Universal Love It's Over

[DERO]

Don't think I would have been able to survive with out the support of Essendon fans on here you guys have made me get through it.

Cheers.

No one could ever question your passion or commitment to the cause B4L. Happy to have you in the trenches alongside me.

 

[Harlequin]

Don't think I would have been able to survive with out the support of Essendon fans on here you guys have made me get through it.

Cheers.

Ah my friend, we made it through to the other side.

Tbh I've enjoyed the season, and love your passion.

2017 brings us back into the real world. It's potentially going to be a lot harder to be a supporter in a normal season.

We got through this one and I reckon we will get through anything season 2017 and beyond dish up

Salut

 

[YEMOC NAYR]

Thank god! Bring on 2017.

 

[Eleven 38]

Don't think I would have been able to survive with out the support of Essendon fans on here you guys have made me get through it.

Cheers.

Glad we could help you get through. But you definitely kept reminding us all about what the passion for the EFC means when it could have been lost.

So thank you.

 

[Mootsy]

4 years...

Finally the fans can focus on the football again..

 

[Stopher]

It's been real!

 

[Snake Charmer]

I'd say we had a better year then Richmond...

 

[Coldacre]

I do miss Ryder, at his best he was brilliant but his best wasn't nearly often enough which is why he was often our barometer.

We will never know if Worsfold would have gotten him to where he could be but give me a consistent toiler like Luey every day.

I'll respectfully disagree. Paddy was very consistent until the supplements things dragged everyone down. Ryder/Belcho was a lethal combo with Paddy thriving in the #1 ruck position. kicked some amazing goals too in 2012/2013. anyways, its done now. bring on 2017!!

 

[Old Campaigner]

I have an image in my mind of the ending of that World of Warcraft episode of South Park where everyone emerges from the woodwork to celebrate

this feels a lot like that

 

[Coldacre]

Perfect time to find yourself a third sig quote.

done!

 

[Doss]

We did it, guys.

Reading this thread has been genuinely heartwarming.

This year didn't break us as many thought it would. It (the last four years) has humbled us as supporters, but we will appreciate the good times so much more when they arrive again.

boncer34, thumbs up for creating this.

 

[boncer34]

We did it, guys.

Reading this thread has been genuinely heartwarming.

This year didn't break us as many thought it would. It (the last four years) has humbled us as supporters, but we will appreciate the good times so much more when they arrive again.

boncer34, thumbs up for creating this.

Largely did it for the bulk likes.

#likewhore

 

[Doss]

Largely did it for the bulk likes.

#likewhore

I've taught you well.

 

[Vindicater]

The fans have been great this year and the club even better.

Despite the losses this season has been the most enjoyable of the last 4.

Next year will be wonderful.

 

[tesla1962]

The view of EFC from the outside was pretty dark a few seasons ago. At the time a host of former EFC greats returned to help rebuild the club, which was in many ways still under siege. One of the great things about this year is that well known players have come from the outside (jamar, kelly, stokes, dea etc.) and, along with guys like Cooney, have shown the footy world and the public that EFC is a great place to be. The PR team at EFC and the whole club managed to turn a shit sandwich (Jan 12) into something incredibly positive.

 

[Lore]

The view of EFC from the outside was pretty dark a few seasons ago. At the time a host of former EFC greats returned to help rebuild the club, which was in many ways still under siege. One of the great things about this year is that well know players have come from the outside (jamar, kelly, stokes, dea etc.) and, along with guys like Cooney, have shown the footy world and the public that EFC is a great place to be. The PR team at EFC and the whole club managed to turn a shit sandwich (Jan 12) into something pretty positive.

Not just that they're seeing us as a place people like to be, but as a place THEIR people like to be. These guys have caused supporters of other teams to invest in us to some extent - the Fremantle people wishing Crowley well, the Richmond people wishing Dea well, Cooney and the Bulldogs folk, etc. Helps break down some of those walls people have built against us... (Of course, some people will always hate us for it now, even some of our own supporters won't come back... que sera sera.)

 

[pepsi]

The day after it was announced in 2013 that we were being investigated for widespread team drug use, I sat with a work colleague who also supports the dons the day after and we talked about the situation for a couple of hours. I had fears then it would totally destroy the club and yet somehow we have emerged out of the other side more connected and united than I can remember. I'm stupidly excited for round 1 next year when the suspended players step out. I'm sure it's going to be an emotional experience whatever happens on the day.

 

[Harlequin]

I never realised how strongly I felt about the Bombers until this happened. I remember the comments round the office when the news broke in 2013. **** it was just so hard to fathom at the time.
Here we are hopefully on the other side.
Having players like Kelly, Stokes, Dea etc want to come into our Club has been a huge positive. Thought Stokes spoke well after the Blues game about his time at the Bombers.
I think its going to be hard next year as we acclimatise to life after the saga, but as a Club we've proven we can withstand anything.

I was rapt to see Dyson sharing a laugh with Zaka yesterday at the VFL.

