I wasn't sure whether I would do a preview so early before the game, but then I got a lovely message from Lore telling me she'd save me the Opening Post from the "unofficial" ones that were created.
And you know what, I'm happy about that! It's pretty clear there is a buzz around the place; even though the game is in two weeks, we are keen to talk about it. This is in stark contrast to the nervous but quiet optimism most of us had at the start of the season.
I can see it in the street, at work and amongst friends. Essendon supporters are okay with talking about Essendon again. No longer are we needing to do secret handshakes to confirm that person we are talking to is also an Essendon supporter before having a footy conversation, talk back is suddenly becoming more listenable and it's fun again to hear certain commentators' bitterness when talking nicely about our guys.
Round 14 sees the team take a well-earned and in some cases much-needed break, and I reckon the boys will enjoy this one more than usual. (I don't mean they'll De Goey it)
Oh and by the way... this is the ladder at the moment.
Round 15 sees us back on the road again (*Cue Willie Nelson) to take on the Fremantle Dockers, in what will be a huge challenge... I quite like Fremantle as a football club, but I can't help but feel it's purely due to a combination of our favourable trade history combined with them funding the retirement of the fair few Essendon players.
Of course, the most infamous of these trades was in 1994, which saw Essendon snag Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas
The deal:
Freo Gave up pick No. 4 and a pre-draft compensation selection to Essendon.
Freo Received: Tony Delaney, Todd Ridley, Dale Kickett and Russell Williams.
Now Freo couldn't have known who we would select or how good they would be, but Lloyd and Lucas went on to play a combined 540 games and kick a combined 1397 goals.
The Round(s) That Was
We, like many before us, beat the scum. You know the team with the greatest forwards, the greatest backline, the greatest midfield... the team that were certainties for Top 4, and a flag fancy at the start of the season. The preseason hype for Carlton this year.. well it was Essendon-like, funny enough.
I was honestly worried we would lose this. I thought given the constant chatter that Carlton would come out firing and that we might buckle under the pressure. I was half correct. Carlton did come hard, but we stood strong.. and then in the third just went bang bang bang and in the space of 10 or so minutes the game was done.
Martin is a star! How good was Wright? Merret is a gun captain.
CARLTON 1.5 3.10 5.10 6.16 (52)
ESSENDON 2.4 4.6 11.7 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 2, Cincotta, Martin, McKay, Owies
Essendon: Wright 5, Menzie 2, Langford, Snelling, Merrett, Guelfi, Phillips, Caldwell
BEST
Carlton: Cerra, Saad, C.Curnow, Walsh, Motlop
Essendon: Wright, Martin, Stringer, Ridley, Hobbs, Redman, Caldwell
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Essendon: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Nil
Essendon: Andrew Phillips comes into the selected side for Massimo D’Ambrosio
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Paddy Dow (replaced Jack Martin at three-quarter time)
Essendon: Massimo D’Ambrosio (replaced Sam Draper in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 83,638 at MCG
Hmm, there is something I've forgotten here... what could it be... oh right.. * Carlton.
<Will add Freo's game once they have played.. if I remember>
Last Time We Met
Round 5 2022 was a classic Rutten game; competitive for a half but came out after the halftime break and got belted in the third where Freo kicked 6 Goals to out Zero. Taberner of course had his annual day out against us kicking seven goals for the game. I will not miss the Rutten years.
ESSENDON 1.4 5.8 5.10 8.11 (59)
FREMANTLE 2.2 6.5 12.8 16.11 (107)
GOALS
Essendon: Martin 2, Waterman 2, Caldwell, Cox, Draper, Guelfi
Fremantle: Taberner 7, Banfield 2, Darcy 2, Frederick 2, Switkowski 2, Brayshaw
BEST
Essendon: Parish, McGrath, Heppell, Caldwell, Martin
Fremantle: Taberner, Brayshaw, Brodie, Darcy, Serong, Clark, O’Driscoll
Team Selection
Will be interesting again to see what changes are made to the team. The team has been playing bloody well, but we also have some good players coming back. Our VFL team also has a bye next week. The problem will be I don't want to see Caldwell and Hobbs out of the midfield rotations.
Possible Ins:
Shiel -
Parish -
Wanganeen -
Bryan - BOG in the VFL and took 8 Marks
Davey - Very good in the VFL
Baldwin - Another good game
Kelly
Possible Outs:
Mass - Needs a full game either in the seniors or at VFL level.
Draper - See how his hip goes
Phillips - Was solid but still think we should get some games intro Bryan
Weidemann - I think they will give him another game or two with Wright
Snelling - I see a lot suggesting him as an out, but his pressure and tackling were good, and I think more than made up for his few fumbles.
No reason to tip against us at the moment, though I think if we do win it will be hard-fought.
Essendon by 10 points.
