Couldn't fit into any of the existing polo tops! No size XXXXXXXXXXL!

I like his attitude.

No second fiddle, wants to play with Max.

2 hours ago, hemingway said:

I like his attitude.

No second fiddle, wants to play with Max.

Great but please do not break Max at training trying to impress

4 hours ago, Sydee said:

Great but please do not break Max at training trying to impress

But training is about impressing the coach, even Under 10s.

When I went to training, I always wanted to impress the coach, and if he was watching i went even harder at the ball or the guy with the ball.  

I like him. Someone who likes it tough.  He will be handy in ruck or forward rotation and will relieve Gawny from being exhausted by August. 

On 11/19/2018 at 7:31 PM, hemingway said:

But training is about impressing the coach, even Under 10s.

When I went to training, I always wanted to impress the coach, and if he was watching i went even harder at the ball or the guy with the ball.  

My comment was a bit tongue in cheek - I want all players to train hard and strive to impress the coach I just hate the idea of arguably our most important player getting injured by friendly fire in a training drill - I'm sure you agree

Big man looks physically intimidating.  

Might prove more than just a backup.  Gawn will need relief in hopefully a very long year to the end of September. 

Gotta love his V shaped hairline, though he should dye it bright red.

 

Edited December 2, 20186 yr by John Demonic

12 minutes ago, John Demonic said:

Gotta love his V shaped hairline, though he should dye it bright red.

 

When doing research for some photos to super-impose Preuss into a Demon's guernsey I found this gem from when he was drafted.

Our handling of Preuss is puzzling.

We played him with Gawn (in the role he was brought in to play) against Collingwood in the practice match and from all reports they worked well together and he was a good forward option.

We then played him on his own in JLT1 in a role he is not suited for (sole ruckman) and he was unsurprisingly exposed.

We then dropped him for JLT2 and went back to Gawn as the sole ruckman while Preuss was injured paying for Casey.

Gawn hasn't been at his best so far and was worked over by two rucks in round 1. He did better against Geelong but having another big option forward to captialisse on all our forward entries wouldn't have hurt.

Essendon are going with two ruckmen tonight in a bid to work Gawn over.

We cannot afford to run Gawn into the ground any longer and Preuss should be playing in the role that we brought him in to play.

^ Agree 100%

We're zero and 2.

Given our bog ordinary kicking going inside 50, coming out of defensive 50 and general bombing long, one would assume that bringing in another 200cm target would work in our favour for all those promblem areas. 

Gawn would be able to play forward and clearly have more energy when playing as ruckman. 

This week's selections have my baffled again. 

Edited April 5, 20196 yr by stevethemanjordan

On 12/2/2018 at 7:02 PM, John Demonic said:

Gotta love his V shaped hairline, though he should dye it bright red.

 

Yeah, and the rest of the skin on his head, Navy Blue Tattoo...

 

 

C'mon Pruess, give the selectors a chance to play you but putting in a good performance for Casey.  A few marks would be a good start

I would’ve thought Pruess at full forward with Jeffy at his feet would’ve given TMac and Weed plenty of room to work up the ground and really stretch the opposition , but I guess they need to play themselves into some form first.

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Essendon are going with two ruckmen tonight in a bid to work Gawn over.

The Bombers have made it clear that they intend to tag team against Max. And it is likely that every side will do the same. No Gawn no Melbourne approach. And Max is going to get very tired or injured from the physicality of his opponents.

So Preuss's non selection is surprising. 

Obviously concerned about slowing us down (and Preuss has not shown great form in his few outings) but this lack of leg speed is almost offset by nullifying Max in ruck duels and around the ground marking.  As well as having a big bloke who can act as a shock absorber for Max.

 

I think this 'being physical with Gawn to defeat Melbourne' is quite the non-issue.

Max can dish it out as well as he gets it. First week he was crook as a dog, second week conditions didn't suit.

