Lessons from tonight

[rjay 24,917]

Just watching the Essendon West Coast game and a few things I noticed that relate to us;

• How the West Coast defence started to make uncaracteristic errors because of the weight of ball coming in with their midfield being thumped. Made me have a greater respect for Frawley and co. as they have to cop this every week with our mids. how good would our guys be if they had an even break. A lot of turn overs and mistakes happen because no one is working to postition to take a kick on the way out.
  

• Without Priddis and Selwood, Kerr being tagged and no Nik Nat, Shuey and Gaff have been ineffective at best. It's easy for young players to look good when they have senior players leading the way. Maybe Trenners is not going so badly, still think he is carrying something (besides a lot of senior players) and Jones is really stepping up.
  

• Jack Darling is having a go but again he is ineffective without good supply and without the pressure being taken off him by Kennedy, LeCras, Nik Nat. he draws an A grader. Mitch Clark has been doing a mighty job with little supply or assistance. Liam Jurrah last year was better than people give him credit for.
  

• You don't need to be super quick to be a good player, eg: Jobe Watson, strong attack on the ball, quick thinking, working within limitations.
  

• Sorry had to put this one in but Luke Darcy is self opponionated dick of a commentator, love Ling, just out of the game and really good insights.
  

[Guest strawberry_gumdrops]

I learnt that Essendon are going to do us in by over a hundred points.

Mark that one down.

[Guest José Mourinho]

Great OP.

[Pennant St Dee 13,171]

Just watching the Essendon West Coast game and a few things I noticed that relate to us;

• How the West Coast defence started to make uncaracteristic errors because of the weight of ball coming in with their midfield being thumped. Made me have a greater respect for Frawley and co. as they have to cop this every week with our mids. how good would our guys be if they had an even break. A lot of turn overs and mistakes happen because no one is working to postition to take a kick on the way out.
  

• Without Priddis and Selwood, Kerr being tagged and no Nik Nat, Shuey and Gaff have been ineffective at best. It's easy for young players to look good when they have senior players leading the way. Maybe Trenners is not going so badly, still think he is carrying something (besides a lot of senior players) and Jones is really stepping up.
  

• Jack Darling is having a go but again he is ineffective without good supply and without the pressure being taken off him by Kennedy, LeCras, Nik Nat. he draws an A grader. Mitch Clark has been doing a mighty job with little supply or assistance. Liam Jurrah last year was better than people give him credit for.
  

• You don't need to be super quick to be a good player, eg: Jobe Watson, strong attack on the ball, quick thinking, working within limitations.
  

• Sorry had to put this one in but Luke Darcy is self opponionated dick of a commentator, love Ling, just out of the game and really good insights.
  

Pretty much what I and a lot of others have been saying for a while, our senior players have a lot to answer for, put our young guys in any other side in the Top 10 and they would all look much better

We are bereft of confidence and are not as bad as we currently look, of course we are not great but much better than we are currently showing

[Real Demon 232]

The Bombers are super fit, and busting their arses working both ways for 4 quarters.

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

I learnt that Essendon are going to do us in by over a hundred points.

Mark that one down.

Probably pays not to talk to Essendon supporters at the moment.

[deejammin' 2,370]

Essendon is a case Melbourne FC should be looking at, many have noted how much pressure Neeld is under, I would say Hird had the same amount of pressure coming in and also had what many considered to be a terrible list and a team that only knew how to play an attacking gameplan. They basically learned a defensive gameplan in one preseason, made the final of the NAB cup and they have been competitive for long stretches ever since and now look like they can beat anyone....... it makes me sick and makes me wonder about our current plight

Edited May 12, 2012 by deejammin'

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

We need a MIDFIELD.

Until then it is going to hurt. Our defence & attack are working as hard asthey are allowed.

The midfielders we have recruited since 2007 are not as good as they were rated. Plus the club had no idea about elite training.

Many people have let us down

Misson & Neeld must be given time.

This is squarely the fault of many board members from different era's.

We have hit the bottom.

Tanking for more picks is not the solution for this club.

Hard work will earn respect.

Edited May 12, 2012 by why you little

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

I think we actually need a total change in the midfield. magner might be the only keeper. I think in time Gysberts and Blease will be good, but they arent up to it yet. In the meantime I think most of our problems lie in our midfield cattle.

The other thing I noticed on Friday night was the amount of players using stoppages as a time to rest and gather their breath rather than spreading to cover space or in the forward 50 provding an option to centre the ball.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,602]

Leigh Brown and Rawlings were his option I believe? Royal is a dud.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

We need a MIDFIELD.

Until then it is going to hurt. Our defence & attack are working as hard asthey are allowed.

The midfielders we have recruited since 2007 are not as good as they were rated. Plus the club had no idea about elite training.

Many people have let us down

Misson & Neeld must be given time.

This is squarely the fault of many board members from different era's.

We have hit the bottom.

Tanking for more picks is not the solution for this club.

Hard work will earn respect.

