AFL Autopsy Vent here

[Pweter]

Kyle Hardingham is a liability. Sure his 6, 7, 8 one percenters looks good, but only so many can offset the 4 - 5 - 6 actual goals he leaks. His disposal by hand was absolutely deplorable today, by foot wasnt much better. Is he our Nick Maxwell?

So you're saying he's gonna be our premiership captain?

Thank **** for that, there is light at the end of the tunnel lads (and ladettes)

 

[laxation]

Everyone in front of him was flat footed and not offering him anything, it just would have come straight back.

If thats what you think, then no essendon player should have kicked it to anyone all day.
Kicking it to a flat footed player in a contest is STREETS ahead of being tackled just outside the 50 and giving away a free.

 

[Pweter]

My thoughts heading into this game is we'll be competitive for a half then drop away from lack of match fitness. 7 guys coming in over the last 2 weeks, most from extended layoffs, always indicated we'd struggle.

Only problem was we didn't last close to a half before we dropped away.

What we saw was largely a result of playing 1/3 the side that had no match fitness to speak of, then losing Fletcher in the 1st only compounded things. The flow on from this is 2nd to ball, disposal efficency falls away, free opposition players everywhere etc etc.

I am not saying it is the only reason we got belted, but we certainly didn't help ourselves.

 

[daffo]

We suck. we suck soooo much.
We pulled a 9-2 start, we could finish with a 2-9.. it's so sad.

 

[Slattery_20]

To be honest I have a similar attitude to this kind of stuff at AFL level. It's laughable. All these blokes milling around, wrestling, tugging on each other's jumpers... it's all just a joke. Nobody's throwing a punch, nobodys getting hurt.

Media and the nuffies in the crowd love to froth at this shit. It means nothing, it's not "flying the flag", it's just garbage as nobody can do anything and everybody knows it. They only "engage" in this stuff because it's the "traditional" thing to do... Except nobody goes through with anything.

It's just a waste of time and energy. The way to do it in the AFL is to hit the footy and the man as hard as possible, lay some bone jarring bumps and tackles once the contest restarts.

I can't stand it.
After that quarter & a bit of completely crap, lazy football - 2 minutes of wrestling is the easy way to make it look like you give a shit.
Soft way out.
Good sides forget that shit, put their heads over the ball and go on and win.

 

[Slattery_20]

We/Dodoro seem to prefer getting talls over quick mids, and then rely on the rookie draft to get blokes that can play at state league level but are the complete package at AFL level.

Or perhaps they just had the view that the whole entire list needed a lot of work and decided to work on all of it at once?
Nah, that can't be distilled into one simple black/white truism.

Should just delist everyone and draft 46 midfielders. That'd make for a really really good list!

 

[Essendonia]

I still can't believe it. Unfathomable performance and result. Didn't see this coming at all.

'Essendon' bloke next to me at the footy, after Carlton kicked another goal in the 3rd, removed his Bombers jumper only to reveal a Collingwood jumper underneath. Didn't know what the **** was going on that afternoon at 'G .

Vent:

Son of a bitch, ****ing Carlton. I hate these bastards and we roll over and cop a pasting like this. We made these blueboy hacks look like superstars. Every bloody time they swung their leg inside 50 it became a goal. Bloody bullshit. I can't believe we lost by 96 points. That is massive. I thought the elimination final last year was bad - and it was bloody awful - but this is much worse, I think. We were supposed to be better. We might have more excuses this time, but shit, I don't want excuses. I want results. Don't turn ove the ball so often and bloody stick a tackle and win a clearance. For ****'s sake. Bloody hamstring and calf and every blood other leg muscle or joint injury to almost every bloody player on our ****ing list. The weapon can stick the barrel in is mouth and finger the trigger. I've had enough of this bullshit. We are supposed to be improving our physical capabilities, not increasing our proneness to injury. We can't even run out a quarter anymore. Absolute codswallop and horseradish shit. ****. ****ity **** ****. Ah, shit. 2013, then. So it is.

