Most Pleasing Aspect of the First Game

[Pevers-Legend]

No more zoning off players who have the ball. That used to drive me fire trucking insane. We pressured the ball carrier on Saturday night - it was a big noticeable change to our gameplan and a bloody welcome one.

Also, our defensive pressure - i.e. tackling in the packs and chsing was great to see. Even if it will take longer to improve our skills, our style of game is improving - the 1%'s seem to be coming back into vogue at Windy Hill.

We could have lost and I wouldn't care as long as we start playing a smarter gamestyle and that is what I noticed. This hasn't changed my expectations yet as this is mickey mouse, but folks, looks like we might have a coach for the first time in about 4 or 5 years!!!

 

[acursi08]

I agree
But for Essendon to make the top 8 this year, they must make an effort to be the best team in the comp when not having the ball. With players like Davey, Jetta, Dempsey, McVeigh, Peverill, Slattery ect. and all the new guns coming through, we have a list that can become the most pressuring team. This would create a sense of fear for the ball carrier and force errors and turnovers.

 

[Stiggitupem]

No more zoning off players who have the ball. That used to drive me fire trucking insane. We pressured the ball carrier on Saturday night - it was a big noticeable change to our gameplan and a bloody welcome one.

Also, our defensive pressure - i.e. tackling in the packs and chsing was great to see. Even if it will take longer to improve our skills, our style of game is improving - the 1%'s seem to be coming back into vogue at Windy Hill.

We could have lost and I wouldn't care as long as we start playing a smarter gamestyle and that is what I noticed. This hasn't changed my expectations yet as this is mickey mouse, but folks, looks like we might have a coach for the first time in about 4 or 5 years!!!

Spot on. I watched the Hawks flog us at the G last year - the contrast between their aggressive manning of the mark and our pathetic "zoning" was an eye opener. Looks like Knights agrees!

 

[bennythebomber]

The tackling and the playing on at any cost. Very exciting, and what about the wave they had happening from half back. Can't wait to see how we go when two more major forward targets in Lloyd and Lucas are in the forward line along with a resting ruckman. Should stretch many backlines.

 

[BomberAce7]

No more zoning off players who have the ball. That used to drive me fire trucking insane. We pressured the ball carrier on Saturday night - it was a big noticeable change to our gameplan and a bloody welcome one.

Also, our defensive pressure - i.e. tackling in the packs and chsing was great to see. Even if it will take longer to improve our skills, our style of game is improving - the 1%'s seem to be coming back into vogue at Windy Hill.

We could have lost and I wouldn't care as long as we start playing a smarter gamestyle and that is what I noticed. This hasn't changed my expectations yet as this is mickey mouse, but folks, looks like we might have a coach for the first time in about 4 or 5 years!!!

Couldnt agree more!

 

[bombre-boy]

Must admit it was nice to see the pressure from most players has ramped up...Not sure if it was because of lucas and lloyd being out, but i like the ruckman resting in the foward line, particularly Hille...Hopefully this will translate to the real season.

 

[waspy]

The other thing to note is that even when a Lions player managed to get past one pressurer, there always seemed to be someone else there to help....our workrate was excellent. My only concern is that perhaps we had a bit of "coaches first game" intensity which wears off for most teams after the coach has been there for a few matches.

 

[TheDon35]

For mine it was to see the a young batch of best players:

Houli, Dempsey, Nash, Monfries. These guys need to take us to the next flag

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Rhys Magin, Courtney Dempsey and Ricky Dyson. The skills level increase. The ruck set up. Very impressed with Knighter so far.

 

[stander]

Must admit it was nice to see the pressure from most players has ramped up...Not sure if it was because of lucas and lloyd being out, but i like the ruckman resting in the foward line, particularly Hille...Hopefully this will translate to the real season.

Agree- Hille could be a monster this year.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Agree- Hille could be a monster this year.

Provided he keeps kicking like he did - we will have a very potent forward line.

 

[Bombermania]

I agree totally, the zoning off players with the ball was pathetic, the number of time as the ball would be run out of our foward line right up to the other end with a bomber going near it was frustrating, another pleasing aspect was we were more direct out of the centre.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I wll reserve judgement from this till after I see us play 5 or 6 times, but did nayone else notice that there seemed to be more teamwork around the stoppages - like we had more of an idea on hwo to get the ball out of a pack to an outside player.

As I say, I will wait till we play real games, but it would be nice to think this might also change from our previous usual of get the ball in the centre and try and break 10 tackkles or just aimlessly boot it out of the middle anywhere.

 

[monty1104]

I liked the runing in waves through the centre corridoor. Michael Voss pointed it out on the telecast, and it looked like a great improvement from last year.