We must be the only team in the AFL that routinely refuses to look after the contested ball in any meaningful way. Players like Ham, Zaharakis, Cahill and even Snelling (who can hardly use the ball in close) are preferred options for a game against the Lions who are essentially an outnumber, beat you at the coal face side while Begley and Clarke, rot away in reserve, and Hibberd is dropped after finally playing 2 (of his 16) quarters in the inside role he was recruited to play.
We delude ourselves into thinking we're more competitive in the contest than we are probably because some bozo on the coaching staff looks at the stat sheet which shows that the numbers are basically even. That's what the stat sheets show, almost meaningless differentials in most stats and massive possession counts that are spread among players by default.
Then there is the extent to which we tolerate junk disposal which never ceases to amaze me but, in the same thought process, I also realise that it's a necessary part of deluding yourslef in to thinking that you can play a midfield of Parish, Smith, Snelling, Shiel, McGrath and Merrett.
Rushed, weak, imprecise garbage from players who are supposed to be good. They can't absorb pressure, can't slow the game down to use the ball cleanly and spray the ball all over the place as a result.
To think Heppell will come back to the side, as though that is going to help things...
As a brief aside, how many players playing in the first or second midfield rotation, not tagging, regularly get less than 20 possession a game? It a fallacy to argue "I'd rather player X gets 25 possessions than not" as every bloody player in this situation gets the ball. The number of possessions is the role, it's a function of playing in the middle. It's about as meaningful as "he doesn't get out marked" or "he brings the ball to ground".
Just once, I would like us to err on the side of "* it, we're going to be unbalanced so lets run with some grunt in the middle" and play little twerps on the outside where they belong.
This is the legacy of Worsfold chasing results in 2018 and 2019 when the writing was very clearly on the wall. Another era built on a side no one with half brain would actually put together. But Essendon doesn't do critical evaluation, unless the club president is feeding the club to the wolves at its hour of greatest need (to protect his reputation and to pander to the wishes of the vipers at AFL house).
At least the 2011 to 2015 stodge was honest, hard working inside footy that provided the foundation for a side. We are now the fools who are building a house on sand.
We delude ourselves into thinking we're more competitive in the contest than we are probably because some bozo on the coaching staff looks at the stat sheet which shows that the numbers are basically even. That's what the stat sheets show, almost meaningless differentials in most stats and massive possession counts that are spread among players by default.
Then there is the extent to which we tolerate junk disposal which never ceases to amaze me but, in the same thought process, I also realise that it's a necessary part of deluding yourslef in to thinking that you can play a midfield of Parish, Smith, Snelling, Shiel, McGrath and Merrett.
Rushed, weak, imprecise garbage from players who are supposed to be good. They can't absorb pressure, can't slow the game down to use the ball cleanly and spray the ball all over the place as a result.
To think Heppell will come back to the side, as though that is going to help things...
As a brief aside, how many players playing in the first or second midfield rotation, not tagging, regularly get less than 20 possession a game? It a fallacy to argue "I'd rather player X gets 25 possessions than not" as every bloody player in this situation gets the ball. The number of possessions is the role, it's a function of playing in the middle. It's about as meaningful as "he doesn't get out marked" or "he brings the ball to ground".
Just once, I would like us to err on the side of "* it, we're going to be unbalanced so lets run with some grunt in the middle" and play little twerps on the outside where they belong.
This is the legacy of Worsfold chasing results in 2018 and 2019 when the writing was very clearly on the wall. Another era built on a side no one with half brain would actually put together. But Essendon doesn't do critical evaluation, unless the club president is feeding the club to the wolves at its hour of greatest need (to protect his reputation and to pander to the wishes of the vipers at AFL house).
At least the 2011 to 2015 stodge was honest, hard working inside footy that provided the foundation for a side. We are now the fools who are building a house on sand.
Last edited:
