Preview Round 13, 2019: Essendon v Hawthorn, 14 June 2019, 7.50pm @ Marvel Stadium

[tige19]

Spot on! look i'm not sure with Lewis he might very well come in for McEvoy!

But does it not make sense to reward Brand who has been smashing the door down at vfl level he out of contract end of yr play him !!
Frawley,Brand,Tob can hopefully hold the fort down back.

As for the forward line i am amazed people on here think it functions or that Sicily shouldn't play forward every week!
Every week our opponent would lick there lips with there defensive match ups! Finally they might have a headache!
Each week they would go okay the number #1 defender goes to Gunston, The #2 goes to Lewis and #3 will just zone off he smaller player and chop out 1&2.

This week you might have Gunston,Sicily,Mcevoy/Lewis
who does your number 1 player go to Gunston or Sicily? if your number 2 takes the other one, you better hope your number 3 tall enough to play on Mcevoy or Lewis, if not the #2 will have to play on them. Which Leave Gunston or Sicily to get the 3rd best defender.

The issue is our ball movement out of the B50 is pretty horrid without Sicily and Scrim... Thats my main concern him going forward, otherwise would love for him to go forward and snag 5 or 6

 

[The Chad and I]

It's either tactical ie team balance, or Lewis is a late inclusion.

There's no way you drop him after his last performance.
He took contested marks and kicked 2 goals (should have had 3) - his highest tally so far.
...and that's on one of the elite defenders in the league - better than anybody Essendon could throw at him.


If Brand's inclusion means Sicily plays forward (finally!), I don't mind it.

 

[Mrzohs]

The issue is our ball movement out of the B50 is pretty horrid without Sicily and Scrim... Thats my main concern him going forward, otherwise would love for him to go forward and snag 5 or 6

Haha yeah spot on! It would be nice to have two of him. look i think its the risk we must take we have seen over the last 15 weeks we struggle at our best to out score teams. Off the top of my head 5/6 games without Sicily we kept them under 100points

 

[MrPremiership]

Look very tall against a side that isn't particularly tall, and we're playing a quick side on a fast deck......


Surely a late change

 

[JoeHawk]

Big Boy in = WOOHOO!
Lewis dropped = monumentally disappointing. Piss poor decision

Surely can’t be rested after the bye and I didn’t think he played particularly bad. Would have thought Roughy a chance, definitely over Brand. Puzzling selections. Happy to have BB back although perhaps premature.

 

[OnceKicked50]

ML getting dropped is brutal but I like the message - no one is safe and you must play well consistently to keep your spot. We
need to keep persisting with Glass, we desperately need his speed and athleticism - just needs to find more of the ball.

Couldn't agree more regarding Glass mate.

He definitely has some great attributes at this level, speed, toughness and ball use. We shouldn't die wondering and I'm loving that the club is giving him a block of games to work out if he will be a player or not for us in 2020 and beyond.

 

[Hawk Hawkins]

I miss Roughy.

 

[TylerDurden]

The issue is our ball movement out of the B50 is pretty horrid without Sicily and Scrim... Thats my main concern him going forward, otherwise would love for him to go forward and snag 5 or 6

This is the issue. We're gonna be relying on Burgoyne, Impey and Hardwick to distribute. We don't want Brand and Frawley making decisions back there.

But we need to score. I'm backing a fwd line of McEvoy, Sicily, Gunner, Breust and Poppy to get it done.

Game faarken on.

 

[Slysh]

ML getting dropped is brutal but I like the message - no one is safe and you must play well consistently to keep your spot. We
need to keep persisting with Glass, we desperately need his speed and athleticism - just needs to find more of the ball.

But don't you kinda of go against the first point you make by doing the second?

Lewis has been and played a better game against the Lions than Glass did.

 

[Baz_hawk]

Don't like the Lewis omission. He's shown plenty and gives us a genuine marking target forward of the ball.

Happy to see McEvoy back however!

 

[Milkshaker]

Brand forward woo hoo. Good luck big fella! Sic can kick 3 from half back at Marvel anyway.

 

[BobHawk]

The Lewis omission makes sense given that we're sitting on 5 and 6 midway through the season. It means that Clarkson is determined to make the finals. A re framing of the team structure is no surprise. I am certain that there has been much thought and analysis that has gone into the process. The next month or so will determine whether we are competitive enough. If not, we will most likely go with giving youngsters like Lewis as much time as possible with next season in mind. Sadly, it doesn't look like we'll see Rough back in the team.

 

[grumbleguts]

Honestly don't remember that but was probably too busy celebrating

Colin Robertson (wearing 32 and sporting a moustache) in an act of sheer premonition knocked out Tim Watson and John Kennedy wearing 34 and sporting a similar moustache got booed for the rest of the game. Idiots.

Kennedy ................................................... Robertson


Bloody obvious which one is which.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

We look slow and lumbering.

This will be a big challenge on that deck.

 

[A Diakos]

Colin Robertson (wearing 32 and sporting a moustache) in an act of sheer premonition knocked out Tim Watson and John Kennedy wearing 34 and sporting a similar moustache got booed for the rest of the game. Idiots.

Kennedy ................................................... Robertson
View attachment 691625 View attachment 691627

Bloody obvious which one is which.

........
Vintage ...look like porno stars and they did a # on the bummers in 83 GF both in our best 5 players

 

[Wingnut19]

I agree with glass being putrid thus far, i was as angry as anyone at his last performance but I can understand them sticking with him, i think just give him the year in seniors to see what some confidence will do. He has the attributes, and who know he might get better and better. If thats the case the reward far outweighs the risk. Im kinda ok with not making finals this year. I would also leave Moore in.

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[PhatHQ]

or Brand goes forward?

Brand forward would be too funny after the last few weeks on this board.
I’m not adverse to it.
I suspect Sicily will get time forward

 

[Gralin]

I like Lewis. He offers something we haven't had for a while, a young home grown key forward prospect.
But he is young, everyone said at the start of the year his body wasn't ready and he averages 65% game time as a key forward

This could very much be like Worpel last year, he's got to go back work on a few things including his conditioning and will come back much stronger later in the year.

Or it could be that with the concussion and his fitness levels they are being cautious with him.

Or it could be that they thought Brand was more important this week and couldn't name both with two rucks

 

[Maybloomer]

Not looking forward to the broadcast. It’ll be an Essendon jizz-fest and I’m predicting I’ll hit the mute button half a second after the first Brian Taylor “Orrraaazzziiioooo”

 

[hamohawk1]

One of our biggest issues this season is scoring 'winning' margins. Cant see how the omission of our key forward helps this

 

[PhatHQ]

Very happy to see Moore in. Really disappointed to see Lewis out.

My thoughts are Clarko is really worried about the ability of Hurley and Hooker to take intercept marks and didn't feel Lewis was capable of competing with them at the moment.

I feel Brand will play a defensive forward role keeping one honest. I can't see us moving Sicily forward, especially with at Marvel he could be kicking inside 50 frequently.

Very happy to see Moore in. Really disappointed to see Lewis out.

My thoughts are Clarko is really worried about the ability of Hurley and Hooker to take intercept marks and didn't feel Lewis was capable of competing with them at the moment.

I feel Brand will play a defensive forward role keeping one honest. I can't see us moving Sicily forward, especially with at Marvel he could be kicking inside 50 frequently.

Lewis’s omission is a direct reflection of Clarkson’s respect for Hooker & Hurley; that I am sure of.

KB as a defensive forward is a very left field approach that hasn’t crossed my mind before & now that you have pointed it out I’d be very excited to see it.
KB can take a mark but his spoiling would be very “role” related for this game to keep Sicily back on Stringer along with TOB & Chip as KPP.
Sicily forward to accomodate Brand makes sense & probably gives us a better structure but KB forward in a defensive role, at least to start is rather brilliant to stop intercept possession & manic HB rebound which is the Dons plan A.

Well done mate!
Golf clap if it happens or not.

 

[westhawk]

Really disappointed Lewis was dropped as many others are. Brand has to play forward, I will vomit if I see him down back like a headless chook, falling over constantly and running under the ball or over it and having no idea where his opponent is. At least up forward, it won’t cost us goals. Can’t believe Glass held his spot, would rather try Jones or bring Howe or Morrison back.

 

[lethalselbow]

ML getting dropped is brutal but I like the message - no one is safe and you must play well consistently to keep your spot. We
need to keep persisting with Glass, we desperately need his speed and athleticism - just needs to find more of the ball.

Half a sec. I thought Mitch Lewis kicked 2 goals, last outing, and missed an easy one. He was our leading goal kicker vs Brisbane.

Not sure on this selection, but always trust Clarko. Discipline thing, maybe, or not following team rules onfield?

 

[tige19]

Article is spot on