Post match: vs StKilda

[Merv]

Disappointing to lose tonight but still a few good signs.

Many basic mistakes made and slaughtered at the stoppages but managed to hang in there and they will learn a lot from that.

Beaten by a far more organized team around stoppages and more hardened bodies that know where to run to or position themselves.

We have the talent, we just need to be patient.

 

[Blind Turn]

Mostly positives...but

Great persistence from the boys. However, for all those on the Monfries love-fest this pre-season, the only thing he did all night was lose us the game. This may seem harsh... good. We have high hopes for him, yet he barely touches the ball and makes schoolboy errors all night. At the moment, he isn't even close to being a midfielder of note. Special mention for Neagle... not just for the goals but for his presence also. A lot to like in him.

 

[DonMania#5]

Umpiring was disgraceful, Monfries made a silly mistake in the end although there wasn't much he could do in that situation.

Jay Neagle is a superstar

 

[mxett]

Your son Jay looked pretty good.

We need to learn how to tackle!

All in all though, a pretty spirited effort. Not everything went our way but we were still in it to the end.

 

[Bombertastic]

Yeah disappointing in losing but still a great effort. As for hardened bodies I can't remember seeing an Essendon side that looked as fit and toned. Even JJ looks great. There's been effort in the weight room and we may look a little smaller but that's player size through the middle I think.

Lots of promising things and going three games in the NAB cup will do the young kids a lot of good. Neagle and Nash look great and even JJ looks like he's gained some pace and fitness this year. I'm really looking forward to season proper and the doubters being silenced.

 

[jdwood]

I thought we should have lost by alot more, they made us revert to our old style and we didn't look that good doing it.

I hope to god, Knights doesn't start Dempsey in round one, he provides dash but he coughs it up soooo much. Any of Nash, Rama or Houli could play that role and be far less of a liability.

Hille was dominated in the ruck aswell.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Good win by the Saints tonight showing some good signs but I was a very happy Bomber's supporter tonight...I hate saying it as I am an umpire, but some of the umpiring decisions were just shocking, and one example of that was when Alwyn stole the ball of Rix/Gardiner/King in the air and it was a free for push in the back...Not blaming them though, some sloppy free kicks against from the likes of Watson & Dick, but good win by the Saints, I feel very much robbed... Monfries had a little tussle with Armitage for the ball in the dying seconds of the last quarter, 50/50, and he got paid for holding the ball when he put his head over the footy, don't like it when umpires don't reward players first in for the footy...
Jay Neagle & Andrew Welsh had very good games...

 

[Schmick]

Disapointing to lose it in the last few minutes.

But Jay Neagle

 

[Blind Turn]

Good win by the Saints tonight showing some good signs but I was a very happy as a Bombers supporter tonight...I hate saying it as I am an umpire, but some of the umpiring decisions were just shocking, and one example of that was when Alwyn stole the ball of Rix/Gardiner/King in the air and it was a free for push in the back...Not blaming them though, some sloppy free kicks against from the likes of Watson & Dick, but good win by the Saints, I feel very much robbed... Monfries had a little tussle with Armitage for the ball in the dying seconds of the last quarter, 50/50, and he got paid for holding the ball when he put his head over the footy, don't like it when umpires don't reward players first in for the footy...
Jay Neagle & Andrew Welsh had very good games...

Gus dived on the ball. As an umpire you have to give those every time. Don't agree with the interpretation but that's how it is.

 

[Big Blow Hard]

Umpiring aside.

Neagle great. Great mark.

I don't think they were that much better than us at all. They made it look a bot easier though, but we had them as bedazzled at times as Lions and Dogs.

Lucas had a bad night kicking, and Welsh missed a sitter with a stupid checkside attempt. He should have just kicked through it.

Alot to like. Kositzke (sp?) and Gehrig aside, that was a fair St Kilda side out there.

