Dons fly up. Carlscum dive down.

[Dan26]

What a weekend !!

Bliss.

Saturday was one of the great days in football. Fancy scoring 198 points in a final. The previous record in a final was 177, and we smashed it. 198 will never ever be broken. Hopefully, weve demorilised the Roos. Lloyd's 100th was unbelievable. I'v seen a fre corwd invasions, but NONE where the estimated invasion was 10,000. It was probably the biggest crowd invasion in history. It was such an "Essendon" day.

Actually, about North, I have to make an observation. What has made them so good, is that they play their own game. This has brought them tremendous success. You will never see them "flood" the backline, because it is a negative tactic.

North are more concerned about their own game (as opposed to worrying about the opposition), and generally this has held them in good stead. The only problem is, against Essendon, this lends itself to a shootout, which North cannot win. Unless North change their game plan, they will not beat Essendon.

As for Carlscum ....

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I was at the "G" on Sunday and it was one of the most dramatic finals I have been to. Even though it was only 21 points the difference, Melbourne were playing like crap, and the Blues were just too "hard at it"

Then, the Dees just started running all over them. It confirmed my suspicions that Melbourne is one of the fittest sides in the competiton. They remind me of Adelaide in 1997-98. If they are close at half time, they run all over the opposition. They are a threat to Essendon, mark my words

If Melbourne are close to Essendon at half time in three weeks, its going to be one hell of a Grand Final. Let hope those two teams make it, becasue I have ALWAYS considered Melbourne to be our biggest threat. They are certainly the team most likely to beat us.

I loved the dismay of Carlton fans at the "G". They just sem to think that they have got a god given right to play Essendon and beat Essendon. Well it's not going to happen, Blue-baggers, so get over it. Typical Carlton front-running supporters didn't say a thing as the siren sounded. They were shocked. I loved that. Loved it.

I was getting stuck into them, eve with all my Essendon gear on. I was yelling : "Put em out in straight sets Brisbane"

Hopefully, the Lions will do that, but I think it will be another Blues-Bombers preliminary final.

 

[Arch]

you wouldnt have preferred to have avoided Carlton until the GF ?????
It'd be much better to have beaten them in the GF. But in the same way, I kinda hope the blues get through, so we can get our revenge and smash them for last year, in this years prelim.
But I honestly reckon Brisbane will beat them (barring the large number of injuries the Lions sustained) i think Brisbane are a very fit and fast running side, which could expose the scum in a similiar fashion to what the Dees did.

My oh my wasnt that a fantastic game ?????
Green and Bruce: i love seeing young players have "break out" games like that, and really make a name for themeselves in a pressure cooker atmosphere like that. well done lads.

so bring on the prelims.

A.

 

[Dan26]

Arch,

To be honest, I'm not really worried when we play Carlton.

We'll probably have to play them anyway, so what difference does it make if that is in the GF or PF ?

Why do all Essendon fans want it to be a Blues-Bombers Grand Final ?

I hate Carlton so much, I don't even want to give them the satisfaction of making it. If they make the GF, they will have played in one more Grand Final than us. If we play in the GF (and they don't) we will have played in 29 each.

I think Melbourne are more credentialled anyway.

Still there's not much we can do about it. Bring em on, I say.

 

[Grendel]

Boys boys boys, getting a little ahead of yourselves i reckon. While you should have nothing to fear and are far and away the best side since the Hawks of the late eighties (still not as good as that side though) you still have to WIN the prelim. While i reckon you will dont forget that you should have won last years too. You also should have beaten the Doggies who gave them a chance? No one. One loss (in two weeks) and everything done so far counts for nought.
Make no mistake, whoever gets you in the prelim is on a hiding to nothing and they will no it to. They are liable to just hit the Bombers with everything dirty underhand snide hit they can. To hell with the tribunal and if they can get past the Dons they will probably be thinking that the flags is theirs for the taking. If you do (as you should) win it may MAY mind you cost for injurys, suspensions,fatigue many many factors.


Old saying of 'keep a lid on it' fellows. You havent won anything yet, and there is more pressure on this side than just about any (at least in my memory) in history.

Battle of Britan, David and Goliath, Nash and Mysterio jnr........... Upsets happen

 

[walshy1993]

upsets do happen

hawthorn won

 

[The Dutchman!]

Lids on over here Grendel.

Prediction:

Ess V Haw GF is a real possibility now (but I'm thinking of the 85 rather than 83 variety).

I think Haw will take advantage and beat North though King getting off squares things a bit. I think Carlscum will prob beat Brisbane but only because of the Lions injury worries - 2 years in a row that is unlucky...

So, PF's:

Ess v Baggers (Will be a very close game - closer than most would think - but we should get up by 2-4 goals)... still concerned that we've won nothing yet!

Melb v Hawthorn: Each way bet really... Hawthorn have been average all year but have put in a great last month and are playing well at the right time. Melbourne will of course go in fav's but I suspect an upset is not out of the question (and it would be a great effort from both coaches)...

