Bombers missing:

• Cox
• Merrett
• Hurley
• Langford
• Harry Jones
• Tippa

Shiel and Snelling a test

You can mount an argument that every game we play this year is a danger game. Two of our four losses last year were to non-finalists, plus we drew with Hawthorn.

Essendon can look a million bucks when they get going. But the reality is they play unaccountable football and don't work hard enough in defence. They were never any good last year, making the finals off the back of just one win against a top 8 side and 11 wins in total. 

Like with any opponent, if we're off our game we can lose. But I would absolutely love to see us "on" this week.

On 3/28/2022 at 2:53 PM, Deepfreeze said:

Why are there 2 Friday night games this week anyway?

The original plan was that the AFLW Grand Final was going to be on Saturday afternoon and they wanted to give it clean air, so they had to move a Saturday afternoon game to another timeslot. 

COVID ruined that plan though.

10 hours ago, DubDee said:

Bombers missing:

• Cox
• Merrett
• Hurley
• Langford
• Harry Jones
• Tippa

Shiel and Snelling a test

Demons missing:

• Lever
• Salem
• Petty
• Hibberd

There’s been some pretty hard criticism on the bombers in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the perception of them not going hard enough. I would be shocked if they didn’t put in a massive game against us, coming up against the reigning premiers they’ll have a point to prove. 

For where our club is at, the list profile, the game plan and the individual stars we have, there is no chance we should be allowing Essendon to be in the game going into the last quarter. 

Last week was a different story with travel, a dewy game and a highly talented and hungry young group. 

Essendon are low on confidence, are missing a host of names and are playing us in front of a pro Melbourne crowd. 

I'd expect our entire group to be switched on and ready to play high intensity and tough footy. And I expect a response in the middle of the ground from Gawn and co. 

Whilst we are tucking the wins off, I'd like to see a ruthless and accountable midfield and a Mac Gawn who starts hitting to the right spots. Our backline is makeshift so the mids need to up their game in there because we have been comprehensively beaten at centre bounce in certain quarters far too easily for the first two games. 

24 minutes ago, Pates said:

There’s been some pretty hard criticism on the bombers in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the perception of them not going hard enough. I would be shocked if they didn’t put in a massive game against us, coming up against the reigning premiers they’ll have a point to prove. 

They will be revved up and perhaps come out all guns blazing but not many have shown a bit of aggro/physicality in the past:  Stringer and maybe McGrath or Heppell.  Certainly not the medieval page boy! 

Whatever fire they bring will peter out by half time. 

I recall after this match last year Goodwin was asked about the possessions racked up by Merret and Parish.  His response was along the lines of they were mostly centre/back of centre.  Translate as they can't hurt us from there.

Not sure they have the skill to weave thru our defence, the courage to kick long to our def talls nor the stamina to charge our def as Adelaide did last year.

Any idea of the crowd friday night?  perfect weather.  If the bombers were winning I would say 70K but more like 50K now?

I would like for us to do to them, what they did to us in round 3 in 2013 ( I think it was 2013)

On 3/28/2022 at 2:26 PM, Lucifers Hero said:

heppell on fritsch is the stuff of nightmares

@Beetle

Edited March 30, 20223 yr by Doug Reemer

Early wins are like gold to ensure that vital top 2 finish so I doubt the boys will take this game lightly...our best will be enough to account for Essendon even if they do come out "breathing fire" from the heat they've rightly copped in the media for the last two weeks

I am worried about Parish racking up 40+ possessions and destroying us.....

 

 

 

 

 

[End://sarcasm emoji]

3 hours ago, DubDee said:

Any idea of the crowd friday night?  perfect weather.  If the bombers were winning I would say 70K but more like 50K now?

Low 50's.

Before the season started I expected this game to have a bigger crowd than the Dogs game due to the timeslot and Dogs fans don't go to the MCG. However not so sure anymore.

Dons fans have exited the band wagon almost as quickly as they were piling on during the preseason… it’s very funny. Poor buggers. 😃

On 3/28/2022 at 10:47 PM, DubDee said:

The bombers are a still a few years off. and I don't think they have all the ingredients either. They lack quality senior players and more depth across the board.   Cox is no Jackson but still should be good

It is interesting how the thought of playing us seems insurmountable to the supporters.  we didn't even make the finals in the last two years prior to the flag.  that's what great teams do, they beat teams before the game starts.  have a look at Trac and Max and put your head down

It is so sweet

Yes years off,...... LIGHT YEARS OFF

Edited March 30, 20223 yr by picket fence

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Low 50's.

Before the season started I expected this game to have a bigger crowd than the Dogs game due to the timeslot and Dogs fans don't go to the MCG. However not so sure anymore.

Yeh I has pencilled this in pre-season as a massive crowd. Disappointed when I checked the bombers draw!! Think it will probably sneak into the 60s.

I know we've come a long way since the early rounds of 2019 but I'm a still bit wary from Friday night round 3 2019 - Dons 0-2 and kick 20 goals on us.

29 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I know we've come a long way since the early rounds of 2019 but I'm a still bit wary from Friday night round 3 2019 - Dons 0-2 and kick 20 goals on us.

walla, mckernahan, and mitch brown destroyed us

So TWSNBN lose three games in a row.Big deal.What are they, God's gift to the AFL, where past reputations and administrations ruled. NOT any more.

I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if we got rolled on Friday night. The GC game was really taxing and Max Gawn admitted it so. 6 day break makes it tough.

I won’t lose any sleep over an upset. We have won 9 games in a row, and we all know how long the season is.

10 hours ago, Pates said:

There’s been some pretty hard criticism on the bombers in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the perception of them not going hard enough. I would be shocked if they didn’t put in a massive game against us, coming up against the reigning premiers they’ll have a point to prove. 

That's why we have to hit the ground running. Snuff them out early and they will drop their heads.

43 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

That's why we have to hit the ground running. Snuff them out early and they will drop their heads.

That's what they should do but it's not the Melbourne way.
Always give the opposition a sniff.

9 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Low 50's.

Before the season started I expected this game to have a bigger crowd than the Dogs game due to the timeslot and Dogs fans don't go to the MCG. However not so sure anymore.

Yet another reason this mob give me the Con Britts. We finally get a home game against them at the G and they are going like a busted and thousands of the buggers will elect the TV option. We can't even make a decent quid out of them

before the season started i was thinking this would probably be 10k more than the season opener to the dogs

now i'm thinking it could be 10-20k less than that game

people are 'off' attending afl

I just can't accept that any game against the bombers will be easy since the top up game where they knocked us off. I was sitting on Ao Yon beach listening, staring at the water in utter disbelief.

5 hours ago, FireInTheBennelly said:

I just can't accept that any game against the bombers will be easy since the top up game where they knocked us off. I was sitting on Ao Yon beach listening, staring at the water in utter disbelief.

I was at that match .... And people ask why many Demons supporters have (or at least had) MFCSS !!!

21 hours ago, Pates said:

There’s been some pretty hard criticism on the bombers in the last couple of weeks, particularly in the perception of them not going hard enough. I would be shocked if they didn’t put in a massive game against us, coming up against the reigning premiers they’ll have a point to prove. 

No need to be 'shocked', Pates. They are in for a creaming against the mighty Dees.