AFL Autopsy JLT 1: 9 point loss to Carlton

[BrunoV]

It might bring him more into the game, I would prefer Walla up forward but if Parish is being ineffective in the mid-field then maybe he can do more up forward.

If he's being ineffective he belongs in the VFL.

 

[BuffDog]

In the 2018 JLT

- Carlton won both games
- North lost both games easy
- Gold Coast smacked Geelong
- GWS thumped Collingwood
- Fremantle killed West Coast

Not at all concerned about the result, I think Carlton’s game v Hawthorn really helped them - maybe we should have arranged similar?

Only concern is how the midfield will function with the 6-6-6 but time will tell. I’d back us to improve

 

[astrowizzle]

From an opposition perspective, I thought your best players were McGrath, Tippa, Hurley, Stringer and Saad. Probably in that order.

Your 1st choice midfield was overwhelmed in the first half, but (weirdly) got better in the second when Merret and Heppell went off, and Shiel got injured. Let you blokes move McGrath into the middle, where he nearly won the game for you.

Our young mids were able to get the ball into F50 from the centre breaks, and then largely were able to lock it in from there. When you blokes got it out you were able to run it down the ground reasonably fast (Saad, Tippa, McGrath and Shiel were good there).

I'm not sure if that's got a lot to do with the 666 rule, but it sure seemed to be a factor. Center clearances and fast breaks out of the middle led to the ball getting pumped into the F50 fast, and I saw a lot of defenders (on both sides) panicking and doing little holds of the jumper or blocks or positioning wrong.

I actually liked the new rules.

I wouldnt read too much into the game; it was 36 degrees and a 1st hit out (well, we played the Hawks last week so a second hit out for us). Clearly the players weren't going at 100 percent, and you rested a lot of good players at half time.

Good to have the footy back.

See useful posts from opposition supporters. This is good to read.
Let's all go to the tigers board and post tripe and see what happens

 

[Bombermania]

Agree that Myers is essential.

He doesn't necessarily have to be but the good thing about Myers is that he's allowed to spend time in the middle.

While I didn't think Laverde's work in the middle warranted mention, he was at least preventing Cripps from disposing of the ball even when he was positioned poorly/misread the play.

That we could play Zaharakis, Parish and McGrath in the middle together really has me wondering whether we've learned a thing.

That's a midfield setup which at best can get a clean break if our ruckman gets a clear win. The other 75% of the time it gets steam rolled by Cripps.

We will probably play as we did last year but with Shiel included. We seemed to have two groups of four that took it in turns of contesting the centre bounce.

I don't expect we would see Zaharaskis, Parish and McGrath in the one group but we might see two of them together however last year Zaharaskis started off the edge of the square and Parish seemed to play off the contest.

 

[Oraaaaazio]

Hey I only came here to comment on your captain having a childs’ haircut.

Though I am a bit worried your mob aren’t keeping their expectations in check. $2.75 Top 4 odds after what’s happened the last 2 years [emoji51]

I’m only trying to help…

don't think anyone from the Essendon FC are oddsmakers.. The odds are set by sports traders from betting agencies and then moved in/out by punters opinions... also the inputs used to come up with these odds certainly provide a better insight into probability than yourself

 

[Beerfish]

That one big body mid still our achilles heel need Myers back. People will say Langford while he's going to be a good player he's not mid material imo is slow to get rid of the ball doesn't attack the ball or have enough mongrel like other good mids have

Didn't see the game disclaimer but this was my major knock on him before it all just seemed to click for him last year. Maybe he just needs time to shift back into that gear again given this was the first competitive hit out we've had for the year. Doesn't sound like it's taken much for people to forget where he got to last year.

 

[BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!]

Didn't see the game disclaimer but this was my major knock on him before it all just seemed to click for him last year. Maybe he just needs time to shift back into that gear again given this was the first competitive hit out we've had for the year. Doesn't sound like it's taken much for people to forget where he got to last year.

I thought he was great last year but long term I'm not sure he's that mid we are crying out for would rather Laverde in the guts.

 

[Keystone agony]

Im concerned with our back 7. Whos it going to be. Saad, Mckenna, Francis, Hurley and Hooker pick themselves but who are the other 2.

Mcgrath will play midfield a combination of wing/onball

Guelfi seems set for a similar wing role

Based on last night Ridley and Ambrose are the next 2 in line ahead of Long till Gleeson and Redman get some serious game time under their belt

My concern is all of Hurley, Hooker, Francis, Ambrose and Ridley in the same side? Too tall for my liking and too stagnant. Yes Ridley moves well but even VFL player Gibbons showed him a clean set of heels yesterday.

We cant go into round 1 with those 5 players. Too big, too poor in ball use and too defensive for me.

Id be pushing Heppell off a half back or Guelfi into back rotations.

Thats my issue with the way i see us setting up and it leaving us vunerable at times.

