View Full Version : Which year hurts more? 2006 or 2010?
We finished in 15th spot in 2006 winning just the 3 1/2 games for the year.
Obviously Lloyd going down in Round 3 didn't help.
Currently sitting in 11th spot, losing the last 6, losing to the last team on the ladder, yet seeing the potential that we can beat teams like St.Kilda, Hawthorn, Western Bulldogs & Carlton. Competitive against Geelong (round 1), competitive against Sydney (Round 10), competitive against a raging hot Hawthorn (Round 13)
To be honest, 2010 hurts 10x more.
B-Bomber
18 Jul 2010, 21:41
I agree. 2010 is definitely worse -- it's all about expectations vs performance. I had pretty good hopes for us this season to make the finals and improve on last year considering how our injuries haven't been as bad as the last two years.
But it hasn't happened. :(
2006 - 15 games without a win
2006 - 15 games without a win
I understand that but as B-Bomber said how expectations were so high from getting into the finals last year and we were expected to improve. We haven't, if anything, gone backwards.
rhysman
18 Jul 2010, 22:01
This year is a mile worse, mainly because of expectations which were primarily set by the coach. We were expected to improve again this year after falling over the line for finals last year. We have had a couple of key injuries - Pears and Hille but Hille missed all of last year and we still had a reasonable year. This year is an unmitigated disaster. Name one player who has improved? Selection is all over the place, Hurley has been thrown back then forward then back, Williams was given a crazy 3 year deal and has played 4 games for 5 goals, Neagle was touted as the key forward to pick up the slack from Lloyd and was dropped after 1 game and Houli just cant get a game. I could go on and on.
2006 although statistically worse was explainable. We had a mountain of injuries, not the least of which was Lloyd who was the best forward in the game then. We were coming off a much lower base in 2005 and expectations were nowhere near as optimistic as this year. In my opinion this is the clubs lowest point since the mid 70s.
We had more than half out team out for most of 2006 i remb we named 3 Emergency PLayer's in our very last game and even one of those were injured but you need to list 3 or you get fined.
2010 is Defo Worse............ I still Love my Team:heart::heart::heart:
EVERLAST
18 Jul 2010, 22:46
We won't finish bottom, Port are struggling moreso than we are at present if thats possible and WCE still have to find another win by season's end.
Bottom 3 though, we're arguably certainties.
Port are just as bad as us.
Brisbane are just as bad as us.
Richmond's peak has probably ended, just like ours has. We're still a much, much better side overall.
West Coast won't win more than another game.
windyhill
18 Jul 2010, 22:52
`06 for me, we were absolutely terrible that year, only carlton going close to one of the all-time worst sides to ever play the game kept us off the bottom.
We have played some reasonable football this year, `06 was lamentable.
We were unadultarated crap in 2006.
Had much higher expectations in 2006 than 2010.
This year for sure. I can't even remember 06 tbh but I remember losing interest during that losing streak and didn't care how we went. I knew we were young so I didn't really worry about the results.
This year I was expecting finals or at least progress in the younger lads but we've gone backwards and our club is a joke on and off the field. FML.
bombre-boy
19 Jul 2010, 01:38
2010...even though we lost 14 in a row in 2006, this year has seen the team actually get worse, and not have the amount of injuries in 2006..
As in 2006 hopefuly a coaching change is not far away (preferrably 1 years sooner)..
gaelictiogar
19 Jul 2010, 05:58
The way it works is you become almost immune to disappointment. This will probably be the worst year for you even if you flatline for a few years because you actually thought you might push on from last year.
We have essentially had three decades of it and believe me it becomes normal. I tell you you won't feel as bad in future even if you flatline. It is the dashed hope that hurts more than the failure. 2002 was our worst year since 2001.
dave_27
19 Jul 2010, 06:29
2006 was atrocious. There wasnt even anything to look forward to, the side that was losing everyweek was very experienced and ageing.
Port are just as bad as us.
Brisbane are just as bad as us.
Richmond's peak has probably ended, just like ours has. We're still a much, much better side overall.
West Coast won't win more than another game.
What is the point to this post? Just because other teams are bad doesn't mean we should accept it. Nor does it mean it hurts any less. Knights' aimed for a finals win this season. We're not going to get close to finals this year.
It hurts way more than 2006 because we expected so much more. 2006 was a year which we expected very little, we knew it was a rebuilding period, we knew that we were bad.
Coming into the 2010 season we expected to at the very least make the finals. We had a full side to choose including getting back Gumbleton and Hille from long term injuries. Yes, we lost Lloyd, Lovett and Lucas but lets be honest only Lovett would have made a difference to this side.
Eleven 38
19 Jul 2010, 07:42
both seasons didnt have Lloyd,
aatleast now theres kids that are in the side to replace him...
TheDon35
19 Jul 2010, 08:17
Easily this year.
2006 I hoped was the bottoming ot of the club after years of negligence with regard to list management by the later day Sheedy crew.
Unfortunately our white knight came along.... 'bullish' about the list, instant on the fact that we had 'elite' midfielders such as Brent Stanton on our list.....