PS: I was at the game near the Bombers supporters goal end. I really thought there might be a riot. I have never seen so much anger at the Umps in a Pre Season match. lol

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Gus dived on the ball. As an umpire you have to give those every time. Don't agree with the interpretation but that's how it is.

Yeah it soughta was a free kick, but I hate it when players get paid for holding the ball for putting their head over the footy getting into the pack first...

 

[mxett]

Good win by the Saints tonight showing some good signs but I was a very happy as a Bombers supporter tonight...I hate saying it as I am an umpire, but some of the umpiring decisions were just shocking, and one example of that was when Alwyn stole the ball of Rix/Gardiner/King in the air and it was a free for push in the back...Not blaming them though, some sloppy free kicks against from the likes of Watson & Dick, but good win by the Saints, I feel very much robbed... Monfries had a little tussle with Armitage for the ball in the dying seconds of the last quarter, 50/50, and he got paid for holding the ball when he put his head over the footy, don't like it when umpires don't reward players first in for the footy...
Jay Neagle & Andrew Welsh had very good games...

Good call. I know umpiring is tough but there were just too many 50/50's that went against us! Monfries deserved to be penalised I thought, but the 'too high free' to get the ball down there to begin with was just crap. And that happened all too often.

And yes, that one against Davies was just mind boggling

 

[SirJimi05]

Good win by the Saints tonight showing some good signs but I was a very happy as a Bombers supporter tonight...I hate saying it as I am an umpire, but some of the umpiring decisions were just shocking, and one example of that was when Alwyn stole the ball of Rix/Gardiner/King in the air and it was a free for push in the back...Not blaming them though, some sloppy free kicks against from the likes of Watson & Dick, but good win by the Saints, I feel very much robbed... Monfries had a little tussle with Armitage for the ball in the dying seconds of the last quarter, 50/50, and he got paid for holding the ball when he put his head over the footy, don't like it when umpires don't reward players first in for the footy...
Jay Neagle & Andrew Welsh had very good games...

It wasn't a contest at al. Monfries dived on the ball, clurled himslef up into a ball and then laid there making no attampt to even look like he was trying to do something with it.

I agree that the current rules don't reward the ball player but it was a blatent free against Monfries.

 

[lemon chicken]

Considering the forward set-up just didnt work for half the match it was fairly good effort. Hooker, dont know what the recruiting staff have seen in this kid but I dont see anything at all, better kids in suburban leagues. Peverill just aint gonna win us matches, skills are horrible. Great to see Neagle make defenders hurt but has his pre-season consisted of 3 laps and a rubdown? Will be a star. Good effort from a far from full strength side.

 

[Smyth94]

Disappointing to lose tonight but still a few good signs.

Many basic mistakes made and slaughtered at the stoppages but managed to hang in there and they will learn a lot from that.

Beaten by a far more organized team around stoppages and more hardened bodies that know where to run to or position themselves.

We have the talent, we just need to be patient.

The stoppages wouldn't of been so poor had we been a bit smarter about our tackling.

I can't remember how many times we gave away frees to bloody X. Clarke of all people. All of them were soft, and extremely annoying.

 

[frosty1]

I like Hooker. He's got a long way to go, but thinks quick enough. Give him time.

 

[Merv]

This loss will actually be good for us.

As much as the experience would have been good, we have a very long way to go and this will highlight some key areas to work on.

 

[mxett]

Considering the forward set-up just didnt work for half the match it was fairly good effort. Hooker, dont know what the recruiting staff have seen in this kid but I dont see anything at all, better kids in suburban leagues. Peverill just aint gonna win us matches, skills are horrible. Great to see Neagle make defenders hurt but has his pre-season consisted of 3 laps and a rubdown? Will be a star. Good effort from a far from full strength side.

Good comments all round. Pev is gone. We have enough young talent to let him miss targets at Bendigo.

Funny about Jay too. He's raw, but shows a heap.

