What went wrong after Round 14?

[Dan26]

We played 25 matches this year.

FIRST 14
12 wins, 2 losses
Av. points for: 118.07
Av. points against: 78.58
PERCENTAGE: 150.27

LAST 11
7 wins, 4 losses
Av. points for: 106.00
Av. points against: 92.09
PERCENTAGE: 115.10

Somehow, we became 26 points worse off per game in the last 11 games, as opposed to the first 14. Why?

Our attack was 12 points worse off, and our defence conceded 14 points more. Why? What happened?

Did injuries catch up with us? Did players inexplicably drop out of form? What happened in that Round 15 match against the Cats (which we only just won), which seemed to hold us back for the rest of the year?

 

[windyhill]

you can not win them all

 

[Dan26]

Originally posted by windyhill
you can not win them all

I can just imagine that being Sheedy's and Robert Shaws answer to what went wrong. That's very unscientific of you, John.

I can understand not playing well for one or two weeks, but over a long period of time (i.e 11 weeks) we were pretty avergae, which was stange considering there seemed to be no logical explanation.

All of a sudden, we started to struggle.

 

[topdon]

Injuries caught up with us at the wrong time Dan. We lost players at crucial times throughout the season.

We lost Misiti in Rd 3 after being BOG in the two games previous. Lost Mercuri not long after that ... the Blumfield (injured in comeback game). Alessio ... had to throw Hille and Lalich in. Our midfield was decimated. Heff was injured pre-season and made his comeback against Brisbane at the Gabba. Remember we also lost Peverill ... which turned out to be a huge loss (given out injuries).

I think our team did a remarkable job to finish top and even make the Grand Final. But we weren't the same after 'the comeback' game. We got the most out of our inexperience and IMO we will be better for it. This season we got a good look at the likes of Henneman, Jacobs (watch this kid!!), McGrath (likewise), Peverill, McVeigh etc. These players are our future, and next season we'll possibly see the introduction of Bullen, Bannister, Richards (he is gunna be good), and more games for Hille.

I think we one again have a lot to look forward to. We still have a very strong list built around a very strong nucleus of players.

Our team...our club...isn't falling apart at the seams...

...it's only warming up!!!!!

 

[Anton Grbac]

What Topdon said.

where's wally?

 

[Stealth bomber]

It's my fault.

My visitor visa expired and I had to go home after Round 10. The last game I saw before leaving was the first loss to Brisbane.

 

[Stegelator]

Originally posted by Wally
What Topdon said.

where's wally?

LOL!

 

[NYMets]

Maybe it's me but I blame Docklands.
They started dropping like flies after we started using it regularly.

 

[windyhill]

Hmm,interesting theory,you may be on to something there.we`ve only lost once there,but your point holds merit.

 

[topdon]

His point does hold merit! We went a whole 2 months during the middle of the season without playing on the MCG! In that time, we had a one or two interstate games and the rest were at Colonial. Our draw this season stank!

I hate this Blockbuster mentality. It means that our draw each season is virtually the same.

 

[NYMets]

Hmmm...docklands and injuries...a bit of soil and dodgy turf over concrete and whaddya get? A season where half the team has spent quality time in Admissions.

 

[BrisGirl]

My theory......

When Lloyd was offered his own internet site.

When that happened, the whole team seemed to drop off.


How did Hardwick and Lloyd get along?

 

[walshy1993]

Originally posted by BrisGirl
My theory......

When Lloyd was offered his own internet site.

When that happened, the whole team seemed to drop off.


How did Hardwick and Lloyd get along?

you're theory, quite simply is ****ing stupid

anyone who know's anything about the essendon football club would know that the players are the closest bunch of people you would ever find
you would only have to be at essendons best and fairest and you would have heard the public admissions of how these players felt about each other
Mark McVeigh, James Hird, Matthew Lloyd all came out and said they loved their team mates

hardwick and lloyd got on like all the players got on, they are best mates, enough said
keep your theories to yourself cause they are wrong

 

[walshy1993]

Originally posted by NYMets
Maybe it's me but I blame Docklands.
They started dropping like flies after we started using it regularly.

after speaking to Justin, assistant to John Quinn
he believes that playing at colonial has no effect on players what so ever
a lot of injuries players had this season could have happened anywhere

 

[M29]

Originally posted by BrisGirl
My theory......

When Lloyd was offered his own internet site.

When that happened, the whole team seemed to drop off.


How did Hardwick and Lloyd get along?

You moron, you can tell your all of 16 years of age. Get back on the bwissie bandwagon love.

 

[Dave]

People, don't feed the trolls, especially those who have the bad manners to do it on other teams boards.

