Crows v Bombers

[Kane McGoodwin]

Howdy Essendon supporters, how do you see your chances this week against the Crows? Crucial game as you must win either this game or against the Pies the following week to stay in the finals race.

So Sheedy likes it tough. I hope he fires up Roo, Bickley & Co, so I can see literally a crunch game on Sunday. The good news is Macca has been resting (for the final) in the forward line for the last couple of games & we have been easing Sugar off the bench. Both are due for big games. Roo & Goody have been warming up nicely for finals in the last month. Meanwhile the young guns in Bode, Ladhams, Mattner, Doughty & Co have been carrying the midfield load.

Will Lloyd play as I heard he got injured? Hopefully Ayres has learnt his lesson from round 3 & will stick Smarty on him from the start. Where do you see you can win the game?

Should be a great game & it will be last one I get to see for the year (unless we make the GF), as I'm overseas for the month. Hopefully the Crows will give me a good send off! Cheers.

 

[Dan26]

I doubt it'll be a great game. We will do our usual interstate thing of scoring about 8-9 goals and losing by about 7 goals.

I just want them to surprise me this week. I live in hope.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Dan26
I doubt it'll be a great game. We will do our usual interstate thing of scoring about 8-9 goals and losing by about 7 goals.

I just want them to surprise me this week. I live in hope.

Bloody hell Dan I was expecting a more upbeat response than that. Where has all this negativity come from? Misiti should be better for the run & along with JJ, Pev, Blumfield, Heffernen, Caracella & Co should give our midfield of Goodwin, Riccuito, McLeod, K Johnson, Bickley, Bode, Edwards, Ladhams & Co a decent run for their money??

Sheedy could always pull a few tricks out of the bag - eg. play MacAllister of Henneman.

 

[Dan26]

Maybe we're a chance, but Football Park is a graveyeard for us. Everything would have to go right. We simply can't score goals - we are impotent. I think we are capable of turning it around, but I doubt it.

Peverill will do a good job on McLeod, and our defence will stand up (as always), but it won't be enough to get the job done I'm afraid.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Chin up Dan. The fight for the finals is not over until it is statistically impossible. You should know that better than anyone.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Chin up Dan. The fight for the finals is not over until it is statistically impossible. You should know that better than anyone.

Statistically No, Logically Yes.

 

[Stealth bomber]

It doesn't really seem to matter what the opposition does these days, because when it comes right down to it, these guys can't kick a winning scoreline.

I look for another sub-10 goal performance this week.

 

[go team]

Bah, we'll make the finals easily. You guys worry too much....
The crows game will be tough, but i think the bombers can come through. I suspect the crows shall find it difficult to kick a winning score against our awesome defence. It will be interesting to see the effect the Brisbane game has on the boys. Will they be tired from such a bruising encounter? Or will they continue the improvement in form? I hope it's the latter. I thought Essendon's played some pretty good football at footy park in the last few years. Sure, we lost to Port last year, but that was a great game and Port are a good side. Furthermore we beat Port there in 2000 didn't we? I cant remember... We usually match up pretty well against the Crows, granted those clashes have been in Melbourne, and their super midfield does worry me a little. I believe it should be a good game.

 

[napsyd]

I am also surprised by your negativity. The Crows have always struggled against the Bombers and I would say you have the psychological wood on us. I think Adelaide are in the better form and the home ground is an advantage, but you never know what that psychological edge will bring.

I think it will be decided by quarter time. Adelaide will throw everything at Essendon in the first quarter as they did at Colonial in Round 4. If Crows blow Bombers out of the water in the first we will hold on and win as is now typical for us. If Bombers stay with us in the first then they are every chance.

GO CROWS!!

 

[windyhill]

Kane, if it was over here we would win.
Being at AAMI and we are looking at a thumping. Dan is right about us interstate, we are frightful. 9-10 goal win to your boys.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Mind if I butt in?
Im flabergasted by the above posts re: Bombers will struggle.

I think if it was in Melbourne... we would struggle heaps our grave yard agin the bombers Dan but we wont want to give Essendon a lead at halftime or it will be curtains.

The positive side to a loss against the Bombers is it will fire us up for the Mowdown next week.

I expect the Crows to win but Sheedy is just starting to exude a nasty streak with the Finals approaching...and it scares me

 

[mongrelpunt]

Here's how I see this weekend:

- Essendon win by 20 goals
- Lloydy kicks a lazy 18 to put himself within striking distance of David Neitz
- Kevin Sheedy is NOT investigated for abusing the umpires at a quarter time break
- Wayne Carey signs with Geelong
- Robert Walls comes down with a severe case of Laryngitis, and can't talk for the rest of the year
- Dermott Brereton's voice breaks once and for all, and forever speaks in a very high tone
- Mike Sheahan drowns in the very crap that he speaks about Essendon
- This game is put on live into Brisbane

HEY, IT COULD HAPPEN!!

