View Full Version : OMIGOD!! Freo beat Geelong - I feel better now
Valve Bounce
11 Apr 2010, 22:10
I was in deep misery after last week's loss to Freo, as I expected them to be a bottom 4 team. Now that they beat Geelong, then maybe our form was better than I thought. We did gift a few goals to Carlton through some shocking play, so if we can improve by getting rid of some really, really stupid mistakes, who knows??
Skeeta Olly
11 Apr 2010, 22:13
prince.gif
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?p=17389108#post17389108
AndyLesPaul
11 Apr 2010, 22:49
As if it takes a win against Geelong for you guys to see that Freo are a side to be reckoned with this season.
Maybe not top-4 , but it looks like they're in the Finals for sure if they keep this up.
I think Harvey has Freo going in the right direction.
HOWEVER: Geelong coming off a bruising encounter with Hawthorn. Geelong without big men in Ottens and Mooney. Travel to WA and shorter break (Geelong played on Monday) and Freo won by a goal.
So Kudos to Freo, they are playing a GREAT brand of footy this year so far and are doing what the bombers should be doing.. moving forwards. But lets not give them the premiership cup just yet..
Gee that Harvey bloke can coach :rolleyes:
bipolarbeaR
11 Apr 2010, 23:45
Ex-Bomber coaches are the best.
I don't know where we are at the moment.
Guess we find out over the next 4 weeks.
Ex-Bomber coaches are the best.
I don't know where we are at the moment.
Guess we find out over the next 4 weeks.
Do you get to watch a lot of games other than Bombers? I watch 7-8 games each week.. gives you some perspective of where we are at.
You can only play the team opposite you but Carlton are a shambles on Saturdays performance. Very few sides will give us that space, particularly forward. They didn't drop numbers back which made our run and carry look great. They also didn't kill us on turnovers which was nice! Top sides will rip us new ones based on the form of the past few weeks. In particular St Kilda, Collingwood, Brisbane, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Sydney are all flying ATM (and Freo looks good). Hawthorn are 1-2 but took it right up to WB and Geelong and I think will beat us easily.
You are right though that we will know more in 4 weeks but for me it isn't just the W/L results its how we play the game, how we run out the game and how our skills stack up. Right now we are not even close in those 3 areas to the top teams which worries me.
Do you get to watch a lot of games other than Bombers? I watch 7-8 games each week.. gives you some perspective of where we are at.
You can only play the team opposite you but Carlton are a shambles on Saturdays performance. Very few sides will give us that space, particularly forward. They didn't drop numbers back which made our run and carry look great.Waite played as a loose man in defence for the entire fourth quarter.
bipolarbeaR
12 Apr 2010, 00:08
I watch every match every weekend rines, I tape them if I go out etc, I haven't missed an Essendon game since first year high school ('99) I have had Austar (foxtel) since then as I have a North Melbourne family and they don't make it onto TV most weekends.
I more so mean that this is a very strange ladder, I don't think it's the actual ladder, I also don't believe we have played to more than about 75% of our potential.
Hurley should be the difference I believe.
I was not meaning to imply you didn't watch games.. I was just curious and some people have a life outside footy.. weird as that seems!!
So surely you would agree that the defensive intensity of coll vs st Kilda and the haw vs WBD and then again today with freo vs geel were clearly a step above?!
Waite played as a loose man in defence for the entire fourth quarter.
Defensive pressure is more defined by how many numbers from the midfield come back these days whomb. The "spare man" in defence is more a stop gap... for examples see St Kilda, Geelong, Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn. There are at least 20 bodies in the F50... and more zones played.
Carlton was happy enough to go a pretty much man on man structure. This allow us to win clear ball through the middle and then start to hit up some targets in the F50
BABYBOMBERS2007
12 Apr 2010, 00:35
So if Freo wins the Premiership, does that mean we get 3rd?
bipolarbeaR
12 Apr 2010, 00:55
So surely you would agree that the defensive intensity of coll vs st Kilda and the haw vs WBD and then again today with freo vs geel were clearly a step above?!
Uh yeah, but these are the top 6 teams IMO.
I am saying are we low end top 8 or bottom?
