30 minutes ago, Jaded No More said:

Eventually we have to lose. 

But for the love of all things holy…

NOT TO ESSENDON!!!!!!!

8 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

GGGaaahhhh hahahahhahahahaha I hope that is true, Hird back at Ess... they're lunatics beholden to the past. They really stuff up the transition from Sheedy finishing up. Voices like Sheedy still hold them back and it's great. 

 

Players not happy with the game plan, the game plan that got them to the finals last year?! 

Edited March 28, 20223 yr by Cards13

9 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

I hope your intel is good 'jnr'...

12 hours ago, Larry, Moe or Curly said:

I was there the day Jacko sat Ronny on his [censored], Ill take that as a win

 

I was there when Jacko threw the can back at the cheer squad ( a blatant throw and there was no free kick paid )

49 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

 

41 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

Players not happy with the game plan, the game plan that got them to the finals last year?! 

Likely they're trying the old "copy the premiers" trick, have a foot in each camp, and now don't know what TF they're doing.

 

 

41 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

GGGaaahhhh hahahahhahahahaha I hope that is true, Hird back at Ess... they're lunatics beholden to the past. They really stuff up the transition from Sheedy finishing up. Voices like Sheedy still hold them back and it's great.

Hey, things aren't working. Let's go back to the guy who really put us on our arses.

The problem with a guy like Sheedy, although his football pedigree is amazing and his record of success up there with the best, is that they can stay in an organisation for so long that they become the organisation and the organisation becomes them. The joint has suffered an identity crisis since he left, and his input doesn't help.

Their best shot was with David Evans but Golden Boy threw him under a bus. So let's bring back Golden Boy! Yes, go for it. I don't boo at the footy but if Hird shows his mug I definitely will.

18 hours ago, Wells 11 said:

amazing the different tone  from opposition supporters after you win a flag. They sound like we used to lol. 
Fwiw, i’m predicting a close game. 

• Fritta and Brown - due to turnaround form from last week and certainly have the weapons
• Petracca and Clarry - the best and most consistent in the AFL 
• ANB, Spargs and Kozzie - most dangerous pressure smalls going around, as one onfield and mentally switched on to the network
• Gawn (owes himself one) and Jackson - unbeatable by any measures
• Our backline - makeshift but reliable and integrated, almost unbeatable
• Our flankers - knock-out, 2-way, space-makers, distributors, opportunists

Nah, we will kill them in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Dees by 60 points. 

1 hour ago, pineapple dee said:

I was there when Jacko threw the can back at the cheer squad ( a blatant throw and there was no free kick paid )

Remember it well. It was the only thing worth watching at the game.

55 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Their best shot was with David Evans but Golden Boy threw him under a bus. So let's bring back Golden Boy! Yes, go for it. I don't boo at the footy but if Hird shows his mug I definitely will.

I wouldn't boo Hirdy, I only boo in the context of the game being played.

 

20 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Suddenly Adelaide has a hope in hell. It could be interesting viewing. But also who cares. 

Really?  Showdowns are often some of the best football played, it's actually a shame we never see these games on free-to- air.

21 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

The pessimism isn't my editing. 

From 'Bomberblitz':

• I think the Dees will be a bit flat coming back from the GC on a six day break. If we bring today’s effort, we should give a good account for ourselves, but the Demons will do enough and win by 3-4 goals
• We haven’t been 0-3 since 1967
• we are going to get completely obliterated no matter who we put on the park.  heppell on fritsch is the stuff of nightmares
• For gods sake, can someone please just start a COVID outbreak at the hanger so 38 players are in health and safety protocols and the AFL call the game off?
• Going to be brutal. Oliver and Petracca are going to get 50 touches each and Brown will kick 10.

• merrett out only takes the margin from 60 to 80 points
• Who cares whos in…we have a bottom six that should be in the vfl but are playing so…Dees will smash us.
• With our unbelievable decision that we are so good we don’t need to use taggers, Petracca must be really looking forward to this week’s game. His main concern would be leather poisoning.
• ANNOUNCE HS PROTOCOLS FOR MELBOURNES BEST 22.

