We’ll learn a lot about the 2026 club on Saturday. Will we have the maturity, professionalism and hunger to beat a poor performing side and elevate ourselves to a 4-1 start and suddenly be in the mix for a top 10 spot (with a number of potential wins on the table IMO)?

Or will it be another repeat of previous Gather round games where we don’t come to play and the opposition play attacking and nothing to lose type footy, and blow us away in a quarter of footy.

The lead into this game reminds me of the 2023 Gather Round where we had a 3-1 record and the Dons were about $4.20 to win it and were not given a chance.

3 minutes ago, Dees051321 said:

I feel sick for this game… probably because the last 2 times we’ve played Essendon in gather round where we’ve been predicted to win we’ve lost. What’s with us playing them at gather round 😅

Five teams remain winless in Gather Round: Hawks, Doggies, Tigers, Kangas and Eagles.

Five teams haven’t suffered a Gather Round loss: Port, Lions, Pies, Giants and Cats.

The law of averages says this will change, as will us losing to Essendon again.

😉

If I was a gambling man I’d put everything I had on us to beat Essendon knowing that it was a certainty.

9 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

If I was a gambling man I’d put everything I had on us to beat Essendon knowing that it was a certainty.

… said every poor fool who took a win for granted. 😉

3 hours ago, JTR said:

No Williamson this week, so that's a win.

We do have Nicholls though 🫤

Where did you see this? AFL site only has tonights game line ups and umps.
I want to know if he is doing the cats game cos a mate of mine reckons he hates the cats the most.

49 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

If I was a gambling man I’d put everything I had on us to beat Essendon knowing that it was a certainty.

I'm a gambling man and i'd seriously recommend NEVER putting everting you have on the dees to win ANY game!

I'm like GW ... I never bet on the Dees. If we lose, then I've lost twice.

Having said that, I don't bet every round. And I hope I lose my money!!

Bombers fans up and about on SEN. they believe they’ll win sunday

17 hours ago, Demon Jack said:

First Crack just showed some great footage of Langford's off the ball running from the Sun's game.

There was one instance where he ran out flat chat from one end of the ground to the other to provide an option forward. I think it was when Chandler marked, played on and hit the post.

They compared his current role with Ollie Dempsey from the Cats, especially with his marking ability.

15 hours ago, binman said:

I always check the tracker on the AFL app as it's the only publicly available GPS data I can find, or any data for that matter, that gives me any sense of our running power and fitness (though i reckon pressure ratings are a reasonable proxy - ours, like Calton's this year routinely was our lowest in the last quarter last season, which i think reflected out lack of fitness).

We had the top 5 players for average speed in defence against the suns (confusing name - defence in this context means when the opponent has the ball, not in the defensive half).

That's a great indication of our all team defensive gut running and spread - critical for defending turnover generally, and in this match of how we denied them space and put pressure on players receiving handballs.

Nor surprisingly Langers had the highest average speed when the Suns had the ball (8.7 kms per hour) and Sharp equal second (8.5 kms per hour).

But I have to say i was super suprised who was equal second - Harvey.

By the by, the xext two were Kolt (8.4) and Laurie (8.3)

I’m a big Langford fan and have been since from early in his draft year.

I had a punt on him for goals and disposals in the last game as I thought he was coming into good form.

I was a little disappointed with his running back in the last quarter and was surprised to hear @binman say he was in our top 3 defensive runners. I know the knocks on him have been pace but he had a good 2km time trail in his draft year and I thought 2 way running would have been better.

So I watched the second half again and just focused on him. I was clearly a bit biased by my punt but I do think he’s got a bit of work to do in his tank.He went at 67% game time and dovetails very well with Culley. He seems to be able to find an extra bit running forward.

I’d love to see some of his other GPS number to see if I’m wrong. It looked like he was under done or had a niggle in first couple of rounds so perhaps he’s still getting to full fitness.

I actually thought of the Oilly Dempsey comparison when I was watching the second half replay. Worst case he stays in the position he’s in and is a weapon at wing/forward.

33 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Bombers fans up and about on SEN. they believe they’ll win sunday

Comfort food provided by Hird and Dodoro caterers.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by Tarax Club

2 hours ago, Gator said:

Brad Scott was part of a 17 game record winning streak against the MFC when he was coach of North Melbourne. Unfortunately for him, nobody beats Melbourne 18 times in a row. Least of all North Melbourne.

Ironically, Melbourne now has an opportunity to extend Essendon's VFL/AFL record losing streak to 18 with the same Brad at the helm.

With apologies to Vitas Gerulaitus......

He delivered his legendary line on January 12, 1980, after finally defeating Jimmy Connors, who had won their previous 16 consecutive matches.

54 minutes ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Bombers fans up and about on SEN. they believe they’ll win sunday

Let's hope they turn up Sunday, given the game is Saturday, they can win all day Sunday if they want.

1 hour ago, GawnOfTheDead said:

Bombers fans up and about on SEN. they believe they’ll win sunday

Who are they playing on Sunday?

26 minutes ago, Colm said:

I’m a big Langford fan and have been since from early in his draft year.

I had a punt on him for goals and disposals in the last game as I thought he was coming into good form.

I was a little disappointed with his running back in the last quarter and was surprised to hear @binman say he was in our top 3 defensive runners. I know the knocks on him have been pace but he had a good 2km time trail in his draft year and I thought 2 way running would have been better.

So I watched the second half again and just focused on him. I was clearly a bit biased by my punt but I do think he’s got a bit of work to do in his tank.He went at 67% game time and dovetails very well with Culley. He seems to be able to find an extra bit running forward.

I’d love to see some of his other GPS number to see if I’m wrong. It looked like he was under done or had a niggle in first couple of rounds so perhaps he’s still getting to full fitness.

I actually thought of the Oilly Dempsey comparison when I was watching the second half replay. Worst case he stays in the position he’s in and is a weapon at wing/forward.

Someone told me, and i'm not sure if it's true (though it would make sense given King was the Cats midfield coach - or at least i think he was), that King was behind how the Cats use Dempsey - ie as a tall winger that aims to stretch opposition defences and be a legitimate forward marking option, often pushing all the way to the goal square (a crazy % of his goals have been from the goal square).

Tracks with how King is using Langford and Culley.

In a rebuilding team who've had a few good results, there is always an unexpected banana peel performance/result, just pray its not against these fellas

3 hours ago, Ghostwriter said:

… said every poor fool who took a win for granted. 😉

2 hours ago, binman said:

I'm a gambling man and i'd seriously recommend NEVER putting everting you have on the dees to win ANY game!

My vibes are so strong on victory this week that I’d lend you the cold hard to make the bet but there’s something about stats folk that’s just a bit off. 🤓

I think we will win by 30-40 points

Too many Goalscoring options

But we must start well in the first Quarter

If Essendon are given the slightest sniff, they will challenge…

We must break their souls early.

It’s Jake’s 250th…

1 hour ago, HBDee said:

Let's hope they turn up Sunday, given the game is Saturday, they can win all day Sunday if they want.

Oop. So used to us playing on sundays…

Anyone else having problems with DL? I’m finding it frustratingly slow to load anything. Are there any issues Andy? @Demonland

Same seems slow to load!

Robey to debut

He'll be a beauty I reckon. Lock in the rising star nom now

Are we having loading issues... ?? 🤣🤣🤣

(I'll show myself out)