Onwards and Upwards

Suaviter in Modo, Fortiter in Re

 

[DERO]

It has been emotional.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

I think Florence and the Machine summed it up best

These Dog days are Over.

 

[ScrappyCoCo]

There was a day I posted about going for a long walk...Falling Down style....I was kind of joking (but there was days I felt pretty awful about it....especially what my kids were coping at school), but I received really nice messages from people here. It was nice to know there was strong support from people here...people that were going through and putting up with the same stuff. A great little community to be part of.

 

[Eleven 38]

I think Florence and the Machine summed it up best

These Dog days are Over.

We will end the dogs days on Sunday hopefully.

 

[Seb78]

Been a long four years. But gonna be a cracker next four!!!!!! Go Bombers!

 

[SherbertLemon]

I think Florence and the Machine summed it up best

These Dog days are Over.

What kind of league loves like this.

 

[Lore]

I know it's Ralph, but it's a universal love thread isn't it?

After a horror four years, Essendon will enter 2017 as optimistic as any club
IN another time with less forgiving insurers and no TV rights bounty, Essendon might have been bankrupted by its four-year ASADA scandal.

If the resilient playing group that had splintered rather than bound even tighter together, the Dons might have taken a decade to rebuild a competitive list.

Finally, 1204 days and a million headlines after Essendon self-reported in February 2013, it will all be over next Wednesday.

On that day — September 14 according to ASADA advice — Essendon players are permitted to begin trickling back into the club before a November 7 start to the pre-season.

And in a development expected by absolutely no one this January, the Bombers will enter 2017 as optimistic as any club about their fortunes.

Those players will have medicals and meet with club staff before mid-November returns, with the club planning a later welcome home function that will be open to its fans.

It has tapped into the excitement, set to bring forward its membership campaign a full six weeks as it hopes to stir the fans ahead of a potential Round 1 blockbuster against Melbourne.

Of course there are still significant ends to be tied up in Jobe Watson’s decision, the Swiss Federal court ruling, player compensation and this year’s financial result.

That result alone might fall somewhere between $2 million and $4 million after payments to top-up players, more legal bills, lower gate and membership returns and the inability to add new sponsors to the current batch.

But how many times in these past four years have Essendon fans been able to wake up confident of the clear skies ahead?

Without another appeal, or the chance of another star leaving, or another hammer blow which threatens to rip the club apart.

The Swiss result could drop any time until Christmas, with Jobe’s Brownlow and the reputations of players the critical outcomes.

But the worst case scenario still doesn’t impact a Round 1 team next year that is something to behold.

John Worsfold said he hoped James Kelly might play on if the club could find a place for him on its list.

Hey Woosh, Kelly just finished equal second in your best-and-fairest last week.

And yet it is true competition for spots has never been fiercer.

In 2016 Essendon discovered Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Matt Dea, Michael Hartley and witnessed David Zaharakis rediscover his hunger.

They saw promising kids Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher blossom into future champions of the club.

They watched kids in Aaron Francis, Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford and Jayden Laverde emerge as A grade talent, with the club and those close to Laverde shocked if he departs for suitor St Kilda.

And with the first pick in the national draft, pre-season draft and as the only club with salary cap room, picks and a real inclination for Jaeger O’Meara it must be the warm favourite for his services.

Essendon can afford to take the chance on O’Meara’s injury status given its stocks of kids, especially if he can be landed in the pre-season draft.

Then either of the options with the no. 1 pick appeal — taking Warrnambool midfielder Hugh McCluggage or trading it for a pair of top-15 selections.

With a potential second-round pick in exchange for Michael Hibberd, Essendon could march into the draft with four picks inside 25 to boost their stocks.

Across the competition Angus Monfries is guaranteed to return to the Power given ongoing talks, while Jake Carlisle needs the pre-season of his life after midyear hip surgery.

He has met weekly with St Kilda doctors as per ASADA regulations and is ready to hit the ground running.

So he should after his Snapchat debacle, with Matt Finnis’ demand that he work his butt off to be “the best mobile tall defender in the competition” no doubt ringing in his ears.

There will be challenges integrating players next year and unforeseen issues ahead that will cost time and money.

But everyone at Essendon would prefer them to the minefields they have danced through these past four seasons.

ESSENDON’S POTENTIAL ROUND 1 2017 SIDE

B: James Kelly, Michael Hartley, Mark Baguley

FB: Aaron Francis, Michael Hurley, Patrick Ambrose

C: Brendon Goddard, Dyson Heppell, David Zaharakis

HF: Travis Colyer, Cale Hooker, Jobe Watson

F: Orazio Fantasia, Joe Daniher, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

R: Matthew Leuenberger, Zach Merrett, Darcy Parish

INTER: Kyle Langford, Jayden Laverde, David Myers, Brent Stanton

EMERG: Tom Bellchambers, Mitch Brown, Matt Dea

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...b/news-story/36245d022009ce2f093e758f5f29019a