Use of the ball

[Smokin]

Absolutely inept.

We basically gifted them the 7 goals we lost by.

Few positives IMO including Cupido, Rioli and the fact we got enough of it.

Im not sure we could use the ball much worse than that. We had a go, and were ok between backline and centreline, but transition thru midfield and especially into attack was laughable - depressing actually.

Again they were looked after when the game was there to be won. But heck that -

a) decision making
b) execution

left a lot to be desired.

We have so much improvement to make, went to Brisbane and lost by 7 goals. We arnt as far away as people think.

Problems like these are relatively easily fixed. We did ourselves no favours tonight, but werent blown out of the water at all.

Im grabbin another drink.

 

[Dan26]

Yeah, it's hard to explain but you could see we weren't far away. Will be great for the players to know this game is out of the way. Would have liked us to be more direct with the footy. Fletcher would have made a huge difference. Even Bolton. There are the match-ups for Lynch and the rampant Bradshaw.

I agree Smokin. Disappointing in some respects, so very predictable a result, but at the same time we aren't far away. It's certainly only going to get easier!

 

[Smokin]

Originally posted by Dan26
so very predictable a result

Exactly.

I could/can guarantee 2 things for us this year.

a) we were/are never gonna win in Brisbane.
b) we are not going to win in Adelaide.

lately these 2 have been constants, with perhaps Anzac day being a tougher game that perhaps many expect.

If anyone honestly thought we were gonna win tonight, they were either in denial, or have no idea whatsoever. Was never gonna happen. Not against this Brisbane team.

We know our team better than anyone else - which is why when a Hawthorn mate of mine hinted it could be a long year, I disagreed.

I took a bit of heart from this game. Hard to explain.

Melbourne will give us a run, if not more, next week. Never look forward to playin em. We could easily be 0-2 next week - if so, I for one wont be overly shocked. Watch em attack us like vultures tho.

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by Smokin


We know our team better than anyone else - which is why when a Hawthorn mate of mine hinted it could be a long year, I disagreed.

Yes I know exactly what you mean. I know we are going to be a competitive team. As you do. Add Fletcher and Bolton to a team that lost by 7 goals AT Brisbane and we aren't far away. Their home ground advantage is probably around 6 goals for a start.

Originally posted by Smokin
Melbourne will give us a run, if not more, next week. Never look forward to playin em. We could easily be 0-2 next week - if so, I for one wont be overly shocked. Watch em attack us like vultures tho.

The Dees hate us. They would like nothng more than to roll us. The last few meetings we have won, but they have given us a hell of a run for our money. They are the type of team that could easily defeat us next week. Melbourne are obsessed with beating us. Without Essendon-hater Schwarz, they might not have some of that venom they may otherwise have. I'm hoping so, because I'm always a bit uneasy about the Demons.

 

[gPhonque]

Ok, let's cut to the chase:

The two differences between the Essendon of 2000 to halfway through 2001 (the Round 16 Nth Melb game to be precise), and the Essendon since, are (in my opinion - feel free to argue):

1. Toughness (everything from gang tackling, awareness of other players when attacking the ball, confidence in attacking the ball and opposition, etc....)

and

2. Quality of disposal.


Where's the gang-tackling? Why do we so often appear to be just chasing the other team around the park for the whole game? I saw more half-steps by our guys tonight than I would see at a tap-dancing contest. We used to bruise the opposition. Not so anymore. (yes, I know it's close to impossible to "bruise" Brisbane....)

Our disposal is sh|t. I asked this question last year, and I'll ask it again - When did Essendon start kicking to contests? Why can we never kick a ball into the forward line with even the slightest bit of confidence or precision?

KICK the ****ing ball AT Lloyd's chest! Don't just lob it in the general direction!

I also think our guys are going a little overboard on the quick handball to the running player after taking a mark. Yes - moving the ball quickly into the forward line is important, but this tactic seems to be screwing our momentum up more than it is helping. There's no point in handballing to a player running past if he's going to be gang-tackled by the opposition the moment he gets the ball. There's no point handballing to a player running past if he's going to be under pressure to kick the ball quickly, which, when you consider the fantastic quality of our disposal of recent times, means it generally ends up landing on our (loose) opponents chest.

Basically, I agree with Smokin (bad use of the ball, decision-making etc), although I also think our attack at the loose ball and in particular the opposition, is completely pathetic.

Not a good combination of things for a football team to be lacking in when you think about it - we can't stop the other guys, and we can't kick the ball!

 

[Smokin]

Yep gPhonque, and all those things are affected by confidense and our mental approach.

There is no doubt the quality is there - but we just cant get a break and unleash the shackles. We started ok last year, then had a crippling run of injures. I thought we got our break, and perhaps could have turned the corner in Round 22 and into the finals - but the Port go and choke.

Genuine confidense and true beleif against the best seems to be missing.

That can change very quickly tho.

 

[Stealth bomber]

The game was lost before the opening bounce - it appeared as if there was no confidence or belief they could win. Sure enough, the game was over in the first 15 minutes.

Then we resort to stupid desperation tactics designed to somehow rattle them. Cut this whole no rules nonsense Sheeds. It didn't work last year, why would this year be any different?

Even the selections puzzled me a little bit. Did we not have more talls to pick from? What happened to Lay****?

Only one game on, but this club has not solved any of the problems it had last year.

No attack at all in the forward line. How do you lose by 40 points with more kicks, marks, and handballs? Ten put up that telling stat - 41 disposals per goal. This team has to work much too hard to score. Are we going to see another season of 8.13 scorelines?

It is evident every time we play against the glamour sides in this competition - this game was almost identical to the semi-final loss to Port last year, and the losses to Port, Adelaide, and Brisbane late in the season.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Spot on so far - and one person has to take a lot of the blame - THE COACH. Where is our structure, where is our game plan, we all can see the potential, and there is a lot there, but we can;t kick a damn goal to save ourselves. Jacobs is not, will not be and never has been a fullback. I understand our problems, but the guy is wasted there. We lost the game to the bulldogs last year (I say lost because I draw was = to a loss in the end) because he had him at full back. Cut this versatility crap out. Some players aren;t meant to play on certain lines of the ground. Get some stability in the back half - use the BLOODY bench - another wonderful game by RFK - Almost 3 quarters on the bench, and you wonder why our midfield tires. He used to overuse the bench, now he doesn;t use it at all.

We need a forward coach - and fast or this season will be a mirror to last - hopeful but not cigar.

 

[Smokin]

Speaking of forward coaches - who is it this year?

Harvey took over last year after doing a great job with the backline, however for many reasons we were very predictable, one dimensional and down right ordinary up forward.

Is he still looking after the forwards?

 

[dj21]

Originally posted by Pevers-Legend
Jacobs is not, will not be and never has been a fullback.

I thought he did really well at full-back. When was the last time fletcher held lynch to 2 goals while getting the third most possessions for essendon. Plus we didn't have anyone else to put on lynch.

 

[Dave]

Spot on 'G. Add that to the lack of discipline shown. All night we went at the man not the ball. Not good to watch.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

dj21, Fletcher gave Lynch a toweling in the no rules game - the only goals he got were soft - free kick goals.

I am not criticising Jacobs - I think he is a very good player, he's just not a full-back. He is too creative and he reads the play so well from the half forward/back lines he is wasted there, plus Lynch missed a lot of easy shots. Jacobs likes to run and jump to spoil - because he is not big and uses his head instead, full backs don;t always have that opportunity to do that, especially with Lynch who is a perennial holder (CHEAT).