Will Essendon win the Flag ?

[theboxmike]

I'm pretty sure they won't get past semi-final or prelim final week, but they are locks for top 4. Carlton, West Coast, Collingwood & Hawthorn all have other gears, I honestly don't think Essendon do. Good side, but not premiership material.

I totally agree for this year at least...(Unless Hurley decides to pull his finger out).

But let's put it this way nobody thought Collingwood could have a another gear after 2009

 

[Necromancer Beth]

Obviously haven't watched us.

The boys got complacent after the half time. Tigers played some really good footy but i have no doubt that we played awful and the boys though the job was "done".

Our defensive efforts were beyond terrible IMO

No. Richmond probably should have beaten you. The started smashing you in the middle in the second half and were setting up excellently from opposition kicks ins. Richmond dominated the Inside 50s, because their midfield beat Essendons plain and simple. If not for some horrible goal kicking from Richmond, they would have won easily IMO.

 

[SirJimi05]

How do you know Essendon don't have another gear, HAD?

Are you saying Essendon has played at their absolute best and can't get any better?

Not saying we are a chance to win the flag but that is a stupid thing to suggest and it is baseless.

 

[Wernumberone]

No. Richmond probably should have beaten you. The started smashing you in the middle in the second half and were setting up excellently from opposition kicks ins. Richmond dominated the Inside 50s, because their midfield beat Essendons plain and simple. If not for some horrible goal kicking from Richmond, they would have won easily IMO.

Yet as soon as they hit the front and the game was on the line what happened?

We found another gear and kicked the next 3 goals.

 

[SirJimi05]

No. Richmond probably should have beaten you. The started smashing you in the middle in the second half and were setting up excellently from opposition kicks ins. Richmond dominated the Inside 50s, because their midfield beat Essendons plain and simple. If not for some horrible goal kicking from Richmond, they would have won easily IMO.

And if Essendon had of taken advantage of our early dominance we would have been 8 goals in front at half time and the game would have been over.

Coulda, shoulda, woulda, didn't.

 

[Macca18]

How do you know Essendon don't have another gear, HAD?

Are you saying Essendon has played at their absolute best and can't get any better?

Not saying we are a chance to win the flag but that is a stupid thing to suggest and it is baseless.

He knows everything, didn't you know? Future football results, Tatts numbers etc etc.

Our midfield was "smashed" yet we won clearances 36-30 amongst other key midfield statistics.

 

[Necromancer Beth]

I totally agree for this year at least...(Unless Hurley decides to pull his finger out).

But let's put it this way nobody thought Collingwood could have a another gear after 2009

You are in the mix, but I just don't know how Essendon will go about sustaining this form for the whole year and then lifting a peg or two in the finals. You could surprise and win the whole thing as you will be there or thereabouts, but I think it's unlikely still.

 

[theboxmike]

No. Richmond probably should have beaten you. The started smashing you in the middle in the second half and were setting up excellently from opposition kicks ins. Richmond dominated the Inside 50s, because their midfield beat Essendons plain and simple. If not for some horrible goal kicking from Richmond, they would have won easily IMO.

Like i said our boys got complacent. I have seen it before from us and i'm sure ill see it again.

 

[Necromancer Beth]

He knows everything, didn't you know? Future football results, Tatts numbers etc etc.

Our midfield was "smashed" yet we won clearances 36-30 amongst other key midfield statistics.

Lol. Clearances don't always amount to midfield dominance and Inside 50 dominance. In the second half, Richmond smashed you around the ground. They were in complete control.

 

[TigerBlood87]

I don't agree with the comments about umpiring (how about the non-mark paid to Riewoldt) but we got a bit of a scare and managed to rally for a win. Be happy with that and don't be arrogant about it, Bomber fans.

Either way it was over the shoulder. /derail

Back on topic, Essendon won't win the flag. I think we've already seen them play their best footy and you need to be firing towards the end of the season ala Collingwood and Geelong last year instead of peaking now. Essendon's game style is high risk high reward type stuff that I don't think will work in the finals when your skills really come under scrutiny and the game becomes almost solely about the contested ball. Should make the top 4 from here and the premiership race is as open as it's ever been, but a genuine team would not have let the Tigers back in the game last night like Essendon did.

