Essendon forwards

[DonMania#5]

Not a troll.
Just interested to hear your opinions on who you think will match up on:
Matthew Lloyd
Scott Lucas
Courtney Johns (90% will play)

 

[Leoni 5-10]

Fisher on Lloyd
Blake on Lucas
anyone on Johns

 

[Saint Corin]

I think Essendon will win...

But we have had games when Roo has kicked 9 and we've still lost...

Lloyd and Lucas might kick 10 between them, doesn't mean they will win though.
Its about minimising the damamge, more than stopping them (I don't think we can)...

We'll run hard into the backline, and choke their leads, and put pressure so their delivery is crap.

Dons by less than 30 though.

 

[bfra]

I'm a bit more optimistic.

I think our midfield will beat their midfield and will greatly reduce their forward entries (and quality of) and help our defense.

Saints by 25+

 

[Kildonan]

For a while now Sheedy has been recruiting for and coaching the Bombers with a goal in mind. He has been trying to put together a team of speedsters. He isn't the only one - Chocko has a plan with similar goals. Wallace and Eade have generationally contributed to speedy Bulldogs and Richmond is now feeling the effect of Wallace's influence.

Sheedy's gameplan is to capitalise on the speedsters without forgoing the powerful forwards at his disposal. With Mal Michael to bolster their defence and the impressive Ryder holding down CHB - Dustin Fletcher is freed to do more damage than most anticipate.

Whilst Sydney have a few fleet of foot, they haven't put together a team of speedy outside players. They have a team of disciplined, highly skilled players. Their game plan is to maintain possession and starve the opposition of opportunities often forcing them to rush their approaches to goal whilst patiently taking the best of their own opportunities to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Ross Lyon is not a Roos clone. He has his own views (and tactics) on how the game should be played. He has a plan too. He has taken the creativity of some of the Saints star players and tried to harness that into a more disciplined approach. He is new. The players have had but a preseason and a few real matches to learn their gameplan. They have not had anything approaching the whole list playing together yet.

Already Leigh Matthews has seen through Lyon and, with a team full of kids, engineered a win. Lyon is on a steep learning curve. He knows that even without a full list - he has the personnel to beat most clubs - if he gets the gameplan right. Much of the gameplan relies on the tackling pressure of the midfield and halfbacks and the work rate of all of the players. It also requires skill - where our players with the best disposal are given more of the ball.

How will we play against the cocky young Essendon lineup?
Their forwards will pick us to pieces if they get enough supply - so will we try and prevent their supply from being adequate by dominating in the midfield?

The game will be won and lost in the midfield - not in Essendon's forward line.

Last week Essendon failed to overcome Carlton's midfield.
To me - this is a good sign for the Saints.
Sure our midfield is depleted without Luke and with Lenny still on the road to a full recovery (- but he's still looking a bit slim though eh?).
Our midfield looked pretty impressive against the Doggies, as it did against the Demons.

One recurring nightmare was the move by Sheedy to send in his big gun - Hird into the midfield - a tactic that proved decisive a number of times in the past. I don't think the way the game is played these days that this tactic will be as effective as it has. But like the evergreen Robert Harvey - it pays not to underestimate the value of a champion.

 

[nighthawk]

I think it has alot to do with your (the Saints') accuracy up front as well, and whether you can keep possession in your forward 50. Essendon have been playing a pretty strong rebound from defence, and i believe they currently hold this season's record for the most short kicks, which are used to slowly work the ball up from the back to the forward line. If Fletcher, Michael, Ryder or Mcphee can make the most of a kick in or loose ball, they might just feed it off to a lovett, davey or someone else with pace, which would be horrible for you.

Around the stoppages is where you'll do most damage i would think, with our rucks easily being our weakness. But i think in terms of tackles, forward thrusts and speed, we might have the advantage over you. Basically you just need to make sure you get the ball at the stoppages and keep it, and that you finish it properly when you get the chance up forward, because as mentioned essendon are quite strong on the rebound and will be waiting for your forwards to fumble.

I think your forward line playing well is just as important to your chances as ours is.

To that point, I feel that Fraser missing out on the game has actually put the Bombers at a disadvantage. Michael is quite slow and loves to attack from behind. Fraser would be the perfect opponent for him, and it would be easy opportunity for us to basically remove a forward from the game. Unfortunately he will be replaced by someone faster, who is likely to outrun Michael. I'm not sure on how highly regarded Gehrig is amongst Saints supports, but I would suggest his ban is totally in your favour.