Dutch

 

[Grendel]

I just have to keep you guys in line is all

Walshy what upset do you mean? Not last week i take it? Just look at history for that one, no im a pretty happy little Hawk at the minute. Even if we cant knock of the Roos. From where they were mid season to what they are showing now has been a great fil up for the future.

 

[Arch]

grend,
i wasnt taking anything for granted there, more just discussing when Id prefer to beat the blues (if we do of course), whether id prefer to beat them in a GF or PF.
Beleive u me, we all know the heart break of getting ahead of ourselves (although I didnt do that last year either), but Im fully aware of what could possibly lie ahead.

but point taken

A.

 

[walshy1993]

grendel that was just an attempt at humour
obviously wasnt funny so ill withdraw the statement

 

[dons_r_tops]

Not Wanting to brag too much
but picking for winners payed pretty well on the weekend from $10 and I suspect that no real upset happened then,

would love to see another hawks bombers grand final although I think that may be just about impossible for the hawks after they win against the roos this week as the tank may well be less than 1/4 full

 

[RICE80SF]

Grendel, I've been telling everyone I've run into after Saturday, who try to tell me "it's all over, your boys have got it in the bag." "No, no, no, we're only at the same point as last year, long way to go yet, lid shut down tight." Can't agree that Blues or Bris will say "stuff the tribunal", just ask McCartney what it's like to sit out a GF through suspension. No doubt will be hard at it though, not at all easy.

Agree that we could be playing the Hawkers in the GF, especially if they let Thompson ruck the whole game, top display Friday night. Melbourne are playing good footy too and it will be a good prelim between them. Yes I'm getting ahead of myself here, can't see Carey and the gang coming up this week.

Two things though Grendel:

1. Was it just me or were the Hawks the only guys who slipped badly on the turf at Colionial? I remember mentioning to my wife while watching on the box, "Must be the Pumas, dodgy looking cleats on the Kings". As I don't recall too many Catters slipping.

2. Schwab's a bit late coming out with the "Pretty Boys" tag now, especially when Dermie foster's it every week by saying the Hawks are the best looking in the league. He should tell him to ease off on the sex symbol stuff.

Cheers.


------------------
BOMBER BLITZ IN 2000!

 

[rewind]

Dan 24,

Can you please email me

rewind@eisa.net.au

 

[Grendel]

Walshy I got the joke re the Hawks upset

so thats no problem, it made me smile.

Guys please dont get me wrong, NO WAY am i even suggestin the Hawks will get to the GF, let alone win it. We have already gone ahead of where i thought we would be by making and winning a final this year. Not that im writing them of and i will be pissed off if they cant get over the Roos, but the realist in me is content with the gains made for the year.

Rice, yeah the same thing was going through my mind re the slipping. It cost us too! At least two and maybe three goals went begging because of that surface. Perhaps it was just the luck of the draw, but % doesnt count in finals and we dont have to play (thank GOD) at that piece of crap ground again this year. The 'pretty boys' thing i reckon is just to get then stirred up as we have (similar to the marshmallows i suppose) been pusdhed around by more physical sides in the past, i reckon Peter is just letting them know they can dish it out as well.

Speaking of dishing it out, the
"stuff the tribunal" quote was perhaps not quite what i meant in hindsight. More the fact that whoever does face you in the prelim is going to go flat out and i think, wont be thinking to much in the heat of battle about Monday night appointments (if they do happen to pop up!)

Also the one last thing, didnt you cream the Swans (?) by around the 100 point margin only for the you know what to happen in the prelim in your next match? Those that dont learn from history are doomed to repeat it!

Wait and see

Cheers all

Grendel

 

[Dave]

Grendel, nahh, we only beat Sydney by 11, after being up a similar margin (to the roos game) at half time. Sheedy moved a few blokes around and popular wisdom (ie hindsight) has it that this led to a few players losing form.

I was listening to 3LO on monday night (they have an AFL wrap) when the host (forget his name, barracks for carlton) commented to Karen Lyon (from The Age) that Essendon could have eased off the 2nd half to be nice or some such. She was quite definite that because of what happened last year they HAD to run the game out the way they did. Didn't say much else though (she's a roos fan

). Still, you're quite correct, they still have to get over the prelim. Hopefully last years lessons have been well learned.

Got your tickets for Friday yet? My wife picked hers up today and I'm thinking of going along as well. Footy (particularly finals) are a lot less stressful when your side isn't playing. Not as much fun though.

 

[jjk]

,

 

[Bloodstained Angel]

Hang on a second Dave - Grendel is right if he is referring to the 1999 Prelim Final (Essendon 1st v Sydney 8th)

It was never a contest, the Swans were blown away by Mark Mercuri during the first quarter. We only managed 7 goals for the game, 4 in the last quarter.

Can't remember the scores but it was something like 21-7 goals wise.

A thrashing, but hardly a decent hit-out for Essendon.