 

[theboxmike]

Either way it was over the shoulder. /derail

Back on topic, Essendon won't win the flag. I think we've already seen them play their best footy and you need to be firing towards the end of the season ala Collingwood and Geelong last year instead of peaking now. Essendon's game style is high risk high reward type stuff that I don't think will work in the finals when your skills really come under scrutiny and the game becomes almost solely about the contested ball. Should make the top 4 from here and the premiership race is as open as it's ever been, but a genuine team would not have let the Tigers back in the game last night like Essendon did.

Exactly

We are not that good team yet but who knows sometime in the future?

 

[larson]

You are in the mix, but I just don't know how Essendon will go about sustaining this form for the whole year and then lifting a peg or two in the finals. You could surprise and win the whole thing as you will be there or thereabouts, but I think it's unlikely still.

When will people learn 2011 means nothing! Neither does 2010,2009,2008, etc, etc.

At the moment, Essendon are easily as good as any team in the league. What have Hawthorn or Carlton done for you to think they are as good/better than Essendon?

 

[SirJimi05]

Lol. Clearances don't always amount to midfield dominance and Inside 50 dominance. In the second half, Richmond smashed you around the ground. They were in complete control.

How come you keep overlooking the first half of footy? Essendon probably should have been 8 goals or more in front had they taken advantage of their dominance, but the didn't.

Richmond dominated the 3rd and could have kicked 7 goals but they didn't.

It is totally illogical and narrow minded to suggest that Richmond should have won easily.

 

[little_ripper]

Geelong was on top of the ladder last year in round 8.(2011)
Collingwood was on top of the ladder the year before in round 8.(2010)
Geelong was equal top(on points) in round 8 in 2009
Hawks same in 2008.(equal on points round 8, top in round 9)

See where I am heading? Essendon can win the flag this year, and by round 8/9 you expect to see this top sides flexing their muscle.

Essendon are doing that. Dons played poorly in the second half last night, but still found another gear when required to get over the line. Sign of a good side(imo).

 

[Macca18]

Essendon's annual "Mid Season Slump" is now starting.

Losses to GWS, Melbourne (MCG) and Sydney (Etihad) in the next three weeks will be the final nail in their 2012 season coffin.

 

[DerpWerls]

How come you keep overlooking the first half of footy? Essendon probably should have been 8 goals or more in front had they taken advantage of their dominance, but the didn't.

Richmond dominated the 3rd and could have kicked 7 goals but they didn't.

It is totally illogical and narrow minded to suggest that Richmond should have won easily.

I think it's just the overwhelming post game response from Essendon supporters "We let Richmond back in the game" when the general consensus from neutrals is that Richmond played themselves back into the game.
A good win from Essendon but the supporters reaction seems to be one of disappointment that they didn't win by 10 goals like last week.

 

[SirJimi05]

Essendon's game style is high risk high reward type stuff that I don't think will work in the finals when your skills really come under scrutiny and the game becomes almost solely about the contested ball. Should make the top 4 from here and the premiership race is as open as it's ever been, but a genuine team would not have let the Tigers back in the game last night like Essendon did.

You do realise that Essendon's game plan revolves around winning the contested ball don't you? Perfectly suited to finals footy. Teams like Richmond and North play a more high risk game style.

Collingwood let Essendon back in the game on ANZAC day when they were dominating = Collingwood are not a genuine team.

West Coast let Richmond back in the game when they played = Not a genuine team.

Geelong let Richmond back in the game when they played = not a genuine team.

Hawthorn let Geelong back in the game when they played = not a genuine team.

Fremantle let GC back in the game when they played = not a genuine team.

 

[Scodog10]

I personally don't think so. It's rare for a team to just come relatively out of nowhere and take out the big one.

- Geelong's in 07 started with the prelim of 04 and Semi of 05.
- Collingwood of 10 started with prelim's in 07 and 09 and a Semi in 08.
- West Coast in 06 had the GF the year before.
- Sydney in 05 had the prelim of 03.
- Port of 04 had the prelims of 01, 02 and 03.
- Brisbane in 01 had the prelim of 99.
- Essendon of 00 had the prelim of 99.
- Crows of 97 had the prelim of 93.
- Kangas of 96 had the 94 and 95 prelims.
- Carlton of 95 blew the double chance in 94.
- Bombers in 93 had the 90 GF.
- Eagles of 92 had the 91 GF.

