Game Day Essendon v West Coast v Freo

[Lord Nicholson]

If the Essendon players were deliberately trying to engineer onfield scenarios that would be as difficult as possible to get out of, then they did a fine job.

Engineering them. Not getting out of them.

Hideous display of football, but is is Essendon in Perth, we sent over a bunch of kids, and we got the worst positioning in the round-robin format. So whatever. But if that kind of system and game plan is what we'll be seeing in the premiership season, fuhgeddaboudit.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

If the Essendon players were deliberately trying to engineer onfield scenarios that would be as difficult as possible to get out of, then they did a fine job.

Engineering them. Not getting out of them.

Choosing not to flood when the press is applied isn't manufacturing scenarios. It's a legitimate game plan. Geelong do it successfully through clean position every week, allowing them to have numbers further up field. We were rusty with our skills so it didn't come off often, but as we saw when Jetta had that awesome running play, it often leads to coast to coast goals. With the stupid nab cup rules as well, you can't look for the defensive line kick, but we were clearly playing for our season not some meaningless cup.

 

[Coopster09]

Hooker was terrible imo every disposal was straight underpressure.. yes 1st game of the year but he needs to lift.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Hooker was terrible imo every disposal was straight underpressure.. yes 1st game of the year but he needs to lift.

His reading and marking of the ball is elite, his decision making is rubbish though, always seems to take the first option without assessing the situation. Thought he was brilliant defensively tonight, not so good going the other way. Though the Long one wasn't his fault, Anthony should gunned it and could have easily got a kick away if not for his lack of awareness.

 

[Coopster09]

His reading and marking of the ball is elite, his decision making is rubbish though, always seems to take the first option without assessing the situation. Thought he was brilliant defensively tonight, not so good going the other way. Though the Long one wasn't his fault, Anthony should gunned it and could have easily got a kick away if not for his lack of awareness.

sorry but i disagree with the long one. he need to stop lift the eyes up. no need to play on in the goal square with swarming eagles players all around. i carnt recall seeing hooker take a contested mark tonight?

 

[Red Black and Blue]

sorry but i disagree with the long one. he need to stop lift the eyes up. no need to play on in the goal square with swarming eagles players all around. i carnt recall seeing hooker take a contested mark tonight?

I agree the Long one wasn't exactly a great option, but I felt Long had enough time to dispose, especially considering the player running at him was coming from the same direction as the football, should have known he had to be quick.

He definitely took one that I can remember, and another is kinda in my memory but more for his hand off to a running player without looking.

 

[efcboy]

This is their first game back too you know

Did the umpires lose even more brain cells over the pre-season?

Players have an excuse for poor skill execution being a bit rusty but surely decision making from umpires shouldn't drop over pre-season?

 

[bombermick]

I'll deal with the positives first. Melksham and Colyer will help the seasoned midfielders a great deal, but neither yet has the strength of Lonergan.

I thought Carlisle looked good, but I'm still convinced he's a defender. I thought Hooker was also pretty good. We have too many key defenders and not enough genuine key forwards.

The negatives - I know he's constantly injured, but Long doesn't look up to AFL standard. The higher level spooked him.

 

[daz17]

I agree the Long one wasn't exactly a great option, but I felt Long had enough time to dispose, especially considering the player running at him was coming from the same direction as the football, should have known he had to be quick.

He definitely took one that I can remember, and another is kinda in my memory but more for his hand off to a running player without looking.

Yep he took a good mark at the start, right before he passed it to Long. Other than that I thought he didn't commit to a few contests hard enough.

 

[daz17]

During the game I would think how we are missing our best player from each position.
Fletch down back, Watson in the middle and Hurley up forward.

We were hand passing a lot since we were under so much pressure, and the only way we could get out of defense was Davis running off the bench. Disposal should be worked on at training, but also getting out of defense. Both teams had so much forward pressure, and by the looks of it most teams will.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Yep he took a good mark at the start, right before he passed it to Long. Other than that I thought he didn't commit to a few contests hard enough.

