What happened to...

[Longy413]

Essendon not being able to win with out Hird and Fletcher?

I understand Adelaide had a couple of class acts out, but the common myth was that our older players carried us.

Lloyd and Mal were good today, Lucas was poor.

Hird, Fletcher, Jason Johnson, Campo out of the side.

10 players with less than 50 games.

Now lets not make this something it isn't, lets not get carried away and suggest we have anything but quite a few handy young players. But we took a step towards the future today and a step towards erasing the Hird/Fletcher myth.

 

[Houli Class1]

I totally agree good work

 

[windyhill]

I`ll say this till I die, we have always, always, managed to cover Hird. Fletcher is another story. Alwyn Davey is another that you just can not cover, Hird ? No probs.

 

[Dan26]

I`ll say this till I die, we have always, always, managed to cover Hird.

We've had plenty of practice at it.

You never totally cover champions in any sport. It's impossible. Absolutely impossible. You can play well without them, you can win without them, but it's impossible to cover a player like James Hird, despite what the win-loss record might be without him. People can "play around with stats" to prove anything.

I remember St.Kilda had a reasonable record without Lockett for a while and had some good wins. North won often without Carey. This might seem like they covered him (because they won), but you can't cover a champion totally. Its impossible.

 

[Longy413]

You never totally cover champions in any sport. It's impossible. Absolutely impossible.

The impossible thing isn't covering them, it's measuring what they bring to the side.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

No Winderlich no Essendon.

 

[windyhill]

We've had plenty of practice at it.

You never totally cover champions in any sport. It's impossible. Absolutely impossible. You can play well without them, you can win without them, but it's impossible to cover a player like James Hird, despite what the win-loss record might be without him. People can "play around with stats" to prove anything.

I remember St.Kilda had a reasonable record without Lockett for a while and had some good wins. North won often without Carey. This might seem like they covered him (because they won), but you can't cover a champion totally. Its impossible.

We won in 2000 without Bolton.
End of.

 

[Dan26]

We won in 2000 without Bolton.
End of.

We were pretty special though, lol.

 

[Shane Hird]

I see it like this....

Fletcher would have been handy today to spoil those marks and p-ss easy close in goals that Kepler neglected to stop.We would have won by more.
We were lucky the Crows missed a bucket load of shots on goal...


I see Hird as a bonus when he's in...have for about the last 4 years.

 

[BomberAce7]

No Winderlich no Essendon.

Isnt it funny at the start of the season Winderlich wasnt even picked in our best 22 but Bradley was! Havent things changed!

 

[Shane Hird]

Isnt it funny at the start of the season Winderlich wasnt even picked in our best 22 but Bradley was!
Havent things changed![/QUOTE]

Kepler has changed....into bugger all...Winderlich is on a mission to become elite and is fast approaching it

 

[BomberAce7]

Isnt it funny at the start of the season Winderlich wasnt even picked in our best 22 but Bradley was!
Havent things changed![/QUOTE]

Kepler has changed....into bugger all...Winderlich is on a mission to become elite and is fast approaching it

Couldnt agree more!!!

 

[Philzsay]

While I agree with the sentiment of the thread, if I was to pick a team to play against without Fletcher, Adelaide would be near the top of the list.

I have never really rated their forward line, it is probably one of the worst in the league.

 

[Longy413]

While I agree with the sentiment of the thread, if I was to pick a team to play against without Fletcher, Adelaide would be near the top of the list.

I have never really rated their forward line, it is probably one of the worst in the league.

I would have said the Bulldogs

 

[wazzabp]

I think its a pretty good sign for the future, this season we have been inconsistent, which tends to happen when you have several inexperienced players in the side, but the young guys will improve in that area with more games under their belt.
The main thing we need these young players to do is run hard, make a contest and really put pressure on their opponents. We only look bad when we don't apply enough pressure.
Yesterdays game showed what we are capable of if we play as a team.

 

['51 Bewick]

Lucas was poor.

What a stupid statement. Please engage brain before commenting.
Lucas played as a link around the wings giving Lloyd a lot of room to lead into, and taking Adelaide's best tall back (of those playing) Bock away from the key defensive area.
Sheesh!!!

 

[Bombs Away]

I see it like this....

Fletcher would have been handy today to spoil those marks and p-ss easy close in goals that Kepler neglected to stop.We would have won by more.
We were lucky the Crows missed a bucket load of shots on goal...


I see Hird as a bonus when he's in...have for about the last 4 years.

I think you are blaming Kepler for something thats not his fault. We all know that he cant play back and yet when they ran onto the ground and he started back half I cringed. I have been wanting kepler to get a crack again but only if he is played forward. Why does sheedy continue to wreck what might be a great 3rd tall forward. Would love to see how Lloyd would go playing Full Back or CHB (not his best position either)

If Kepler doesnt make it I think sheedy is to blame for it, if they wanted another defender due to doubts on Fletcher they could have picked Lee, johns or just played NLM, welsh or one of the many capable backman in the backhalf for a week instead of playing them forward. Our structure leading into this game was disgraceful and we almost lost due to our match-ups

 

[Longy413]

What a stupid statement. Please engage brain before commenting.
Lucas played as a link around the wings giving Lloyd a lot of room to lead into, and taking Adelaide's best tall back (of those playing) Bock away from the key defensive area.
Sheesh!!!

If Lucas was trying to take Bock away, he was even worse than first though.

Bock had 24 disposals and was Adelaide's best player, or at least in their best couple.

Scott Lucas sets high standards, he was poor yesterday and his opponent was fantastic.

 

[nonamehack]

If Lucas was trying to take Bock away, he was even worse than first though.

Bock had 24 disposals and was Adelaide's best player, or at least in their best couple.

Scott Lucas sets high standards, he was poor yesterday and his opponent was fantastic.

Yes Bock was good with 24 possession, but taking him out of the backline is always a good thing... and as others have said Lucas was a link man and gave a lot more space for the forwards inside 50... And if we are talking stats, I think Lucas with 20 more than matched Bocks 24

 

[Margim]

Yes Bock was good with 24 possession, but taking him out of the backline is always a good thing... and as others have said Lucas was a link man and gave a lot more space for the forwards inside 50... And if we are talking stats, I think Lucas with 20 more than matched Bocks 24

Yeah, I also think it was a bit harsh on Lucas. Picked up plenty of possessions... can't be expected to kick a truckload every week, and gave Lloyd room to do his stuff.

 

[Jono B]

They basically nulified one of Adelaides greatest strengths ie. the way thier backmen help each other out.

 

[DannyJames13]

No Winderlich no Essendon.

I said at the start of the year after watching the preseason, much to my fathers surprise, that if winderlich and davey play every game we will do well. I actually included lovett in there as well, who has not been as important but may be towards the end with no davey.

 

[Longy413]

They basically nulified one of Adelaides greatest strengths ie. the way thier backmen help each other out.

Gumby did that, Lucas was well below his best.

Got a lot of touches from sideways kicks. I love the bloke, but he wasn't good yesterday.

 

[Darealrath]

Gumby did that, Lucas was well below his best.

Got a lot of touches from sideways kicks. I love the bloke, but he wasn't good yesterday.

He saved us from having to kick to a contest going forward quite a few times. Thought he was decent.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I said at the start of the year after watching the preseason, much to my fathers surprise, that if winderlich and davey play every game we will do well. I actually included lovett in there as well, who has not been as important but may be towards the end with no davey.

Pre-season I thought for us to do well (play finals) we had to have both Winderlich and Dyson step up in our midfield.

I guess the performances of Davey and Nash have tempered the Dyson failure.

We need one more Winderlich at the moment!