Why we won't win a flag this year

[M29]

Last nights second half just about showed us why. (Play like that against whorethorn next week and we will lose.)

Marc Bullens run down the wing and then his reluctance to have a shot at goal 50 meters out summed up how pathetic we are capable of playing. I would go as far as dropping him for that. Showed no confidence in himself or his team mates (Solomon) who were shepparding him.

 

[bomberbilly]

that was hardly the worst decision an essendon player made on the night. If he had a shot for goal and ignored the leads of lloyd and his captain then id be upset at him. He kept his head and hit hirdy on the lead who then slotted the goal. Im not sure if bullen can kick 50 meters either.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by bomberbilly
that was hardly the worst decision an essendon player made on the night. If he had a shot for goal and ignored the leads of lloyd and his captain then id be upset at him. He kept his head and hit hirdy on the lead who then slotted the goal. Im not sure if bullen can kick 50 meters either.

He could have run to 40 meters, maybe even 30. It dosen't say much when he dosen't trust his team mates to sheppard or himself to run through someone. Yes, I know he got the ball to hird in the end.

At least have a crack.

 

[bLuEMoOsE]

On the other hand play like we did in the first half and we are a real chance.

 

[Smokin]

IMO we havnt been impressive this year full stop.

We have won a few games, but apart from patches here and there, we are hardly playing well. This is a good sign, assuming we can find some genuine form in the second half of the year.

Ess 2004 is being carried by Hird and McPhee. Too many passengers at this stage, but while we win, its easy to overlook.

 

[Darealrath]

That second half was weak. Our % could easily be 110+ by now and this might even cost us a top 4 spot.

 

[dannyboy]

I think the positive thing is that when the pressure is on and the game is up for grabs we can really blow sides out of the water....obviously we took the foot off the gas in the second half, and it wasnt pretty to watch, however I believe Essendon can rise to the challenge when necessary.....and it also means there is a lot of improvement left in the team....I think they know this too, they definately wern't satisfied with the way they won the game in the end.
There was a couple of patches of play coming out of our backline last night which looked extremely promising too....first time this year it seemed to be able to link up and get that run out of defence.....
anyway......we are not flag contenders yet.....but there is room to improve....and signs are looking good.

 

[bomberbilly]

bullen will be dropped anyway i dont think it will be because of that incident. Will be interesting to see how bendigo go . Theres a spot for the taking. I really would like to see young bradley get another go. It will most likely be cupido if he shows some form.

 

[bOmBeR_BoY1]

Cupido played very well against the Hawks last year and even if he dosn't set the world on fire in the VFL tonight, I can see him returning to the side next week as the Hawks have limited defensive options for him.

 

[anonymous Joe]

Originally posted by M29
Last nights second half just about showed us why. (Play like that against whorethorn next week and we will lose.)

Marc Bullens run down the wing and then his reluctance to have a shot at goal 50 meters out summed up how pathetic we are capable of playing. I would go as far as dropping him for that. Showed no confidence in himself or his team mates (Solomon) who were shepparding him.

BS its round 10.

You don't want to peak now, and get injuries thrashing a team for one or two percentage points.

If Hird, Lloyd and fletch are fit we're as good a chance as any.

 

[M29]

Re: Re: Why we won't win a flag this year

Originally posted by anonymous Joe
BS its round 10.

You don't want to peak now, and get injuries thrashing a team for one or two percentage points.

If Hird, Lloyd and fletch are fit we're as good a chance as any.

It's nothing about 'peaking'. I would rather see decent consistant performances all year. Then we won't have to worry about finishing 7th or 8th due to % and then wonder why we didn't finish 4th.

 

[bozza]

FFS, you people have short memories. Seeing as though Bullen is getting about 40 minutes of footy a game, he is cherry ripe for constant bagging on here and on BB. Give him a break. He missed 2 or 3 with that calf injury, and hasn't managed decent game time since. Don't you guys remember his 3rd quarter against Carlton? Turned the game for us.

Having said that, he MUST be given a full game next week, whether it be in the ones or for Bendigo. Is in our best 22 easily.

 

[Darealrath]

You like Rod Nicholson's article in todays Herald Sun about us, M29 ? Pretty spot on i thought.

 

[topdon]

Re: Re: Re: Why we won't win a flag this year

Originally posted by M29
It's nothing about 'peaking'. I would rather see decent consistant performances all year. Then we won't have to worry about finishing 7th or 8th due to % and then wonder why we didn't finish 4th.

I agree with anon Joe. I was initially peed off after the game ... but since i have gained some perspective. I'd hate to be thrashing our team at this stage of the season. We win and percentage will take care of itself. Probably the most disappointing thing about Friday night was that we were leading by 54 points at half-time and only won by 30. I would have been extremely satisfied if the 2nd half was a nil-all draw and we didn't build on our lead.

You saw the best and worst of Essendon on Friday night, but we have proven all year that we win when the game HAS TO BE WON! I would like our team to be playing at or near their peak come round 20 ... not 10. Let St.Kilda dominated sides now, but no one remembers home and away champions ...

 

[M29]

Originally posted by Darealrath
You like Rod Nicholson's article in todays Herald Sun about us, M29 ? Pretty spot on i thought.

When I finish the comics and the lift out magazine. Did you know Mick Jaggers tart is now a singer song writer, according to the front cover. Amazing.