I think the introduction of our plan B is great, we just need to know when to execute it and it will also help us make better decisions under pressure.
It will take about 6 rounds to have it working well.
Are you stating that you don't think I have a life outside watching football?
That's odd mate, I actually have Transient Insomnia and that is why sometimes I am still posting at 5am despite having Uni in 4 hours time.
Uh yeah, but these are the top 6 teams IMO.
I am saying are we low end top 8 or bottom?
I think the introduction of our plan B is great, we just need to know when to execute it and it will also help us make better decisions under pressure.
It will take about 6 rounds to have it working well.
Are you stating that you don't think I have a life outside watching football?
That's odd mate, I actually have Transient Insomnia and that is why sometimes I am still posting at 5am despite having Uni in 4 hours time.
I would find it stranger if you did have a life outside football. I find it curious that anyone can resist watching every game!
Well yes the teams I mentioned are top 6.. then you add Sydney and Brisbane to the mix who have been good.. and suddenly the top 8 is full.. :(
This is probably my biggest point.. how can people say we are going forwards when realistically we were in the 8-12 bracket last year and so far on exposed form we have probably slipped to the 10-12 bracket this year..
Is it safe to say we agree that thus far this season our game plan, intensity and skill level are not such to challenge for top 6?? And I have serious concerns that we are in that dangerous "middling" area where we will win enough to avoid scrutiny or changes but never enough to challenge for top 4 and then flags...
It is all way too early.
Are Sydney a top 8 lock? They have beaten Adelaide and Richmond - both those teams it seems are easier beats right now than Melbourne.
Brisbane have looked ordinary against seemingly ordinary West Coast and Carlton sides, then smashed a Port who can be as bad or good as anyone on their day. This is all with Brown flying.
Sure, we lost to 2 teams, but arguably they are as good as any (form wise) in the top 4 right now. Further to that, we had large parts of dominance against all sides, especially Carlton, but our forward structure is a definite work in progress and werent giving us reward for our effort. Perhaps we cant sustain it for 4 quarters right now, but in no game this year have I felt we are totally outclassed by what we have met.
Underrate Freo all you like, but they have arguably as good as any KPs and Ruck (sandi) going around. They have a very, very nice team developing there, which many have totally ignored for some reason.
It is still too early to see where we are - clearly Knights has Hurley earmarked as the key forward...Neagle and Laycock seem on the outer. Williams has taken him time to settle in - Gumby a work in progress...it may take a season of results going backwards, to get this forwardline to work. Once it does, you go forward 2 or even 3 steps.
Im also not sure the match committee has been selecting the best 22 for our game style either. Perhaps eye brows were raised on Saturday night - but too many of the same old isnt doing any favours at all on the field.
Valve Bounce
12 Apr 2010, 11:23
Are you stating that you don't think I have a life outside watching football?
That's odd mate, I actually have Transient Insomnia and that is why sometimes I am still posting at 5am despite having Uni in 4 hours time.
First of all, if you have insomnia, get yourself sorted. Melatonen is good and not habit forming, ( it also slows the development of Alzheimer and is supposed to be a cancer fighter, although this is not your situation). A pillow rolled up under your neck might also work.
But if you are going to uni, you need to focus on your studies! If you can't sleep, then pick up a book and study! There is plenty of time for footy after you graduate from Uni and gone down to the dealership to buy your first Porsche. I know I probably sound like your parents, but at least if this is coming from a stranger, albeit an Essendon supporter, you might listen for once.
Slattery_20
12 Apr 2010, 11:25
Check out all the Cats, Bombers and Crows supporters talking them up on the main boards.
Tee hee.
Valve Bounce
12 Apr 2010, 11:27
Sure, we lost to 2 teams, but arguably they are as good as any (form wise) in the top 4 right now.
Also, during the first two games, our guys made some very silly and elementary mistakes; not that it was that much better against Carlton. Kicking out to their full forward standing ten metres away isn't the smartest thing to do.
kelvin_sheedy
12 Apr 2010, 11:34
I feel better too. Seeing a bottom 4 rabble of a club pass us in quick time makes me feel cockahoop.
