Essendon V Collingwood NAB Cup Semi's

[ManWithNoName]

Notes I made in my notebook on the train home:

• Poor decision making all night
• Disposal even worse, especially for this time of year
• Players dropped their head far too often
• Winderlich is still looking underdone, which is understandable
• Lloyd's working harder than ever before
• When we took a mark we held onto it for far too long, allowing them to flood back which forced us to kick to a contest and/or a poor option
• Sammy Lonergan is a tough bastard
• Stanton looked solid despite his lack of match practice
• Backline lacked composure without Fletcher marshaling the troops
• We put on zero defensive pressure all night
• We flooded too heavily, it meant when we finally got the ball up forward there was no-one to lead and take a mark
• Too often handballing was the first decision when kicking would've been a better one
• We went too wide too often.
• Collingwood had just as many inside 50s as us, yet twice as many marks. Indicates we had no composure or plan when we got the ball up forward
• Nowhere near enough tackling
• Not enough goals kicked, due to the lack of cohesion up forward

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Can't argue with any of that MWNN.

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

I cannot work out why we were unable to deconstruct the Pie's game plan. It was obvious by quarter time that they were avoiding the cental corridor and moving the ball along the wings into the forward line. They did this all night and barely got troubled. On another note, who was the chick in the Essendon coaching box?

 

[FullFathom5]

I cannot work out why we were unable to deconstruct the Pie's game plan. It was obvious by quarter time that they were avoiding the cental corridor and moving the ball along the wings into the forward line. They did this all night and barely got troubled. On another note, who was the chick in the Essendon coaching box?

Dunno but it seems the norm these days. Hawthorn have one too!

 

[FullFathom5]

But seriously...

My thoughts on the game:
- Hurley looks like an astute reader of the game; sure he got 3 goals kicked on him but it appears that he was good enough to intercept a few forays into the Essendon back half
- Lonergan looks to be maintaining that ability to win the hard ball; considering the number of outside players we have, Sam is a good supplement to our king of clearances, Watson
- Winderlich appears to be working very hard and was ever-present last night. It does appear that he's handballing more. I'm not sure if this is because of a reluctance to kick, relating to his back, or is part of a game plan in defence
- Myers appears to be mentally ahead of himself; while talented and a high draft pick, I haven't seen anything to suggest he's any better than the rest of the squad. Call me harsh, but he appears too laconic
- Dyson seemed to be pumped for this game, clearly wanting to make a statement given the absence of some greater names in the line-up. His performance shows that he is a useful player but may be lacking any of x-factor, consistency, ferocity, or gumption to be nothing more than a passing flame in the windstorm of the AFL.

It will be a long year but I remain faithful.

 

[Hencho]

Glad you noticed some of the incredibly soft efforts I saw out there. Despicable! Too many blokes dropping their heads

And that incredibly dumb kick was from Lonergan I believe. I howled in frustration. Stupid play. Absolute stupidity

Positives are no injuries, Houli, Winderlich and seeing Hurley and Zaharakis for the first time. Hurley wasn't great but will learn from it.

I forgive Winderlich for not wanting to receive a knee or hip and shoulder in the back given the injury he's just got over. Stanton on the other hand...that was as soft as butter!

 

[EVERLAST]

I'd say the 3 - 5 year players really need to look at themselves if they are to make it as professional footballers. The kids are a great crop - but will need time to develop their game and physical attributes obviously.

I really don't feel confident we'll make the top 8 this season having said that. Ryder is going backwards as a KP - so he'll only make it in a sweeper type role.

The sooner they give McVeigh the captaincy - the better off we will be as a team.

 

[MACDAICOS]

For the record, they are nothing special and beaten nobody of real note and we can and just may win - especially at the Dome.