 

[Jacko05]

essendon by 45890 points

 

[Merv]

essendon by 45890 points

They say there is one at every party.

Unfortunatly we seem to be gathering more and more every week

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

I really dont know why, but I'm looking forward to this game.

 

[J.Hetfield]

I really dont know why, but I'm looking forward to this game.

Thats because deep down you know u love the dons.. Dont deny it.

 

[Kildonan]

I really dont know why, but I'm looking forward to this game.

...or could it be that, after beating Essendon, Carlton can measure themselves against Essendons subsequent performances.

i.e. if we beat Ess and Ess beat Saints the we are better than the Saints QED

Sadly you'll have to wait until you play St Kilda before you will know just how you measure up to us.

 

[wazzabp]

Some pretty good posts in this thread, this should be another good game between the clubs. Last year, Essendon were missing a few and were beaten by the Saints in a close, tough game in the wet.
That game now counts for nothing, the sides are are a bit different, and its undercover at the dome.
St Kilda does have the edge in class in the midfield, so we really need to keep a few of your boys quiet in there, as a decent supply to Reiwoldt, Milne and Kosi could result in them outscoring the Bombers forwards of Lloyd, Lucas and co.
Best of luck to the Saints on Saturday, I'm looking forward to this game.

 

[Kildonan]

I think it has alot to do with your (the Saints') accuracy up front as well, and whether you can keep possession in your forward 50. Essendon have been playing a pretty strong rebound from defence, and i believe they currently hold this season's record for the most short kicks, which are used to slowly work the ball up from the back to the forward line. If Fletcher, Michael, Ryder or Mcphee can make the most of a kick in or loose ball, they might just feed it off to a lovett, davey or someone else with pace, which would be horrible for you.

Around the stoppages is where you'll do most damage i would think, with our rucks easily being our weakness. But i think in terms of tackles, forward thrusts and speed, we might have the advantage over you. Basically you just need to make sure you get the ball at the stoppages and keep it, and that you finish it properly when you get the chance up forward, because as mentioned essendon are quite strong on the rebound and will be waiting for your forwards to fumble.

I think your forward line playing well is just as important to your chances as ours is.

To that point, I feel that Fraser missing out on the game has actually put the Bombers at a disadvantage. Michael is quite slow and loves to attack from behind. Fraser would be the perfect opponent for him, and it would be easy opportunity for us to basically remove a forward from the game. Unfortunately he will be replaced by someone faster, who is likely to outrun Michael. I'm not sure on how highly regarded Gehrig is amongst Saints supports, but I would suggest his ban is totally in your favour.

Good post nighthawk.

I definitely agree with you re: the importance of our accuracy up forward - and no - that hasn't been one of our strengths.

The big "If" - If we can score goals with our main chances then that will go a long way towards a Saints victory.

If we keep turning it over, then that makes our defenders work doubly hard to get it back - eventually we will tire and Essendon will kick away.

Both teams will display their tackling prowess on Saturday - Essendons quicks will get their hands on plenty of Saints - but will they be strong enough to shut them down? The Saints might find the smallish quicks a little too slick - but if caught - will they bounce back up??

By the way, I might point out that Fraser Gehrig is deceptively quick.
When he first came back east from WCE, he was listed as one of their fastest players - he was tested here and came third in the club !!
That was a while ago, admittedly, but he has been known to surprise a few defenders who were running the ball out from full back.
Fraser is a mixed bag - he can be a world-beater - and he can be a drongo - all in the same match, but I'd rather have the big fella on the field and I have never considered the team a better one due to his absence.

 

[wazzabp]

Agree with you there StKildonian, Fraser missing will sure be a bigger loss than some people think, as it still takes a quality defender to keep an eye on him, which in turn frees up another of your big men. Hes usually good for 3 or 4 goals in game like this.

 

[J.Hetfield]

Some pretty good posts in this thread, this should be another good game between the clubs. Last year, Essendon were missing a few and were beaten by the Saints in a close, tough game in the wet.
That game now counts for nothing, the sides are are a bit different, and its undercover at the dome.
St Kilda does have the edge in class in the midfield, so we really need to keep a few of your boys quiet in there, as a decent supply to Reiwoldt, Milne and Kosi could result in them outscoring the Bombers forwards of Lloyd, Lucas and co.
Best of luck to the Saints on Saturday, I'm looking forward to this game.

