Are Essendon the new Richmond?

cannot

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Nov 30, 2016
Posts
5,059
Likes
4,836
Location
^^ ""Flat World Champions".
AFL Club
Richmond
#26
Richmond finally shook their finals choker tag on Friday night.

Have Essendon now taken that unwelcome title?

Just like pre Friday night Richmond, the Bombers have lost their last three finals appearances, all of the Elimination Finals.

And just as key Richmond players like Trent Cotchin came under heavy scrutiny for poor September efforts, yesterday afternoon again saw Essendon leaders like Watson and Heppell go missing.

What can the Bombers do to regain their September mojo?
they should have played with no ruckman
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Bunk Moreland

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Posts
29,734
Likes
56,874
Location
Your girlfriend's dreams
AFL Club
Essendon
#28
Who are your inside mids in 2018?

Heppell should improve with another pre-season.

Merrett is a gun, but not so much an extractor (will stand corrected).

Myers? Francis?
Heppell, Merrett, Parish, Laverde, Langford are the future. You'd hope the likes of Myers, Bird and Hocking are struggling for a place next year.

Are they good enough? Dunno, we'll see.
 

Seagrave_Holmes

Premiership Player
Joined
Jun 8, 2014
Posts
3,339
Likes
4,800
Location
Rand McNally
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Australian Test Ball Tampering Team
#29
Richmond finally shook their finals choker tag on Friday night.

Have Essendon now taken that unwelcome title?

Just like pre Friday night Richmond, the Bombers have lost their last three finals appearances, all of the Elimination Finals.

And just as key Richmond players like Trent Cotchin came under heavy scrutiny for poor September efforts, yesterday afternoon again saw Essendon leaders like Watson and Heppell go missing.

What can the Bombers do to regain their September mojo?
We are the new Richmond.
 

threesixpio

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jun 28, 2013
Posts
23,638
Likes
30,691
AFL Club
Hawthorn
#31
Wasn't that they lost for me - was more the way they lost.

Terrible turnovers. Didn't use their pace.

And I agree about the "celebrating of little victories" and not focusing on the bigger picture.

Case in point was Joey D's flashy first quarter mark (it was a ripper) - it wasn't really that important in the grand scheme of things given that they were down by a heap of goals at the first break. Yet the carry on about the mark was OTT

I actually reckon they are suffering from the post-ASADA blues in a way - but maybe not "suffering" - maybe they're actually pretty happy after a few crap years. And getting out and playing a final is a far cry from where they were 12 months ago.

Next year it's a different ball game entirely and near enough will likely not be good enough
 

Bunk Moreland

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 22, 2011
Posts
29,734
Likes
56,874
Location
Your girlfriend's dreams
AFL Club
Essendon
#32
Wasn't that they lost for me - was more the way they lost.

Terrible turnovers. Didn't use their pace.

And I agree about the "celebrating of little victories" and not focusing on the bigger picture.

Case in point was Joey D's flashy first quarter mark (it was a ripper) - it wasn't really that important in the grand scheme of things given that they were down by a heap of goals at the first break.

I actually reckon they are suffering from the post-ASADA blues in a way - but maybe not "suffering" - maybe they're actually pretty happy after a few crap years. And getting out and playing a final is a far cry from where they were 12 months ago.

Next year it's a different ball game entirely and near enough will likely not be good enough
Absolutely no doubt this year was about just enjoying footy again.

I'm extremely content with the season for one.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Damon_3388

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 23, 2008
Posts
30,766
Likes
23,480
Location
Headed for Kirribilli House
AFL Club
Collingwood
Other Teams
Norwood, Everton, Detroit Red Wings
#37
What can the Bombers do to regain their September mojo?
Just get better and more experienced, basically. They've really got a lack of quality in that "prime" age group (25-29 years old) that they need to address, too. Some of that may just be waiting and persisting with the current youngsters they have.

In the form the Swans are in, and the squad Essendon have, yesterday's result shouldn't really be any sort of shock or surprise. I don't think there's really any link or pattern to be seen with past failures or finals losses either, considering it's a different coach and many different faces in the squad too.
 
Last edited:

clogwearer

Idiot Savant
Joined
May 8, 2006
Posts
5,857
Likes
1,895
Location
Location, Location
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Denver Broncos, Unlisted
#38
Wasn't that they lost for me - was more the way they lost.