 

[Merv]

Good comments all round. Pev is gone. We have enough young talent to let him miss targets at Bendigo.

Funny about Jay too. He's raw, but shows a heap.

I would suggest that Pevs disposal has been far better this season and we had players that missed more targets than him tonight.

 

[Big Blow Hard]

I think PEv has been a steadying influence so far this season. He will play more games than he misses. I don't understand the hate for him. I think we need him this year.

 

[horj89]

A good effort tonight.

A few things to work on but overall the signs are good.

 

[mxett]

I would suggest that Pevs disposal has been far better this season and we had players that missed more targets than him tonight.

Thats for sure. Dempsey comes to mind.

But Pev has had enough time to improve his disposal. I would rather see the young guys given a chance, and learning from their mistakes, than watch Pev miss easy targets year after year.

 

[ant555]

I will lead off with the biggest tee off on the negative side so far and i will have to cop the critics having a go at me for doing it but being at the game and watching a few of the bigger picture things eg how well they ran both ways and who worked hard and who didnt i just have to say it.

Stants. I hope he was just a bit rusty. Yes he found the footy a bit but he was softer than melted butter. Could not find the footy in the center square. Had absolutly no defensive pressure and kept calling for short handballs rather than trying to shepherd or put a block on.Dropped some easy marks as well.

Johns. Doesn't look to have improved in any areas since last year. Second efforts where minimal. He struggles to jump off the ground in a marking contest. Not sure why they keep trying to play him on a half forward flank. I know players have to play several positions now days but Johns is totaly useless at half forward or full forward for that matter.

Pev. When you are playing in defence you stick to your man. You dont run to the other side of the contest and let your opponent have a free run at the footy.

The running in waves was gone tonight. The workrate was well down on last week.
Tackling was poor. Clearances where terrible unless Watson was in the center.
JJ is really struggling to work both ways. He was really in trouble trying to find any pace when the opposition had the ball. I cant see how we can carry JJ, Pev and Watson in the same side anymore as it kills our ability to work both ways.

Laycock. Fire up will you. Here is your big chance and you are wondering around the ground like someone who thinks they have made the grade.

Ryder. Has all the ability and skill under the sun but still cant tackle and just doesnt look to have the inspiration to play 4 quaters at 100%. Has too many lazy efforts in amongst the really good stuff.

Slatts. Stuff all possessions and still gives away dumb free kicks.

Dean Dick goes at half pace for most of the time he is on the ground. It isn't WA Colts son. You cant just cruise around expecting to get a kick. His workrate is shocking.

Dempsey was good but had a lot of fumbles and droped a few marks.

Was really disapointed to see some of the old habits creeping back in. Players looking for short handballs and cheap stats rather than putting on shepherds and blocks. Too many times we simply tried kicking it to Lucas despite two players being on him or him not being any chance to make it to where the footy was kicked.

Hocking has a groin injury so he didnt play the second half. They where working on it at 1/4 time. Too bad as he was reasonable in the first quarter and i was interested to see how he would go playing on Harvey, Ball and Hayes.
It was a close loss and they fought it out to the end i was just annoyed to see some of the same old crap creeping back into the game. I think Knights would not have been happy with a lot of stuff he saw out there tonight.

On the plus side Magin was good with what he did. Neagle was very effective from the limited touch's he got. Davey was good. Watson looked good when he was in the middle.Dempsey was good (apart from the fumble issue).

 

[lemon chicken]

I would suggest that Pevs disposal has been far better this season and we had players that missed more targets than him tonight.

Did you see the drop-kick in the first half as he was running towards 50? Id prefer to see Hocking get more of a go.

 

[dave_27]

This loss will actually be good for us.

As much as the experience would have been good, we have a very long way to go and this will highlight some key areas to work on.

Spot on Merv.

And on Peveril, I thought he was ok tonight. He's ahead of JJ for me and provides more than Watson who looks to have lost a yard of pace. (if that is possible!)