As long as we keep up the mid/lower table mediocrity then I guess we must be on the right track.
or has the competition slept on Freo Kelvin?
They have a great spine in which they have developed around. In this area, we are still years behind, yet have the raw talent to develop.
How many clubs have the quality of Tarrant (best FB in the league?), McPharlin, Sandilands, Johnson and Pavlich?
it is an extremely impressive bunch.
When looking at their side for our game, I remember thinking Geezus, this side looks so much better on paper than they are in games. And now, they seem to be putting it together on the field - having built around this spine.
Our spine will be awesome, i have little doubt, but it is still too young, especially up forward.
The only key forward we have played this year is a guy who had played 5 games in 3 years. Totally different kettle of fish.
And, mind you, with a half functioning forwardline we could have been 3-0 right now. I know its coulda, woulda, shoulda, but we have hardly been outclassed in either loss.
Valve Bounce
12 Apr 2010, 11:52
And, mind you, with a half functioning forwardline .............
...................and fewer silly, silly mistakes ....................
...................and fewer silly, silly mistakes ....................
definitely.
we seem to create mistakes out of nothing, uncanny ability.
kelvin_sheedy
12 Apr 2010, 12:08
How many clubs have the quality of Tarrant (best FB in the league?), McPharlin, Sandilands, Johnson and Pavlich?
Tarrant = Pears
Fletcher > McPharlin
Pavlich > any of our forwards
Sandilands > rucks
Hooker, Dempsey, Monfries, whoever > Johnson.
They weren' a sleeping giant. They've recruited well, found the balance, playing to a consistent gameplan and reaping the rewards.
Most clubs can achieve the same. It takes a bit of nous, astute recruiting and a winning mentality to do it. Harvey has that and he looks to be transforming the club brilliantly.
You could see it from the first NAB cup game. They have been playing a good brand of footy and keeping it consistent. They have Palmer to come into the side and we have.... err, not much.
We've been chopping and changing every week with every forward combination there is. The only thing we've settled on is defence and it's no wonder that it's looking the best part of our game.
no matter which way you compare it, they are not a bottom 4 rabble club, not until they implode anyway :p
Our problem is the forwardline - and lack of return is magnifying the deficiences of the whole side. We are not getting the right return for effort.
We are not settled there, as is now obvious the guy Knights wants there has ben unavailable. And the other guy has missed 2 years. We are so far behind Freo is this area (with Pavlich alone) it isnt funny. We need a bit more time.
Oh, and Id safely say Hurley > Palmer.
Any day of any week.
Ummm ... don't know about you guys but I tipped Freo to win this week so yeah.
The performance against Carlton was probably worse than our effort agains the Cats but better than against Freo. We are building though and I can see our attacking gameplan winning a premiership but I think it will need someone to play a Luke Hodge role across the back. After the game against Carlton, NLM could very well be that man with Pears, Hooker and Fletcher taking direct opponents.
bacon buster
12 Apr 2010, 13:18
freo is the flavour of the month at the moment. they are playing well, but it's early days. i can't remember us playing worse in the past 3 years than against freo last week?
personally, i believe we'll finish above them on the ladder this year.
Skeeta Olly
12 Apr 2010, 15:02
freo is the flavour of the month at the moment. they are playing well, but it's early days. i can't remember us playing worse in the past 3 years than against freo last week?
personally, i believe we'll finish above them on the ladder this year.
Kangaroos last year?
Freo were also smashed by injury last year. All the teams that have dominated over the last 10 years generally have a good run with injury in particular with their best players.
I wouldn't downplay Freo's performance thus far. Geelong may have tired abit toward the end of yesterdays game but they were also given an arm chair ride from the umps and Ablett/Chapman were in white hot form. Ottens was a big loss but I don't think Mooney would have done more than Podsiadally. The loss of Scarlett and Tarrant cancel each other out.
bacon buster
12 Apr 2010, 16:56
The loss of Scarlett and Tarrant cancel each other out.
:eek:
i agree with most of what you said, apart from that.
however, it is a long season. freo's performance should not be played down. there is always 1 team every year that exceeds expectations at the start, and that is freo right now.
interesting to see how they go for the rest of the season.