Essendon's competitiveness in 2016

[NathanMX]

Its a long time ago i know but remember what you did to us last year?

I do, hence my confidence. But I apologise to anyone I may have offended in any way, you had a great weekend and should be celebrating it not having to even contemplate Round 9

 

[old55]

Melbourne were woeful, but nevertheless Essendon played well with a good system, just had trouble finishing. The margin should have been much more.

 

[Sando22]

@ 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.

I wish.

 

[Beerfish]

I wish.

Don't worry. You won't be the only one.

 

[Sando22]

Don't worry. You won't be the only one.

Have heard the commentary for the last few days and 95% of it is based around how bad we were.
Finally made myself sit down and watch the game last night and I think Essendon performed quite well, were switched on form the first bounce and looked as though they'd set themselves for this one.
No doubt Dees were bad, looked like they thought it'd would just happen for them and got bitten like they deserved but the Bombers deserve a bit more credit.
This is not me deflecting from Melb's poor efforts because we were poop but Essendon had a real crack and give an underdog a sniff, let them feel like they are in it, they will get you.
Bombers will surprise a few this year and snatch 4-5 wins for mine.

 

[Beerfish]

Bombers will surprise a few this year and snatch 4-5 wins for mine.

And each one will be extra delicious given how mouthy some people have been about it.

 

[citizen-erased]

Have heard the commentary for the last few days and 95% of it is based around how bad we were.
Finally made myself sit down and watch the game last night and I think Essendon performed quite well, were switched on form the first bounce and looked as though they'd set themselves for this one.
No doubt Dees were bad, looked like they thought it'd would just happen for them and got bitten like they deserved but the Bombers deserve a bit more credit.
This is not me deflecting from Melb's poor efforts because we were poop but Essendon had a real crack and give an underdog a sniff, let them feel like they are in it, they will get you.
Bombers will surprise a few this year and snatch 4-5 wins for mine.

For Rd2, the signs came earlier than expected

I thought Hartley, Gwilt, Bags, Tippa, and Dea were well organised in defence, and Gleeson had a good game playing loose defence.

And our line running was good. But greater pressure on the mids will see an end to that. I don't see us keeping up with midfield pressure from the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney, etc.

We might catch a few teams out given how unpredictable our list and game plans are gonna be.

 

[Ari]

I look up the schedule and it's Port vs Essendon this Friday night. What???? Have the AFL not learned a thing from the Carlton debacle last year? Why would they ever have Essendon on a Friday night? Is this some sort of education thing for the kids?

Play nice. I think it's our only game for the year. We need some exposure for the sponsors!

 

[Ari]

Brisbane yes, Carlton yes, they aint beating us.

Lol. Oh Sainters.

 

[Ari]

So you reckon after travelling to Perth you will come back and knock us off possibly after the Eagles give you a three figure flogging and only 3 weeks after the Hawks likely do the same? Yep can see your players confidence being up after those two games

We are expecting to be flogged the Hawks. And the Eagles. Basically after that we will be happy to see the Saints, a team we might be a handy chance at beating. Don't think any Essendon player see's anything but a 60-100pt loss against the Hawks or Eagles.

So no, won't be any devastation being belted by the reigning Grand Finalists. We know who we can beat this year, and those teams are not they.

 

[blackshadow]

Ambrose is a fitness freak and has been playing KPD but Riewoldlt would be too smart for him

Ambrose may be a fitness freak but he's a spud as an afl footballer. I'm not a massive Roo fan but he's proven himself to be an elite footballer and should carve up a fit spud every day of the week.

 

[Sando22]

For Rd2, the signs came earlier than expected

I thought Hartley, Gwilt, Bags, Tippa, and Dea were well organised in defence, and Gleeson had a good game playing loose defence.

And our line running was good. But greater pressure on the mids will see an end to that. I don't see us keeping up with midfield pressure from the likes of Geelong, Hawthorn, Sydney, etc.

We might catch a few teams out given how unpredictable our list and game plans are gonna be.

Will certainly catch a few off guard I think

 

[Milanista28]

Ambrose may be a fitness freak but he's a spud as an afl footballer. I'm not a massive Roo fan but he's proven himself to be an elite footballer and should carve up a fit spud every day of the week.

He basically said that in his post.

 

[fishardansin]

yeah but then you also forget that under Ross Lyon we were your bitches but under GT and Richo you are ours

We may be average true, but we still have a leader with the heart of a lion who can bury even the best defenders as you have witnessed first hand and reckon there is a fair chance whichever sucker lines up on Roo is gonna have to be carried off

You on the other hand have a leader who points fingers, hahaha jokes.

I think the saints will have us covered because there is a fair amount of leg speed in your team. Even though the FOX commentary team for the game last week were dipshits they were right in pointing out that Essendon beat Melbourne on the spread, everything else was very even. We won't beat the Saints there.

