Thoughts on the Essendon Game

[cocka]

You always have very odd views on the game.

And your insanely biased, so who wins?

 

[chickawah]

And your insanely biased, so who wins?

Drummond, 'cause he's teh awesome.

 

[TheLeftFist8]

Moran, Moran, Moran hmmmm is all I will say got killed early at the centre bounces but got better, still lacks awareness in general play though.

No he didn't.

Like Danny Frawley you overrate Ryder's effort in ruck early because of a couple impressive leaps.

Overall Moran won every quarter (as did Maric).

The first quarter issue was midfielders, midfielders, midfielders.

 

[The Taylor Walker Show]

 

[-CG-]

Anyone else think this was an homage to Tyson? I've never seen McKay, Vince or Thommo with their socks down, there they were at the start of the last in the middle with Edwards, all with socks down.

I noticed Bernie and Dmack with their socks down part way through the fourth quarter and thought they looked rather odd. If that was the case then thats pretty cool!

I had to quote it just so everyone can see it again

Awesome day at the footy

 

[twentydollarnote]

He got his first kick in the last quarter. I think we should expect a bit more from a midfielder.

okay well i didnt realise i was watchign bits and pieces at a bbq, but obviously didnt catch it all. From what i saw he looked very composed when he had it today, usually hes always slipping over and blazing away at goal.

You always have very odd views on the game.

On today's game, VB >>> Douglas. And yet according to you Douglas was very good and VB would be in trouble of being dropped if he wasn't a leader?

And he DID NOT miss the pre-season, he completed the entire PS but missed all the practice games due to injury. Massive difference.

Yeah looking at the season as a whole of far VB has been terrible, i think he missed something like six weeks before the season started which is significant, its certainly taken the edge off his game.

 

[jamesclean]

man that shot of maric rules.

 

[crowman86]

man that shot of maric rules.

It scares me a little bit haha!!

If what is being said about putting the socks down is true. Great great gesture by the rest of the players. Could have just been the edge to run over the top of the bombers in the last. I wonder who suggested the idea.

 

[StickerMan]

ok, so I have read about Moran the last few weeks on this forum and whilst you all make good points for and against Bob, we need to put a few things in perspective.

1. Aussie Rules experience; the man has probable struggled to play 50 games of footy in his life, and only 15 games of AFL (or thereabouts). When you take this into account, the guy has a tremendous upside.

2. In twelve months time, he has gone from being our fourth choice ruckman to leading the rucks and doing an ok job. He is not starring, but he is hardly doing a bad job.

3. Whilst some of his decision making has been poor, I still think he offers more around the ground than Maric and Griffin. He provides a good link through the centre corridor and also seems to get back to help in defence.

All in all, with time I think Bob will be a good, solid ruckman. Will he ever be a Cox? No, probably not, but he will still be a good player nonetheless.

So, lets put this in perspective and give the man some time to develop. he has already improved out of sight since coming to the Crows. I agree he needs to start playing with some more intensity at the contest and using his body more, but I think that will come with time.

Cheers.

 

[maccas_no1]

The passion from Maric is what we need more of it was fantastic to see, its what footy is all about passion

 

[Macjoe]

OMG!!! I just about had a heart attack watching the game - replaying the saved game is much easier on my old ticker. I've labelled it "Crows most brilliant win" and I'm just about to go watch it again. Not one passenger, a come from behind win, and a win in a shoot-out at that! Awesome.

BTW - I know some of the boys played better than others, they can't all be Edwards or Tippet at the same time, but should'nt we respect their TEAM achievement? I'm only new, so sorry if this is treading on toes, but some of you posters could lighten up on your emotional investment for or against individual players. The balance that BringbacktheBiff2005 was asking for when judging Moran surely applies to all 22 who contributed to this brilliant win, and also to the others on the list who are keeping up so much selection pressure.

 

[Wood_Duck]

ok, so I have read about Moran the last few weeks on this forum and whilst you all make good points for and against Bob, we need to put a few things in perspective.

1. Aussie Rules experience; the man has probable struggled to play 50 games of footy in his life, and only 15 games of AFL (or thereabouts). When you take this into account, the guy has a tremendous upside.

2. In twelve months time, he has gone from being our fourth choice ruckman to leading the rucks and doing an ok job. He is not starring, but he is hardly doing a bad job.

3. Whilst some of his decision making has been poor, I still think he offers more around the ground than Maric and Griffin. He provides a good link through the centre corridor and also seems to get back to help in defence.