And you know what, I'm happy about that! It's pretty clear there is a buzz around the place; even though the game is in two weeks, we are keen to talk about it. This is in stark contrast to the nervous but quiet optimism most of us had at the start of the season.
I can see it in the street, at work and amongst friends. Essendon supporters are okay with talking about Essendon again. No longer are we needing to do secret handshakes to confirm that person we are talking to is also an Essendon supporter before having a footy conversation, talk back is suddenly becoming more listenable and it's fun again to hear certain commentators' bitterness when talking nicely about our guys.
Round 14 sees the team take a well-earned and in some cases much-needed break, and I reckon the boys will enjoy this one more than usual. (I don't mean they'll De Goey it)
Oh and by the way... this is the ladder at the moment.
Round 15 sees us back on the road again (*Cue Willie Nelson) to take on the Fremantle Dockers, in what will be a huge challenge... I quite like Fremantle as a football club, but I can't help but feel it's purely due to a combination of our favourable trade history combined with them funding the retirement of the fair few Essendon players.
Of course, the most infamous of these trades was in 1994, which saw Essendon snag Matthew Lloyd and Scott Lucas
The deal:
Freo Gave up pick No. 4 and a pre-draft compensation selection to Essendon.
Freo Received: Tony Delaney, Todd Ridley, Dale Kickett and Russell Williams.
Now Freo couldn't have known who we would select or how good they would be, but Lloyd and Lucas went on to play a combined 540 games and kick a combined 1397 goals.
The Round(s) That Was
We, like many before us, beat the scum. You know the team with the greatest forwards, the greatest backline, the greatest midfield... the team that were certainties for Top 4, and a flag fancy at the start of the season. The preseason hype for Carlton this year.. well it was Essendon-like, funny enough.
I was honestly worried we would lose this. I thought given the constant chatter that Carlton would come out firing and that we might buckle under the pressure. I was half correct. Carlton did come hard, but we stood strong.. and then in the third just went bang bang bang and in the space of 10 or so minutes the game was done.
Martin is a star! How good was Wright? Merret is a gun captain.
CARLTON 1.5 3.10 5.10 6.16 (52)
ESSENDON 2.4 4.6 11.7 13.8 (86)
GOALS
Carlton: C.Curnow 2, Cincotta, Martin, McKay, Owies
Essendon: Wright 5, Menzie 2, Langford, Snelling, Merrett, Guelfi, Phillips, Caldwell
BEST
Carlton: Cerra, Saad, C.Curnow, Walsh, Motlop
Essendon: Wright, Martin, Stringer, Ridley, Hobbs, Redman, Caldwell
INJURIES
Carlton: Nil
Essendon: Nil
LATE CHANGES
Carlton: Nil
Essendon: Andrew Phillips comes into the selected side for Massimo D’Ambrosio
SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Paddy Dow (replaced Jack Martin at three-quarter time)
Essendon: Massimo D’Ambrosio (replaced Sam Draper in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 83,638 at MCG
Hmm, there is something I've forgotten here... what could it be... oh right.. * Carlton.
<Will add Freo's game once they have played.. if I remember>
Last Time We Met
Round 5 2022 was a classic Rutten game; competitive for a half but came out after the halftime break and got belted in the third where Freo kicked 6 Goals to out Zero. Taberner of course had his annual day out against us kicking seven goals for the game. I will not miss the Rutten years.
ESSENDON 1.4 5.8 5.10 8.11 (59)
FREMANTLE 2.2 6.5 12.8 16.11 (107)
GOALS
Essendon: Martin 2, Waterman 2, Caldwell, Cox, Draper, Guelfi
Fremantle: Taberner 7, Banfield 2, Darcy 2, Frederick 2, Switkowski 2, Brayshaw
BEST
Essendon: Parish, McGrath, Heppell, Caldwell, Martin
Fremantle: Taberner, Brayshaw, Brodie, Darcy, Serong, Clark, O’Driscoll
Team Selection
Will be interesting again to see what changes are made to the team. The team has been playing bloody well, but we also have some good players coming back. Our VFL team also has a bye next week. The problem will be I don't want to see Caldwell and Hobbs out of the midfield rotations.
Possible Ins:
Shiel -
Parish -
Wanganeen -
Bryan - BOG in the VFL and took 8 Marks
Davey - Very good in the VFL
Baldwin - Another good game
Kelly
Possible Outs:
Mass - Needs a full game either in the seniors or at VFL level.
Draper - See how his hip goes
Phillips - Was solid but still think we should get some games intro Bryan
Weidemann - I think they will give him another game or two with Wright
Snelling - I see a lot suggesting him as an out, but his pressure and tackling were good, and I think more than made up for his few fumbles.
No reason to tip against us at the moment, though I think if we do win it will be hard-fought.
Essendon by 10 points.
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Heyo we need to give them the old heave ho because I’ll be watching on Kayo cos it’s the way to go. Kayo yo don’t be slow because we are the ones who watch this s**t.
