1 minute ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Cannot wait see the huge match up of the game in Daniher vs Jetta.

The inexplicable wonders of zone defence!

3 minutes ago, A F said:

I don't remember that. I only remember Col Garland kicking two or three in 2012 and beating Essendon.

This is correct (2 and a near miss)

17 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Cannot wait see the huge match up of the game in Daniher vs Jetta.

LOL and dont ya just know it Dazzle, Tommy Mac will be caught out of position again and this will be reality!

1 minute ago, picket fence said:

LOL and dont ya just know it Dazzle, Tommy Mac will be caught out of position again and this will be reality!

And? Whilst not ideal, Nev has been caught out on giants numerous times and more than held his own. 

Almost feel like Watts has to dominate this game. He has to be the man. I'm backing him in to do it and think he'll rise to the occasion.

6 hours ago, Nasher said:

We are now going in to this game with a makeshift forward line as well as the ruck. I'm still optimistic of a win as our midfield still looks strong, but we'll be pushing it uphill to a degree.

I'm getting married on Saturday night and a bunch of my groomies (one being a fair-weather Essendon supporter) want to go to the game with me on Sunday. Really hope you're right. We're going to miss what Hogan brings to our forward structure. And if Trac doesn't get up, not such a happy wedding present.

These [censored] groomies have been taunting me all week about us 'choking yet again' at the hands of Richmond, so it tells you a lot about their grasp on footy, but anyway, it'd be hilarious and gratifying to get a win with them there.

5 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm getting married on Saturday night and a bunch of my groomies (one being a fair-weather Essendon supporter) want to go to the game with me on Sunday. Really hope you're right. We're going to miss what Hogan brings to our forward structure. And if Trac doesn't get up, not such a happy wedding present.

These [censored] groomies have been taunting me all week about us 'choking yet again' at the hands of Richmond, so it tells you a lot about their grasp on footy, but anyway, it'd be hilarious and gratifying to get a win with them there.

Firstly, congratulations 'Adam Farr'!

Secondly, you are a very lucky man to have a lady that is ok with you going to the footy the day after the wedding. 

Best wishes for the wedding and Go Dees for Sunday.  

10 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm getting married on Saturday night and a bunch of my groomies (one being a fair-weather Essendon supporter) want to go to the game with me on Sunday. Really hope you're right. We're going to miss what Hogan brings to our forward structure. And if Trac doesn't get up, not such a happy wedding present.

These [censored] groomies have been taunting me all week about us 'choking yet again' at the hands of Richmond, so it tells you a lot about their grasp on footy, but anyway, it'd be hilarious and gratifying to get a win with them there.

Surely AF you will be to ...err .... shall we say "preoccupied" on Sunday to go to the footy.

Watching on the TV will be OK though.

While your new missus brings you beers. Train them right from the start.

Edited April 27, 20178 yr by Bitter but optimistic

Hopefully Pedo dishes out some humble pie. Nev Jetta style. 

i think we'll be up against it. I draw hope from our ability to beat the scum when they are fielding strong sides. It's their VFL quality sides we struggle most against.

15 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm getting married on Saturday night and a bunch of my groomies (one being a fair-weather Essendon supporter) want to go to the game with me on Sunday. Really hope you're right. We're going to miss what Hogan brings to our forward structure. And if Trac doesn't get up, not such a happy wedding present.

These [censored] groomies have been taunting me all week about us 'choking yet again' at the hands of Richmond, so it tells you a lot about their grasp on footy, but anyway, it'd be hilarious and gratifying to get a win with them there.

Congrats big fella

15 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Firstly, congratulations 'Adam Farr'!

Secondly, you are a very lucky man to have a lady that is ok with you going to the footy the day after the wedding. 

Best wishes for the wedding and Go Dees for Sunday.  

Haha, thanks, LH. Yeah, she's a keeper.

Still can't convert her to the MFC though. We're not even her second favourite team (I think she's taking the [censored] at this point). That illustrious achievement goes to Adelaide - her old man's team. It takes a lot more than a wedding for me to miss a Melbourne game in Victoria.

13 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Surely AF you will be to ...err .... shall we say "preoccupied" on Sunday to go to the footy.

Watching on the TV will be OK though.

When I saw you'd quoted me, Bitters, I was expecting something to do with flogging.