All in all, with time I think Bob will be a good, solid ruckman. Will he ever be a Cox? No, probably not, but he will still be a good player nonetheless.

So, lets put this in perspective and give the man some time to develop. he has already improved out of sight since coming to the Crows. I agree he needs to start playing with some more intensity at the contest and using his body more, but I think that will come with time.

Cheers.

I have no problem with anything you have said. I doubt anyone does. The fact is though that he plays some terrible football at times. People are only calling it as they see it. His football at the moment is not that good. I'm not calling for him to be dropped. I actually want him in the team because I think he has some upside that will only come with experience and confidence.

 

[Cap]

ok, so I have read about Moran the last few weeks on this forum and whilst you all make good points for and against Bob, we need to put a few things in perspective.

1. Aussie Rules experience; the man has probable struggled to play 50 games of footy in his life, and only 15 games of AFL (or thereabouts). When you take this into account, the guy has a tremendous upside.

2. In twelve months time, he has gone from being our fourth choice ruckman to leading the rucks and doing an ok job. He is not starring, but he is hardly doing a bad job.

3. Whilst some of his decision making has been poor, I still think he offers more around the ground than Maric and Griffin. He provides a good link through the centre corridor and also seems to get back to help in defence.

All in all, with time I think Bob will be a good, solid ruckman. Will he ever be a Cox? No, probably not, but he will still be a good player nonetheless.

So, lets put this in perspective and give the man some time to develop. he has already improved out of sight since coming to the Crows. I agree he needs to start playing with some more intensity at the contest and using his body more, but I think that will come with time.

Cheers.

even Geelong have there whipping boy

 

[crowman_23]

Only just got to the internet for the first time since the game this morning, but what a game. Edwards was absolutely outstanding and what a way to celebrate his 300th. Himself and Tippett kept us in the game for periods earlier in the match, and probably the best 300th game I have seen.

In terms of the rucks, it was the first time I got to see the two big boys go at it live. For mine it still confirmed what I've thought for a while and that is Moran is not quite there yet. While Maric still made a couple of mistakes when he got the ball early, I felt he got better and better, and he just pushes himself so much harder around the ground. Moran still did enough to keep his spot, and wasn't awful, but it just looks like he could do so much more out there.

All in all though was a great game of footy to watch. A great result for an absolute champion of the game, and brilliant turnout from all Crows fans that were there to watch the game.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

I agree with Drummond's anaylsis. We were smashed in the first quarter, but unbelievably straight kicking and a very high forward fifty efficiency kept us in the match when Essendon were smashing us.

The closer we stayed with them the better chance we were going to be of winning once we had a dominant period in the match. It think it started when Ryder began to tire prior to that we were getting smashed in the middle. Once Ryder came off and Lucas went into the ruck we started to get some more centre breaks which then helped us get on top and because we were close enough and managed that use our run well and kick goals it allowed us to build up a match winning buffer.

As I said in another thread there were some deplorable umpiring decisions that ended in Essendon goals. I am 99.9% sure I have heard Jeff Gischen say a few weeks ago that you are allowed to rush a point in a ruck contest, unless they have changed the rules again. Johncock's spoil in the first quarter was fair and should not have been a free and there was another decision in the third quarter where johncock marked in traffic and an essendon player appeared to punch the ball out of his hand and the umpire called play on and must have thought that STiffy tried to handball and that also cost us a goal.

This game IMO was one of those important victories for the club, challenged and could have easily flown the white flag and tried to play out to an "honourable" loss. Instead we fought hard and got in front and won.

I think your being a bit harsh on the Umps, sure there are always going to be wrong decisions but I felt they let the game flow as much as they could. I didnt feel they called too many of the ticky touch free kicks that have been called in the past. I would be happy to have our games umpired like that all year.

 

[Cap]

I think your being a bit harsh on the Umps, sure there are always going to be wrong decisions but I felt they let the game flow as much as they could. I didnt feel they called too many of the ticky touch free kicks that have been called in the past. I would be happy to have our games umpired like that all year.

I agree. There were 1 or 2 that were a bit frustrating which went Essendons way but I gather that they would have the same feeling.

There has been a change to the umps in the last few weeks, it seems the free kicks have to be more obvious than in the last few years and I think the games are starting to reflect that.

Saying that umps will have an off day and losing teams will always blame the umps as well (us included)

 

[frednerk33]

Had yet another decent game and peeps are calling for his demise. What does the poor bugger HAVE to do?

Yes.

He needs to tighten up on some things, but then again what new player doesn't ???? And still, some can only complain and chop. Thank goodness that we don't have coaches like some that post here.