The most hopeful comments:

• I think the Dees will be a bit flat coming back from the GC on a six day break. If we bring today’s effort, we should give a good account for ourselves, but the Demons will do enough and win by 3-4 goals.
• We’ll see. We beat them in a great Friday night game at the MCG in 2019. Lost narrowly in a dead rubber game for both clubs (at Metricon) in 2020 and then pressed them deep into the last quarter in our game last year before eventually going down by 11 points. Some questionable decisions also went their way in the second half. We know they’re a terrific team but I don’t think we are going to be overawed.

From 'Bigfooty':

• Just want to see us be competitive and have someone run with Petracca. Cant believe Truck's comments about not tagging Neale. Horror draw to start the season but doesn't seem we were ready for the season anyway.
• There's a real stench about the team, which to me, has come out of nowhere given how positive last season was. Old habits are back, unfortunately. This will be a big loss and will effectively kill off the season
• It’s the stench of having sky high expectations, the second most difficult fixture in the league, and a team full of babies expected to pull off a miracle.
• I think we’ll go okay this week. I kind of hope shiel is out for another week so we get to see a pure midfield game from caldwell. If lever doesn’t play again this week the game will be a lot closer than many predict.
• I'm not all doom and gloom like it seems so many others are here, we're still a very inexperienced team who only beat one top 8 team last year, playing Geelong, Brisbane and Melbourne to start the year is no free ride even though the effort in Round 1 was poor. Like it's been mentioned already we won several key areas on the weekend so if we bring a similar output and convert a bit better there's no reason we can't compete and finish within 5 goals.

To their credit I didn't see any disrespect.  Probably just grudging respect.  A bit of humour here and there was refereshing.

I think it'll be close. I agree with the comments RE Lever not being in. Smith and Hunt are still poor by foot and haven't been exposed yet positionally. Our defence doesn't look at sturdy, despite our results, as a Lever team.

However, how long are they going to bang on about being a young side? They're not that young. Taking Merrett out would drop their age demo, but I'd love to know. 

This will be a good test. We are the hunted. 
Back on the ‘G with a Home Crowd 

Will the Flag be flying above the Scoreboard?

kill Essendrug 

2 minutes ago, A F said:

I think it'll be close. I agree with the comments RE Lever not being in. Smith and Hunt are still poor by foot and haven't been exposed yet positionally. Our defence doesn't look at sturdy, despite our results, as a Lever team.

However, how long are they going to bang on about being a young side? They're not that young. Taking Merrett out would drop their age demo, but I'd love to know. 

They are infatuated with their 'Baby Bombers' label and its a handy excuse when things go wrong. 

This game could potentially send us to the top of the table with a very healthy percentage till the end of the season.

Has got an annihilation written all over it 80+. 

The only thing saving the bummers in this game is another 6 day break to recover till our next game against Port Powa.

The foot might come of the pedal after half time.

5 hours ago, jnrmac said:

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

Long may it continue

If I were a Bombers supporter Rutten's appearance on 360 last night wouldn't have filled me with great confidence. If they decide not to tag again Petracca will rip them a new one.

2 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Long may it continue

If I were a Bombers supporter Rutten's appearance on 360 last night wouldn't have filled me with great confidence. If they decide not to tag again Petracca will rip them a new one.

Good choice for the big "C" in fantasy.  

But like both games this year, wary but quietly confident.  We'll be building slowly over the year and the delay in bringing in Leaver/Hibberd shows its all about seasons planning, no panicking like in previous years to rush back player to try and win.  The system works and is self supporting as new players slip into it.  Been impressed with Smith and he's improving. 

5 hours ago, jnrmac said:

My intel says that all is not right at Bomberland. There is a bit of turmoil behind the scenes with a push to get Hirdy back amongst other things (before he takes the GWS job..). Players unhappy about game plan etc

After what happened at Essendon, he should be working the grill at Burger King.

There will be a day he is welcomed back into their fold. But it should be in a Garry Lyon-esque club spruiker capacity, not as a coach in any capacity.

