Essendon 2021

[FrogDude]

Not bothered if they make finals or not as I don't think it will affect their young players development either way, but with a harder fixture for next year (potentially), its gonna be hard for them to replicate 2021 and I could see a drop off. But I hope not, they're an exciting team to watch and are still finding their feet. Looking really good for the future, and this upcoming draft and trade period can solidify that.

 

[Milanista28]

Total buy in has been the best I've seen for 20 years for us, we feel connected all over the ground, coaches and players should be super proud with their year to date. Long way to go before we are true contenders but it's there if we keep this up.

Our midfield has all the tools finally.

 

[RAPPA]

And TBH, who cares if they do lose and miss finals. They’re on a journey, are building a great young list and have appeared to got all aspects of a broken vlub back on track. Essendon’s time will come, anything the next month is a bonus.

Absolutely. Every Essendon fan will regard this year as a 100% success, and be looking forward to another preseason under the belts of the kids.

 

[dave10]

Not bothered if they make finals or not as I don't think it will affect their young players development either way, but with a harder fixture for next year (potentially), its gonna be hard for them to replicate 2021 and I could see a drop off. But I hope not, they're an exciting team to watch and are still finding their feet. Looking really good for the future, and this upcoming draft and trade period can solidify that.

‘Growth’ is often not linear. The list is coming together and success will come. There will be bumps along the way. It’s all part of the journey…

 

[Bipolar Bear]

Started 2-6, even if we don't make finals, it's a great effort to recover.

 

[dave10]

Started 2-6, even if we don't make finals, it's a great effort to recover.

Absolutely. However if they lose to Collingwood this week, watch all the Bomber fans come out all emotional declaring the team isn’t any better than last year and still loses the games it should win Its a journey, we will ride the ups and downs towards on field success over the next 36 months IF the club maintains its course and doesn’t get distracted by over achieving in its rebase year.

 

[Dave]

Honestly big tick for the bombers even if they lose a final
But the thing is expectation will be on them to be back up there again and if the don’t meet those exceptions bombers fans won’t be happy

Dunno about others, as long as we are seeing progression of the youngsters and a game plan that is sustainable long term I will be happy.

 

[Dave]

Not bothered if they make finals or not as I don't think it will affect their young players development either way, but with a harder fixture for next year (potentially), its gonna be hard for them to replicate 2021 and I could see a drop off. But I hope not, they're an exciting team to watch and are still finding their feet. Looking really good for the future, and this upcoming draft and trade period can solidify that.

Can't tell in advance if a fixture will be hard, who'd have though Richmond would be so poor this year?

 

[Ants]

Absolutely. However if they lose to Collingwood this week, watch all the Bomber fans come out all emotional declaring the team isn’t any better than last year and still loses the games it should win Its a journey, we will ride the ups and downs towards on field success over the next 36 months IF the club maintains its course and doesn’t get distracted by over achieving in its rebase year.

The interesting thing will be that if we and GWS win next week, then we'll have won 10 of 13 games against the bottom 10 teams. I don't recall a season where we've been that consistent against weaker sides.

The issue is that we'll have only won one of the 9 games against teams higher on the ladder than us. Hopefully we get to the finals and improve that performance!

There will be an argument that we're exactly where we should be on the ladder; consistently beating the teams below us and losing to the ones above us.

 

[Ants]

Can't tell in advance if a fixture will be hard, who'd have though Richmond would be so poor this year?

The thing with fixtures, is not only do you not know how they'll play out beforehand, they can also be vary depending on when you play a team. Richmond wasn't poor early in the year. Last year playing Melbourne early was much better than playing them late.

Hell, I'd argue teams would much prefer to have played us this year in the first 8 rounds than the last 8 rounds.

 

[dave10]

The interesting thing will be that if we and GWS win next week, then we'll have won 10 of 13 games against the bottom 10 teams. I don't recall a season where we've been that consistent against weaker sides.

The issue is that we'll have only won one of the 9 games against teams higher on the ladder than us. Hopefully we get to the finals and improve that performance!

There will be an argument that we're exactly where we should be on the ladder; consistently beating the teams below us and losing to the ones above us.

