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It didn't take long for them to lose 'The Edge' Decided to check out bf! Thought I wold drop by and share their comments: Gather round sucks! This team is trash. Make a statement at selection. Embarrassing. I ******* hate being a fan of the most pathetic club in the competition. And now hopefully people see why Scott said it’s an 8 year plan and not 3 or whatever. Essendon Edge? More like Essendon lay down and die. Amazing example of an arrogant upstart team coming in and thinking ‘if we do what we do, we don’t have to worry about the opposition’, and the getting absolutely ****ing smashed for their hubris and naivety. absolutely owned. outworked and outclassed. Finally, it feels like a normal season again. Was feeling a bit weird there for a hot minute. Every year it's the same s**t. We knock off dawks, norf, etc Maybe have a "breakout" win against 'aints or whoever, have a chance to make a statement (even if we don't win) and what happens. We s**t the bed. No composure when we had the ball and no pressure when we didn’t. Is draper undroppable ? The hype around this bloke is ******* hysterical Parish … 6 years for a bloke we don’t need. Fair to say its the same stuff with this group - against the big clubs/games & adversity(interstate away games) we are soft, weak & unskillful. There are no positives to that game. None. Zero. … Need to burn the entire list and start again post Dodo. We have no speed, no skills, no grunt, no winners …Same s**t, different year. Kinda tempted to have an all time melt but don’t have the energy for this s**t anymore. We undid every positive from the first 3 rounds. Lots of work to even cement ourselves as a mid table team. Get someone from the Melbourne Storm to teach those soft pretty boys how to tackle for a start. Our style is flat track bullies. Calling it, season over. Huge% loss tonight. Now an uncompetitive 82%. i am essenDONE Need more AFL lifestyle The Understatement A bit s**t A hint of optimism: Need to put this behind us as quick as possible and use it as a reality check. My Favourite: Oh well, where was the Edge? They lied, we were on the Edge of a cliff! Can't agree with this comment: Cats V Power GF, calling it now. I had the Dees in the GF before the season even started. Stand by that. Don't care who we play, probably GWS. My wish for Ess is not to be stuck at the bottom of the ladder as they would reap early draft picks. My wish is for them to be forever stuck in the wilderness of a mid tier team. Hoping like hell that Collingwood join them there for a long time to come!! Enjoy the season D'landers. It will be a very good one.

Robbos just an average bloke with alcoholic dementia,doing an average job,for an average paper and an average radio station and tv show with a below average IQ and hygeine regimen.I actually tip my hat to the poor c.nt.He's the highest achieving slob we've had in Australia since Sir Les Patterson and he isn't even a parody.

Dodoro doesn't get enough credit for bringing the whole AFL world the joy of 7000 plus days of no Essendon success in September. Here's to another 500.

Paying $800,000 for Ben McKay

Have now had the chance to watch the game, I reckon we were so much better than those who have posted on here along the lines of "ugly win but we'll take it". We were so well structured and defended the ground so well. Like last week, when they had momentum (Q1 and Q4) they couldn't generate easy scoring shots because of how well we got back and set up our zone. To win a game like that on a 5-day break with Oliver and Viney both well below their best, and with Salem struggling too, says a lot about our team effort IMO. Trac was fantastic but a running theme this year is that we're getting just what we need from most of our 23. May, Lever, McVee and TMac behind the ball were all superb whilst Chandler, Sparrow, ANB and Howes all played their various roles. Even Brown was better than his meagre stat line suggests, with his leading, blocking and aerial contest work. Brisbane will be a massive challenge next week but if we can win that and get to the first bye 5-1, that will be incredible given where we've come from and some of the challenges we've had in these opening five weeks.

Next Training at Gosch's Paddock Demon Family Series April School Holiday Open Training Date and location: Sunday, April 7 (Gosch's Paddock) Inclusions: Players training Signing opportunities Kids' activities Partner giveaways 11:00am: Event open to public 11:45am - 12:15pm: team training 12:15pm - 12:45pm: players signing along the fence 12:45pm - 1:30pm: Field open to the public for K2K 1:30pm: event ends https://www.melbournefc.com.au/teams/training-times

I very briefly worked for Cotton On, and aside from it being a horrible place to work, the highlight was being in a meeting with David Wojcinski, and pretending I didn’t know he was a former footballer. I casually said in a meeting, in front of 20 coworkers, ‘I just googled you, and the first thing that came up said you broke the jaw of some 17 year old kid called Jack Viney’. It was one of my career highlights.

I am confused. Surely while 'potential to cause serious injury' and 'level of impact' are not unrelated, I do not see why his action has to be judged as 'medium impact' in order to invoke 'potential to cause'. Surely if an action has potential to cause injury, it doesn't need any particular level of impact to be applied. The action is the sin. So why this fake bar of 'medium' gets you into trouble, but 'low' doesn't? It looks like they had to absurdly say that an action which was clearly low impact was in fact medium just to punish the sin. Ridiculous. How could they revise the rules and not come up with coherent sensible rule that doesn't require such patent nonsense? No wonder so many of us are cynical as to their motives. The AFL lives in a corporate fantasy land where they make up the rules and interpretations as they go along to suit.

