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Toast Yesterday....

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My life was such an easy game to playyyyyyyyy.... mainly due to all the Carlton fans I got to stick it to.

Anyhow,
Essendon, you attractive beast, I yesterday was refreshed by your performance, it reminded me of the future and some reasons why I don't see us slipping to levels where we've been in the past.

This is absolutely going to be a happy, fluff piece but you know what, I am excited, not hungover somehow and have had the most fantastic weekend and most of it is due to the adrenaline of the 'Dons winning yesterday, for this reason I feel like I owe some praise to the club.


Essendon FC, we are simply better than we were last year.

Last year was all about Watson and how he was the only midfielder in the squad worth speaking of, Stanton is the man who has been praised by the people who know something about the game and has been maligned by those who are like "delist Brett, Essedon wil b betur wifout heem".
This year he has been a revelation, he turns 26 in a week and will not take a backward step from here in his career. He's ironed out every downside that his mould could possibly have and has become an elite gut runner. The good thing about the way he plays also is that he's like Crawford and Robert Harvey in the sense that the way he plays using his long distance running ability and reading of the play probably means that he'll be around until he's 33+ years old, not to mention the fact that he will play 300+ games.

Crameri is a blissful man steak, I am so happy that we've pulled this kid of the Rookie list 190cm, awkward match up for every team in the league and is probably about to get coaching from Wayne Carey.... moves like a man who's 177cm when the ball hits the ground, marks it like he's 197cm, if we can get him kicking straight he's going to be a Coleman threat for the next 10 years.

Jetta and Ryder, I pair these two together due to the fact that they grew up playing footy together, they've had similar issues, they've both had children at the same age which may have effected their form but have both reached a level of maturity at the same time. Right now I see Jetta and Ryder as two of the most improved players simply because of the belief they have in themselves FINALLY, not to mention that they both know that the better they do in this sport, the better the life of their children is going to be.

The depth and our rookies, another thread was made earlier, I was thinking the exact same thing last night, I believe that our depth will be at premiership level in 2014 and will be a very scary factor for opposing teams in years to come, we beat the premiership favourite with 1/4 of our list being injured yesterday. People keep saying we need to get players like Ricky Dyson or Alwyn Davey to the GC or GWS for a dip at some picks, are you kidding me? fringe players that can come in like Ricky who can play their role without doing too wrong or too right are reason premierships happen.

We all know that KPP's hit their a little later than mids do, I believe Dodoro and the recruiting staff knew this and our list is actually tailored to start peaking in 2014 and I believe that is an intentional thing.

Lastly, James Hird and co.
People are saying "Haha, it's not even Hirdy, it's him AND his list of amazing assistant coaches" Isn't that fantastic coaching in itself? surrounding yourself with fantastic brains so that you can feed off each other. The coaching and our players ability to stick to the forged game plan for the opposition at hand was the reason why we won yesterday, the loose man in the midfield was the reason why Judd and his list of number 1 draft picks couldn't get into the game. Having the ability to squeeze the most of the talent on your list is far more important than actually getting high level draft picks, this is the reason why the players are improving to this extent, they have the confidence in themselves, the team and the coaching panel.
 
He absolutely does, he's got an entire thread to himself though which is well deserved, I sort of mentioned him as he is part of the "rookies", he's getting to the stage now that when he's near it I just know he's going to win the 1 on 1, he's also going to hit his target, could you ask for more than that? It's simple but perfect for the position he plays.
 

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Lastly, James Hird and co.
People are saying "Haha, it's not even Hirdy, it's him AND his list of amazing assistant coaches" Isn't that fantastic coaching in itself? surrounding yourself with fantastic brains so that you can feed off each other. The coaching and our players ability to stick to the forged game plan for the opposition at hand was the reason why we won yesterday, the loose man in the midfield was the reason why Judd and his list of number 1 draft picks couldn't get into the game. Having the ability to squeeze the most of the talent on your list is far more important than actually getting high level draft picks, this is the reason why the players are improving to this extent, they have the confidence in themselves, the team and the coaching panel.