I'm not worried, he played against two ruckman on numerous occasions last year.

And at the end of the day you can physically target anyone if you really want too.

Pity he cut his flowing dreadlocks. He could have been the new NikNat.

13 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

I think this 'being physical with Gawn to defeat Melbourne' is quite the non-issue.

Max can dish it out as well as he gets it. First week he was crook as a dog, second week conditions didn't suit.

I'm not worried, he played against two ruckman on numerous occasions last year.

And at the end of the day you can physically target anyone if you really want too.

It's not about Gawn being physically beat up, it's about having to keep up with two genuine opponents.

Also, when our second ruck options like Weideman go into the ruck we struggle.

14 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

It's not about Gawn being physically beat up, it's about having to keep up with two genuine opponents.

Also, when our second ruck options like Weideman go into the ruck we struggle.

Agree so far this year, lets just see how it unfolds.

 

45 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

I think this 'being physical with Gawn to defeat Melbourne' is quite the non-issue.

Max can dish it out as well as he gets it. First week he was crook as a dog, second week conditions didn't suit.

I'm not worried, he played against two ruckman on numerous occasions last year.

And at the end of the day you can physically target anyone if you really want too.

Disagree, there's only one Max against two or more opponents. Don't think there will be only two ruckmen targeting Max.

Max's game is based on his reach and his run. He is not a ruckman that plays a tough physical game, one where he uses his body or strength to crash into his opponent.  He plays an attacking game not one where he is trying to negate his opponent. 

He did play against two ruckman last year but he also got very tired during the season. This year the opposition is much more Max focused and intent on giving him a battering. But there you are, we will see what happens tonight. Hopefully he dominates and has the support of his team mates. 

Early days, but Preuss is looking like a bust. Not fit enough to play for a team that is crying out for size and physical presence. Meanwhile Tyson is playing regularly at North whilst our depth is so non-existent that we are playing Lockhart and two Wagners this week.

Goodwin will have to play Preuss at some point this point to avoid Gawn being battered and bruised to the point he gets injured. Sadly that will mean Simon admitting he is wrong with his initial selections and tactics, so I can't see that happening any time soon.

 

 

45 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Disagree, there's only one Max against two or more opponents. Don't think there will be only two ruckmen targeting Max.

Max's game is based on his reach and his run. He is not a ruckman that plays a tough physical game, one where he uses his body or strength to crash into his opponent.  He plays an attacking game not one where he is trying to negate his opponent. 

He did play against two ruckman last year but he also got very tired during the season. This year the opposition is much more Max focused and intent on giving him a battering. But there you are, we will see what happens tonight. Hopefully he dominates and has the support of his team mates. 

Gawn can easily be worked off the ball rucking around the ground. Hawkins last week shoved him out of a ruck duel in their forwardline and kicked a goal. Also did exactly the same last season against him. Physical brutes can defeat him. Clubs have worked this out. 

2 minutes ago, america de cali said:

Gawn can easily be worked off the ball rucking around the ground. Hawkins last week shoved him out of a ruck duel in their forwardline and kicked a goal. Also did exactly the same last season against him. Physical brutes can defeat him. Clubs have worked this out. 

I think we'd all like a second ruckman at our disposal - the problem is they need to be up to scratch - that's the bit that's missing right now 

1 hour ago, poita said:

Early days, but Preuss is looking like a bust. Not fit enough to play for a team that is crying out for size and physical presence. Meanwhile Tyson is playing regularly at North whilst our depth is so non-existent that we are playing Lockhart and two Wagners this week.

Goodwin will have to play Preuss at some point this point to avoid Gawn being battered and bruised to the point he gets injured. Sadly that will mean Simon admitting he is wrong with his initial selections and tactics, so I can't see that happening any time soon.

He doesn't need to be Gawn fit if he doesn't play ruck all day. Basically what we're saying here is that everything relies on Max, and if he goes down then god help us all.