And that's what Saturday night is for.

8 minutes ago, P-man said:

Congrats big fella

Thanks mate.

Oh and to stay on topic, Pedo to play on Bellchambers is probably an interesting match up (are Essendon tanking again?) and I think Bugg will miss out.

Looking at this team, there's also a slight chance on the fast Etihad deck that Dom may go out for Weideman or OMac. Paging @stevethemanjordan and @Clint Bizkit - after those conversations yesterday.

Edited April 27, 20178 yr by A F

54 minutes ago, dl4e said:

Hannan at full forward ??? I find it amazing he is selected. With Gawn and Hogan missing will be tough.

I don't mind this actually, he will have been told to keep doing what he has been doing and fly at everything. He just hasn't been clunking any. When he starts to he will be dangerous. In the mean time he brings the ball to ground à la Weid but is much better at ground level.

 

We've got an interesting recent history against Essendon.

In four of the last five games against them, the strong favourite has lost.

We beat them in 2012 when we were pretty dire and then again in 2014 when we were improving but only won 4 games for the year. The 2014 win was a robbery - they squandered chance after chance and we played one good quarter at the end and won by a point off Salem's match-winning goal.

In 2015 they beat us at the G despite being thrashed in recent games and approaching the end of the Hird tenure. They were close to a rabble at the time but we kicked poorly in the wet. Then last year, without half a side, they somehow knocked us off.

Essendon will be strong favourites this time around. It's difficult to be optimistic for this one but let's hope the recent trend of results against them continues. We definitely owe them for the last two embarrassing losses against them.

Edited April 27, 20178 yr by Scoop Junior

35 minutes ago, A F said:

I'm getting married on Saturday night and a bunch of my groomies (one being a fair-weather Essendon supporter) want to go to the game with me on Sunday. Really hope you're right. We're going to miss what Hogan brings to our forward structure. And if Trac doesn't get up, not such a happy wedding present.

These [censored] groomies have been taunting me all week about us 'choking yet again' at the hands of Richmond, so it tells you a lot about their grasp on footy, but anyway, it'd be hilarious and gratifying to get a win with them there.

Congrats mate!

How we win:  outrun them.  They may take us lightly given our outs, but they have had 20% less recovery time, and hopefully pressure acts all day and four quarters of running might just split it open.  Our entries into 50 just have to improve.  They have been a disaster.  

11 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

How we win:  outrun them.  They may take us lightly given our outs, but they have had 20% less recovery time, and hopefully pressure acts all day and four quarters of running might just split it open.  Our entries into 50 just have to improve.  They have been a disaster.  

I reckon with Lewis back our entries will improve. His presence on field really straightens us up and as per the St Kilda game, sets the tone of expectations. 

Someone said the other night that Viney was mic'ed up for the Richmond game and was heard saying lower the eyes and that no one listened. I reckon if Lewis lead by example and lowered his eyes and was filthy on anyone who failed to lower their eyes, it'll spread through the team and they'll do the right thing.

It's our ability to win clearances and then convert that are my biggest concerns. And the ease with which we concede goals.

18 minutes ago, Deestroy All said:

Congrats mate!

Thanks mate.

For all of the players we're missing, we still have a strong midfield that is number one in putting pressure on the opposition.  Their midfield has a few star players but little depth outside of that, so I'm hoping our rotations and hardness around the contest will allow us to still get plenty of ball forward of centre.

Our forward line embodies the word 'makeshift' at the moment, and it will be up to the midfield to make sure we get it down there quickly.  Just bombing it in their will allow their tall backline to pick it off most times, and we really need to use it well going forward and hit up some targets, or at least bring the ball to ground to give the mosquito fleet a chance to pounce.  The Bombers have made more errors in their defensive half than any other side this year, so if we can pressure them into turnovers then we can give ourselves a huge chance of winning.

Not exactly confident, but I still think we are more than capable of winning the game.

28 minutes ago, dworship said:

I don't mind this actually, he will have been told to keep doing what he has been doing and fly at everything. He just hasn't been clunking any. When he starts to he will be dangerous. In the mean time he brings the ball to ground à la Weid but is much better at ground level.

 

Needs to lay some tackles this week. If he can draw defenders and snag a couple, as well as lay some tackles, it'll go a long way to us winning and having a functional forwardline.