 

[marcuz]

We are 7-3 playing average footy...i cant wait till we hit some good form.

 

[M29]

Originally posted by marcuz
We are 7-3 playing average footy...i cant wait till we hit some good form.

I hope you are patient.

 

[marcuz]

Originally posted by M29
I hope you are patient.

i don't think we are far off. I reckon we will give it a shake next year.

 

[Stealth bomber]

We really don't know anything yet.

Melbourne & Brisbane are coming up; things should get clearer after that.

For me to be convinced we have any chance at a flag, I think the following things need to happen:

1) We MUST beat Port
2) beat one or both of Melbourne & Brisbane
3) be competitive in both remaining interstate matches
4) be competitive against the Saints
5) Avoiding bad losses to middling Victorian sides (North, Richmond, etc...)

I'd like to see us finish with a minimum of 15 wins. I think that's realistic, and probably good enough for top four.

 

[Cooldude]

One of Bullen's strengths is his ability to kick running goals, even from 50 out. He just ain't confident at the moment. Probably seeing his teammates missing about 8 shots on the run affected his decision.

He will be dropped, he needs a few full games in the magoos.

We've only been playing at 80% of our capacity for the past two months, yet we got 7 wins out of 8 matches since Rd 2.

Apart from 2-3 players who just ain't cutting the grade, almost everyone else are contributing to winning performances, obviously we need Hird, but we don't need Lloyd kicking bags to win nowadays.

We are just not talked up because some players are just lazy jacksh*tes who refuses to give a 4 quarter effort, instead switching off and thinking about what they're eating for supper. Sheeds will give those guys a kick in the ass and make them pull their fingers out.

We'll test out where we're at as far as being a threat when we play Brisbane in two weeks time, no better way to test yourself out tha

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Originally posted by Stealth bomber
We really don't know anything yet.

Melbourne & Brisbane are coming up; things should get clearer after that.

For me to be convinced we have any chance at a flag, I think the following things need to happen:

1) We MUST beat Port
2) beat one or both of Melbourne & Brisbane
3) be competitive in both remaining interstate matches
4) be competitive against the Saints
5) Avoiding bad losses to middling Victorian sides (North, Richmond, etc...)

I'd like to see us finish with a minimum of 15 wins. I think that's realistic, and probably good enough for top four.

I pretty much agree

1) We must beat Port to get the final monkey off the back
2) Melbourne aren't that good, having seen them against North and Brisbane - they are a better than average middle of the road team - top 8 but not much more than that so we must beat them.
3) Brisbane - we will give it a crack and if we can fall over the line great.
4)I think if we lose to Brissie we have to beat the saints and vice versa.
5) we must beat all teams like North and Richmond. We have been doing that and that is the best sign so far. No real good form yet we are winning.

The best thing to come out of the win on Friday night was Sheedy's reaction. It says a lot when the most comfortable coach in the AFL is fired up at his teams performance when they win. He is dead serious about winning the flag this year.

A friend of mine made a good point and that is that - have you noticed how much closer Sheedy and Hird are. I think they both realise that they need to snag a flag to get back on more level terms with Brisbanes accomplishments. They seem very determined about that - reflects the moods of the two people as well.

All is not lost, but by about round 15 we need to start hitting our strpas and playing the type of football that wins flags.

 

[VANDA]

Originally posted by Pevers-Legend
I pretty much agree

1) We must beat Port to get the final monkey off the back
2) Melbourne aren't that good, having seen them against North and Brisbane - they are a better than average middle of the road team - top 8 but not much more than that so we must beat them.
3) Brisbane - we will give it a crack and if we can fall over the line great.
4)I think if we lose to Brissie we have to beat the saints and vice versa.
5) we must beat all teams like North and Richmond. We have been doing that and that is the best sign so far. No real good form yet we are winning.

He is dead serious about winning the flag this year.

Agreed.

Bottom Line is we must finish Top 4 if we are to have any real hope.

We have all seen in recent years the vagaries of wot can happen during the month of September as far as getting home finals goes.

It would be great if we can score a double chance rather than face an interstate win or out final in the first week of sept.

Lots of water to go under the bridge yet but if we hav any chance we must beat those middle range teams & finish top 4.

 

[Ralf]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Why we won't win a flag this year

Originally posted by topdon

You saw the best and worst of Essendon on Friday night, but we have proven all year that we win when the game HAS TO BE WON!

What about geelong? That was a pretty important game to be won and we could have won it. I thought that was pretty indicative of where we are at. Potential to beat anyone if we play like we did in the first half against freo. But that form has to be consistent for four quarters.

 

[Pornstar]

After r10 we have won 21 qtrs of footy and lost 19, barely above 50%. We just beat a top 5-6 side by 5 goals and we are bitterly disappointed. Playing pretty average footy, yet we are 7-3, sharing 2nd spot on the ladder.

Good signs, i would say.

 

[Casey]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Why we won't win a flag this year

Originally posted by Ralf
What about geelong? That was a pretty important game to be won and we could have won it. I thought that was pretty indicative of where we are at. Potential to beat anyone if we play like we did in the first half against freo. But that form has to be consistent for four quarters.

Although i hate to admit it i think hat what they say is true to a certain extent - No Hird, No essendon