Roast Why can't we defend? A deep dive

[Lore]

Spelling gatorade backwards, good family, can find own footy in U18s

ftfy

 

[faible]

What did we prioritise then? certainty wasnt toughness , leadership or defence.

Was it just nice families? Athletes maybe?

I suspect nice kid from a good family and good school was very high on the list.

 

[ant555]

Okay.


First couple of seasons with Scott he backed some older guys and despite the thinking and comments where around a lot of work to do and the list needed a bit of turning over, they were still chasing the bottom of the 8.
Some posters will disagree and I will get a thumbs down here, but they did decide to go a little deeper with the build at the end of Scott's year two. They had a basic defensive plan for 2024 which was supposed to expand into 2025.
Problem they had was with so many personal going out of the side it had to be binned. There was no progress on it.

So back to why can we not defend.

1. Lack of leadership to drive the process on field.
2. Not having the small forwards in place to provide forward pressure.
3. A few senior guys who are ball watchers and lack the footy IQ.
4. Average to poor skill level as far as turning the footy over midfield. You cannot defend turnover.
5. This year a number of young players finding their way.
6. Until a couple of seasons ago not enough put into player development.

Finally. Last year there were not real selection statements. Options where limited.
2024 Scott should have made a few at some stage but did not.
So, coaches that know what they need to do but have been unable to sell it to some players and have not taken enough action to make examples of players. Last year it was hard to do it. 2024 Scott backed his senior guys. Probably because we were in the finals race trying to sneak in for most of the season. That proved to be fool's gold as our defence sucked and we should have been looking for longer term.

7. In 2024 we probably spent too much time chasing 8th spot when we should have been identifying more player issues.
8. 2025 was simply a wipe out. Everything stalled.

So here we are. We have now reached a point where we should be doing something about standards. What we should have been doing in 2024. Next 4 or 5 weeks will tell a story. If Scott does not start punishing the "selfish" players, then the players win again.

Does not take a lot to throw it all out.

Combine lack of pressure forwards available with a few players who are not mentally switched on to transition footy, throw in a lack of on field leaders to drive it and then add poor skill level that leads to turnovers and you give up 10 goals a game to that then you are pretty much rooted.

Then you can throw in coach just not getting enough buy in.

Many factors.

 

[andleanback]

Okay.


First couple of seasons with Scott he backed some older guys and despite the thinking and comments where around a lot of work to do and the list needed a bit of turning over, they were still chasing the bottom of the 8.
Some posters will disagree and I will get a thumbs down here, but they did decide to go a little deeper with the build at the end of Scott's year two. They had a basic defensive plan for 2024 which was supposed to expand into 2025.
Problem they had was with so many personal going out of the side it had to be binned. There was no progress on it.

So back to why can we not defend.

1. Lack of leadership to drive the process on field.
2. Not having the small forwards in place to provide forward pressure.
3. A few senior guys who are ball watchers and lack the footy IQ.
4. Average to poor skill level as far as turning the footy over midfield. You cannot defend turnover.
5. This year a number of young players finding their way.
6. Until a couple of seasons ago not enough put into player development.

Finally. Last year there were not real selection statements. Options where limited.
2024 Scott should have made a few at some stage but did not.
So, coaches that know what they need to do but have been unable to sell it to some players and have not taken enough action to make examples of players. Last year it was hard to do it. 2024 Scott backed his senior guys. Probably because we were in the finals race trying to sneak in for most of the season. That proved to be fool's gold as our defence sucked and we should have been looking for longer term.

7. In 2024 we probably spent too much time chasing 8th spot when we should have been identifying more player issues.
8. 2025 was simply a wipe out. Everything stalled.

So here we are. We have now reached a point where we should be doing something about standards. What we should have been doing in 2024. Next 4 or 5 weeks will tell a story. If Scott does not start punishing the "selfish" players, then the players win again.

Does not take a lot to throw it all out.

Combine lack of pressure forwards available with a few players who are not mentally switched on to transition footy, throw in a lack of on field leaders to drive it and then add poor skill level that leads to turnovers and you give up 10 goals a game to that then you are pretty much rooted.

Then you can throw in coach just not getting enough buy in.

Many factors.

If not a single senior player is dropped this week, then it could be the end of the line for Scott. Put up or shut up. I don’t want to hear the line of backing in the players to respond. They had this week to respond and didn’t. You have to stand for something as coach or else it’s just words in the presser, and you look like a fool.

