Review Round 2, 2026 vs Essendon: First win under Josh Carr

[Blinky Nyland]

Sweet????
Bwa ha ha ha

Inanimate carbon rod. That kid Blakeston monstered him at centre ball ups, ran around like a gazelle, took marks, kicked precisely to team mates, etc.
Convincingly the best ruckman out there.

Sweet laid two good tackles and a great goal from a boundary throw in. Otherwise he was chump city.

If that’s our best ruck option, then close the doors right now and throw away the key

Official AFL stats suggest your have got some factual errors both for and against Sweet.
Head to Head
Sweet 25 hit outs Blakiston 20
Sweet 4 clearances Blakiston 0
Sweet disposals 12, Blakiston 9
Sweet 3 marks , Blakiston 0
Sweet 1 goal, Blakiston 0
Sweet 113 metres gained, Blakiston 107
Sweet tackles 0, Blackiston 3

We lost the hitouts overall mostly because Peter Wright got 14 hitouts to Whitlock only 5.

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Sweet played good early and helped us get the lead.

There was a play where he got a free kick from the centre bounce, hand passed off to a player like Zak, IIRC and I don't, and then proceeded to crunch shepherd his direct opponent who was following him. Just smacked him out. Such a great piece of play by the Terminator.

 

[gbear]

Oh and to the people who booed Duursma. I mean, really?

Surely he has suffered enough playing for Essendon

 

[edgie]

He was elite levels of nothing

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Haha lol oh my

I shouldn't laugh but I can't help it

Twelve metres gained? That's incredible. Less than a metre per touch.

 

[PatientMental]

Haha lol oh my

I shouldn't laugh but I can't help it

Twelve metres gained? That's incredible. Less than a metre per touch.

You can watch his disposals on the afl app in his profile if youre interested

 

[Ah12]

both coaches agreed on the 3 best players in the same order, but i'm thinking Brad Scott went Burgoyne and Caddy 2 and 1 and Carr went Richards and Sweet.

I think Carr went Burgoyne 2. He was getting a massive pump up at quarter time from Carr in the huddle and the players were patting him on the back.

 

[carnthemaggies]

Quite enjoyed watching port after a couple of boycott years off going to games. The different game plan was clear. Reminded me a bit of choco's keepings off style. It was strange to see some composed, confident movement of the ball and creating space, and lots of precise kicking. It looked like they had some system and structure. And I think Carr understands that forward 50 doesn't mean having 50 players in your forward line!

 

[PJ Power]

Quite enjoyed watching port after a couple of boycott years off going to games. The different game plan was clear. Reminded me a bit of choco's keepings off style. It was strange to see some composed, confident movement of the ball and creating space, and lots of precise kicking. It looked like they had some system and structure. And I think Carr understands that forward 50 doesn't mean having 50 players in your forward line!

Agree. However, we're going to see plenty of games this year where it looks like there is no forward structure because we just can't win enough footy or control it when we have it against fiercer opposition. I doubt it gets easier than yesterday for the rest of the season.

What I would like to see this week against West Coast, is a ferocious attack on the contest with no sign that we've underestimated them or that we just expect to roll up and have the same result as from the trial last month.

 

[It Just Is]

Ended up a nil-all draw then given that BZT is no longer in our best 23.

To top off the trade, we held out to the last minute for a couple of late future picks which were traded to draft Tommy A and Lachie Charleson.

 

[davo999]

Have to mention Zac Butters tackling and harassing players with the ball was next level

 

[Peninsula Boy]

Even though it's in the back view of the side mirrors, Jack Watkins had 23 possessions against the Bombers which put him third for us on the day.

I also think Carr went Burgoyne with 2 votes just because he got 10 contested possessions which is unusually high for Burgers and hopefully a sign of a greater work rate on the wing and getting in amongst it.

 

[jac147]

Just going back a week, if Sweet played against the Kangaroos, it could've been a very different game.

We can't take much out of this game. Essendon have lost it.