It generally takes the pain of being so close and then missing out to spur a team on to the ultimate success. The only one in the past 20 years that really came out of the box was the Hawks in 08 and though they look good ATM I don't personally think this Bomber line up has the talent of that 08 team.

 

[SirJimi05]

I think it's just the overwhelming post game response from Essendon supporters "We let Richmond back in the game" when the general consensus from neutrals is that Richmond played themselves back into the game.
A good win from Essendon but the supporters reaction seems to be one of disappointment that they didn't win by 10 goals like last week.

I agree with this. It was a good win and we should be very happy and relieved with the win. Also, instead of making 'complacency' threads on our board we should be rejoicing in the fact that we are sitting top of the table in round 8, for the first time in a long time.

 

[The Fact]

Should hopefully maybe make top 4 but really have to do better at keeping the foot on the throat against average to poor teams like north, tigers and port

 

[Tassieboy]

Either way it was over the shoulder. /derail

Back on topic, Essendon won't win the flag. I think we've already seen them play their best footy and you need to be firing towards the end of the season ala Collingwood and Geelong last year instead of peaking now. Essendon's game style is high risk high reward type stuff that I don't think will work in the finals when your skills really come under scrutiny and the game becomes almost solely about the contested ball. Should make the top 4 from here and the premiership race is as open as it's ever been, but a genuine team would not have let the Tigers back in the game last night like Essendon did.

This demonstrates you have no idea about the way Essendon plays - last night was more an aberration. I think we're all looking at things at a micro level instead of a macro one. Since when do premiership teams not have a poor half or poor game during a few phases in the season? Basically every season.

 

[Seb78]

Richmond were impressive in the second half no doubt but I don't buy into the whole innacuracies cost us and that you had more scoring shots ins50s etc. The fact is the tigers scored most of their behinds one after another, first shot missed they zone get the ball back send it back in for another point. Richmond did that like 7+ times last night. If the first point is a goal then the ball goes back in the middle thus eliminating the extra scoring shots and inside 50s.

 

[dean33]

Should hopefully maybe make top 4 but really have to do better at keeping the foot on the throat against average to poor teams like north, tigers and port

The arrogance is back at the bombers no doubt, only essendons poor 2nd half allowed the tigers back in, essendons first half was superb not richmonds poor 1st half. And jacks non mark was the crucial decision of the game not the other frees missed or given to Essendon. 66 to 44 inside 50's in 90% of occasions means a win. Poor kicking cost Richmond a 4-5 goal win last night, u are delusional if u think bombers can win it this year. They've had 2 good wins this year against finals quality sides. Tigers will win a flag before Essendon.

 

[frednirk]

I personally don't think so. It's rare for a team to just come relatively out of nowhere and take out the big one.

- Geelong's in 07 started with the prelim of 04 and Semi of 05.
- Collingwood of 10 started with prelim's in 07 and 09 and a Semi in 08.
- West Coast in 06 had the GF the year before.
- Sydney in 05 had the prelim of 03.
- Port of 04 had the prelims of 01, 02 and 03.
- Brisbane in 01 had the prelim of 99.
- Essendon of 00 had the prelim of 99.
- Crows of 97 had the prelim of 93.
- Kangas of 96 had the 94 and 95 prelims.
- Carlton of 95 blew the double chance in 94.
- Bombers in 93 had the 90 GF.
- Eagles of 92 had the 91 GF.

It generally takes the pain of being so close and then missing out to spur a team on to the ultimate success. The only one in the past 20 years that really came out of the box was the Hawks in 08 and though they look good ATM I don't personally think this Bomber line up has the talent of that 08 team.

really wish that rule applied to the saints.....sigh,

 

[Macca18]

The arrogance is back at the bombers no doubt, only essendons poor 2nd half allowed the tigers back in, essendons first half was superb not richmonds poor 1st half. And jacks non mark was the crucial decision of the game not the other frees missed or given to Essendon. 66 to 44 inside 50's in 90% of occasions means a win. Poor kicking cost Richmond a 4-5 goal win last night, u are delusional if u think bombers can win it this year. They've had 2 good wins this year against finals quality sides. Tigers will win a flag before Essendon.

Tiger tears this morning are delicious.

But, but... they're so BRAVE. Enjoy 13th, flog.