 

[Mercurial89]

Self interest.

We can't defend because we have mids who want the ball. They don't guard the space they should at a contest, our positioning has been terrible.

We can't defend because we drafted players that can't run, kick or understand proper planning because they are idiots.
Because efor the better part of two decades we had a used car salesman as a list manager who collected ego trophies and handshakes instead of building a team.

We can't defend because we have an ex captain who cares more about his wallet than how to lead. He wants to lead on his terms. Do things my way. He's too good to defend properly, to not get a stack of the footy instead focus on organizing his team mates.

We have a coach who wasted the opportunity to put his stamp on the group and push proper standards on game day. He allowed it to fester, it's terminal and he won't be able to cut it out. He will try, because he will try to keep his job but he missed his opportunity.

We can't defend as we have a football club leadership group who are more interested in being seen to be involved with Essendon than anything related to being modern. We may have adapted things recently, but that's after 25 years, it's going to take longer than 1-2 years for any of that to bear fruit.


Finally we can't defend because we are Essendon. We feel we are owed so much because of that name. We do things our way. That culture, that self important arrogance that infects it's players, it's staff, the walls of its building and its supporters.

That's why we can't defend.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Isn't Solomon the defensive coach? Maybe this is what happens when your search for an assistant coach only looks as far as the club board.

 

[fairbump_playon]

What did we prioritise then? certainty wasnt toughness , leadership or defence.

Was it just nice families? Athletes maybe?

Potential to one day transition to the midfield

 

[Zach Package]

So a really good defensive coordinator would probably help because defensive decision making can be drummed into someone and they can get better at when to go and when to hold and when to leave their men and impact the contest. And do it together as an 18 man group.

The person with the best track record out there of drumming it into a side is Lyon, but he is obviously disgusting, and unavailable, so pass on that.

As far as assistants go, Chaplin may not want a senior gig but his resume is exceptional. The other one with a very positive track record on that front….Rutten.

 

[Lore]

If not a single senior player is dropped this week, then it could be the end of the line for Scott. Put up or shut up. I don’t want to hear the line of backing in the players to respond. They had this week to respond and didn’t. You have to stand for something as coach or else it’s just words in the presser, and you look like a fool.

Who can he drop that counts as senior enough to make an actual point but can be replaced and whose absence isn’t going to completely **** us up for next weekend? How many can he realistically drop?

Dropping Merrett probably seems like a cop out because of last year and makes too many headlines for not much impact.

Dropping Parish or Durham is probably a bit demoralising for those who have to play and get flogged without them.

Dropping Caldwell, Wright or Langford doesn’t make enough of a statement by itself, and dropping all three probably leaves too many holes.

Redman is injured so you can’t drop him and without him you probably can’t drop any other seniors from the backline either since it’s already thin.

Duursma, Gresham, Prior and Fiorini are too new at the club for their being dropped to mean anything.

 

[andleanback]

Who can he drop that counts as senior enough to make an actual point but can be replaced and whose absence isn’t going to completely **** us up for next weekend? How many can he realistically drop?

Dropping Merrett probably seems like a cop out because of last year and makes too many headlines for not much impact.

Dropping Parish or Durham is probably a bit demoralising for those who have to play and get flogged without them.

Dropping Caldwell, Wright or Langford doesn’t make enough of a statement by itself, and dropping all three probably leaves too many holes.

Redman is injured so you can’t drop him and without him you probably can’t drop any other seniors from the backline either since it’s already thin.

Duursma, Gresham, Prior and Fiorini are too new at the club for their being dropped to mean anything.

I’d say parish Perkins wright Langford all potential candidates
Does dropping parish completely **** us up? The midfield has been getting smashed it can’t get much worse, something needs to change

 

[Lore]

I’d say parish Perkins wright Langford all potential candidates

Perkins is another ‘because you can’ type drop than making a statement. Parish is the one with a target on his forehead I think

 

[Old Campaigner]

I’d say parish Perkins wright Langford all potential candidates
Does dropping parish completely **** us up? The midfield has been getting smashed it can’t get much worse, something needs to change

At a minimum dropping a bunch of people will show all and sundry that the cupboard is genuinely bare and what we've served up is the best we'll be capable of this season

 

[andleanback]

At a minimum dropping a bunch of people will show all and sundry that the cupboard is genuinely bare and what we've served up is the best we'll be capable of this season

No matter how bare the cupboard is you can always bring pressure and intent

 

[NorthernBastard]

Half your players press up and half roll back, and then you end up with holes everywhere - there is no obvious coherence.

