Does not make sense..  why did he play injured last week when we have a fairly healthy list??

“Nathan has been dealing with some little niggles over the past three or four weeks that have prevented him from being able to physically attack training, so we want him to take this opportunity to get his body back to 100 percent,” Mahoney told Melbourne Media.

1 hour ago, Roger Mellie said:

Possibly a Kent Kingsley Award nominee. Having said that, he does manages to scrape back onto the Essendon list every year on a one year deal or rookie contract.

Probably more of testament to him and excelling with his limitations. He's Essendon's Pedo, a battler. He'd also be useful for us too, given they've gone him over Brown. We'd have taken McKernan if he was a DFA

Maybe I'm biased but I recall that a few media presenters have said that Corey McKernan, his brother, is one of his biggest proponents, pumping him up and suggesting he has the work ethic and tools to be a very good player. Its always stuck in my mind since, so much that I've rooted for him individually, and noticed that he's now Essendon's most respected forward for getting the most out of themself. 

Edited June 19, 20205 yr by John Demonic

I think that Jonesy will be respectfully and gently transitioned into retirement...might take the whole year

But...this never changes! ?

I [censored] hate Essendon

1 hour ago, Hogan2014 said:

Does not make sense..  why did he play injured last week when we have a fairly healthy list??

“Nathan has been dealing with some little niggles over the past three or four weeks that have prevented him from being able to physically attack training, so we want him to take this opportunity to get his body back to 100 percent,” Mahoney told Melbourne Media.

Amazing IF true.  We could have easily played say Lockhart who may have had a bigger influence, putting the game away earlier instead of the outcome being a coin flip.

14 hours ago, Cards13 said:

Hhhmmmm

Harmes off half back is yuck.

Brayshaw ain’t anything but a mid.

Fwdline looks average to say the least, Smith has to play fwd and I still think we’ve not got enough. 
A second gamer and 2 blokes who have hardly played in how long. 

Harmes will have a decent matchup to lockdown on the Essendon mids rotating through the forward line i.e. Devon Smith. Smith for me is really the difference in that Essendon side and can really break the game open with his skill if let off the chain 

11 minutes ago, AaronDaveyChipsAndGravey said:

Harmes will have a decent matchup to lockdown on the Essendon mids rotating through the forward line i.e. Devon Smith. Smith for me is really the difference in that Essendon side and can really break the game open with his skill if let off the chain 

Propensity to getting sucked in and rubbed out, little smart [censored]....

20 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

I think that Jonesy will be respectfully and gently transitioned into retirement...might take the whole year

But...this never changes! ?

I [censored] hate Essendon

I hope so, I'll be spewing if he doesn't make it to 300 games... I suppose the chances of him being on the list next year aren't great though.

I think to beat Essendon you have to stop their rebound game. for us to win it's going to be so important for guys like Melksham, Hannan and Fritsch to impact the scoreboard and limit the ability of Saad and McKenna to run off and impact the game. 

if we can do that, i think we can back ourselves to win the midfield battle and limit their scoring options enough to win. 

BUT 

we also have to lower our eyes going forward, if we bomb long Hurley and Hooker will absolutely destroy us.

So i don't mind the selections providing we lower our eyes and those guys can get involved for 4 quarters

 

34 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Amazing IF true.  We could have easily played say Lockhart who may have had a bigger influence, putting the game away earlier instead of the outcome being a coin flip.

Why amazing?  These things aren't that clear cut.  Working out when to accept that a rest is the best idea is not clear, except perhaps in hindsight.

2 hours ago, John Demonic said:

Probably more of testament to him and excelling with his limitations. He's Essendon's Pedo, a battler. He'd also be useful for us too, given they've gone him over Brown. We'd have taken McKernan if he was a DFA

Maybe I'm biased but I recall that a few media presenters have said that Corey McKernan, his brother, is one of his biggest proponents, pumping him up and suggesting he has the work ethic and tools to be a very good player. Its always stuck in my mind since, so much that I've rooted for him individually, and noticed that he's now Essendon's most respected forward for getting the most out of themself. 

“Essendon’s Pedo” lol

1 hour ago, Rusty Nails said:

Amazing IF true.  We could have easily played say Lockhart who may have had a bigger influence, putting the game away earlier instead of the outcome being a coin flip.

We effectively played with 17 men in the last quarters and most half’s with Jones playing since the beginning of the 2019 season. His last quarter statistics are terrible. Last week he had zero possessions.  Read today that Heppel is out for Essendon . Broken ankle at training  yesterday. 

