with the original OP that the skill level was poor last night.
EFC need to start well against Geelong or they will be blown out of the water.
In saying that, the discipline to stick to the game plan - gives EFC a chance to overrun teams in the second half.
I'm sure we started slowly against Hawthorn, they did kick 1-8 in the first term
Yeah he did state at qt actually.. think the context is there however.
Knights "...maybe only one game , we have started probably at quarter time as good as i would have liked...."