Essendon's competitiveness in 2016

[Barry_Badrinath]

How do we all see them performing in 2016. I've seen quite a few people thinking they're in with a chance at beating Carlton or maybe Brisbane.

I think losing 12 players will be far too much for them. Their best players going into the year would be Goddard, Zaharakis, Daniher, Leuenberger, McKernan.

I can't see them winning any games but they might have a few competitive ones against weaker teams in the wet.

What do we all think? Can they snag a few and avoid the spoon?

 

[welshm69]

Maybe a couple, hopefully none though!

 

[Messenger]

Not much good but not as bad as people think.

3 or 4 wins.

 

[YES! YES! YES!]

Where's the option for winning 25 games this year?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

They will have the advantage of being able to up on mid-career full bodied state players. But they will probably focus on playing the under 22s (those who cane to the club in the post-dope era). I think if they recruit well from the SANFL in particular, they can win a few games.
I'm guessing not much over 2-3, but it only takes a lowish team to take it too easily for too long and they might not be able to get back. They could cop a few beltings too, particularly in the first half of the season.

 

[Our Game]

I dont think they will be as bad as some people think about the same as Carlton maybe win a few games if other clubs dont take them seriously

 

[kaiserchief13]

@ Suns - Loss
v Demons - Loss
@ Power - Loss
v Cats - Loss
v Magpies - Loss (Should be stripped of ANZAC game)
v Blues - Possible win
@ Swans - Loss
v Kangaroos - Loss
v Saints - Loss
v Tigers - Loss (Should be stripped of this game also)
@ Dockers - Loss
v Hawks - Loss
v Giants - Loss
Bye
@ Eagles - Loss
v Saints - Loss
v Tigers - Loss
v Lions - Possible win
@ Crows - Loss
v Cats - Loss
v Suns - Possible win
v Bulldogs - Loss
v Blues - Possible win

4 possible wins imo say they get 2 of them.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Parish,Francis etc plus our rookies are only things that will interest me.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Every few years a really bad team comes along ad everyone says they won't win a game.

Sydney in the early 90's, Fitzroy mid 90's, Freo early 00's, Carlton then Richmond mid 2000's, GC and GWS at inception, etc.

I love making bets that these teams will win a game whilst everyone points to a fixture and asks how? (It's often not against another really crap team either).

Fact is, every side (no matter how bad) always manage to snag a win or two (usually 3-4).

Essendon will be no different.

 

[Barry_Badrinath]

Every few years a really bad team comes along ad everyone says they won't win a game.

Sydney in the early 90's, Fitzroy mid 90's, Freo early 00's, Carlton then Richmond mid 2000's, GC and GWS at inception, etc.

I love making bets that these teams will win a game whilst everyone points to a fixture and asks how? (It's often not against another really crap team either).

Fact is, every side (no matter how bad) always manage to snag a win or two (usually 3-4).

Essendon will be no different.

I would usually agree with you but this is a very extraordinary case. This is a bottom 4 team that went 2-12 to finish the season losing 12 of their best players.

 

[Farm Boy]

Parish,Francis etc plus our rookies are only things that will interest me.

I doubt Francis impacts the year. Parish will exceed expectations IMO, but Francis has a bit ahead of him. I don't think Woosha will rush any players just for the sake of remaining competitive, it is a holiday year. Francis would be best served spending it in the gym, he is a long way off. I do think he will be the best player out of last years draft - and by a fair bit - but he is going to need time to develop.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

I would usually agree with you but this is a very extraordinary case. This is a bottom 4 team that went 2-12 to finish the season losing 12 of their best players.

True mate - very unusual and extraordinary!

Just think AFL players and sides always have enough pride to get up and beat an under prepared team.

Fitzroy were just as bad as I expect Essendon to be. Carlton in the mid 2000's were also a bunch of rejects and has beens from other teams and GC were a team with barely any AFL experience.

I'm backing Essendon to beat at least one team still.

 

[stfan]

Not much good but not as bad as people think.

3 or 4 wins.

I would be amazed if they win that many.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Not much good but not as bad as people think.

3 or 4 wins.

They'll struggle to win 1.

 

[Membling]

Id put the line at 2.5 wins if I was a bookie

 

[Baird]

They'll probably get one win against a team in a form slump. Possibly 2.

 

[H2F]

Not much good but not as bad as people think.

3 or 4 wins.

Ok so they play Carlton twice, that's two.

Now I'm lost.

 

[H2F]

I don't think they will win any.

Once you lose your spirit you are gone.

They will be the hollow club next year.

 

[TheKanga]

Don't see them winning any games.
Their forward line won't be very consistent nor kick big scores.
The defense will leak goals like crazy.

I mean they were really bad last year before these bans anyway.

 

[Forward Press]

No team has gone winless since Fitzroy 1964. Sure, this situation is unprecedented but like all teams declared 'worse since Fitzroy', there's always a chance to jag one.

Freo 2001 went 17 straight winless until they got one on the finals-bound Hawks at Etihad, I doubt anyone gave them a chance that day either.

Still, wouldn't surprise me to see a dozen 10 goal hammerings to this side. These are 12 senior players lost for the whole year,.

 

[WhyAlwaysMe]

I think the interesting thing will be the losing margins. We're already over halfway through pre season with games and inter club games approaching quickly. I think they'll cop some very big losses in the first couple of months until they get some semblance of a game plan and some kind of match fitness into the top up players.

 

[Messenger]

They'll surprise someone one day, beat a team down on it luck another day and still be better than Carlton.

3-4 is not a stretch at all.

 

[IschenkoUBeauty]

People are carrying on as though a super team has had the guts ripped out of it. Might I remind everyone that they were (are) crap with a capital 'c'.

C-R-A-P.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

I think the interesting thing will be the losing margins. We're already over halfway through pre season with games and inter club games approaching quickly. I think they'll cop some very big losses in the first couple of months until they get some semblance of a game plan and some kind of match fitness into the top up players.

That's probably what will happen.

 

[Kickin_Goals]

There is no precedent for the rubbish Essendon will serve up, 0 wins...