AFL Autopsy RND 9: Overtaken By The Giants

[Red Black and Blue]

It’s time to move Robey into the middle full time

How were his chases late in the game. Really moves nicely over distance and doesn’t really get to show that in his forward role.

 

[ghostdog]

look man you do you.

allowing to oppo to score 10 of the last 13 goals is not good.

I'm not saying we were shit, the effort was great and some real good green shoots appearing from the younger kids.

But labelling this is an honourable loss is just over glazing positivity imo. We don't need to BS ourselves. Doesn't get us anywhere.

As soon as we lost Sharp the defensive edge through the middle evaporated. I don't think that's on the whole team. There were plenty of continued efforts defensively, but there were also passengers. Circumstances as they are, not totally dishonourable, no.

 

[Koopa]

Fair crack, disappointing to lose considering the position we were in, but still a bunch to take from that.

More than happy to eat crow on 2MP! The resurgence continues.

Similar for Perkins, only one game but lets see him sustain the hunger.

By 2027 we'd want to see May, Caddy and the like completely push Langford out of the first team, who needs a spell in the twos right now.

 

[ghostdog]

The difference between our senior players and our youth was more painfully obvious than its ever been.

Unless he's playing in the backline, in what world does the shit Langford dished up today exceed what Edwards would've done? Parish wasn't quite as bad but he was still very frustrating at times today too.

I'll offer one positive from today. Perkins was one of our better players and I was wrong in thinking that he didn't deserve to get named.

Parish's handball from the centre clearance that missed its target by a metre and resulted in a turnover in the middle of the ground had me pulling my hair out.

 

[fairbump_playon]

Robey stands up in tackles so well

He’s made of superior materials

What a weapon

 

[Blind Turn]

What was the free kick against Nick Bryan for that gave them the game?

I Felt like we got screwed tonight, although I was drifting in and out of the game.

Day Wicks' mark, Redman marking the ball and being tackled, Laverde flopping on the football in our forward 50 and not being pinged. There seemed to be some shockers.

Such a pissweak free kick but it was technically correct.

The ruling should be that if you choose not to contest the centre throw up then you give up your right to a free kick. Bryan basically contested that throw up on his own and it meant that his momentum had him cross the centre line. It’s such a counter-intuitive interpretation of a rule.

 

[MightyDon]

Just make Duz captain already and we can drop McGrath when El Hawli comes back

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Some very good signs from Sharp and Robey. Losing Sharp cost us and their mids got on top after that.

Bryan was good for first game and signs from Perkins and Cox

 

[thepokey]

Sure we lost, and sure we had some disappointing usual suspects again but wow the social media response to this one feels way out of proportion. People acting like it was a 100 point flogging, the calls for Hird, the "this is the final straw after being a supporter for 53 years" etc.
I know our supporter base is starved of success but god we are reaching Richmond pre-2017 levels of reactions.

 

[BomberBrownyyy]

Class prevailed in the end but even with their injuries, they are still stacked. 11 guys 35 games or less. We were the better team. Robey reminds me so much of Cripps. Sharp was very impressive. Can’t see how McKay gets back in. McGrath should probably join him.

Robey, Sharp, Day-Wicks, Johnson, May, Farrow, Nguyen, Blackiston, Bryan… then you have Caddy, Roberts, Reid, Cox all so young

The biggest positive is how dangerous our key forwards are going to be. The Caddy/May combo. Both of them just love the contest. Wright dropping down there. Once Kako is back at their feet

 

[byronstjames]

Such a pissweak free kick but it was technically correct.

The ruling should be that if you choose not to contest the centre throw up then you give up your right to a free kick. Bryan basically contested that throw up on his own and it meant that his momentum had him cross the centre line. It’s such a counter-intuitive interpretation of a rule.

**** me.

That's literally the antithesis of football.

All anyone has to do is decide they won't contest the ball and they'll basically win an easy free.

Then that advantage..... jesus. That'd break me if I was playing.

 

[Nicholas61]

Langford & Prior VFL please.

I bit my tongue because I thought surely Brad wouldn't drop Edwards and keep Langford forward treading water, and not nailing any shots when the game is still on. But Brad will be Brad.

Couldn't be an Essendon game without injury to a talented youngster. I know he is tough and courageous but we don't need Sharp running back into packs like that. Actually that is what a proper mid looks like Adrian.

A decent chunk of the team obviously has a mental issue - expectation is low and in front of a satellite crowd they play a lot better.