I actually thought his body work defensively had improved, timing the contact with more precision than force.

 

[eth-dog]

Did the umpires lose even more brain cells over the pre-season?

Players have an excuse for poor skill execution being a bit rusty but surely decision making from umpires shouldn't drop over pre-season?

First few weeks back you always make mistakes. Not to mention the fact that they wouldn't have adjusted to the pace. It has to do with not umpiring at all for 4-5 months

 

[Coopster09]

I agree the Long one wasn't exactly a great option, but I felt Long had enough time to dispose, especially considering the player running at him was coming from the same direction as the football, should have known he had to be quick.

He definitely took one that I can remember, and another is kinda in my memory but more for his hand off to a running player without looking.

i respectively disagree again. although the pressure was tough hooker kept handballing into more heavy traffic which gets me question his decision making the only thing i thought hooker was good at tonight was spoiling didnt giv away silly free kicks

 

[Red Black and Blue]

First few weeks back you always make mistakes. Not to mention the fact that they wouldn't have adjusted to the pace. It has to do with not umpiring at all for 4-5 months

I also think it has a lot to do with the interpretations of some rules. High contact especially needs a do over. Sick of the weak as frees for an arm over the shoulder when a player in already tackled on the ground. Surely that rule is there to stop damage not incidental contact that does nothing. Not the umpires faults the rules are so black and white when it comes to enforcing them.

 

[BrownPearHookers]

Just read 11 pages and I was suprissed that nobody really noticed how strong Howlett was around the packs and bursting through with the ball, I think he will be in for a huge year next to Hocking and Watson.

Howlett to take his game to a much higher level, so strong in tackles and getting handballs out ala Chapman.

 

[HurlsMeister18]

I'm not to worried about tonight. We will pick up by the time the real stuff starts. I thought Carlisle was great, Hille looks fit as a fiddle and put in like he always does and looks as though he is in for a good year. Jetta looked good with his run out of defence and it looks as though they are going to play him in a Leon Davis type role in defence this year but I would rather him up forward, I don't think he is strong enough in the air or strong enough with his attack on the footy to be played in defence. Leon Davis was very good at filling the hole and cutting off leads and taking Marks and I don't think Jetta can do that. I would rather Jetta in the forward pressure role that Spike was playing but where does that leave Spike?. Once the real stuff starts I can't see Slattery, Dyson or McVeigh getting many games.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

i respectively disagree again. although the pressure was tough hooker kept handballing into more heavy traffic which gets me question his decision making the only thing i thought hooker was good at tonight was spoiling didnt giv away silly free kicks

All good, it wasn't the best but certainly not a Houliesque hospital ball. I do think Hooker, Pears, and Myers have to back themselves to kick long more often as their decision making often gets us into trouble, with Ryder, Carlisle, Hurley and Hille we have a more than decent advantage in a pack situation.

 

[helicopter]

His reading and marking of the ball is elite, his decision making is rubbish though, always seems to take the first option without assessing the situation. Thought he was brilliant defensively tonight, not so good going the other way. Though the Long one wasn't his fault, Anthony should gunned it and could have easily got a kick away if not for his lack of awareness.

His ordinary at best.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

His ordinary at best.

Thanks for your in depth analysis.

 

[eth-dog]

Just read 11 pages and I was suprissed that nobody really noticed how strong Howlett was around the packs and bursting through with the ball, I think he will be in for a huge year next to Hocking and Watson.

Howlett to take his game to a much higher level, so strong in tackles and getting handballs out ala Chapman.

That's the thing: we expect that from Howlett

 

[hollywood23]

My two cents.

Yes it is just a pre-season comp and the result is pretty meaningless.