Edited March 29, 20223 yr by Colin B. Flaubert

They can say what they want, I've never been less fazed by what is being said at Bomberland. 

4 hours ago, A F said:

I think it'll be close. I agree with the comments RE Lever not being in. Smith and Hunt are still poor by foot and haven't been exposed yet positionally. Our defence doesn't look at sturdy, despite our results, as a Lever team.

However, how long are they going to bang on about being a young side? They're not that young. Taking Merrett out would drop their age demo, but I'd love to know. 

They are the fourth youngest side. But only 0.5 of a year separates them and us. 

34 minutes ago, MoeSyzlak said:

They are the fourth youngest side. But only 0.5 of a year separates them and us. 

this is just so misleading by using the whole list......and in essendon's case with a whopping 10 rookies.

the only meaningful comparison is only including those players who played seniors (adjusted by whatever % they played).

No doubt in my mind Stringer not fit or injured or both. Was  not happy about being off in the last qtr and also could not get back on. Messiah...

17 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

this is just so misleading by using the whole list......and in essendon's case with a whopping 10 rookies.

the only meaningful comparison is only including those players who played seniors (adjusted by whatever % they played).

Im not sure how it can be misleading when it clearly states “club lists” at the top of the page as well as calls out the number of rookies. 
 

Average age of Essendon players that actually played including the medi-sub  

round one: 24y 296 days

round two: 24y 246 days

Demons

round one: 25y 122 days

round two: 25y 62 days

Adelaide just for a comparison as they have the youngest list:

round one: 23y 305 days

round two: 23y 201 days

18 hours ago, Supreme_Demon said:

We should not have any sympathy for Essendon.

They have humiliated us many, many times before. They should be despised with a passion!

In recent memory losing to Essendon by 18 points in round 3 back in 2019. I remember a horrible, mean old man who was an Essendon supporter laughing at us and saying we would be wooden spooners (he wasn't off by much to be brutally honest).

Then there was the utter disgrace and ineptitude of losing by 148 points to Essendon in round 2 back in 2013. Mark Neeld had well and truly had his papers stamped to be sacked after that.

Then there was the 5 point loss in the elimination final to Essendon way back in season 2004. Ironically the last time Essendon actually won a final.

Plus who could ever forget the belting we received when a juggernaut Essendon side beat us in the 2000 AFL grand final by 10 goals (60 points). Luckily I don't have nightmares about that horrific day anymore (breaking our Premiership drought in 2021 cured that!).

Lastly there was the massive embarrassment of losing to Essendon by 1 point in round 6 of 1992 when Melbourne were up by 47 at the start of the last quarter!

I don't forget those painful losses and neither should any other Melbourne supporter.

Fingers crossed the Demons players are focused on the job at hand against Essendon for this Friday.

Another that burns for me is Neale Danihers last game as coach when they kicked a goal with 10seconds to go to win by 2pts.

Devastating stuff.

 

Edited March 29, 20223 yr by Fork 'em

16 minutes ago, MoeSyzlak said:

Im not sure how it can be misleading when it clearly states “club lists” at the top of the page as well as calls out the number of rookies. 
 

Average age of Essendon players that actually played including the medi-sub  

round one: 24y 296 days

round two: 24y 246 days

Demons

round one: 25y 122 days

round two: 25y 62 days

Adelaide just for a comparison as they have the youngest list:

round one: 23y 305 days

round two: 23y 201 days

i meant misleading in terms of afl senior teams (not misleading in what it claimed to be)

25 goals please, paybacks a [censored] and I want them to feel that pain 

14 hours ago, rpfc said:

Unless it’s a final - we have not been putting away sides.

Some of you look like sheep standing on their hind legs with your confidence of a win and a blowout one at that.

We have Casey’s backline featuring Steven May, we are losing the clearances around the ground like we always do, and if we can’t turn the ball over quickly we are kicking to Gawn, Brown and TMac all going up at once because of reasons.

Absolutely on the money. 

38 point loss