 

[frednerk33]

I think your being a bit harsh on the Umps, sure there are always going to be wrong decisions but I felt they let the game flow as much as they could. I didnt feel they called too many of the ticky touch free kicks that have been called in the past. I would be happy to have our games umpired like that all year.

I wouldn't, they got the iffy ones and we didn't; albeit you are right in that they let it go a lot and it was the better game for it.

 

[StickerMan]

I think your being a bit harsh on the Umps, sure there are always going to be wrong decisions but I felt they let the game flow as much as they could. I didnt feel they called too many of the ticky touch free kicks that have been called in the past. I would be happy to have our games umpired like that all year.

I also thought the game was well umpired, barring a couple of soft free kicks here and there, which you are always going to get. The only obvious one they missed was the high fend off to Symes. Even the hit on Dangerfield was fair.

I think if you can count the errors made by umpires in one game on one hand, then they have had a pretty bloody good game.

 

[frednerk33]

He got his first kick in the last quarter. I think we should expect a bit more from a midfielder.

VB. Erm, tell me what the coaches told him his role was on the day and how to go about it. They do that, you know. Don't be so certain unless you know that.

Just a quick note on Otten. A few posters have said he had his worst game yet and that Lucas pasted him. Sure Lucas kicked 4 goals but at least 2 were definately from other players turn overs and he had no chance of defending it. Other than that he did his 1%ers well in defense and did some nice things. His handpass between 2 bombers to McLeod on the burst was great. Mackay has this skill too, has a great handpass on him.

I watch the replay straight afterward to see the 2nd/3rd efforts and whatnot. Otten was ok. Slick. Tried his guts out and did hard contest stuff and running. Jeepers some people miss a lot and just like to knock players.

 

[xamol]

WHAT A WIN.

And being there made it even better.

We couldnt get the ball out of the middle for almost all of the first half. Edwards (legend) and Tippet kept us in the game. A lot of terrible turnovers cost us goals. Poor kicking skills and poor decision making. Yes, I am looking at you Moran!!
Thought after the first 10 minutes of the 3rd we were in trouble. Essendon got over 3 goals up. Tex stepes up at last, the big Ivan kicked a goal and celebrated as you do.
We got back in the game in the last 10 minutes of the 3rd, and thought if we could stay within a kick, we would have a chance. A lot of courage shown in the last qtr to outrun Essendon. Knights was fantastic. Can;t run out of sight, but they cant catch him. Great goal by Dougy and Porps.
Thommo, Vince worked hard. Truck was fantastic. Bocky used the ball well.
Spent an hour in the changerooms after the game and had a chat to Reidy and Skip Bickley. Both pretty happy as ytou can imagine. Even had a chat to Stevo, Truck, Porps, Bernie and they were all only too happy to have photos taken with my 6 yr old lad. My son even had a kick to kick with Tyson Edwards boys while we were waiting for him, so got a pic as well with Tyson, his boys and my lad.
I'm still pumped.

 

[Wood_Duck]

VB. Erm, tell me what the coaches told him his role was on the day and how to go about it. They do that, you know. Don't be so certain unless you know that.

I watch the replay straight afterward to see the 2nd/3rd efforts and whatnot. Otten was ok. Slick. Tried his guts out and did hard contest stuff and running. Jeepers some people miss a lot and just like to knock players.

Sorry mate youve lost me. What was that about VB?
As for Douglass I merely stated a fact that he got his first kick in the last quarter and I think more would be expected of him. Not sure what it is you have a problem with.

More than happy to not reply to your posts in future. Didnt realise I ever had to be honest. I have no problem with you never have, not sure what your on about actually.

 

[relapse]

I wouldn't, they got the iffy ones and we didn't; albeit you are right in that they let it go a lot and it was the better game for it.

I agree with you, if you want games every week where 2 or more goals are gifted to the opposition for questionable decisions. Where even just looking for an opponent to handball to without moving off the mark is called play off then they can go right ahead.

I agree that they left a lot which was good, but I dont like getting screwed out of goals by horrible umpiring. It wasn't biased or anything, just unfortunately they seemed to get a couple of bad calls go their way.

 

[Mad Bomber Sean]

Congratulations Crows.
You guys were really persistant and showed your class when it mattered most.
Tippet could be something very special. Knights is already there IMHO.
Finals are a strong possibility for you this year. Well done.

 

[WALL-e]

even Geelong have there whipping boy

Mumford

Mate played with him in Bunyip and he was 140 kg then haha. Gotta love the big mummy.