13 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

For all of the players we're missing, we still have a strong midfield that is number one in putting pressure on the opposition.  Their midfield has a few star players but little depth outside of that, so I'm hoping our rotations and hardness around the contest will allow us to still get plenty of ball forward of centre.

Our forward line embodies the word 'makeshift' at the moment, and it will be up to the midfield to make sure we get it down there quickly.  Just bombing it in their will allow their tall backline to pick it off most times, and we really need to use it well going forward and hit up some targets, or at least bring the ball to ground to give the mosquito fleet a chance to pounce.  The Bombers have made more errors in their defensive half than any other side this year, so if we can pressure them into turnovers then we can give ourselves a huge chance of winning.

Not exactly confident, but I still think we are more than capable of winning the game.

I think in many ways it often helps not to have a key target or a 'star' up forward to be too one-dimensional around. Given our forwardline is, as you say, 'makeshift', that should make us a little more unpredictable and allow our entries to be targeted towards the players in the best position, rather than Jesse Hogan, Jesse Hogan or Jesse Hogan.

You're right. We do have a glimmer of hope with this match, but my big worry is that Heppell, Merrett and Daniher are going to get ahold of us. At least, we have some stability down back now and a bit of continuity (minus Lewis and probably OMac if he plays).

Selections and injuries aside - what about some fundamental belief that we are NOT going to lose four in a row.

Or vengence for the last Embarrassing loss? 

Bit of ol fashioned 'all between the ears' and 'backs to the wall' stuff. I reckon we have improved our mental fortitude so far, bar a few quarters. Let's see if we can hold firm and find something. 

Edited April 27, 20178 yr by Deemented Are Go!

6 minutes ago, A F said:

I think in many ways it often helps not to have a key target or a 'star' up forward to be too one-dimensional around. Given our forwardline is, as you say, 'makeshift', that should make us a little more unpredictable and allow our entries to be targeted towards the players in the best position, rather than Jesse Hogan, Jesse Hogan or Jesse Hogan.

You're right. We do have a glimmer of hope with this match, but my big worry is that Heppell, Merrett and Daniher are going to get ahold of us. At least, we have some stability down back now and a bit of continuity (minus Lewis and probably OMac if he plays).

I agree, but on the basis that we can move it quickly enough.  If the Bombers slow us down and get back in numbers then they'll force us to bomb it long and it will make things difficult for us.  We need at least one tall down there who can compete in the air for us, otherwise Hurley, Brown etc will just take uncontested marks all day long.  The pressure and our ability to move the ball quickly will see us either kick a winning score or we will spend the afternoon frustrated by our long bombs that go nowhere.

21 minutes ago, Deemented Are Go! said:

Selections and injuries aside - what about some fundamental belief that we are NOT going to lose four in a row.

Or vengence for the last Embarrassing loss? 

Bit of ol fashioned 'all between the ears' and 'backs to the wall' stuff. I reckon we have improved our mental fortitude so far, bar a few quarters. Let's see if we can hold firm and find something. 

I dont think too many would have had us losing 4 in a  row this season, let alone just six rounds in.  

We simply must win.

20 minutes ago, Wiseblood said:

I agree, but on the basis that we can move it quickly enough.  If the Bombers slow us down and get back in numbers then they'll force us to bomb it long and it will make things difficult for us.  We need at least one tall down there who can compete in the air for us, otherwise Hurley, Brown etc will just take uncontested marks all day long.  The pressure and our ability to move the ball quickly will see us either kick a winning score or we will spend the afternoon frustrated by our long bombs that go nowhere.

Fearless footy is the way to go then, isn't it? I hope we bring the footy we brought against Geelong, rather than Freo.

49 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

How we win:  outrun them.  They may take us lightly given our outs, but they have had 20% less recovery time, and hopefully pressure acts all day and four quarters of running might just split it open.  Our entries into 50 just have to improve.  They have been a disaster.  

there might be a silver lining having Hogan out. We cant just keep on kicking it at him. We'll have to look for the best option instead.

Mitch Hannans round 1 stats vs Saints

16 possessions, 7 marks, 2 goals, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50's

If he can repeat that it would be great. We need him to considering our lack of forward ammo.