Essendon 2021

[falcons2]

Well done to the Bombers. They have taken the opportunity and have looked good since the bye. Reality check. In 2018 they finished 11th but won 12 games. They are 1win - 8losses versus teams in the eight and 9 - 3 for those out of the eight. To the doubters, they have beaten the sides they should beat. 11-11 if that happens is mediocre and only gets you in the finals about once every ten years. But coming back from a 2-6 season start to make finals cannot be ignored. The media coverage is nauseating but winning form is good form. 15-16 players with less than 100 games should get finals experience as a group. Can't buy that.

 

[boncer34]

Well down to the Bombers. They have taken the opportunity and have looked good since the bye. Reality check. In 2018 they finished 11th but won 12 games. They are 1win - 8losses versus teams in the eight and 9 - 3 for those out of the eight. To the doubters, they have beaten the sides they should beat. 11-11 if that happens is mediocre and only gets you in the finals about once every ten years. But coming back from a 2-6 season start to make finals cannot be ignored. The media coverage is nauseating but winning form is good form. 15-16 players with less than 100 games should get finals experience as a group. Can't buy that.

I don't know many Essendon fans who aren't living in reality though. If we make it (and its still a big IF based on our history of stuffing up) its nice but we all know we won't win the flag, we may possibly steal a win if things fall our way but we aren't going deep into September.

 

[boncer34]

We might need to try that too

Do you think it will happen? Ross Lyon still has plenty to offer if that's the path the Blues choose.

 

[Rusty Brookes]

I feel really dirty cos I've actually really enjoyed watching the Bombers over the past month.

 

[Bipolar Bear]

I feel really dirty cos I've actually really enjoyed watching the Bombers over the past month.

Me in 2008. Barracking for the Hawks in the Granny as you were so entertaining.
Nekminnit feeling sick whilst enduring a dynasty.

 

[BuffDog]

Well down to the Bombers. They have taken the opportunity and have looked good since the bye. Reality check. In 2018 they finished 11th but won 12 games. They are 1win - 8losses versus teams in the eight and 9 - 3 for those out of the eight. To the doubters, they have beaten the sides they should beat. 11-11 if that happens is mediocre and only gets you in the finals about once every ten years. But coming back from a 2-6 season start to make finals cannot be ignored. The media coverage is nauseating but winning form is good form. 15-16 players with less than 100 games should get finals experience as a group. Can't buy that.

True but we have had the following losses:

- 3 and 7 points to Sydney
- 2 and 13 points to GWS
- 11 points to Melbourne
- 1 point to the Hawks (argh still annoyed at this haha)

Flip a few of those and suddenly we have a much healthier looking W/L ratio.

We’ve been soundly beaten by Port and Brisbane but those games were away and in Rd 2 and 4 respectively. We’ve improved significantly over the course of the season.

I doubt any Essendon fan expected finals and we probably will be lucky to make it if we do; but I’d argue the way we are playing and our list profile puts us in a much stronger position than any previous finals appearance in recent memory.

 

[dave10]

Well down to the Bombers. They have taken the opportunity and have looked good since the bye. Reality check. In 2018 they finished 11th but won 12 games. They are 1win - 8losses versus teams in the eight and 9 - 3 for those out of the eight. To the doubters, they have beaten the sides they should beat. 11-11 if that happens is mediocre and only gets you in the finals about once every ten years. But coming back from a 2-6 season start to make finals cannot be ignored. The media coverage is nauseating but winning form is good form. 15-16 players with less than 100 games should get finals experience as a group. Can't buy that.

You cannot compare 2018 to 2021 and beyond.

The difference between 2018 and 2021 that makes this rebuild totally different is that the club has addressed its inherent cultural failings and broader issues that prevented that 2018 rebuild from coming to fruition.

Previous rebuilds and runs into finals between 2004 - 2020 all were during a backdrop of divided and broken club environments: post Sheedy vacuum (2009-2011), supplements saga (2012-2016) and cultural failings arising from the supplements saga (2017-2020).

The football clubs the last 4-5 years in particular saw a strong list build complimented by a broken club beset by cultural failings, poor coaching groups, lack of development and poor standards with a lack of accountability. This via backdrop of a soft culture on back of the saga.

Brashers review end of last year highlighted years of failure and neglect that compromised promising list builds. Cultural issues have been addressed, coaching group strengthened, club history brought to present to creat purpose, player development hightened.

Now we see yet another strong list build complimented by a football club that appears to have been fixed broadly. A club that isn’t this time getting ahead of itself.

This iteration certainly looks and feels different. There’s no question about it.

 

[RearNaked]

but they'll have shown a lot of guts

Tooch

 

[Ants]

You cannot compare 2018 to 2021 and beyond.

......

I think falcons2 was more pointing out that in 2018 12 wins got us 11th place, this year 11 wins will get us 8th place.

One of the most promising things about this season for me has been our percentage. So many years where even when we got to 12 wins, our percentage was rubbish. This year we've been much more consistently competitive.

 

[falcons2]

I think falcons2 was more pointing out that in 2018 12 wins got us 11th place, this year 11 wins will get us 8th place.

That was the intention! Not to knock. Just looked then at the Essendon team from Sunday, Who will not be at Essendon from this team in 2022-23? As an outsider looks like all of them stay. Good place to be. (Aware trades, delistings etc take place)

 

[faible]

I think falcons2 was more pointing out that in 2018 12 wins got us 11th place, this year 11 wins will get us 8th place.