THE GOOD

Butters and the Hornet were awesome.
The Hornet is back
Logan Evans had a quiet brilliant game.
Sweet in the ruck. Love his energy.
Berry and Richards play well together at half forward.
Berry is close. He has huge improvements and he was 19 and 2.
Mackinley with some good things
Luko at half forward and his kicking really shines. He's deadly on the counter.
Aliir has the gripo on this week.
Marshall effective in defence.
Watkins with a very quiet 23 possessions.
Drew was good.
Mead was OK.
4 players with more than 10 contested possessions. I am pretty sure we haven't had that in a while.

THE BAD

Rozee and Farrell have lost their kick.
Georgiades just seems slightly off. Still good but not as commanding as usual.
Wehr had a mare.
Byrne-Jones was nowhere near it
Rozee and Bergman injuries.

THE UGLY

Essendon have lost their heart.

PLAY OF THE DAY

I've got two and they are not spectacular at all.

Berry's second goal off the deck running half the field to get there.
Richard's goal. Usually he would handpass off or kick to a lead but he took it upon himself to kick a goal into an open 50.

The Richard’s goal was very special - slotted it on the run, on a slight angle and about 40 metres out. One for his highlight reel.

 

[Jojay]

Lol.. makes Sunday even more satisfying..

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

We had 25 marks I50 against Essendon, but didn't take full advantage of them.

JHF........ 6 3.0 a pass to Drew who goaled
Luko...... 4 3.1
Georgi... 4 1.2 and 1 out on the full
Durdin... 3 2.0
Whitlock. 3 0.1 and 2 ootf
Drew...... 1 1.0
Bergman. 1 1.0
Burgoyne 1 1.0
Berry...... 1 0.1
Mackinlay 1 0.0
-----------------
Total .... 25 12.5 - 3 out on the full, 1 pass to a mark and goal and 4 did not score

Free kick set shots for goal
Georgiades 1.0
Richards 1.0
DBJ 0.1

 

[Doctor Feel]

Lol.. makes Sunday even more satisfying..

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Never has someone achieved so little and been on lists for so long been so well looked after even post career. Its so weird.

Having this guy as your midfield coach makes having Lobbe as head of development look extremely astute.

 

[bomberclifford]

Lol.. makes Sunday even more satisfying..

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I'm having trouble breathing from the smug emanating from this photo.

 

[Pablo Escobar]

My first live game for a couple of years. On/off member but Koch &Hinkley just killed my love for the game. Couple of observations ~

• Mead I don’t rate but showed signs winning the ball. Poor execution cost him a good game.
• Loved seeing more lowering the eyes and low passing into the forward line (my single biggest frustration with Hinkleys gameplan)
• Good defensive pressure forcing lots of turnovers, but Essendon’s disposal was awful.
• I thought Berry showed good signs. Lots of mistakes but those instincts can’t be taught. With experience and confidence will be a very good player.

Hard to say to what extent Essendon let us play this well, will be interesting to see if we can play this way against the better teams.

 

[RossFC]

I did not hear any boos for Duursma, I didn't even know he was playing.

 

[Tibbs]

I did not hear any boos for Duursma, I didn't even know he was playing.

Neither did I, with his "interesting" hair-do. I think my first realization he was playing was in the 3rd quarter

 

[Duck Farmer]

My first live game for a couple of years.

Beats staring at an empty swimming pool.

 

[Steve Dore]

I did not hear any boos for Duursma, I didn't even know he was playing.

I only realised he was playing when I heard the boos and thought "why are they booing that Essendon player?".

 

[NoddyHolder]

I did not hear any boos for Duursma, I didn't even know he was playing.

I didn't realise he was playing until i was looking through the stats on my phone walking back to the car after the game

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Beats staring at an empty swimming pool.

The football, I have meesed eet.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Lol.. makes Sunday even more satisfying..

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What's going on at the back of his neck? A weird mullet? Duck/pony tail?