Preview R5: Melbourne vs Essendon, April 12 7.35pm @ Adelaide Oval

[Milanista28]

This simply isn’t how good football clubs run.

Hawks last season were 0 and 5, went on to win 2 finals.

We have only played 3 games and already have a better record, if Scott isn’t selling that we can do the same thing it’s much more ridiculous, than playing leverde over a prior or Hayes.
Things can change quickly when everyone is bought in.

How can a coach performance be judged if he isn’t playing the team he thinks is best chance to win?

How do players truly believe they can have success if you are seeing guys gifted games because of age and not form?

How can you set any standards at training if you then break those same standards with team selection.

Rosa has set the direction of this club by moving on stringer hind Heppell Kelly, who probably weren’t going to be in our next premiership side but would have gave us better depth to win games this season.

due to the list demographics naturally guys like Hayes will go past the leverdes, he may have already, but if Scott and co think leverde is the better option he will be picked.

Scott chooses whoever he thinks is the best team during the season and in the off season Rosa and Scott set the direction.

Essendon aren’t tanking, but they are rebuilding. The best example is at north. Now they have a decent list and still don’t know how to win, because all these kids have been gifted games and haven’t learnt true professionalism or what it really takes the make the grade.

Trust in the current process, we might not make finals but we will be fielding our best 22 which is also near the youngest in the afl, which has shown to be competitive.

Hawks got rid of JOM, Titch and Gunston who were clearly best 22 to prioritise the development of kids, they got smashed on field and were accused of tanking off field. That's the best way to rebuild, throw the kids to the wolves, it'll show who has what it takes.

 

[FootyGuru]

Hawks got rid of JOM, Titch and Gunston who were clearly best 22 to prioritise the development of kids, they got smashed on field and were accused of tanking off field. That's the best way to rebuild, throw the kids to the wolves, it'll show who has what it takes.

Other than Gunston, those were off season moves. Gunston is picked this week ahead of potential younger players.

 

[jdstorm]

Hawks got rid of JOM, Titch and Gunston who were clearly best 22 to prioritise the development of kids, they got smashed on field and were accused of tanking off field. That's the best way to rebuild, throw the kids to the wolves, it'll show who has what it takes.

That’s because they were tanking.

They also didn’t get rid of everyone useful. Kept Sicily, Dylan Moore and a few others. Kept a vet ruck till he retired.

 

[ant555]

I completely disagree, we should be picking the team that will help us win in 2026/7/8, winning in 2025 isn't something we/I need or want. That's not to say we should lose on purpose, I just think we should be trying to win with more inexperienced yet ready to play juniors.

Wright playing over Caddy or Laverde playing over Hayes would be the most ridiculous thing we could possibly do. If Shiel is getting midfield minutes over Tsatas and Hobbs to try grab short term results then we are very silly.

Laverde over Hayes depends on who Laverde comes in the side for. Hayes is no good for the match ups Prior has been getting. Why would you want to subject your young KPD to playing on medium or small players in his early games?
There is development and there is waste of time.
Laverde would be a short term solution for the Prior spot. We do not have a lot in the small / medium defender range right now.

 

[ant555]

Hawks got rid of JOM, Titch and Gunston who were clearly best 22 to prioritise the development of kids, they got smashed on field and were accused of tanking off field. That's the best way to rebuild, throw the kids to the wolves, it'll show who has what it takes.

Other than Gunston, those were off season moves. Gunston is picked this week ahead of potential younger players.

As FootyGuru said two blokes you mentioned where at the end of season. O'Mera played 21 games in his last season at the Hawks. Mitchell also played 21 games. They ended up taking Gunsten back. Your point only stacks up if we give Shiel or Laverde new contracts at the end of the season. We tried to move them on last year. No one wanted them.
When the Hawks traded out the three you mentioned most of the core players who are driving it now where heading into the next season as 4th to 8th year players. If we move on a couple more players like Laverde we will be doing the same thing.

 

[FootyGuru]

As FootyGuru said two blokes you mentioned where at the end of season. O'Mera played 21 games in his last season at the Hawks. Mitchell also played 21 games. They ended up taking Gunsten back. Your point only stacks up if we give Shiel or Laverde new contracts at the end of the season. We tried to move them on last year. No one wanted them.
When the Hawks traded out the three you mentioned most of the core players who are driving it now where heading into the next season as 4th to 8th year players. If we move on a couple more players like Laverde we will be doing the same thing.

Exactly!

We are doing the rebuilding in our off season without compromising team selection.

I potentially would have cut a little deeper in the off season, but I’m happy with how the rebuild is shaping up.

if finals become out of the picture, we then might see underserved younger players handed games or bigger roles, seeing how next years team shapes up and potentially getting us a better pick.

 

[MiguelM]

Hopefully Saad gets a full game tonight.

 

[windyhill]

or two players who helped win 4 premierships with essendon

p.s hirds coming back to us in 2027..

If only they had stuck to that.

 

[windyhill]

anyone else seeing james hird and tim watson at the pub on friday?

Was Matty Knights in the shout ?

 

[FootyGuru]

This game could get ugly with inefficient ball movement from both sides.

I really think though if we can pressure relentlessly for four quarters and have our intercept defenders create better than theirs we can break them.

Caldwell is a huge loss though. Durham and calders give us so much 2 way toughness

 

[jannissary]

i have faith that we'll do okay

 

[Call Me Cake]

I remember last year we were going in confident because they were struggling and selected no ruck and we did thinking that would give us an advantage. Granted it became a wet game but they beat us on the wings and we were too tall.

We better not go into this with the same attitude and hopefully have learned our lesson since.

 

[jannissary]

I remember last year we were going in confident because they were struggling and selected no ruck and we did thinking that would give us an advantage. Granted it became a wet game but they beat us on the wings and we were too tall.

We better not go into this with the same attitude and hopefully have learned our lesson since.

we lost that game at selection - forecast was wet from early in the week and we went far too tall. happened all season

 

[naraku]

Obvious red game flag here. That said, I think Essington stays away this game. Dons by 27.

 

[joey_jo_jo]

we lost that game at selection - forecast was wet from early in the week and we went far too tall. happened all season

Yep, you just knew Langdon would come close to BOG when they named the teams (from memory cox and Jones on wings)

 

[Yoda_]

law of averages suggests this match will be a nail biter. Put money on both sides to win by less than 10 points.. which way? I cant decide but will bank on this being a close one

 

[MiguelM]

Yep, you just knew Langdon would come close to BOG when they named the teams (from memory cox and Jones on wings)

From memory we would have been 2nd had we won. Horrible selection and was the start of the ladder slide.

As jannissary stated it was known early that it was going to be a cold wet night. Hubris by the selectors, cost us dearly.

 

[VelvetSledge]

Game Day - GATHER ROUND - Round 5: Melbourne v Essendon, AO, Saturday 12/4/25 7.35pm ACST

MELBOURNE Despite generating opportunities, the Dees couldn’t capitalize on forward entries, kicking inaccurately and missing key shots. Geelong’s intensity overwhelmed the Demons midfield at times, leading to turnovers and a loss of control in contested possessions. Melbourne allowed too many...

www.bigfooty.com

Sorry fam, over here. Was a bit late.