We are still missing a few..Lovett-Murray, Welsh, JJ. I have Johns in my best 22 week in week out too but i seem to be out of sync with Sheeds on that one..You add the loss of Winders if the rumours are true and we 3 -4 players off full strength which is room for say 15% improvement.

So while the saints clearly have an understrength team i still think if we win its an awesome result..Id love to see the total games experience for the two sides..

 

[nighthawk]

Wow, I never knew Fraser was that fast.

Interesting to see how the Saints fans regard him. I remember being at one game in Sydney, and the crowd only ever used to cheer for him. Plenty of other players were slotting them through, but Gehrig was the only one really getting the Saints fans going.

Perhaps he's more important to your team than I thought. In that case then, I guess we've had a bit of luck

 

[monty1104]

Wow, I never knew Fraser was that fast.

Interesting to see how the Saints fans regard him. I remember being at one game in Sydney, and the crowd only ever used to cheer for him. Plenty of other players were slotting them through, but Gehrig was the only one really getting the Saints fans going.

Perhaps he's more important to your team than I thought. In that case then, I guess we've had a bit of luck

I think alot of people tend to forget that Fraser played on the wing in his days at WCE. Obviously he has put on muscle mass and has got older, but he would still be one of the quickest full forwards in the game.

 

[Big John]

Could be a shootout on the cards this week i think. Looks like CJ might be coming in as an emergency so could really stretch the saints backs, but the key is in the midfield. I honestly can't see us winning, but if we can at least make it a contest and keep the pressure on i think our backs should be able to hold up.

 

[DonMania#5]

Bombers midfield is looking inexperienced with J.Johnson, Campo and Winderlich missing.

 

[Big Bryza]

This game is going to be won it the middle. Your clearly a cut above them in this area and if dal santo ball and hayes have a day out you'll win easily. I think Blakes a good match for lucas as he will just be all over him like a bad rash from the first bounce. Fisher on Lloyd is good as Fisher can exploit him by getting on his bike and dragging him up the field, testing out that hammy. If Rix is playing just chuck him on Johns when need be, but i wouldnt be to concerned about him. Get on top in the middle early and i can see you fellas winning comfortably.

 

[WakeUpPies]

as if essendon's midfield can trouble saint's, all the saints got to do is shut down llyod and lucas, if those 2 can both kick less then 3 goals then saints will win by 60 pointsw +

 

[nighthawk]

as if essendon's midfield can trouble saint's, all the saints got to do is shut down llyod and lucas, if those 2 can both kick less then 3 goals then saints will win by 60 pointsw +

Seen us play this year? We're pretty quick, as you'll find out soon enough on ANZAC day.

That said, Ball's return for them and us going without J. Johnson and Campo (who had a combined 77 touches last bombers vs saints match) will probably have an impact on the game. They should still be dominant in the midfeild, but that's been the general concensus the whole way through this thread.

And anyway, so you're saying that for the bombers to win lloyd and lucas each have to have 8 goals? That seems to be the implication you're making, as you suggest they're the only means of scoring goals. The three each you mentioned, plus the 10 to make up the other 60... that's 8 each just to draw equal.

Let's see how that theory of yours pans out.

 

[RED AND BLACK SOLDIER]

as if essendon's midfield can trouble saint's, all the saints got to do is shut down llyod and lucas, if those 2 can both kick less then 3 goals then saints will win by 60 pointsw +

All they have to do? I see no way of shutting our forwards down, Stkilda have their 2 best defenders out if you didnt already know. If you knew that, you would know that they will kick alot more goals than that on Saturday. I think we'll get about 10 between Lloyd and Lucas, oh and then we have some chap called Courtney Johns who could kick a few i guess. Lloyd will be taking on their 3rd defender in Fisher, and Johns will and Lucas will be playing on 2 defenders who don't usually play KP in the defence (Goddard and Blake), they may be able to minimize out forwards a bit but won't be able to shut them down. Stkilda are just going to have to smash us in the midfield if they want to win.

 

[saintsrule]

I think we do want to win!

 

[monty1104]

as if essendon's midfield can trouble saint's, all the saints got to do is shut down llyod and lucas, if those 2 can both kick less then 3 goals then saints will win by 60 pointsw +

Bloody Collingwood losers. They think they know our team better than us. Such an ignorant bunch, fair dinkum. Can't wait to see your response at about 6.00 on April 25. Oh wait, you won't be speaking then because you will have lost