There are positives to come out of the year. Collyer, Melksham, Zaka, Gumby playing football. Probably the biggest positive in terms of our overall progression is that it is now clear that the Ignighter should only have 6 odd games in charge left and someone who understands coaching can come in and clean up the mess.
I reckon a bad season is a bad season, and at the time they all feel horrible and all feel like the worse.
2006 was an older list so I think I expected a consistent performance, a 6 to 10 finish on the ladder. Injuries derailed that season and we dropped off big time. Our list depth was exposed and that was a bit depressing, the future looked bleak as we relied on the older brigade too much.
2010 has been ordinary from a development perspective. I like everyone had high hopes for this season given the progress made last year with a largely young list (Lucas didn't count last season, the reliance on Lloyd was not massive). The fact we've gone backwards is what makes this season so bad. Our depth is, at least to me, ok but we are not getting anything out of the list. The selection merry go round has not helped either, and it has seemed when we get key players back we lose others to injury or suspension.
Right now our confidence is shattered, the intensity is gone, our skills are deplorable, and based on the last few games all semblence of a game plan is out the window. The issue is I have seen all of these things in reverse in games against St Kilda, Bulldogs etc.
I can't tell you which is worse for me, this year or 2006. Right now 2010 is fresh in my mind so it seems worse, but I know that I thought 2006 was as bad as it got too.
What is the point to this post? Just because other teams are bad doesn't mean we should accept it. Nor does it mean it hurts any less. Knights' aimed for a finals win this season. We're not going to get close to finals this year.Sorry, I probably should've quoted the post I was responding to:We won't finish bottom, Port are struggling moreso than we are at present if thats possible and WCE still have to find another win by season's end.
Bottom 3 though, we're arguably certainties.I was just stating why I didn't think we'd finish bottom 3.
Little off-topic, I know.
This year. One minute we are beating StKilda, Bulldogs, Hawthorn and the next we are losing to the bottom side in Melbourne.
Haven't been this down about Essendon since Round 6 1981 when we lost to Footscray to male it something like 1-5. Then we won 15 in a row to make the finals. Where is Neale Daniher when you need him.
Call Me Cake
19 Jul 2010, 12:54
I can't even remember 06 tbh
Really?
I knew we were young
Yeah, you were right. You really don't remember...
table tennis
19 Jul 2010, 17:24
This year hurts more.
We knew we were going to be bad in 2006.
We were supposed to improve on last year, if you listen to what the club says.
Darealrath
19 Jul 2010, 18:11
`06 for me, we were absolutely terrible that year, only carlton going close to one of the all-time worst sides to ever play the game kept us off the bottom.
We have played some reasonable football this year, `06 was lamentable.
Agree 100%.
That draw with the blues when I thought we'd finally win one totally crushed me.
This year is worse for all the reasons already expressed but to me, mainly, because although 2006 was a bad year we were still led by someone who had proven again and again that he could rebuild the club (as he had already done several times). Now we're led by a dud who couldn't coach if he's life depended on it. So, this year, there is no light ahead :(
OzBomber
19 Jul 2010, 18:29
2010. Mainly because I've been to every single game in Victoria whereas in 2006 I didn't go to nearly as many games.
However, that win against the Lions I attended to and it was probably the loudest I've ever sung the song.
dave_27
19 Jul 2010, 19:48
Agree 100%.
That draw with the blues when I thought we'd finally win one totally crushed me.
Well said. Never walked out of a ground so dumb founded and empty. It was not anger or sadness like a finals loss just complete emptyness.
The next week though against Brisbane was a complete opposite, atmosphere was like a final in that last quarter when we put Brisbane to the sword.
Ludwig van Bertstare
19 Jul 2010, 19:55
2010 is worse just because of the expectation alone and how so many of our young players expected to take the next step look like they've given up.
Smyth94
19 Jul 2010, 20:10
2010 is worse just because of the expectation alone and how so many of our young players expected to take the next step look like they've given up.
What makes you give that impression? What because we've lost a couple of games in a row?
Big difference between "giving up" and lack of confidence, which is basically what I put our recent form slump down to.
Anyway, back to the original question - I can't believe how many people are hurting more than 2006.
2006 was a total abomination - forget the injuries we had, we only finished second last because we were lucky that Carlton were going through their darkest period of all time; we had ageing stars with less than a handful of promising kids coming through; we ended up losing something like 15 games in a row FFS!! We had blokes like Bolton, Campo, Mal Michael etc plugging holes in our list - experienced journeymen who were taking our club nowhere. That was easily the worst year I had experienced because I honestly could not see where we were heading as a club, or where our talent was coming from.
FFS only 6 weeks ago we had beaten the likes of Hawthorn, Dogs & St. Kilda - I know this list is capable of playing some amazing footy when it all clicks - we have one of the youngest and least experienced list in the competition. At least I can see a future with this list, I believe in it, it has plenty of talent and it has proven that it can match it with the best.
My only worry is the development of the talent that we do have. That is Essendon's biggest challenge - whether it be Knights and his crew or another coaching panel, I don't care.