Terrible turnovers. Didn't use their pace.

And I agree about the "celebrating of little victories" and not focusing on the bigger picture.

Case in point was Joey D's flashy first quarter mark (it was a ripper) - it wasn't really that important in the grand scheme of things given that they were down by a heap of goals at the first break. Yet the carry on about the mark was OTT

I actually reckon they are suffering from the post-ASADA blues in a way - but maybe not "suffering" - maybe they're actually pretty happy after a few crap years. And getting out and playing a final is a far cry from where they were 12 months ago.

Next year it's a different ball game entirely and near enough will likely not be good enough
I think that's a fair assessment. There seemed to be guarded optimism about this year and given the events of the past few years, I feel it's difficult to equate the current team with the teams that have gone before. That said, near enough will not be good enough next year. If we don't improve questions will need to be asked.
 

schmuttt

Premium Platinum
Joined
Apr 12, 2014
Posts
19,301
Likes
28,886
AFL Club
Melbourne
Other Teams
West Ham United
#40
They're a lot like my team in a way: serious young talent, very untrustworthy, scintillating footy when on and atrocious when off. Could probably say both clubs have enjoyed winning H&A games a bit too much.

I think finals for them this year was a pass mark and they've achieved that. Next year will be interesting, if they can develop or trade in some quality inside mids they'll be top 4.
 

Great8

Brownlow Medallist
Day Off
Joined
Apr 19, 2015
Posts
11,418
Likes
8,068
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Manchester United, Juventus,
#42
Essendon have lost their last 5 finals by an average of 49 points
Flags are all that matter and our last flag is still more recent than over half the sides in the comp. Yeah we were a disgrace last night but at the end of the day we were making up numbers and anything less than a flag is a failure
 

Bazza97

Premiership Player
Joined
Nov 17, 2016
Posts
3,237
Likes
3,220
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Melbourne
#44
They've exceeded expectations this year and most of us thought they wouldn't make finals. It's not surprising they lost to Sydney although it was disappointing the way they went out. Their finals record since 2004 doesn't read well but I think that will change in the next 3-4 years. Going into 2018, expectations will rise and they should win a final. Don't think they'll make the step into top 4 next year although I can see them pushing for it. I reckon they will make the finals again and I think they should be aiming for a top 6 finish.
 

citizen-erased

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Posts
14,989
Likes
10,764
Location
Victoria
AFL Club
Essendon
#45
That stat they rolled out yesterday where they havent won a final since 1968 without sheedy in charge ,nearly 50 years...is, dare i say it unprecedented .

Granted he was there nearly 30 ,still you d think they d like to change it sooner rather than later.
That's a dumb stat though.
Stick with haven't won a final in however many years it's been. It's like saying north haven't won a final without boomer on the list since whenever
 

DapperDon

Waiting for Essendon to arrive
Joined
Oct 4, 2006
Posts
29,562
Likes
43,619
AFL Club
Essendon
#47
Who are your inside mids in 2018?

Heppell should improve with another pre-season.

Merrett is a gun, but not so much an extractor (will stand corrected).

Myers? Francis?
Our biggest deficiency by far.

As most clubs we have a couple of youngsters in reserves we hope come on and fill that hole, but time will tell on that. I hope we attack the trade/draft with this as the number 1 priority.
 

wagstaff

Premiership Player
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Posts
4,772
Likes
2,173
Location
The Sea of Holes
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Melbourne Stars, Arsenal
#48
I think Essendon's bigger problem is that they haven't finished top 4 in a H&A season since 2001 - only Carlton and Melbourne have had a longer period (by a year) without finishing that high and getting the double chance. They've put together memorable and exciting individual wins during the last 15 years fairly regularly but they don't seem capable of putting together quality consistent seasons and those inconsistencies get exposed during finals time.
 

tugga

Moderator
Joined
May 9, 2006
Posts
29,602
Likes
41,724
Location
Yid army
AFL Club
Richmond
Other Teams
Tottenham,Red Sox,San Antonio Spurs
Moderator #49
I don't think you can really count yesterday as a choke. Dons weren't expected to win.
Hell I picked them for the bottom six because I thought it would take a year for the banned players to get back into the groove.
I think they did very well this season.
Before Friday night, we went into two of our three finals as raging favourites and couldn't get it done.
 
Top Bottom