****.

 

[VelvetSledge]

^ Good post

 

[Essendonia]

^ Good post

Post not as good as the one that stopped another Carltank goal - kept it under 100

 

[rines]

Article in The Age by Rohan sums it up: No more ****ing excuses.. seriously shit team/club for 8 years and no end in sight.

Pathetic.. injuries have been continual- here is a new thought-- maybe our players just aren't up to it!!

Need to change recruiting strategy cause ours clearly isn't working. We need MIDFIELDERS NOW NOW NOW NOW (I think most of us have been pleading for this for years) not more hack KP players.

2013 will have to be better.. or maybe just more of the same. apparently we have players who give a damn for 10 weeks and then go on holidays.

 

[dnbassador]

only person i feel sorry for in this pic is Jobe

Lot of players with their heads down

 

[Essendonia]

What's Melksham doing?

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Need to change recruiting strategy cause ours clearly isn't working. We need MIDFIELDERS NOW NOW NOW NOW (I think most of us have been pleading for this for years) not more hack KP players.

Yup, we certainly haven't been drafting any midfielders whatsoever.

 

[Jade]

I'm trying to think, and I don't think I've ever been as angry with the playing group as I am now.

Sure we've all seen losses before, and lets face it since 2004 we've seen more than our fair share.

By the end of Knights tenure I had experienced a first as an Essendon fan, which was a desire to see the coach given the arse. Almost cheered when I saw the 'Breaking News' headline that confirmed he's been given the flick.

Been pissed off after specific losses, whether at umpires, opposition, our guys or the coaches.

Certainly injury has played a part in affecting our performances, but the gutless, spineless, heartless capitulation over the last two months is a disgrace to the more than century old club.

One fifteen goal loss is reason to be upset - in a league that prides itself on equalisation getting your ass kicked by ten goals or more four or five times in relative quick succession is nothing short of a disaster.

Four weeks ago, I was in favour of a relatively reserved off-season. Take our minimum three picks at the draft, maybe free up one more spot and try and land an experienced head under free agency. I consistently feel a sense of loyalty towards those players that have given several years of service to the club, even when criticism exists.

Now - no.

Cut that ****ing list to shreds. We have a group of core bottom and middle aged players, and one or two senior guys that are worth of a spot on our list.

It's time to clean off the guys that clearly aren't going to help this club to a flag any more than someone else could.

As it stands, I'd be looking for a minimum of seven changes to the senior list.

At least four new draftees, one rookie upgrade, one trade and one free agent is a good place to start.

Seven changes means at least seven players shwon the door in one way or another.

Here's a few that need to have either resigned themselves that the end is here, or should be sweating on it - and proving they deserve to stay:

Monfries, Prismall, Hooker, Pears, Hardingham, Gumbleton, Dyson, McVeigh, Reimers, Slattery.......

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Don't know what else Dyson could have done this year. And he's actually a good kick. Instrumental in our last win.

Gumby's actually got back on the park and had his best return yet.

Hooker was the lynch-pin of the defence when it was working.

Hardingham's deficiencies are workable.

The rest I pretty much agree with. Up to a point. Cutting swathes through the list is a bit hysterical though, and I can't see it happening.

 

[Essendonia]

Dyson and Gumby would be probably two of less than ten players who could (at this point) get a tick next to their name for a season where they have achieved their goals for the team and personally.

Now that I've mentioned such a list, I shall try to compile it.

1. Watson - obvious.
2. Gumbleton - contributed significantly to team structure and scoreboard in the SENIORS in CONSECUTIVE matches
3. Dyson - More than serviceable when played, and long-kicking was missed
4. Bellchambers - Stepped up in absence of Hille/Ryder, showed he can handle #1 ruck even at 22/23 y.o.
5. Davey - Forward pressure and 20+ goals
6. Browne - Solid appearances and shown bit in absence of key mids
7. Kav - Earned senior opportunity through consistent form in twos
8. Lee - Similar to kav
9. Baguley - Similar to kav/lee
10. Hurley - had two massive power forward matches netting 11 goals in two weeks, target up forward. might've suffered from lack of mids, was able to play most of the matches
11. Dempsey - impeccable return from acl. form faltered in second-half of season, but has stamped himself as a key player with potential beyond half-back
12. winderlich - experience was obvious in his performances, with 4 goals in a half before being cut down again. despite further injury setbacks, got back into the side
13. Fletcher - potentially AA form. Most valuable player to this team still (given failure of hooker/pears to gain consistency/improvement)

After that, I can't think of anyone else who can say, "From pre-season to now, I have done my bit for the team and accomplished my role within the team, and achieved the personal goals I set for myself."