We are at, where we are at. When the better sides bring the pressure and ‘A’ games, at this stage we are not able to cope. That will come only with time, pre seasons and playing together more which will build chemistry and belief etc. At this point they’re young, not as big and strong as the more mature teams and that will provide challenges if they make finals this year.

That said, they certainly work hard, have an increasingly damaging midfield and forward line which will ensure teams put the work in the beat them.

 

[Ari]

And TBH, who cares if they do lose and miss finals. They’re on a journey, are building a great young list and have appeared to got all aspects of a broken vlub back on track. Essendon’s time will come, anything the next month is a bonus.

It's a fairly good point. If they miss they will get a hard time from the footy world, and if they go into a final and get smacked they will get a hard time from the footy world. But the truth is, they're a year or two ahead of when we all put them in their rebuild. So maybe they're a tad ahead no matter what happens.

 

[Ari]

Can't tell in advance if a fixture will be hard, who'd have though Richmond would be so poor this year?

This year has more to do with Covid management, physically and mentally, than football in my opinion.

 

[pazza]

Can't tell in advance if a fixture will be hard, who'd have though Richmond would be so poor this year?

The top 6 at the end of this week get the hardest draw next year...we get the middle draw.

 

[FrogDude]

Can't tell in advance if a fixture will be hard, who'd have though Richmond would be so poor this year?

Very true, was just assuming. While the Bombers have played well this season, I feel their schedule has helped them a tad. But all credit to them for stepping up in the tougher games when the pressure was on like the Dogs game a couple weeks ago. Looking forward to their future.

 

[Ants]

Very true, was just assuming. While the Bombers have played well this season, I feel their schedule has helped them a tad. But all credit to them for stepping up in the tougher games when the pressure was on like the Dogs game a couple weeks ago. Looking forward to their future.

We've had a very fortuitous draw in respect of the teams we've played twice (3 extra games against the bottom 4, 2 against teams 6-7), but on the flip side we've travelled more than any other Victorian side due to having a heap of early interstate games (4 of our first 8 games, 5 before COVID) and then COVID impacting and moving multiple games interstate. So swings and roundabouts.

 

[Stopher]

Honestly big tick for the bombers even if they lose a final
But the thing is expectation will be on them to be back up there again and if the don’t meet those exceptions bombers fans won’t be happy

It's actually a very fair point. It was a free swing at it this year really, so low were the expectations of both the playing group and rookie coach alike.

Regardless of what happens from here on in 2021, the expectation will rightfully be dialled up a notch or two next season.

 

[HirdsTheWord]

Finals and a hopeful finals win is just a cherry on top. I’m not fussed.

no one including Essendon supporters thought we would be anywear near finals. We have a good strong base and something to build off going forward.

 

[Halftimehero]

Distinct lack of opposition posters occupying the last few pages of this thread compared to the start of it, you love to see it

 

[RearNaked]

If they don’t win this week we are basically as bad as last year and it’ll be another waisted season

 

[boncer34]

The club is rebuilding their list while failing to publicly acknowledge it or inform their fans. Will lead to a lot of dissatisfaction as some fans seem to think last season was an anomaly when in reality it was the start of a downhill trend.

It normally takes more than some shiny new recruits to distract the membership base from poor results, for some reason the Windy Hill mob seem to think the lack of quality senior players at both ends will not have the same effect on them as it does every other club in history. It is not quite Crows level bad, might be closer than comfortable for some.

Will be an interesting ride to watch.

Shiny new coach should do the trick.

 

[boncer34]

Distinct lack of opposition posters occupying the last few pages of this thread compared to the start of it, you love to see it

Don't worry when our season ends they'll flock back in.

 

[Jabba73]

Shiny new coach should do the trick.

We might need to try that too

 

[nineteen eighty]

‘Growth’ is often not linear. The list is coming together and success will come. There will be bumps along the way. It’s all part of the journey…

Not to make this about Richmond but you're spot on. We had numerous finals "failures" and then a disaster of a season before it all came together. It takes a long time. A turnaround can be quick in terms of improvement. But winning finals takes much longer. Essendon are tracking very nicely...early days though.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

If they don’t win this week we are basically as bad as last year and it’ll be another waisted season

but they'll have shown a lot of guts