My issue is based around two things, mainly spread around the contest and pressure on the ball carrier. My worry is that compared to both those teams tonight, we really lacked the intensity that they had when it came to smothering, tackling and pressuring the ball carrier. I think the fact that they did this well would have created perceived pressure amongst our boys which would have had some kind of effect on our poor disposal efficiency. We need to be as tenacious and hungry as both those teams tonight. Why do we leak goals so easily still?

The other thing was the spread around the contest. We don't seem to do this well enough and haven't done so for years IMO. I suppose Subi exposes this more than anywhere else, but we never seem to have as many numbers around the contest as opposition teams, meaning fewer options when we win the contested ball, and also us getting burnt when we lose the contested ball. This is where Carlton smashed us in the final.

Maybe I'm being overly negative..but to be honest I'd just hoped to see more.

 

[Bombers36]

Expected better but not worried sums it up for me.
Dell'Olio & Baguley showed signs & would be favourates to get on the list now with Pris & Gumby out. Carlisle, Jetta, & Hibberd were all good. Melksham, Howlett & Crameri not bad either.
West Coast & Freo were both nearly at full strength & playing at home plus we had 7 of our best 22 out so if you look at it in context its not that bad. Team will be much stronger next time we play.

Guys who are best 22 & werent in line up are in bold;-

Pears Fletch Hibberd
Dempsey Hooker Heppell
Melksham Watson Stanton
Monfries Hurley Zaka
Crameri Carlisle Winderlich

Ryder Hocking Howlett

Jetta Colyer Dell'Olio Hille

T.Bell NLM Hardingham Myers
Lonergan Ross Kavanagh Baguley
Davey McVeigh Reimers Lee

Those players will make a huge difference to the squad and id expect a much better showing against the Saints In Wangaratta Saturday week.

 

[Righteo]

I thought we were poor, but some good signs.

Some good efforts in the midfield from a few with our best three, Stanton, Watson and Hocking out. With Lonergan and Zaharakis not playing that much either.

Ryder was really hard at it, if he gives us a season like that he's going to do wonderful things.

Pears and Myers looked good down back, as did Hooker.

No injuries.

Dempsey returned.

Dell'Olio did a few good things.

Jetta looked authoritative in defence, though our structures didn't help him have options.

Gave everyone a taste.

God a good solid hitout against a Freemantle side who went hard with a decent team.

Fremantle, I've noticed you keep mispelling it. Had pretty much our first choice backline and midfield missing too so not the greatest team.

Stoked to see Dell-Ollio playing well for you guys, hope he breaks into the side and has a ripper season.

 

[bomberpride13]

well it seems there are a lot of others who think like me that mcveigh and slattery should not play any seniors this season...man it frustrates me so much everytime i see slattery named and mcveigh is not far behind...

slattery offers nothing he is the old style footballer that just plays slow dumb footy..as for mcveigh his time has long passed and i will say it again why he keeps trying to be some kind of tough guy all the time i have no idea...you would think hirdy would tell him by now to pull his head in...but no same olf crap year in year out...

some good signs though...like carlisles game could be a real find this season...

also i got sick of the commentators raving on about west coast having a heap of players out well so did we....one more thing to why do we play so badly in the west?its like we play a different style footy to when we are in melbourne...we need to fix that fast or we will keep being a middle of the road side....!!!

 

[TheDon35]

After last years crack at the NAB cup & travelling to Perth, I held about a 2% chance of getting a win. Having said that I was dissappointed with some aspects of the game including:

• What seemed like a complete lack of structure at times. Nothing happening at kick ins, backline players completely lost, limited structured ball movement other than 100 mile and hour forward etc.
• Senior player skill error / decision making. Hooker. Lovely read of the fall of the ball and fantastic with his body but bloody awful decision maker and disposer of the ball. Slattery, Monfries etc.

Some real positives there aswell particulalry I thought Dempsey moved very well. Slattery should have sealed his fate, Howlett and Lonnergan both looked stronger and quicker.

As said, hard to read too much into it though.