Ess v Crows match review

[ant555]

Loved the pressure, we chased hard all game and limited the amount of down the ground run they could generate.
Tackling was very good. They went in hard but in doing so didnt give away too many stupid free's.
Although we played stop start footy at times we didnt rush it. They where prepared to wait until someone was in position and our disposal was good.
Had a few turnovers but nowhere near as many.
The way that LLoydy moved up the ground and Lucas became the focal point when it became clear that Lucas had the measure of his man.
Defence worked well, not too many times where we got caught going around in circles.
I want to bring up a point that Jackie and myself where discussing yesterday while watching the Bendigo game and that was getting a quick kick from the clearances rather than 3 handballs. It was something we rarely did/do but today a few times Winders and Hirdy just grabbed it and booted it forward. Gives a good change as sides will try and read you at clearances if you continue to handball all the time to clear stopages.
And it is good to see a few things that we have been working on at training come into the game plan and work well .
And the best part is all of those who have continued to call us slow well they can simply stick it where sun dont shine as they have NFI

There where some negatives but way more posatives this week to worry about them. Off to a good start ,now to back it up!

 

[DaSawx]

Loved McVeigh's work when the ball hit the deck, not many better and keeping it to their advantage whether he has possesion or not

 

[Boris_Bewick]

Really good team performance today.

Mal Michael has already shown what a difference it can make for Fletcher today. Fletcher was awesome, his body work and how calm under pressure he was today shows how much more valuable he can be when not taking the best forward.

Welsh and Winderlich I was very impressed with, while neither were best on ground, they contributed very much so. I like Welsh on the half forward line, while Winders was very tenacious.

Jobe needs to work on his kicking, been said before and was proven today. Lacks confidence. Still got some crucial pressure handballs though.

McVeigh was great today, a full 4 quarter effort, something I have been critical of him about in the past. I think he might take his game to another level this season. MJ also a very welcome return to form. A few times in the last quarter he was crucial with his pressure.

Lloyd, a perfect comeback, got enough of the ball, while not dominating the match. Scotty. Hasn't lost it.

Liked Gus today even though he went quite around halfway through the match

Well done to both Leroy and Davey, just after one match its noticeable how much of a difference they make with their pressure. Not only them but the attitude and the pressure of the side this year, carried on from the pre-season has improved out of sight. That's what I think won us the game today. Pressure on the man with the ball, they hardly had easy kicks, which is something happened a lot last year.

Obviously first round, can't get the hopes too high like last year. But I think that was one of our best wins since we beat Freo over there in 03. Big call, I know but huge confidence builder.

 

[Riddell_Bombers]

I was pretty darn impressed with Paddy Ryder's game. Showed confidence and clean hands. Jetta with 2 goals was also a pleasant suprise.
Very happy indeed.

 

[Longy413]

The Lloyd is one dimensional and Lucas won't be as effective with Lloyd back in the team theory was dismissed in one week.

I love Scotty's comment after the game - "Lloyd will kick the bag next week."

You get the feeling the pair are excited to be back together and have a self belief they can take their own games to another level. To see Lloydy winning footy at half-back is impressive.

Credit to Welsh and Slattery for their roles. Adelaide kill teams off half back and Welsh kept Bassett, McLeod and the likes pretty quiet. Burton kills us, Slatts didn't give him a sniff.

Ryder suprised me, I knew he was a talent but didn't think he had it to make it as a CHB. Still don't think he'll end up there, but he gives us a great option.

Mal was just so solid and so clean.

Fletch is a freak.

If Davey, Jetta and Lovett can add consistency to their game then we have a very powerful weapon.

The thing that was the most impressive is we won four quarters, we ran the game out. A good start, but it's only a start. Looking forward to next week.

 

[Burzum]

Mal Michael's influence on the backline was tremendous.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I was pretty darn impressed with Paddy Ryder's game. Showed confidence and clean hands. Jetta with 2 goals was also a pleasant suprise.
Very happy indeed.

totally agree. Ryder looks really good. Jetta certainly impressed too.

4 quarter win. Drink it up

 

[Andrew_5]

Mal Michael's influence on the backline was tremendous.

I agree, was thinking in the last quarter he is going to be so valuable this year for us...

 

[DaSawx]

Hopefully we can keep it up next week as weeks 3-8 or 9 from memory is probably our best run opponents wise for the year.

Freo is yet to beat us in Melbourne and we knocked them off in '05 when we finished bottom 4

 

[Andrew_5]

Hopefully we can keep it up next week as weeks 3-8 or 9 from memory is probably our best run opponents wise for the year.

Freo is yet to beat us in Melbourne and we knocked them off in '05 when we finished bottom 4

I'm sure freo beat us at waverley 1 year.. waterhouse kicking a bag from memory..

 

[DaSawx]

I'm sure freo beat us at waverley 1 year.. waterhouse kicking a bag from memory..

you might be right, least not TD

 

[Longy413]

I'm sure freo beat us at waverley 1 year.. waterhouse kicking a bag from memory..

