To see the boys struggle like that considering the way they were looking early in the year is pretty hard to take. The forward line structure is rubbish, the run off half back is missing and a couple of young guns in the midfield are is TERRIBLE form.
See the difference with Paddy leading at the ball and jumping. Need Belly back asap and him and Paddy to rotate deep with Daniher playing high. Carlisle to have a couple of games playing forward in VFL and if he can't show something there, then he has to go back to defence. Playing up forward was not a terrible call by Thompson off the bat. Carlisle definitely has better hands than Hurls, and a few cms. Hurls hits the body harder and closes on a lead better so that works well down back. He's a better user of the ball as well.
Zaka, Melk and Demps need to pick it up. With Myers and Howlett out we're pushing for depth there and their form is hurting more than players missing to be honest. Dempsey running from behind in concert with Hibberd is super important. Our midfield is so much on Watson, Heppell, Goddard and Stanton now that if either of them struggle for a patch we get smashed in there.
Rambling post I know but I think our season is possibly salvageable. Dempsey and Hibberd finding form will provide run that transforms the whole side. Zaka and Melksham getting back to their best will give us a midfield that bats with quality to 7.
Finally the forward line. I think if we're going to play the chip chip we need all our forwards high and playing as a hit up for our mids to work though and play for running goals from 40-50. When the ruckman is resting forward then he can start inside 50. Finally while they should push up to keep the 50 open they should still leave a decent gap between them and the ball for the mids to work into.
It's frustrating watching Essendon with no noticeable structure. Bomber needs to lift his game.
See the difference with Paddy leading at the ball and jumping. Need Belly back asap and him and Paddy to rotate deep with Daniher playing high. Carlisle to have a couple of games playing forward in VFL and if he can't show something there, then he has to go back to defence. Playing up forward was not a terrible call by Thompson off the bat. Carlisle definitely has better hands than Hurls, and a few cms. Hurls hits the body harder and closes on a lead better so that works well down back. He's a better user of the ball as well.
Zaka, Melk and Demps need to pick it up. With Myers and Howlett out we're pushing for depth there and their form is hurting more than players missing to be honest. Dempsey running from behind in concert with Hibberd is super important. Our midfield is so much on Watson, Heppell, Goddard and Stanton now that if either of them struggle for a patch we get smashed in there.
Rambling post I know but I think our season is possibly salvageable. Dempsey and Hibberd finding form will provide run that transforms the whole side. Zaka and Melksham getting back to their best will give us a midfield that bats with quality to 7.
Finally the forward line. I think if we're going to play the chip chip we need all our forwards high and playing as a hit up for our mids to work though and play for running goals from 40-50. When the ruckman is resting forward then he can start inside 50. Finally while they should push up to keep the 50 open they should still leave a decent gap between them and the ball for the mids to work into.
It's frustrating watching Essendon with no noticeable structure. Bomber needs to lift his game.
