Essendon vs Carlton on Friday Night

[Gibbs_09]

MASSIVE game for both clubs here. Neither would want to be sitting 6-7 and behind the finals pack. However, game will be won in the midfield. Both have young defences, both have a forward that has a reputation for tearing up the other side (Lloyd and Fevola respectively). Fletcher can still play, but once he goes Essendon's defence will take a year or two before their young kids begin to cope without him. (YES I'm trying not to be biased). Carlton has an up-and-coming FB (Jamison) that is widely regarded to be one of the best young FB's going around, along with a hard-nut pocket/tagger (Joseph) and a highly rated potential CHB in Bower. Essendon have Pears, Hooker and an injured Hurley who all look to have bright futures.

Judd vs Hocking?
Hocking seems to have been given the big jobs this year. Expect Judd to run rings around him though in the latter stages.

Murphy vs Watson
This should put the "who's better" debate to rest. At some stage these two might go head-to-head in the middle, unless Hocking goes to Murphy instead.

Joseph vs Lovett
Ok, bias time. Personally I would love nothing more (besides beating the Scum) than to see AJ bury Lovett in the turf. Should be an intriguing battle.

Armfield vs Davey
Both quick players, and Davey can be damaging in bursts. However whenever I think of Davey I think of that cheapie he milked by falling down..... oh well, no use crying over split milk. Armfield can definitely go with him, just a matter of Davey's endurance.

Overall:
Both teams would love to absolutely kill their old rivals, but I think a close game is virtually inevitable. Essendon have the recent wood over the Blues, however Carlton, after a spirited effort vs St. Kilda, would be dying to show Essendon the losing side of life. Fevola will almost definitely be manned up by at least 2, with Fletcher drifting in front of him. Carlton need to dominate the middle of the ground in order to boost their chances, and not be too Fev-centric when he is double or triple-teamed. They SHOULD get up however. Just.

My tip:
Head: Carlton by 10 points or under.
Heart: Carlton by a huge margin so I can stick it up the Bummers supporters.

 

[jonoman89]

You would be shattered if we got lucky for the 5th time in a row against your brilliant team wouldn't you?

Of course i would, we're a much better team than you.

I'd like to know how the number #1 clearance player in the game according to the statistics (and half of the best ruck/clearance duo the last 2 seasons) could not be considered an elite footballer by anyone.

The last 2 years, Watson has been that player..and his combination with Hille last year and now Ryder this year is the most damaging in the game today, according to the statistics. That's elite footy.

Do you ever see Watson:

- delivery accurate bullet passes to forwards
- take long running bounces with the ball
- kick bags of goals
- get tagged by the best in the business, i.e. Kornes, Ling etc?

No, you don't. His job is to shark hitouts and handpass it to his team mates. He doesn't finish. Elite midfielders such as Ablett and Judd play both in and outside superbly. Watson does not.

If Watson was such an "elite" player, why would Knights have him under the packs for 100% of the game?

Answer A = That's the only thing he can do well (and he does do it well, not disputing that)
Answer B = He is the only midfielder you have which gets hard ball

My aim here isn't to rag Watson. I actually think he's a really good player, and would love to have him in my squad. However, he is not elite.

 

[jonoman89]

Wait til Galactico starts lecturing you about how much Collingwoods midfield led by Obree, Lockeyer, Davis has so much improvement in them compared to Essendons dads army midfield.

Its very amusing.

Sidebottom, Beams and Pendleburry are one of the best groups of young midfielders in the competition. You fail.

 

[SirJimi05]

Judd vs Hocking?
Hocking seems to have been given the big jobs this year. Expect Judd to run rings around him though in the latter stages.

Just wondering why you think it will be the latter stages that Judd will run rings around him?

 

[Galactico]

I'd like to know how the number #1 clearance player in the game according to the statistics (and half of the best ruck/clearance duo the last 2 seasons) could not be considered an elite footballer by anyone.

Couldn't be because the rest of his game is average at best for a midfielder?

Chris Judd is a clearance machine too. Who would you rather?

Sam Mitchell? Luke Ball? The list goes on.

 

[SirJimi05]

Couldn't be because the rest of his game is average at best for a midfielder?

Chris Judd is a clearance machine too. Who would you rather?

Sam Mitchell? Luke Ball? The list goes on.

Chris Judd. It doesn't mean Watson is not a gun.

 

[Jono B]

Sidebottom, Beams and Pendleburry are one of the best groups of young midfielders in the competition. You fail.

Sidebottom and Beams have only played a handful of games between them, they are no more proven than Houli, Reimers and Zaka.

Pendlebury is a proven gun though. But Daves point still stands.

 

[Tambu]

Do you ever see Watson:

- delivery accurate bullet passes to forwards
- take long running bounces with the ball
- kick bags of goals
- get tagged by the best in the business, i.e. Kornes, Ling etc?

No, you don't. His job is to shark hitouts and handpass it to his team mates. He doesn't finish. Elite midfielders such as Ablett and Judd play both in and outside superbly. Watson does not.

If Watson was such an "elite" player, why would Knights have him under the packs for 100% of the game?

Answer A = That's the only thing he can do well (and he does do it well, not disputing that)
Answer B = He is the only midfielder you have which gets hard ball

My aim here isn't to rag Watson. I actually think he's a really good player, and would love to have him in my squad. However, he is not elite.

FWIW I don't think Watson has reached elite status. Has a way to go I think despite his stats being very good.