 

[M29]

Sorry Dave. And to think I wasted my 700th post on that skank! AGH!

 

[Danni]

c'mon M29 don't be so nasty.

Look as I have said in chat.........it isn't about Essendon being bad this year.

It is about last year they were a cut above the rest of the competition. That set the standard. This year some clubs lifted their game to become competative, and others didn't.

It isn't a premiership hangover. It isn't about not playing enough at the G (cause if that was true then the Lions would be still being told they can't win in Victoria), it isn't about injuries and mentality alone.

It is simply that Essendon set the standard in 2000, some clubs took up the challenge, others weren't capable of doing so.

Every team suffers injuries and suspensions, it is about what opportunities that they give others because of some players being injured or suspended.

Last year Essendons 'depth' was touted. This year you beat Hawthorn at colonial and the cry was 'look what we could do without 8 of our premiership players', the next week you lost at the Gabba and the cry was 'but we didn't have 9 of our premiership players'. It can't be both ways.

Sustaining such a strangle hold over the AFL comptetion for 3 years is an amazing feat in itself. Setting a standard for teams to 'aim up' for is another one. Making a consecutive GF under that pressure is even more amazing.

There is nothing 'wrong' with Essendon. They have the honour of making the teams in the AFL competition play a higher standard of football.

You know for us Lions fans, making a GF was a dream...........winning it was almost unthinkable.

We often have conversations about it now, and the one question that keeps coming up is what was better winning the GF or winning the GF against Essendon. That is a compliment to your team in itself. If you were boring, substandard, not worthy, then why would be bother?

In some strange way the GF seems to have given Lions supporters more respect for Essendon, me included. I am not sure why, it isnt' something we can easily put into words other than we played the 'best' and won. Yet for some reason we still call you 'the best'. That says alot in itself.

 

[mantis]

Danni
I can understand the guys getting upset over Brissie Girls remark, that was a totally ridiculous statement for her to make.

As for the rest of your post I agree whole heartedly, every team lifts when they play us, it is let's knock off the champions mentality, also it is no good blaming injuries, venues, or anything else, we lost the GF to the better team on the day but at least we got there, now we have to focus on doing better next year.

Cheers

 

[BrisGirl]

I said it was a 'theory' not fact.

Essendon has been the 'yard stick' that every team in the competition mearsure themselves for years.

Essendon were the world beaters and of couse, if you follow football, your attention always goes to who is on top of the ladder and what ever is happening with that Club, you automatically take notice.

I just noticed that when Lloyd was going through his re-signing and the offer of the internet site.....Essendon just lost a little of the 'magic'. More than likely, it was a whole combination of things, injuries, etc.

It was just a theory, and at that moment of time when it was happening, that was what I thought.

I apologise to who ever I have upset with my 'theory', but I have never been rude or insulting in my posts and I don't intend to be now or in the future.

There are better ways of shutting these sorts of theories down, and that is providing proof that it doesn't relate to the time frame.

Nothing comes from of being abusive other than it stops people 'discussing' football.

 

[walshy1993]

Originally posted by BrisGirl
I said it was a 'theory' not fact.

Essendon has been the 'yard stick' that every team in the competition mearsure themselves for years.

Essendon were the world beaters and of couse, if you follow football, your attention always goes to who is on top of the ladder and what ever is happening with that Club, you automatically take notice.

I just noticed that when Lloyd was going through his re-signing and the offer of the internet site.....Essendon just lost a little of the 'magic'. More than likely, it was a whole combination of things, injuries, etc.

It was just a theory, and at that moment of time when it was happening, that was what I thought.

I apologise to who ever I have upset with my 'theory', but I have never been rude or insulting in my posts and I don't intend to be now or in the future.

There are better ways of shutting these sorts of theories down, and that is providing proof that it doesn't relate to the time frame.

Nothing comes from of being abusive other than it stops people 'discussing' football.

its not a theory, its utter crap

when the players run out on the field there is one thing on their mind
and thats getting the footy

not, "i wont kick it to lloydy cause he just signed a new contract"
when has one player signing a new contract ever had any impact on anyone other than the player himself

and if you got back and have a look i think you will find that lloydys performances were even all season

as for our depth, it did prove itself this season, it got us to a grand final, and for anyone to suggest that isnt a great effort is just wrong

another fact, is that essendons 2001 side is a lot younger than brisbanes
we still have a very young list that will improve

the fact is, this year we were hit with a number of things, injuries, the pressure of being the best and the hunted

but in 2002 we will be the hunter, and i suggest you all watch out

 

[M29]

Originally posted by BrisGirl
I apologise to who ever I have upset with my 'theory'