One of the most promising things about this season for me has been our percentage. So many years where even when we got to 12 wins, our percentage was rubbish. This year we've been much more consistently competitive.

A lot of those years was holding on for dear life stumbling in to the 8 ending the season as a mess. It wasn't the most reassuring performance to enter the finals on.

 

[Ants]

That was the intention! Not to knock. Just looked then at the Essendon team from Sunday, Who will not be at Essendon from this team in 2022-23? As an outsider looks like all of them stay. Good place to be. (Aware trades, delistings etc take place)

Of the side last week, Heppell and Stewart would be the only ones who may need to be replaced in the next few years due to age. And Stewart already has proteges in the VFL who may take his spot sooner rather than later. So yes, not a bad place to be.

The question will be do we have enough top tier talent on the list to progress up the ladder in future years. The answer to that is .... maybe. For all the hype and signs, didn't get a huge amount out of Cox/Perkins/Reid/Jones. So scope there. Plus Caldwell if we can keep him fit. But if Stringer, Parish, Merrett and Draper, Shiel keep their form, that is a top level starting mid group (especially with McGrath & Langford). Which always gives you a shot.

 

[The Prosecutor]

Of the side last week, Heppell and Stewart would be the only ones who may need to be replaced in the next few years due to age. And Stewart already has proteges in the VFL who may take his spot sooner rather than later. So yes, not a bad place to be.

The question will be do we have enough top tier talent on the list to progress up the ladder in future years. The answer to that is .... maybe. For all the hype and signs, didn't get a huge amount out of Cox/Perkins/Reid/Jones. So scope there. Plus Caldwell if we can keep him fit. But if Stringer, Parish, Merrett and Draper, Shiel keep their form, that is a top level starting mid group (especially with McGrath & Langford). Which always gives you a shot.

Stewart is 27...

 

[Dave]

I don't know many Essendon fans who aren't living in reality though. If we make it (and its still a big IF based on our history of stuffing up) its nice but we all know we won't win the flag, we may possibly steal a win if things fall our way but we aren't going deep into September.

We've also lost five games to top eight sides by 13 points or less, it's not like we haven't been competitive with any of them.

 

[Shanghaistu]

We've also lost five games to top eight sides by 13 points or less, it's not like we haven't been competitive with any of them.

And our 3 reamings came at the hands of Geelong, Brisbane and Port on their home turfs - 3 sides that have done that to a lot of teams this season

 

[The King!]

Premiership or bust judging by the media

 

[emblurr]

No-one in the media has said that

 

[Call Me Cake]

In 2018 they finished 11th but won 12 games. They are 1win - 8losses versus teams in the eight and 9 - 3 for those out of the eight.

And yet in 2018, a team was able to finish 6th with a percentage of 109.4

 

[Call Me Cake]

Also, out of the 45 players (senior + rookie) on our list in 2018, only 19 were still around for the 2021 season.

That is a 58% turnover in 2 seasons and a half.

Normally teams facing that kind of a turnover in such a short space of time are ripe for a languish in the bottom two, whereas we have come from a shitty start to 2021 to be vying for finals in the 1st year of our official rebuild.

It is beyond a success, whether we play finals or not. That would just be a bonus for development.

 

[Bad Seed]

Will be the weakest I can remember but hilariously Hawthorn will beat them in the crapness stakes and take pick 1.

Norf fans - lol

 

[Jade]

It gives me great pleasure that we took the kid in Will Philips that Essendon so desperately need for their rebuild l.

 

[Jade]

Look , both Essendon and Carlton sh*t me beyond belief.

But out of the two I'D say Essendon, short term , will be better. A GOOD SIDE THAT I say was awfully coached. The old Neil Craig , Allan Richardson , syndrome. Good footy people but not good footy coaches. Truck will be a good coach.

Carlton seem to have big wraps by media types etc. I don't get it . The haven't proved much to me to warrant such enthusiasm. Essendon and the Essendon media mafia seemed to always pump up Saad. I thought he is pretty good but no match winner. What I'm trying to say is that he is no savior for Carlton and i don't know how much he improves them. Remember you lost Simpson , a fantastic player. I think Carlton supporters should tame their expectations JUST a bit , as I know from my club , it can either get really good or really bad really quickly.

I really hope its a good season for everyone, but ultimately it cant be.

I hope St Kilda really fires up this year, their supporters deserve it. Never meet a Saints supporter I didn't like.

How good is to be yacking about footy !!

 

[citizen-erased]

Phillips is good, but not the one we needed. Same as Bruhn. we have those types.

Perkins and Cox picked themselves. We needed height in the middle and a bit of X factor. Both bring it in different ways.
Reid will be the one. Safest of the bunch if you read the papers, and our KPD stocks are old (Hooker, Hurley, Ambrose - 2 retired, 1 close), injury prone (Stewart) or developing (Zerk, Brand, Eyre, McBride)
Could we have added another mid? Powell, Stone, O'Driscoll, Poulter? time will tell.
I also think that pick could have been traded to the Pies for a stupid offer. Their 1st this year and then some. If Reid is as good as Ridley, then we ace that hand of picks.

 

[Jade]

Welcome to the last four years at the Blues. It is worth the pain

Was it?

 

[Jade]

Starts in front of most of your midfield. Bigger than Sheil by some margin. Much cheaper too lol.
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