Yep, 1998.

They embarrassed us.

 

[warney7]

For those who saw, Davey got reported?

What's it looking like you reckon?
Head high contact, sounds like he'll get done with the new harsher penalties!

EDIT: Nevermind

 

[Merv]

Well well well, what a difference a few weeks can make.

I have been a critic of our gameplan over the pre season but there was very little to complain about with the way we played the game today.
I was disgusted in our style of play after the Carlton and Hawthorn game, but today we really took a step forward and actually moved the ball and played to a plan.

We slowed the play when we needed to but when the game moved up a notch or two and Adelaide placed some pressure on us we responded with free flowing footy.

The pressure by Davey,Jetta and Lovett especially, had the Adelaide backman quite undecided and forced them to make some quick poor decisions.

Still don't like this 40 metres backwards stuff, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

The best thing about today was the fact that Adelaide came out and kicked the first couple of goals in the last quarter and then the crowd started and it looked like they MAY run over the top of us.

To the guys credit they didn't get flustered but continued to play smart football and then pulled away from them.
This will stand them in good stead for the year ahead of give them some much needed confidence.

Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, as Adelaide had a lot of key players out and kicked extremely poorly but by the same token we won an important game away and looked like a side that knows where it's going and more importantly, how it is going to get there.


PSatrick Ryder played the best game he has ever played for the Essendon football club by a very long way.
He looked a real class act and although he has shown reasonable form in the pre season today he eclipsed anything he has ever done before.

 

[Burzum]

For those who saw, Davey got reported?

What's it looking like you reckon?
Head high contact, sounds like he'll get done with the new harsher penalties!

Player slipped as Davey was going to tackle him and the other Player lowered his head into Davey. Should be nothing.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Well well well, what a difference a few weeks can make.

I have been a critic of our gameplan over the pre season but there was very little to complain about with the way we played the game today.
I was disgusted in our style of play after the Carlton and Hawthorn game, but today we really took a step forward and actually moved the ball and played to a plan.

We slowed the play when we needed to but when the game moved up a notch or two and Adelaide placed some pressure on us we responded with free flowing footy.

The pressure by Davey,Jetta and Lovett especially, had the Adelaide backman quite undecided and forced them to make some quick poor decisions.

Still don't like this 40 metres backwards stuff, but Rome wasn't built in a day.

The best thing about to day was the fact that Adelaide came out and kicked the forst couple of goals and then the crowd started and it looked like they MAY run over the top of us.

To the guys credit they didn't get flustered but continued to play smart football and then pulled away from them.
This will stand them in good stead for the year ahead of give them some much needed confidence.

Lets not get too far ahead of ourselves, as Adelaide had a lot of key players out and kicked extremely poorly but by the same token we won an important game away and looked like a side that knows where it's going and more importantly, how it is going to get there.

good stuff, I was interested in what your thoughts would be given your preseason vibe

 

[Merv]

good stuff, I was interested in what your thoughts would be given your preseason vibe

I am the first to admit that i was extremely disapointed in a lot of our pre season style of play but today the guys turned that around.

2 weeks is a long time in football.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

Good game guys. I thought your youngsters looked the goods. Amazing how quickly things can be turned around. From looking flat footed last year, you have managed to find some nice pacey players. With another 12 months of development, I reckon you can look forward to finals next year.

 

[Darealrath]

The pressure when we didn't have the footy and the composure when we did have it were welcome changes from the last couple years.

Great to see the young blokes really influence the result too.

 

[Crave]

The difference was the pressure we applied, Fletcher and Ryder were outstanding...very cool in defence, once McPhee got going, he had arms everywhere and last but not least....Lucas is fast taking his game another notch. Had my heart in my throat a few times with the Crows missing several shots, thinking it was only a matter of time...full credit to the entire team. Very impressed with Welsh further up the ground...could give us a further option in the air.

 

[FootyGuru]

does anyone else notice how good ryder is at picking the ball up from the ground especially under pressure and giving out the handball. for someone his size its amazing. not to mention he had a couple of runs with the ball on the wing that made him look like a midfeilder not a kkp. a very good talent

 

[Nuts4Bolts]

Yep, 1998.

They embarrassed us.

Daniel Bandy embarrassed us that day.

 

[monty1104]

The AFL site has Jetta listed in the best category. Didn't think he was that good and thought Winderlich should be named ahead of him, but I suppose Jetta did get 2 goals. Would anyone else have Jetta in the Best on ground list?

 

[danielcan]

Mal Michael's influence on the backline was tremendous.

Hmmm... he could have played a lot better actually.

 

[danielcan]

The AFL site has Jetta listed in the best category. Didn't think he was that good and thought Winderlich should be named ahead of him, but I suppose Jetta did get 2 goals. Would anyone else have Jetta in the Best on ground list?

I would.

I thought Fletcher and Lucas were incredible.