Just for fun though

Rounds 1 - 12, 2009:

Watson - 7 goals 7 behinds
Judd - 8 goals 6 behinds

 

[SirJimi05]

Sidebottom, Beams and Pendleburry are one of the best groups of young midfielders in the competition. You fail.

No you fail. The Pie said that Essendons midfield will be past its prime in 2 years and that players like Zaharakis and Reimers cannot be included in the discussion because the jury is still out.

How can those players be ecxluded yet Beams and Sidebottom be included?

Where will O'Bree, Davis and Lockyer be in 2 years? In their prime?

 

[The Rusty Clam]

The AFL should have done the smart thing and followed this game up with the Cats, Saints match next friday night at the G. Both are going to be HUGE games.

 

[pazza]

The AFL should have done the smart thing and followed this game up with the Cats, Saints match next friday night at the G. Both are going to be HUGE games.

Bit hard when Collingwood and Essendon...another game hich is going to draw plenty, is already on @ the 'G that nite

 

[jonoman89]

No you fail. The Pie said that Essendons midfield will be past its prime in 2 years and that players like Zaharakis and Reimers cannot be included in the discussion because the jury is still out.

How can those players be ecxluded yet Beams and Sidebottom be included?

Where will O'Bree, Davis and Lockyer be in 2 years? In their prime?

I'm not the Pies bloke am i? Zaharkis looks very polished. I like the look of Beams more however. Reimers will be more HFF than midfield i'd suspect. Similar to Hird perhaps.

i'd take Pendles, Beams and Sidebottom over Zaharakis and Reimers!

 

[drewie_rama]

i love it how people claim fact that all of essendons midfield are over 24 and not young..get proven wrong yet come out and write it again..am i missing something or these people just plain stupid?

 

[jonoman89]

Watson - 7 goals 7 behinds
Judd - 8 goals 6 behinds

Murphy - 16 goals 8 behinds

Murphy kicks a lot of goals for a mid, yet he isn't elite yet. Round 1-8 i'd say he was pretty bloody close, but he's dropped off a bit as of late.

 

[Tambu]

i love it how people claim fact that all of essendons midfield are over 24 and not young..get proven wrong yet come out and write it again..am i missing something or these people just plain stupid?

This.

 

[SirJimi05]

i love it how people claim fact that all of essendons midfield are over 24 and not young..get proven wrong yet come out and write it again..am i missing something or these people just plain stupid?

Gelactico -

Most of Essendons cored midfield are 24 years old so will be past their prime in 2 years.

Your young players cant be included because they are unproven.

I would love to see him apply the exact same theory to the Pies midfield. I can almost gaurantee that the have more players that will be past their prime in 2 years. In fact i will bet my house on it.

 

[The Rusty Clam]

Bit hard when Collingwood and Essendon...another game hich is going to draw plenty, is already on @ the 'G that nite

True. But it is disappointing that the top 2 teams are playing on a Sunday at the dome. Surely something could have been re-arranged to at least put the game on Saturday night or even Saturday afternoon at the G.

 

[Tambu]

Murphy - 16 goals 8 behinds

Murphy kicks a lot of goals for a mid, yet he isn't elite yet. Round 1-8 i'd say he was pretty bloody close, but he's dropped off a bit as of late.

Haha I knew you'd miss the point.

You claimed all Watson is good for is handballing the footy from under packs when in fact, if you'd bother watching him play at all this year, you would have noticed at times he pushes forward and is starting to add goal kicking to his game.

Hence why earlier I said he hasn't peaked yet. Plenty of improvement left in Watson.

 

[jonoman89]

I do get the point, i was just posting that for a laugh.

Agreed, he will improve. He may become elite. He is not yet however.

 

[Tambu]

I do get the point, i was just posting that for a laugh.

Agreed, he will improve. He may become elite. He is not yet however.

I already said this.

 

[allihave]

General lovers of Football should make an effort to come along to the football Friday night this should be a ripper game. MCC members make the most of it

 

[blueblooded]

I rate Watson Essendons most important player, if I was Ratten i'd put Bannister on his ass all night, dont know if he's ever been tagged?? He wont hurt you with his disposal but he does generally give them first use to feed runners like Stanton, Lovett, Winderlich etc. I'm not sure who else gets the ball out of a pack situation apart from him with McVeigh out? (Prismall maybe?) so if the blues can successfully tag Watson, and Murphy, Judd, Gibbs and Grigg can win the clearances which they all do pretty well it will go a long way to winning the game.

 

[Artie Bucco]

Just wondering why you think it will be the latter stages that Judd will run rings around him?

An uneducated guess would be due to his phenomenal endurance*

There's a reason why players like Judd and Riewoldt have huge fourth quarters


*Have no idea where hocking's endurance is at.

 

[SELFCONFESDAFLNERD]

FWIW I don't think Watson has reached elite status. Has a way to go I think despite his stats being very good.

Just for fun though

Rounds 1 - 12, 2009:

Watson - 7 goals 7 behinds
Judd - 8 goals 6 behinds

Yeah, i think Watson's improved quite a lot this year. He's running forward well and has been able to finish nicely on occasions and even take some solid overhead marks. That's probably the main sign that he's maturing for me, last year he only kicked 4 goals for the whole season. His kicking seems to slowly be getting better as he continues to work on it too, he's not just disregarding that facet of his game.

I do agree that he's not elite yet but he reads the play so well that when he gets his foot skills up to scratch he could/should be considered elite.

 

[pazza]

An uneducated guess would be due to his phenomenal endurance*

There's a reason why players like Judd and Riewoldt have huge fourth quarters


*Have no idea where hocking's endurance is at.

Seems to run out games as well as anyone from what I've seen.