Edited June 20, 20205 yr by america de cali

3 minutes ago, america de cali said:

We effectively played with 17 men in the last quarters and most half’s with Jones playing since the beginning of the 2019 season. His last quarter statistics are terrible and can’t play out a game. Last week he had zero possessions and unsighted at the last. Read today that Heppel is out for Essendon . Broken ankle at training  yesterday. 

 

Edited June 20, 20205 yr by america de cali

5 hours ago, John Demonic said:

ie Neitz em' 

When he was getting on, he'd still hit a pack hard and scare the living daylights out of the opposition. I can still hear the clunk of him shirt fronting a player in a contest, from behind the goals southern stand. @DemonOX absolutely agree. More physical imposition from TMac. Halve every contest. Set the tone for the others.

Luke McCabe still has nightmares..

3 hours ago, Hogan2014 said:

Does not make sense..  why did he play injured last week when we have a fairly healthy list??

“Nathan has been dealing with some little niggles over the past three or four weeks that have prevented him from being able to physically attack training, so we want him to take this opportunity to get his body back to 100 percent,” Mahoney told Melbourne Media.

I read that as: "Jones has been dropped (note he was listed as omitted not rested) and now he will have a chance to get to get over minor niggles (which would never stop anyone from playing) which may help him find form again at training. ".

 

As far as I can tell, this is the first time Jones has been dropped since 2006. It's nice to soften the public blow.

not to mention the sleep patterns of Rory Hilton.

I am pretty confident for this game and season. The way we played in the first half of last game emulated 2018 form which is something we never witnessed last year. We didn't just start well, we were slick, ruthless & clean. Yes the second half was really poor, but it really felt more like we stopped attacking and switched off rather than us getting smashed (unlike what we did to our opposition) it would be hard to put in a 4 quarter effort for any team which has been evident in all games given the lack of training and cohesion.

 

3 hours ago, sue said:

Why amazing?  These things aren't that clear cut.  Working out when to accept that a rest is the best idea is not clear, except perhaps in hindsight.

Sue if it prevented him from "physically attacking training" then that restriction (if true) also applies to his capability to do the same on game day.   Not telling you anything new here but its obviously a super physical game.

Rule 101 at the selection table is dont go into matches with restricted players if you have as good or better (assuming they are at full fitness) waiting in the wings ready to bring the intensity, vigour and white line fever required to make a significant impact on the day (who can play a very similar role).

6 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

Sue if it prevented him from "physically attacking training" then that restriction (if true) also applies to his capability to do the same on game day.   Not telling you anything new here but its obviously a super physical game.

Rule 101 at the selection table is dont go into matches with restricted players if you have as good or better (assuming they are at full fitness) waiting in the wings ready to bring the intensity, vigour and white line fever required to make a significant impact on the day (who can play a very similar role).

And do you think any selection panel in the league doesn't know rule 1?  Things are sometimes not so clear as later statements might imply.

2 hours ago, america de cali said:

We effectively played with 17 men in the last quarters and most half’s with Jones playing since the beginning of the 2019 season. His last quarter statistics are terrible. Last week he had zero possessions.  Read today that Heppel is out for Essendon . Broken ankle at training  yesterday. 

I've loved what Jones has brought to the club over many years of sweat and toil and will always be greatfull to him standing up when many others around him weren't giving a yelp.  Especially during the dark years under Neild.

But as big a fan as i am, that game was putrid and if it was a physical issue limiting his output that much that sees him out the week after, he needs to recognise his limitations and do the right thing by the club until he gets back to the level required.  Even rule himself out if necessary which he may have had some say in this week.

Edited June 20, 20205 yr by Rusty Nails

5 minutes ago, sue said:

And do you think any selection panel in the league doesn't know rule 1?  Things are sometimes not so clear as later statements might imply.

Yes that's why i have emphasised "IF true" on a number of occasions on this topic.  Football clubs have been known to guild the Lilly a little on occasions 

Ess player has tested positive to Covid 

3 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Ess player has tested positive to Covid 

Source?

This puts the whole competition in jeopardy

6 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Ess player has tested positive to Covid 

Season over then, surely. 

12 minutes ago, buck_nekkid said:

Source?

This puts the whole competition in jeopardy

ABC radio. Gil press conference soon

Welp, I guess no game tomorrow then .