 

[Megabattimus]

I ****ing hate this club for making me care. Only to punch me in the guts repeatedly by coughing up the win in the last quarter.

Kids were good, losing means we get a better draft pick, blah blah blah.

I ****ing hate losing. Especially when we were this close to winning.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

Sure we lost, and sure we had some disappointing usual suspects again but wow the social media response to this one feels way out of proportion. People acting like it was a 100 point flogging, the calls for Hird, the "this is the final straw after being a supporter for 53 years" etc.
I know our supporter base is starved of success but god we are reaching Richmond pre-2017 levels of reactions.

We're at pre-2017 Richmond levels of drought tbh.

 

[div12ressie]

Class prevailed in the end but even with their injuries, they are still stacked. 11 guys 35 games or less. We were the better team. Robey reminds me so much of Cripps. Sharp was very impressive. Can’t see how McKay gets back in. McGrath should probably join him.

Robey, Sharp, Day-Wicks, Johnson, May, Farrow, Nguyen, Blackiston, Bryan… then you have Caddy, Roberts, Reid, Cox all so young

The biggest positive is how dangerous our key forwards are going to be. The Caddy/May combo. Both of them just love the contest. Wright dropping down there. Once Kako is back at their feet

They really arent stacked though, which is why GWS are pretty poor this year.

Also who knew playing too many talls in the forward line would cost us

 

[Don_Gia]

****ing transition goals. That was the game. I’d leave to grab a drink after we kicked a goal and I’d come back and we’ve given up a goal as quickly.

I found myself looking at the tackle count after the game to see who might be getting dropped next week lol

Good effort tonight though.

 

[AcuteWhistle]

Rd 9 | Scott post-game

Watch Essendon’s press conference after round nine’s match against GWS.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[BomberBrownyyy]

They really arent stacked though, which is why GWS are pretty poor this year.

Also who knew playing too many talls in the forward line would cost us

I should have said in relation to us I’d say they are. Especially in terms of class. Greene, Whitfield, Callahan. Those players that just step up when the game needs to be won

 

[Call Me Cake]

Top teams generally score at least 2000 points a season. What we need by 2028/2029 is for Caddy to kick 65, May to kick 45, Kako to kick 35 and Huss or another small forward to kick 25 (1020 in total) with a spread of goal kickers/mids to make up the other half, which is about 40 points (6-7 goals) per game. If we can't generate all of that in time organically then we need to import some of that externally through maybe a Bailey/Butters/Humphries or in the draft.

 

[Nicholas61]

Also who knew playing too many talls in the forward line would cost us

Certainly not Brad. Will probably finish him off.

 

[thepokey]

We're at pre-2017 Richmond levels of drought tbh.

The comparisons are there sure, but it doesn't mean we have to carry on like lunatics like a huge swathe of their fanbase did. Especially after what I'd consider a reasonable loss, albeit still disappointing.

 

[Cold Sober]

Bad coaching, first quarter, where did he play Nygen.
I'm trying to stay positive BUT, this bloke cant coach.

 

[SpeckieMcVeigh]

The comparisons are there sure, but it doesn't mean we have to carry on like lunatics like a huge swathe of their fanbase did. Especially after what I'd consider a reasonable loss, albeit still disappointing.

I definitely think there's a middle ground between acting like Richmond and considering that a reasonable loss.

Gold Coast was a reasonable loss. This was a game that we lost despite dominating general play. Nothing reasonable about it if I'm being honest. Sure if you wanna point out individual performances of our youth, then yes those were encouraging. But not the result.

 

[thepokey]

I definitely think there's a middle ground between acting like Richmond and considering that a reasonable loss.

Gold Coast was a reasonable loss. This was a game that we lost despite dominating general play. Nothing reasonable about it if I'm being honest. Sure if you wanna point out individual performances of our youth, then yes those were encouraging. But not the result.

I mean considering GWS like to spank us by like 100 points, I think it's a decent effort. The kids did well, they ran out of steam, a key injury cost us. Underperforming senior players were the most disappointing part but I've largely given up on them. Point being, I think the responses in most social media posts I've seen are ridiculous over reactions for what we saw. As if you live through some of the beltings we have taken, the finals capitulations, the drugs saga etc and for some reason this game is the one that makes you comment that you're throwing it all away.

 

[Milanista28]

Shocked Sharp was able to perform in his natural role, spewing we ruined another chance to develop his much needed versatility by having him get 7 disposals on the half forward flank.

It's taken Scott 4 years but he finally realised playing kids in their natural spots is the ticket and could keep him in the job.