Preview Essendon's 2012 draw

[stugots]

only 7 MCG games compared to 9 this year is a bit of a worry, really need to be playing as many games as possible there, although nice of the AFL to give us the last 3 there in the run up to the finals

 

[Tassieboy]

Surely we had 5 MCG home games last year.

 

[Dan26]

Only 3 fridays Very happy with that. I can not stand it when we play friday, hate it passionately.

Round 23.

It will be 4, most likely.

 

[Doss]

Surely we had 5 MCG home games last year.

Nah, only four. Anzac Day, Melbourne and the return games against Richmond and Carlton.

Aside from those teams and Hawthorn, the last time we had an MCG home game against anyone is the 2009 draw against Brisbane. Before that, 2006 against St Kilda and before that, 2004 against Sydney.

I can only guess those three occurences were only MCG games because of scheduling clashes or perhaps some contractual obligation needing to be met.

 

[Tassieboy]

Nah, only four. Anzac Day, Melbourne and the return games against Richmond and Carlton.

Aside from those teams and Hawthorn, the last time we had an MCG home game against anyone is the 2009 draw against Brisbane. Before that, 2006 against St Kilda and before that, 2004 against Sydney.

I can only guess those three occurences were only MCG games because of scheduling clashes or perhaps some contractual obligation needing to be met.

ah cheers - couldn't remember if the Hawks game was ours or not. We should have won the game against Brisbane. Remember we were shit in 2006 and coming home to see us in front against St K in average weather, before they just beat us, but can't recall 2004 against Sydney.

 

[Beerfish]

Only 3 fridays Very happy with that. I can not stand it when we play friday, hate it passionately.

Me too. The first game of the round is always the most shitfully umpired one as well.

Things that get paid in the Friday night game don't even get a second glance on a Sunday.

The downside is, at least I know it will be televised.

 

[astrowizzle]

We can complain all we like about the short turnaround from our Round 4 game against Carlton until our Anzac Day clash, but the Pies get exactly the same break as us. We then get a comfortable 10 day break prior to our clash with the Lions in Melbourne to recover.

Apart from that, we have 7 day breaks prior to every game from Round 1 to 16. A great result.

Considering the way we burst out the blocks in 2011 and the opposition teams we play from Rounds 1 to 11, a 8-3 or even a 9-2 start really isn't totally out of the question. If we can deliver a platform like that going into the second half of the season, there is no doubt we can finish comfortably ahead of 2011 finish of 8th. The second half of the fixture is definitely tougher, but still some golden opportunities amongst it if we're good enough...

I am loving our first three games. Three really big challenges but still challenges we are more than capable of overcoming, especially given our early season form of recent seasons.

- North think they have it over us, but in reality it's 2-2 in more recent times, including a Round 1 humiliation of them during the dark days of Matthew Knights.
- Port, a bit of a bogey side but thankfully this game is in Melbourne. They will improve in 2012, but let's face it... definitely a team we should beat.
- Gold Coast. An interstate game at a venue we haven't played at previously. Gold Coast are yet to win a game at the ground, but may get their chance in Round 1 against Adelaide before playing us. They will also improve next year, but enough to reverse a 23 goal loss from last season?

Yeah short turnaround for both teams - Pies come off Port and we get Carlton. Collingwood should be able to take the foot off the pedal in the last half of that game but we'll be hitting it full steam for the whole game.

 

[Bombermania]

By the bye in round 11 we should be 9-2 but knowing use we will most likely be

7-4 or 6-5

We just have a bad habit of dropping games we should on paper win.

All up this is a good draw but then again once we cross that line anything can happen.

The four day break might not be a bad thing for they say confidence is a amazing thing