I know, for example, Zaka's injury has ****ed his season, but his form beforehand was not Crichton-medal winning stuff or close to it. Anyway, given two matches remain, this may be a bit early, but it's a minor player review in the scheme of those who passed, which only consists of less than half the squad.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

I'd consider keeping Baguley, but the other two Rookie upgrades certainly aren't worth a spot. Dell sporadically showed things, but nowhere near enough.

I like how everyone was sure that Lee was going to solve all sorts of problems.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I'd consider keeping Baguley, but the other two Rookie upgrades certainly aren't worth a spot. Dell sporadically showed things, but nowhere near enough.

I like how everyone was sure that Lee was going to solve all sorts of problems.

Wouldnt keep any of those guys. No offence to them but we need more quality.

Dyson was good for a time but he dropped off again just before he got injured. Is he worth another contract or should we take a punt on a lower profile free agent?

I'd keep Davey as we don't have many scoring smalls. Monfires, i'd let him ahve a go at free agency.

Absolutely keep Pears. Let's see what a full pre season does for him.
Hooker and Gumby - one of these guys has to be traded for a mid/pick.

 

[Essendonia]

Wouldnt keep any of those guys. No offence to them but we need more quality.

Dyson was good for a time but he dropped off again just before he got injured. Is he worth another contract or should we take a punt on a lower profile free agent?

I'd keep Davey as we don't have many scoring smalls. Monfires, i'd let him ahve a go at free agency.

Absolutely keep Pears. Let's see what a full pre season does for him.
Hooker and Gumby - one of these guys has to be traded for a mid/pick.

Do they really have much currency?

 

[Kong]

To whom?

JUST KICK THE EFFING THING!!!

 

[Lord Nicholson]

Dyson was good for a time but he dropped off again just before he got injured. Is he worth another contract or should we take a punt on a lower profile free agent?

I think he was unlucky to be dropped, and as I say was very good in the last win, arguably in the top 5 or so on the ground (albiet against abysmal opposition, but it was still a struggle).

I'd give him another year. Some of his games earlier in the year were genuinely excellent, such as the WCE game.

That being said, smart money is on him being moved on. I just don't know what it is that we would be expecting to get for him.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Article in The Age by Rohan sums it up: No more ******* excuses.. seriously shit team/club for 8 years and no end in sight.

Pathetic.. injuries have been continual- here is a new thought-- maybe our players just aren't up to it!!

Need to change recruiting strategy cause ours clearly isn't working. We need MIDFIELDERS NOW NOW NOW NOW (I think most of us have been pleading for this for years) not more hack KP players.

2013 will have to be better.. or maybe just more of the same. apparently we have players who give a damn for 10 weeks and then go on holidays.

So what are Kav, Merrett, Heppell, Melksham, Colyer, Zaharakis, Browne, Ross.........

Are they are all KPP or have we actually been recruiting mids and they are just not ready yet?

 

[Kong]

It's just a waste of time and energy. The way to do it in the AFL is to hit the footy and the man as hard as possible, lay some bone jarring bumps and tackles once the contest restarts.

...aaaand get suspended.

Oh, unless you're Lenny Hayes.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Do they really have much currency?

You would think Gumby would. Could Freo be interested?
Hooker was ok first half of season and tall defenders are sort after. If Ross Lyon saw something in Dawson he may see something in Hooker. not sure if Freo can afford to give up much in regards to mids. But i'd imagine there would be quite a few clubs interested.

 

[Lord Nicholson]

...aaaand get suspended.

Oh, unless you're Lenny Hayes.

Different set of rules. Also whenever you touch Lenny even slightly.

Not that I think that should be worthy of a suspension.