Melbourne v Essendon - NAB Challenge - 20 March, 2015

[Pates 9,536]

I'd just ditch the game and have a full hit out against Casey in Casey. Try to promote the crap out of it to get people through the gate with competitions, BBQs, fun for family, meet the players etc. Make it another family day.

Not ideal preparation for the team but at least maybe the club can get something out of it.

[rpfc 27,413]

Happy to play a intra club televised on Foxsports. McCartney can coach the blues, and Goodwin the reds, Roos can do special comments, at half time 100 lucky members of the crowd will ritualistically [censored] Dwayne Russell with wooden paddles.

No Essendon required for some wholesome entertainment.

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,122]

Mind you Essendon and St Kilda played 1 less NAB challenge game than the rest in 2012. This is because Essendon didn't even make it to the ground because of bad weather.

Didn't seem to affect either club's start to the season. After round 9 that year, St Kilda were a solid 5-4 while the Dons were flying at 8-1.

[old dee 22,819]

Mind you Essendon and St Kilda played 1 less NAB challenge game than the rest in 2012. This is because Essendon didn't even make it to the ground because of bad weather.

Didn't seem to affect either club's start to the season. After round 9 that year, St Kilda were a solid 5-4 while the Dons were flying at 8-1.

From memory they had a little chemical assistance

[beelzebub 22,225]

From memory they had a little chemical assistance

I believe it was a "Wins-additive" in the tank !!!

[ManDee 7,076]

Mind you Essendon and St Kilda played 1 less NAB challenge game than the rest in 2012. This is because Essendon didn't even make it to the ground because of bad weather.

Didn't seem to affect either club's start to the season. After round 9 that year, St Kilda were a solid 5-4 while the Dons were flying at 8-1.

But not to Wangaratta. They were just high on the good stuff.

[P-man 13,161]

100 lucky members of the crowd will ritualistically [censored] Dwayne Russell with wooden paddles.

There will be a stampede for tickets.

*WHACK* "Oh that one hurt! BIG TIME!!"

[biggestred 4,273]

Essendon players will refuse to run out with top-up players during NAB Challenge, prepared to sit out the competition

[daisycutter 28,484]

Wow Slobbo and Warner get another scoop ... this is Walkley stuff in the making!

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,122]

Game likely to be cancelled according to McClure from 3aw.

[monoccular 16,041]

A Wilson article

Rebecca Wilson: Egos of James Hird, Nathan Tinkler and Lance Armstrong causing chaos

Great article - some people just don't see themselves as being subject to the rules of the game and indeed of life.

[biggestred 4,273]

Round 13 AFL - Essendon v Melbourne Highlights:

[Whispering_Jack 27,956]

Game likely to be cancelled according to McClure from 3aw.

Anyone keeping tabs on McClure's success rate with breaking news?

I'm not so sure it's all that impressive.

Anyway, I already have my tickets and look forward to a good game.

[old dee 22,819]

Anyone keeping tabs on McClure's success rate with breaking news?

I'm not so sure it's all that impressive.

Anyway, I already have my tickets and look forward to a good game.

Who do you think will win WJ?

The MFC reds or blues?

[DeeSpencer 23,087]

If we lose the Essendon game then we should skip the Freo trip and play the Saints in Morewell instead. Much better deal for our Victorian fans. And Essendon can pay Freo compensation.

We should enquire as to whether Hawthorn want to play us on Thursday the 26th of March.

The Hawks play their last NAB challenge on Thursday the 19th of March. Yet don't start the season until Monday April 6 (we start on Saturday the 4th).

18 days is a long time between your final warm up and first game. 11 days is long enough to get over soreness for the Hawks and we can probably survive on 9 days.

You wouldn't play a full game anyway. 15 minute quarters would cut it. Out at Casey on a Thursday afternoon would be perfect. Or even better - at Goschs!

[Ethan Tremblay 28,343]

If we lose the Essendon game then we should skip the Freo trip and play the Saints in Morewell instead. Much better deal for our Victorian fans. And Essendon can pay Freo compensation.