 

[Lore]

"I looked it up, for the majority of the first half our centre square combination was Clarke, McGrath, Parish and Langford" – Mark Harvey

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/2019-02-28/btv-jlt-1-ridley-postgame

Better hope we don't end up with so many injuries during the season that we have a back up ruckman and a bunch of kids all in the middle at once

 

[Vander18]

Hartley is fine when he's just being a stopper; it's when they ask him to intercept mark instead of spoil that he starts to look confused.

I think he's a good depth negating Full Back, but isn't going to be a dominant intercept mark the way Hooker is as a FB that can translate it in to a rebound via the small defenders.

It’s not even about playing a specific intercept role - as a tall defender he will at times have to mark the footy and he’s just too unrealiable under high balls.

Also gives away too many free kicks when one on one.

 

[rumply]

"I looked it up, for the majority of the first half our centre square combination was Clarke, McGrath, Parish and Langford" – Mark Harvey

https://www.essendonfc.com.au/video/2019-02-28/btv-jlt-1-ridley-postgame

Better hope we don't end up with so many injuries during the season that we have a back up ruckman and a bunch of kids all in the middle at once

Have a look b4l & reassess.

 

[Howard Moon]

i wouldn't underestimate first up syndrome being at play

irrespective of all the other factors that had Carlton wanting to win more - that game they played last week v hawks would have sharpened them up and given themselves a good blow out - we were probably blowing hard and had a bit more lactic leg going on

its not much but enough to sharpen one team up a bit over the other

all the training and match sim in the world cant recreate playing a real unpredictable opponent.

 

[cfc4life]

Afternoon lads, just wanted to pop by and give my thoughts.

Tippa looked in tremendous form, probably the most switched on Bomber out there.

McGrath is a bloody gun and really turned it around for you in the last qtr.

Clarke, Zaka, Hartley, Stringer and Ridley all pretty good as well.

 

[Howard Moon]

Afternoon lads, just wanted to pop by and give my thoughts.

Tippa looked in tremendous form, probably the most switched on Bomber out there.

McGrath is a bloody gun and really turned it around for you in the last qtr.

Clarke, Zaka, Hartley, Stringer and Ridley all pretty good as well.

Clarke probably looked like he was everywhere but gave us nothing from a ruck hit out clearance pov, think it was our great failing in the first half

 

[Ambrosia]

Clarke probably looked like he was everywhere but gave us nothing from a ruck hit out clearance pov, think it was our great failing in the first half

In Clarke's defence he looked to blow up 5 minutes into the first quarter and had didn't get a meaningful break till late in the second.

 

[boncer34]

Didn't see the game disclaimer but this was my major knock on him before it all just seemed to click for him last year. Maybe he just needs time to shift back into that gear again given this was the first competitive hit out we've had for the year. Doesn't sound like it's taken much for people to forget where he got to last year.

I think its the other way.

I think people overstate where he go to last year, I said it then and I'll say it again he simply doesn't get enough of the ball to be considered a true mid and it seems that (for some unknown reason considering how good his hands on the lead are) is the position they've earmarked him for.

 

[boncer34]

Something to keep in mind.

Carlton's top 3 mids TOG%

Cripps 87%
Curnow 80%
Murphy 72%
And hell even Simpson spent 87% TOG.

Meanwhile at Essendon
Smith 51%
Heppell 39%
Merrett 36%
Shiel 51%

Jeez wonder why their dominant mids were on top for large parts?

 

[Beerfish]

I think its the other way.

I think people overstate where he go to last year, I said it then and I'll say it again he simply doesn't get enough of the ball to be considered a true mid and it seems that (for some unknown reason considering how good his hands on the lead are) is the position they've earmarked him for.

I WILL FIGHT YOU IRL M8

Ok

 

[eDPS]

Agree that Myers is essential.

He doesn't necessarily have to be but the good thing about Myers is that he's allowed to spend time in the middle.

While I didn't think Laverde's work in the middle warranted mention, he was at least preventing Cripps from disposing of the ball even when he was positioned poorly/misread the play.

That we could play Zaharakis, Parish and McGrath in the middle together really has me wondering whether we've learned a thing.

That's a midfield setup which at best can get a clean break if our ruckman gets a clear win. The other 75% of the time it gets steam rolled by Cripps.

If we are fair dinkum Zaharakis shouldn't be spending a single second at center bounces in 2019.

 

[boncer34]

I WILL FIGHT YOU IRL M8

Ok

Pass.
You're bigger than me.

 

[Beerfish]

Pass.
You're bigger than me.

Only vertically.

 

[boncer34]

Only vertically.

 

[faible]

HE'S SAYING YOU HAVE A LARGE PENIS.

 

[Harlequin]

HE'S SAYING YOU HAVE A LARGE PENIS.

Mmmm k

Shuts thread

 

[Jesse Custer]

Who kicked the ball into the 50?

And pardon me, who kicked the goal?