Toast Discipline

[lamaros]

You know what the best sign for me about the game against Adelaide was?

That no one went overboard celebrating goals until Jobe gave them permission to by going bananas after kicking one with a min to go.

Most of them must have known they had it wrapped up before then. Most of them would have had a pretty good idea late in the third that they would have had it. They certainly would have known much earlier than Jobe's goal.

But they ignored it at stuck to their task. They didn't drop their heads and let Adelaide score consecutive goals for most of the night, and when they did they bounced straight back. They didn't panic.

Then when the captain said the game was done they all jumped in and celebrated as one. It was a real show of teamwork and strength, to play as a team and celebrate as a team.

I haven't seen that level of focus and discipline, first under pressure and then when they might normally have thought the pressure was off and relaxed, from an Essendon side for a long long time. I know it might be easy to put it down to off-field stuff, but I think much more it was due to growth and development in the side. It makes me really confident that we will go far this year, and that things like the 2012 Melbourne game might be in our past.

I will be really really surprised if we miss finals in 2013.

 

[Oh Tayteridge]

Lid

 

[DapperDon]

It's OFF!

 

[Doss]

I've been stung too often in the past to even contemplate blowing the lid.

But the signs were undeniably good. Adelaide kept coming for quite a while but we didn't panic, and never allowed them to bridge the gap enough to really panic us. Which was incredibly pleasing.

 

[Mercurial89]

I really liked the lack of backchat. No finger pointing and a part from Dempsey losing it once we didn't complain too much. Where quite often we all stand around with arms in the air screaming for attention from the umpires, this time we had a focus. I mean of course there was some of that stuff but not loads. No real throwing arms out from Stanton, no weak acts from any player when attacking a ball or player.

Just a real hard focus. I feel we were much more focused than any game in our run of wins early last year.

 

[The Bomb]

I was very pleased by our teams performance, but I just feel as a team they know the true prize is at the end of the year, unlike previous years.
something special is brewing and excitement can't be apart of it until the end.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Goddard gave someone a bit of lip, but that's probably in service of discipline.

 

[Tommy08]

When Dempsey gave that free kick away for spraying the umpire...almost smashed the TV.

"Dempsey...be quiet now..Courtenay, you're going to give a free kick away..DEMPSEY..NO! NOOOOOO"!

But yes - other than that I fully agree! just had to get that off my chest

 

[Essendonia]

Not sure how much can be read at this stage, but certainly was a reasonably measured performance.

Even late in the first quarter, you felt as if we'd be okay once the game settled.

I'd probably go as far as to say that the composure of the team, and each player at the relevant time, was probably greater than its previously been. Without being clinical.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Trying not to get excited for 2013, because I tend to get myself let down, but the signs were extremely pleasing. As was said, their heads never dropped, and aside from one minor altercation, the boys were totally focused on the game. Very impressive stuff.

 

[lamaros]

Not sure how much can be read at this stage, but certainly was a reasonably measured performance.

Even late in the first quarter, you felt as if we'd be okay once the game settled.

I'd probably go as far as to say that the composure of the team, and each player at the relevant time, was probably greater than its previously been. Without being clinical.

Honestly, I was still a little bit on edge for most of the game, but about halfway through the last I realized I was thinking to myself "it doesn't matter if Adelaide kick a few goals and get to 12 points - we'll bounce back and win anyway".

Hadn't really felt like that since in the early 2000 glory days.

Every other time we've played recently I have been on edge until it was physically impossible for the other team to make a comeback.

Maybe it was just me, but it felt like a corner was turned.

 

[Essendonia]

Honestly, I was still a little bit on edge for most of the game, but about halfway through the last I realized I was thinking to myself "it doesn't matter if Adelaide kick a few goals and get to 12 points - we'll bounce back and win anyway".

Hadn't really felt like that since in the early 2000 glory days.

Every other time we've played recently I have been on edge until it was physically impossible for the other team to make a comeback.

Maybe it was just me, but it felt like a corner was turned.

I had a similar experience. Adelaide opened us up two or three times across wing/half-back and broke quickly to score. When these efforts were met with quick replies (our goals) you knew it was going to be our night.

But yeah, despite being generally vocal, I wasn't properly celebrating until the siren sounded.

 

[carnthedons]

I've been stung too often in the past to even contemplate blowing the lid.

But the signs were undeniably good. Adelaide kept coming for quite a while but we didn't panic, and never allowed them to bridge the gap enough to really panic us. Which was incredibly pleasing.

ectoplasm

 

[rumply]

Wasnt too worried about Dempseys outburst as he seems to play better when fired up, but other than that I cant recall any really dumb frees given away which is a definite improvement on recent seasons, very impressed.

 

[quotemokc]

Very disciplined however I wasn't thrilled at Davey when he over exaggerated when he got bowled over and won a free kick.

 

[Essendonia]

Very disciplined however I wasn't thrilled at Davey when he over exaggerated when he got bowled over and won a free kick.

Are you talking about the 'sliding' free kick for the goal conversion?

 

[fishardansin]

I've been stung too often in the past to even contemplate blowing the lid.

But the signs were undeniably good. Adelaide kept coming for quite a while but we didn't panic, and never allowed them to bridge the gap enough to really panic us. Which was incredibly pleasing.

Stuff the lid ... it's all about the load.

 

[quotemokc]

Are you talking about the 'sliding' free kick for the goal conversion?

He got a goal from the free kick, but he acted a bit like he had been shot when it occured

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Robbo on AFL 360 on Monday

"Was a professional,grinding,destroyation of an opponent win wasn't some flukey 5 mins of good footy"

This was most pleasing thing for me,if we can bring that sort of football week in week out and stay injury free we will be unstoppable.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

He got a goal from the free kick, but he acted a bit like he had been shot when it occured

Eh, not a great deal else you can do when your legs get taken out like that.

http://www.afl.com.au/video/smart-r...101&eventType=Goal&seek=4224&videoQuality=med

 

[grugsticles]

Robbo on AFL 360 on Monday

"Was a professional,grinding,destroyation of an opponent win wasn't some flukey 5 mins of good footy"

This was most pleasing thing for me,if we can bring that sort of football week in week out and stay injury free we will be unstoppable.

Destroyation... hmm, I'm just going to double check that one with the folks at Oxford Publishing.
But what he was trying to say was spot on IMO.

 

[Doss]

Destroyation... hmm, I'm just going to double check that one with the folks at Oxford Publishing.
But what he was trying to say was spot on IMO.

For some reason all I can picture is Robbo slurring "ddeesstroyyyyayshhhon" while slumped up over his eighth pint. With a half eaten pie in his hand.

The actual sentiment of his comments is pretty spot on. Was quite a professional performance.

 

[DapperDon]

Eh, not a great deal else you can do when your legs get taken out like that.

http://www.afl.com.au/video/smart-r...101&eventType=Goal&seek=4224&videoQuality=med

It was a free kick in the rules, but he went down like he'd been shot.

 

[Loonerty]

It was a free kick in the rules, but he went down like he'd been shot.

I don't think so. Anyone would've reacted like that. He jumped back to avoid too much contact and still got caught. Not an overreaction at all in my eyes.

 

[DapperDon]

I don't think so. Anyone would've reacted like that. He jumped back to avoid too much contact and still got caught. Not an overreaction at all in my eyes.

Just had another look, and to be fair to Davey his little arms flailing around make it look worse than it was.