We should enquire as to whether Hawthorn want to play us on Thursday the 26th of March.

The Hawks play their last NAB challenge on Thursday the 19th of March. Yet don't start the season until Monday April 6 (we start on Saturday the 4th).

18 days is a long time between your final warm up and first game. 11 days is long enough to get over soreness for the Hawks and we can probably survive on 9 days.

You wouldn't play a full game anyway. 15 minute quarters would cut it. Out at Casey on a Thursday afternoon would be perfect. Or even better - at Goschs!

We can't have that, I already have tickets to the freo game.

[DeeSpencer 23,087]

We can't have that, I already have tickets to the freo game.

I don't think it will happen! You'll be safely able to go watch Freo's B team beat us. Freo Oval, should be nice.

But I'm still keen for the extra 3rd practice game for us, partly so we don't need to send all our best players over to Freo when our season doesn't start for a month!

[SaberFang 7,141]

Anyone else find it blatantly transparent that Essendon's 3 NAB challenge competitors are the bottom three teams from the 2014 ladder? Saints, GWS and us.

The AFL don't even pretend to hide how manipulative they are in an unfavourable situation.

[Undeeterred 2,837]

If we lose the Essendon game then we should skip the Freo trip and play the Saints in Morewell instead. Much better deal for our Victorian fans. And Essendon can pay Freo compensation.

We should enquire as to whether Hawthorn want to play us on Thursday the 26th of March.

The Hawks play their last NAB challenge on Thursday the 19th of March. Yet don't start the season until Monday April 6 (we start on Saturday the 4th).

18 days is a long time between your final warm up and first game. 11 days is long enough to get over soreness for the Hawks and we can probably survive on 9 days.

You wouldn't play a full game anyway. 15 minute quarters would cut it. Out at Casey on a Thursday afternoon would be perfect. Or even better - at Goschs!

Last time we did that Hawthorn smashed by about 200 points and completely killed any confidence or momentum we had going into the season.

[beelzebub 22,225]

I like the way the Sainters are quietly putting pressure on the League to provide a decent encounter.

Hope we are too.

[SaberFang 7,141]

Last time we did that Hawthorn smashed by about 200 points and completely killed any confidence or momentum we had going into the season.

Agreed. I know Roos said it was going to be positive to see how much progress we'd made by playing against the best teams, but that was simply an embarrassment. We were being mocked when Josh Gibson went forward to kick goals. IIRC Clarkson didn't even bother turning up to coach that game, and left it for an assistant.

It killed all confidence we'd gained over pre-season and the Tigers victory.

Edited February 10, 2015 by Lamashtu

[jnrmac 18,940]

Another reason to hate the scum (like we needed any more)...if they stuff up our pre-season I will be very unhappy...

[beelzebub 22,225]

Ive got no problem ( nice of me I know ) with the scumbags on notice not playing the NAB cup.. If it were you, would you ? I doubt it. However I would hope the AFL compel its contractees not so conflicted to play . There should be no opportunity to allow those who are under notice to hide behind those that arent. There is an obligation of the players and the club to represent themselves.

Grow some Gill

[hardtack 10,126]

Ive got no problem ( nice of me I know ) with the scumbags on notice not playing the NAB cup.. If it were you, would you ? I doubt it. However I would hope the AFL compel its contractees not so conflicted to play . There should be no opportunity to allow those who are under notice to hide behind those that arent. There is an obligation of the players and the club to represent themselves.

Grow some Gill

Even Malthouse has waded into the debate...

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-coach-mick-malthouse-says--afl-is-at-risk-of-being-hijacked-by-essendon-20150212-13cljs.html

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,392]

Even Malthouse has waded into the debate...

http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/carlton-coach-mick-malthouse-says--afl-is-at-risk-of-being-hijacked-by-essendon-20150212-13cljs.html

The risk for the AFL is that now that the curmudgeon has spoken, it might find the public start to support Essendon again just to spite Malthouse.