Opinion Wins Before the Bye...

[Lord Nicholson]

Beating those sides wont wipe away the loss to melbourne as there will still be no doubt that we can lose to just about anybody on our day, unfortunately.

Anybody can lose to anyone on any day. It's not the end of the world. Inconsistency is big winning margins and big losing margins. Not losing a handful of games by a kick.

 

[BrewSmackerVeiny]

Anybody can lose to anyone on any day. It's not the end of the world. Inconsistency is big winning margins and big losing margins. Not losing a handful of games by a kick.

Agree, we're a better team than we have been in half a decade, lets all relax and enjoy the genius that is Hird(Thommo and other extras.....)
P.S i miss Gumby and his pony pal pokie too!

 

[Smokin]

I think out last two weeks have proven we are inconsistent as ever.

How anyone can see it this way amazes me.

We have significantly improved defensively no matter which way you carve it. Our consistancy is great, we have either won all games or lost by under a kick.

We are significantly better in consistancy that last year, thus far. You are not seeing the forrest for the trees. Looking at a couple of scoreboard results and thats it.

Fact is, Sydney nor Melbourne stopped us doing much at all on our terms. We dominated the games, had the scoring shots, infinitely more inside 50's etc, but conversion was well down. We let ourselves down no doubt, but were also good in many areas on those games. Ultimately the scoreboard didnt reflect dominance, but that doesnt mean you thrown the baby out with the bathwater.

We still have a way to go, no doubt. But to say we are as inconsistent as ever is truly a poor statement.

 

[Slattery_20]

I thought we were very, very, very bad against Melbourne. Effort, skills, set-up, conversion, match-ups, defence: EVERYTHING. I've watched Melbourne 4-5 times this year and I don't think that game ranks as their best performance.

Against Sydney we weren't great, but we did do plenty of good things, albeit only after half-time.
1 or 2 kicks away from winning it in the end, even though it would've been robbery if we did.
Sydney were very, very, very good in that first half.

By the numbers, at this stage last year we'd had
5 wins combining to 298 points
5 losses combining to 118 points
And a draw;
Beaten out of 2 arguably 3 games by 3/4 time.

This year
8 wins combining to 287 points
3 losses combining to 11 points
And haven't been out of a game yet

That seems pretty clear improvement to me.

 

[Essendonia]

That seems pretty clear improvement to me.

Spot on S20. We have improved, and as I read somewhere, if not for goalkicking the past fornight, we could've been a game clear on top.

Given the steady stream of ins and outs we've had, we've done very well to generate consistent performances week to week.

Earlier in this thread, I alluded to mental fortitude and whether we had developed it. I think we have. Last year we would not have come within four points of Sydney after such a slow start. That we have been able to stay in the hunt to the siren speaks volumes; particularly on Anzac Day.

At the start of the year, most of us would've been happy to secure Top 8, and be competitive in a finals match, possibly winning it. The semi-favourable first-half draw and some solid improvement from the team (and some inconsistency of other sides) has seen expectations soar.

In hindsight, it might be a shame to miss out on the double-chance and Top 4 in 2012, but we are steadily building.

I keep thinking of the coaches talking about how the whole training plan is for us to be fitter, stronger and better in the latter stages of the season - this is something I'm looking forward to, if it happens.

Overall, 8-3 is not so bad, and we are still in with a very real chance at causing some September upsets

 

[vast]

Im sorry but you think our performances against carlton and wce were even remotely close to what we dished up in the last 2 weeks and the 2nd half against richmond then its not me thats only looking at the scoreboard. Sydney let us have all those inside 50's by implementing the flood and we just played in to their hands. 2 goals in 3 qtrs shows that, so dont be fooled by that high number of inside 50 as a reflection of controlling the game. As for melbourne they have been dismantled almost everytime they have played particularly in the midfield, yet on that night I would say their midfield was at least equal to ours. Compare that to our midfields performance against carlton again, very different levels of performance which to me means inconsistency.

I am not trying to be purposely negative and hope as much as anyone we smash freo and get back on the winning list, but this is the way I see it and I apologise if that offends anyone. On a positive I think out best has gotten better this year.

 

[Slattery_20]

Last year we played similarly dumb football against Melbourne & Richmond, and lost by 6 or 7 goals.
We're not perfect - far from it - but we are on the improve.

 

[Essendonia]

Last year we played similarly dumb football against Melbourne & Richmond, and lost by 6 or 7 goals.
We're not perfect - far from it - but we are on the improve.

Whether this turns into a two-match slump or a 4-5 match rot will reflect our improvement.

I reckon Freo is a must-win. No excuses after the break, either.

 

[fishardansin]

We are on the improve, and I think we can expect to improve a bit more this year. Conolly's article about Reimers, Gumby and Winderlich will add a lot more options going forward, literally on the field and in footy speak as well.

I also think that we can expect that Hocking and Hurley will turn their form around at some point in this season.

Myer's half against Sydney shows everyone what he has to offer to the midfield and regular efforts like that will strengthen the midfield.

Hibberd will be back soon enough to add some more depth to the small defender brigade. This also has a flow on effect. It can allow us to have Dempsey as the offensive defender and send Heppell into the midfield. Heppell can still provide creativity and run from the back flank if he's playing on a wing.

Gumby could provide two-fold benefit to the side. Firstly adding to the depth in KPFs which also also the secondary benefit of being able to rest Crameri if he needs help getting over his sore spots and flexibility where we play Hurley if he can't get his form up forward sorted out.

Winderlich could be a very big in as well. He can play the defensive role up foward that Monfries is now and his pace and long kicking could also provide a lot more offence on the outside.

Colyer was spoken up by the coaching staff in the off-season. He hasn't really produced yet since returning from injury but that could just be a matter of still finding his feet since that return.

Pears has been a disappointment this year, though he could be carrying an injury. If he can find some form latter in the season that will be a real bonus for us.

Of course I have been very much glass half full about this. It is possible that key players in the side now could get injured and out of form players do not regain form this year. I also realise that I'm not taking into account that teams around us have got perhaps even more potential to improve than us. Mainly Collingwood, Carlton and West Coast.

Furthermore I am almost certain that after the dreamtime game Essendon has been undergoing a heavy training load. The way the players have been running, or more to the point struggling to, is reminiscent of the first three rounds. It is public knowledge that the team was training to an almost preseason level at that time. In the post match interview Myers said that all the players had until this Thursday (today) off after the Sydney game. It is highly likely that they'll now be on a normal to light/rehab training load till the end of the season.

I realise the last paragraph is highly speculative but I think the reasoning is fair. I'll be watching their ability to cover the ground and skill execution with great interest over the next month.

10-1 is much better than 8-3 and with many 50-50 games coming up and games we'll go in as clear underdog coming up those two loses could cost us a top four spot, in fact likely cost us. That said 8-3 means it will have to be a disaster back half of the season to see us miss the finals and nearly every single one of us would have taken that at the start of the season. Lets hope that we are able to get to the first week of the finals with a healthy list giving us the chance to take a real step forward and win a bloody final!

 

[Essendonia]

Epic post.

I agree with everything you said, fish. An honest, but optimistic summary of the current situation. Or optimistic, but honest. You know what I mean.

 

[fishardansin]

love your avatar!

 

[Essendonia]

love your avatar!

Gif is better.

 

[fishardansin]

man oh man ... yes it is!!