Much as I have a strong dislike for WHOREPORN, I couldn't help admire their consistent, ever so slick, handball keeping the ball moving and avoiding tackles. We could learn a lot from their performance against us on Friday night. They are a class side and always seem to produce their very best against us. Unlike others, I thought the boys gave their all and showed quite an amount of desperation. I don't buy this constant argument that we are not trying. We just lack skill and class at present. Maybe Jurrah returning will help. Also, I can't believe that Trenners is fully fit. He is not the same player as the 2011 edition.

[Adam The God 30,220]

Just watching the Essendon West Coast game and a few things I noticed that relate to us;

• How the West Coast defence started to make uncaracteristic errors because of the weight of ball coming in with their midfield being thumped. Made me have a greater respect for Frawley and co. as they have to cop this every week with our mids. how good would our guys be if they had an even break. A lot of turn overs and mistakes happen because no one is working to postition to take a kick on the way out.
  

• Without Priddis and Selwood, Kerr being tagged and no Nik Nat, Shuey and Gaff have been ineffective at best. It's easy for young players to look good when they have senior players leading the way. Maybe Trenners is not going so badly, still think he is carrying something (besides a lot of senior players) and Jones is really stepping up.
  

• Jack Darling is having a go but again he is ineffective without good supply and without the pressure being taken off him by Kennedy, LeCras, Nik Nat. he draws an A grader. Mitch Clark has been doing a mighty job with little supply or assistance. Liam Jurrah last year was better than people give him credit for.
  

• You don't need to be super quick to be a good player, eg: Jobe Watson, strong attack on the ball, quick thinking, working within limitations.
  

• Sorry had to put this one in but Luke Darcy is self opponionated dick of a commentator, love Ling, just out of the game and really good insights.
  

Fantastic post. And agree about Darcy. Never says anything remotely intelligent or insightful. Always the obvious. Was a [censored] when he played too.

[Toorak 108]

We need a MIDFIELD.

Until then it is going to hurt. Our defence & attack are working as hard asthey are allowed.

The midfielders we have recruited since 2007 are not as good as they were rated. Plus the club had no idea about elite training.

Many people have let us down

Misson & Neeld must be given time.

This is squarely the fault of many board members from different era's.

We have hit the bottom.

Tanking for more picks is not the solution for this club.

Hard work will earn respect.

The first requirement in tanking is to be more talented than the opposition. It just isn't possible for us to tank!

[JJJ 1,262]

Sorry had to put this one in but Luke Darcy is self opponionated dick of a commentator, love Ling, just out of the game and really good insights.

Great post. Agree 100%.

Assuming you got a slap on the wrist for the above comment.... Sadly.

[3Dee 1,153]

Why not try put Frawley & Co in the midfield?!

[Guest José Mourinho]

Why not try put Frawley & Co in the midfield?!

Not sure who "Co" is, but Frawley is not a midifielder.

He is also one of our best defenders.

You may not be aware, but the 2 areas of the field require different skillsets, experience and knowledge to succeed in.

Frawley could be eventually turned into a midfielder, but for what purpose?

It's not like we're going to be able to turn Trengove or Morton into a FB.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Much as I have a strong dislike for WHOREPORN, I couldn't help admire their consistent, ever so slick, handball keeping the ball moving and avoiding tackles. We could learn a lot from their performance against us on Friday night. They are a class side and always seem to produce their very best against us. Unlike others, I thought the boys gave their all and showed quite an amount of desperation. I don't buy this constant argument that we are not trying. We just lack skill and class at present. Maybe Jurrah returning will help. Also, I can't believe that Trenners is fully fit. He is not the same player as the 2011 edition.

I agree with most of what you say there except the bit about avoiding tackles, we tackled them all night but we just didn't tackle them properly and they were always able to get the ball away because we didnt pin their arms. They were too big, too strong and too good for us.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

• How the West Coast defence started to make uncaracteristic errors because of the weight of ball coming in with their midfield being thumped. Made me have a greater respect for Frawley and co. as they have to cop this every week with our mids. how good would our guys be if they had an even break. A lot of turn overs and mistakes happen because no one is working to postition to take a kick on the way out.
  

This. Our backline do a good job considering the amount of ball and bodies in our defensive 50.

Compare this to our opposition each week when we go forward, they usually outnumber our forwards and have acres of space to pick targets or run into space and get the ball. As opposed to Frawley and co, who are continually peppered and when they get it there are bodies everywhere making it almost impossible to pick targets.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

I realise that Essendon and have had their share of injuries but I like how they and Adelaide locked their players in the gym so that they were all bigger and stronger. Too many Melbourne players (old and young) lack muscle definition.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I realise that Essendon and have had their share of injuries but I like how they and Adelaide locked their players in the gym so that they were all bigger and stronger. Too many Melbourne players (old and young) lack muscle definition.

They do have "The Weapon".

Essendon have had a lot of short-term soft tissue injuries - different to what we have had.