 

[Vintage 62]

No hope, but 11 1/2 wins may be enough for a finals berth.

 

[Vintage 62]

Originally posted by napsyd
If Bombers stay with us in the first then they are every chance.
[/B]

Yeah, right - we just finish so STRONGLY, our last quarters are really dynamite.

I think we've kicked as many as two goals in the last quarter a couple of times!

 

[Merry]

Bombers are a chance if they play like they did against Brisbane. But either way, they will beat Collingwood the next week and would expect them to win the last two giving 12 1/2 wins assuring them of finals. Travelling isn't that bad. Only Port has won in WA and only Melbourne has won in Brisbane. Won in Sydney (although very lucky, a win is a win).

 

[Vintage 62]

Originally posted by Merry
Travelling isn't that bad. Only Port has won in WA and only Melbourne has won in Brisbane. Won in Sydney (although very lucky, a win is a win). [/B]

Yeah, that makes sense !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Merry]

I meant Essendon's travelling hasn't been that bad compared with other sides in the comp.

 

[napsyd]

Originally posted by Vintage 62



Yeah, right - we just finish so STRONGLY, our last quarters are really dynamite.

I think we've kicked as many as two goals in the last quarter a couple of times!

Crows last quarter last week was pretty unimpressive also. I'm really surprised you lot are writing yourselves off like this.

Ahh well, hope you're right!!

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by napsyd
Crows last quarter last week was pretty unimpressive also. I'm really surprised you lot are writing yourselves off like this.

Ahh well, hope you're right!!

Bombers last quarters have been very ordinary - I think they rank last or close to last in the competition. If the Crows are in front or in range at 3 quarter time we will win this game. May main concern is if Lloyd gets plenty of the ball early & Essendon jump us. I would expect Sheedy to have the Dons fired up this week as he would want to stay in the 8 to keep the destiny in their own hands.

 

[mantis]

I think we just might surprise the Crows this week, the players know it is do or die time & I think they might just come out firing.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Possible Matchups

Crows' Backline: Smart v Lloyd (hopefully Ayres has learnt Hart is not an option), McGregor v Lucas, Stenglein V Hird (again I doubt Ayres will start him on the bench like last time), Hart v Caracella, Crowell v Barnard.

Midfield: Riccuito v Peverill (as McLeod is likely to play forward), Goodwin v Misiti (expect them to play wide of each other), Bickley v J Johnson, K Johnson v Blumfield, Bode v Ramanaskus. Alternatively, Crows may use Mattner as a run-with player on JJ.

Crows Forwards: Stevens v Jacobs, Beinke v Fletcher, Burton v Bolton, McLeod v M Johnson. Would not be suprised if Sheedy throws Fletcher up forward as the Crows don't have a vary tall forward line & Wellman could easily play on Beinke.

 

[ok.crows]

Originally posted by napsyd


I think it will be decided by quarter time. Adelaide will throw everything at Essendon in the first quarter as they did at Colonial in Round 4. If Crows blow Bombers out of the water in the first we will hold on and win as is now typical for us. If Bombers stay with us in the first then they are every chance.

GO CROWS!!

I don't think it will go this way. The bombers this year have just about the worst finishes of any team. I think they have won only three last quarters all year.

Crows OTOH have been finishing over the top of most teams. Not as markedly as Sydney have, but they have been finishing out games reasonably well, even those games Crows lost a month ago.

Bombers had a tough hit out last week against Lions. Bombers are on the road, where they don't have much practice.

Unless Bombers are more than six goals ahead at three quarter time, I think they will really struggle against Crows in the finish.

If Lloyd is not playing, I doubt Bombers have the firepower to get well ahead.

 

[Vintage 62]

Originally posted by ok.crows


I don't think it will go this way. The bombers this year have just about the worst finishes of any team. I think they have won only three last quarters all year.

Crows OTOH have been finishing over the top of most teams. Not as markedly as Sydney have, but they have been finishing out games reasonably well, even those games Crows lost a month ago.

Bombers had a tough hit out last week against Lions. Bombers are on the road, where they don't have much practice.

Unless Bombers are more than six goals ahead at three quarter time, I think they will really struggle against Crows in the finish.

If Lloyd is not playing, I doubt Bombers have the firepower to get well ahead.

Can't disagree with any of the above, unfortunately.