Agreed with most of your post but I liked this bit most.. Hird, as a first time coach, having the courage to surround himself with best. So many guys would have ego issues or confidence issues and want to 'clear out' anyone that might be seen as a threat. Not only did James ignore the external pressure he actively SOUGHT OUT the most experienced group of assistants he could find. From all accounts he is happy to delegate, accept advice and work as a team. I just think that is a sign of the greatness of the man and it can only be a good thing for EFC. Like Sheedy before him and then Bomber (from Sheedy's litter), Hird could become the next 'coaching mentor' with a box full of blokes who are the next 'senior coaches in waiting'.

Anyway that is my 2c worth!
 
Haha BTG :heart::heart:, I love this picture, don't think I will ever change it. It's just the epitome of raw emotion that a human could possibly exude, suits him so well.
I have some serious man love for Crameri, I'll be getting the number 12 on my guernsey when I come up and buy one for the West Coast game. I have had "7" since 08 and I reckon my point is now proven.
 
Agreed with most of your post but I liked this bit most.. Hird, as a first time coach, having the courage to surround himself with best. So many guys would have ego issues or confidence issues and want to 'clear out' anyone that might be seen as a threat. Not only did James ignore the external pressure he actively SOUGHT OUT the most experienced group of assistants he could find. From all accounts he is happy to delegate, accept advice and work as a team. I just think that is a sign of the greatness of the man and it can only be a good thing for EFC. Like Sheedy before him and then Bomber (from Sheedy's litter), Hird could become the next 'coaching mentor' with a box full of blokes who are the next 'senior coaches in waiting'.

Anyway that is my 2c worth!

Agree wholeheartedly. The reason that man is so damn good at everything he does is that he knows what he's not good at, and finds a way to make sure either he improves or he does something to ensure that his weaknesses are covered while he plays to his strengths.

That was an absolute coaching masterclass yesterday. Carlton's strengths? Clearances, spread from the contest, quick I50s and aerial defence. Solution? Extra man around the ball, extra man in defence, forwardline pushed up the ground with Davey, Jetta, Crameri and later Dell'Olio running back towards goal.
 
Haha BTG :heart::heart:, I love this picture, don't think I will ever change it. It's just the epitome of raw emotion that a human could possibly exude, suits him so well.
I have some serious man love for Crameri, I'll be getting the number 12 on my guernsey when I come up and buy one for the West Coast game. I have had "7" since 08 and I reckon my point is now proven.

You're always on the money with your jumpers :D I'm more than happy with my #5 though. Can't see myself changing that for another 7 or 8 years I reckon.

Drop us a PM when you're next at a game as well. We'll catch up for a beer.:thumbsu:
 
Yep, outcoached is a word I would use. Very surprising that no Blueass supporter is even mentioning it..

The had NO response for our tactics and after watching reply, Harley mentioned that he had a word to Egan (or Bomber?) about the game and he got a "wink and nod" back like we had something planned.. I don't know but it seems like when we do our homework and get up for the big games (Geelong, WCE) we are able to pull off some big WINS for this club.

The difference this year has been getting the "breaks" against North and maybe Port that meant they were wins rather than "could have beens/should have beens (Syd/Carl last year)...

As we all know if we can consistently beat those below us and pull out even 2-3 big scalps then we will play finals footy... and I love our chances against big scalps with the coaching panel and players we have.
 
Hirdy reminds me so much of Paul Roos, to a scary/happy level! Doesn't just go through the motions, he's going to be a fantastic coach and if he wasn't the idol of many people already he's going to be the idol of many more in the future.
 
Drop us a PM when you're next at a game as well. We'll catch up for a beer.:thumbsu:

If I manage to get the time off work I will be up for the West Coast game, good friends with my boss and he knows it's my B'day weekend, so I should be fine! Many beers shall be had sir!
 
If I manage to get the time off work I will be up for the West Coast game, good friends with my boss and he knows it's my B'day weekend, so I should be fine! Many beers shall be had sir!

Sounds good.:thumbsu:
 
Harley mentioned that he had a word to Egan (or Bomber?) about the game and he got a "wink and nod" back like we had something planned..
Hearing this was so refreshing, we're not just playing our game plan anymore, we're playing against theirs, I think one of our problems the last 8 years is that we have played a single game plan or have fallen into theirs.

As we all know if we can consistently beat those below us and pull out even 2-3 big scalps then we will play finals footy... and I love our chances against big scalps with the coaching panel and players we have.
We're giant killers, I am going to load up on us this year whenever we're playing a team in Melbourne that "we cannot beat", next year I will load up on interstate games.
 

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Toast Yesterday....

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