 

[fishardansin]

So with Port having so many out, does anyone else think $6 are juicy odds for Essendon?

 

[fishardansin]

Where is his best position for you guys currently? And then his best position with the 12 back in your side?

I'm one of the few Essendon supporters who have any time for Ambrose. Personally I think his best position would be as a tagger. He is the best runner at our club which includes Stanton who is considered one of the best in the league. He is 195cm and a beast. He never played footy at a high level until one season as a supplementary for our VFL side, so he doesn't really know where he's going out there. He also has deficiencies with the way he picks up the ball and marks, it doesn't allow for quick release.

So I think he is perfect to tag a Pendlebury, Cripps, Fyfe or Martin in the mifield and showed that he can go alright as a KPD so not be afraid of them taking him deep forward. He would also be great as a tagger for that half back general type.

Yes there are much better footballers out there but there is a salary cap and part of living with that is finding ways to use limited footballers in your team so that you have more cap space for stars. With Ambrose tagging it frees Hocking to play as a ball winner and Kommer can take the half back general. Having the three of them playing those roles in the side saves a fair bit of cap space!

 

[Linda Lovelace]

So with Port having so many out, does anyone else think $6 are juicy odds for Essendon?

Less juicy than the wheelbarrow full of cash that 6s against Melbourne won me, but still juicy enough to let some of that ride.

 

[fishardansin]

Will certainly catch a few off guard I think

If they keep playing this well I don't think they'll catch teams off guard. Teams will give them respect.

 

[fishardansin]

Less juicy than the wheelbarrow full of cash that 6s against Melbourne won me, but still juicy enough to let some of that ride.

Did you bet for Essendon last week? I can't believe that. I am one of the most optimistic supporters for club that is notoriously over optimistic and I went to the game hoping to keep the loss under 10 goals!!

 

[Linda Lovelace]

Did you bet for Essendon last week? I can't believe that. I am one of the most optimistic supporters for club that is notoriously over optimistic and I went to the game hoping to keep the loss under 10 goals!!

Sportsbet money back deal makes betting on underdogs very attractive in general, even though not all my money was 'protected'. Melbourne and Essendon have been trading massive upsets for years now, it was written in the stars.

Essendon is starting to shape up as good team if, and it's still a big if, you can retain most of your players. If Hurley, Heppell, Hibberd, Colyer (I think Essendon lets Hooker walk for another top pick) walk back into a team that is looking like it has future A-grade stars in Zerrett, Parish and Daniher, a Zaharakis that is finally looking like the player he once threatened to become, and potential from Laverde, Langford and the as yet untested, but rated, Francis it can be a serious team. People will laugh at this, which is good, because it just means I will get good odds backing them to make finals next year.

I had 'concerns' (not really, I hate Essendon) that young players might go backwards in a such a chaotic environment, but the early signs are the opposite, with players stepping up to the plate. Essendon looks like it is at least going to try each week, which means they will take scalps.

 

[juss]

So with Port having so many out, does anyone else think $6 are juicy odds for Essendon?

Yeh, put your house on them!

 

[DrEvil_]

simple. Because EFC always guarantee a vast audience.

You'll watch, for example, even though you're about to pretend you won't

Only because I am a loser with nothing else going on on a Friday night.

 

[fishardansin]

Sportsbet money back deal makes betting on underdogs very attractive in general, even though not all my money was 'protected'. Melbourne and Essendon have been trading massive upsets for years now, it was written in the stars.

Essendon is starting to shape up as good team if, and it's still a big if, you can retain most of your players. If Hurley, Heppell, Hibberd, Colyer (I think Essendon lets Hooker walk for another top pick) walk back into a team that is looking like it has future A-grade stars in Zerrett, Parish and Daniher, a Zaharakis that is finally looking like the player he once threatened to become, and potential from Laverde, Langford and the as yet untested, but rated, Francis it can be a serious team. People will laugh at this, which is good, because it just means I will get good odds backing them to make finals next year.

I had 'concerns' (not really, I hate Essendon) that young players might go backwards in a such a chaotic environment, but the early signs are the opposite, with players stepping up to the plate. Essendon looks like it is at least going to try each week, which means they will take scalps.

To Zaka's defense this is the first preseason he's done in four years I think. Players don't lose ability, either they've lost the passion or are carrying an injury. Sometimes the latter leads to the former. Of our youngsters I think Laverde will be the best. Colyer and Hocking are in for next year. We will obviously have two good draft picks this year. If all our players come back then it might be worth trading away our later picks for a pick in the late teens or 20s. If they don't we'll obviously get something juicy for Hooker. Myers not so much. However, if Hooker and Hurley are back next year then I want Hooker deep forward with JD leading up the ground.

 

[fishardansin]

Yeh, put your house on them!

Do you think the landlord will mind?

 

[juss]

Do you think the landlord will mind?

He'll see the value