Either the players are not understanding message or there are mixed messages.

 

[silk]

We also can't mark for shit and oppo know it so always sit a player front and centre of our big guys waiting for the easy crumb on the wing or at half back flank.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

A few different things go into a successful defensive game, structure and plan is definitely a big factor, but there also has to be motivation and desire on behalf of the players to actually do it.

That was plainly not there on Sunday. They did not want to do anything defensively. They didn’t want to tackle their opponents.

 

[Howard Moon]

I'd say if statements are being made, they start with Parish and Wright. May and Tsatsas can come in and atleast try compete both ways

 

[hurlygurdy]

Surely this is all pretty clear cut? We have 9 players who are new to the side, and even the established players haven’t had a consistent group around them for more than 12 months. How do you get instinctive team defence happening under those circumstances? If the recruits had been seasoned players coming into to a top eight side then you might hope for a quick result but the reality is the opposite. This is likely to be one of those years that delivers some really nice results in the final few rounds if we stay fit and healthy.

 

[Howard Moon]

Surely this is all pretty clear cut? We have 9 players who are new to the side, and even the established players haven’t had a consistent group around them for more than 12 months. How do you get instinctive team defence happening under those circumstances? If the recruits had been seasoned players coming into to a top eight side then you might hope for a quick result but the reality is the opposite. This is likely to be one of those years that delivers some really nice results in the final few rounds if we stay fit and healthy.

That would wash if it was a one year issue - it's been this way for 20 years! It's been our calling card, Essendon can't defend.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Surely this is all pretty clear cut? We have 9 players who are new to the side, and even the established players haven’t had a consistent group around them for more than 12 months. How do you get instinctive team defence happening under those circumstances? If the recruits had been seasoned players coming into to a top eight side then you might hope for a quick result but the reality is the opposite. This is likely to be one of those years that delivers some really nice results in the final few rounds if we stay fit and healthy.

I think those factors exacerbate existing issues that seem to go back as far as the Knights days

 

[Deepthroat]

As a West Coast fan, Tim Kelly

11

Tim Kelly

Age

31

Ht

184cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

23.6

5star

K

13.5

5star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

4.9

5star

D

19.9

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

7.6

4star

M

3.1

3star

T

4.7

5star

CL

3.6

4star

D

21.6

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.2

5star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

3.8

5star

has been viewed in a similar way over the last few years to some of the current Essendon mids.

On the weekend he came out and produced a different version of defensive effort to that of previous years. Strong tackling, defensive pressure, intent.

Coincidence that he started Rd 1 out of the side? I don't think so.

Effort, want and impact is all "between the ears". Scott just has to unlock it in his centre square bunch.

Parish to LDU for a close down role would be a great start on the weekend. Set the defensive goals, lock him onto a role.

 

[Howard Moon]

As a West Coast fan, Tim Kelly has been viewed in a similar way over the last few years to some of the current Essendon mids.

On the weekend he came out and produced a different version of defensive effort to that of previous years. Strong tackling, defensive pressure, intent.

Coincidence that he started Rd 1 out of the side? I don't think so.

Effort, want and impact is all "between the ears". Scott just has to unlock it in his centre square bunch.

Parish to LDU for a close down role would be a great start on the weekend. Set the defensive goals, lock him onto a role.

Just the thought of parish on ldu scares the hell out of me, there's defensive intent, then there's actual physical tools. Both play a part. This would be like trying to chase a Ferrari with a Nissan Micra. Parish just dosent have the gears to chase an LDU.

 

[Howard Moon]

The other thing, we ask, or even demand that our players give 100% to their defensive side, if you don't want to, we will.find someone who will...

Actually, Zach did say that he couldn't BF and told us to go find someone who would. Yeh nah, you can stay and fester here m8- another thing we have to wear now, a guy who clearly dosent want it.

If only he went about it the proper way, to a club who knows how to deal, we might be three steps further ahead by now

 

[boncer34]

Having played last line of defence at a reasonable level, I can tell you that there is nothing more demoralising than seeing no forward/mid pressure on opposition backs & midfielders. It pretty quickly becomes every man for himself.

Dustin?

 

[boncer34]

Who can he drop that counts as senior enough to make an actual point but can be replaced and whose absence isn’t going to completely **** us up for next weekend?

We're not already completely ****ed up for next weekend?