I agree to a point. But with the way we play, in particular our incredibly aerobically taxing all team defence and the distances all players have to cover (10 plus ks minimum) backing up after only 5 days is very difficult. It's all about recovery, and even one less day than the oppo makes a big difference. They were clearly paddling in the last quarter, so were the crows, but I think we are fitter, which made a difference. Tracc talked post game about how hard they found it. I've been tracking the impact of the break between games for almost a decade for punting purposes. And there is no doubt when a team has to back up inside 7 days, and the oppo has an extra day break its a huge factor. It's something i always factor in.

Watching the game again and I think Billings was very unlucky not to be in the goals and I really like that he didn't stop trying to score. I hesitate to turn him into a whipping boy just yet. I also noticed we're carrying a few injuries and the bye cannot come soon enough. I think Chandler, Oliver, Trac, Viney, May, Brown and Lever are all carrying niggles in urgent need of a rest. Am not going to drop my bundle if we lose to Brisbane. Obviously hoping for a win. In better news - Tmac has turned the clock back years, even his field kicking and decision making seems sharper. Dylan Thomas comes to mind for our veterans Do not go gentle into that good night. Brown, and Melksham hopefully later look like they are not going to die wondering. And Brown definitely has fire in the belly even if he didn't hit the scoreboard his endeavour is there. However watching Port dismantle Essendon (with a fit JHF and Mitch G) made it clear we really put some blood and sweat into that win. We are not that far ahead, there are a few teams where it will be fine margins. Oliver needs his hand, we want Petty forward, and we cannot lose an ounce of our pressure game. I also am not sure about Salem in the middle, something about his timing seems off, not attitude but I think he's better when the play is coming to him. Most urgent however is JvR getting his hands back, he's lost something with his timing on holding the ball, his attack is great, but either an injury or mental demons have really got a hold of him. Carlton (who I still do not credit as truly good) and GWS have some weapons to trouble us, is going to be a titanic season and have mad respect for the way the team is going about it.

That’s what fans come to the footy to see. 2 teams go hard at it with discipline and huge effort for 3 hours - only for the umpire to unequivocally decide the result with a decision that no one can hear or see.

I am glad he didn’t initiate contact. There could have been a clash of heads and Clarry would have been suspended for choosing to bump. Take it to the bank. Smart move imo. Anyone questioning Clarry’s bravery is simply best ignored.

It's part of the narrative of middle-aged ex footballers chest beating about the 70s, 80s and 90s glory days by nit picking current players

You know what they say Gonz... The Greeks invented sex, but the Italians introduced women to the activity

This poster from Bomberblitz at least has a sense of humour: Just after half time I was having a conversation with Mrs hambo about a house we had recently bid on and missed. Turns out the top bidders have dubious finance and may not come through with the money meaning that it may fall to us. This distracted me from the footy but also from my glass of red wine which I knocked making it rock side to side and spill wine on the table and rug. I then rectified the situation by grabbing from another direction with the other hand. Unfortunately this exaggerated the rocking effect and more wine fell on the floor, my shirt and the couch. I countered with a big catch which didn’t go so well and I smacked the glass into the wall and now have red wine and broken glass absolutely everywhere. who played it better? hambo? Essendon?

Thankfully we rolled the dice on Steven May playing against the Crows as he is one of our best and important players. I hope we roll the dice again and challenge the grading of impact, get it down to a fine and then tell Kossie to rein it in a bit. A big game at the G against the Lions, you want your best available. Come on Dees, roll the dice don’t roll over.

careless conduct with high contact and a medium impact, which has triggered a one-match suspension IT WAS NOT MEDIUM IMPACT Soligo got straight up and played out the game with no issue. Repeat no issue. CHALLENGE. Show some support for Kozzy and challenge this one.

I think you are right. We beat injuries, May, Viney and Clarry. We beat the 5 day break. We beat the fixture, both Adelaide teams in 5 days. We beat the crowds. We beat the umpires. We beat the AFL hope of an Adelaide win. It was a great win.

well if that was classified as medium impact i'd like to see an example of what low impact would be. this is just wrong classification, and on this basis must be appealed. regardless of whatever punishment anyone personally thinks, the afl has a standard set of definitions and corresponding punishments. they can't just deviate from that on a whim or a wish have some b*lls, mfc and support your player's rights to procedural fairness

I hope this won't be challenged. I'm surprised by Goody saying he won't ask KP to dial down his aggression. Third time now in a year he's been suspended. He can be the best player in the AFL but he's no good if he's not on the field. He's not only letting the/ team down but also himself. I want to see the best version of Kozzie. Also Jvr needs to settle down a bit. It was be very silly for him not to play in the Carlton final when we so depleted of players. Perhaps Viney can mentor them both about channelling their agro. I'm sure the fire in them is part of what makes them good players but they can become even better if they can he harness it. May is a great example of someone who used to have a problem in this area who totally turned it around. Maybe Goody will have a quiet word behind closed doors. KP is a very important player for us and this is an important game before our bye. It's also the second one he will miss this year.

The concept of using “potential to cause injury” to alter the level of “impact” of the charge has more holes than Swiss cheese. The case could fail at the corrupt MRO, but I reckon the chance at appeal is decent.

It's a reminder that they're a very good side when they're on, and that JHF makes them even better in the middle (although obviously a fit May makes us better too). We should be incredibly proud of winning both these Adelaide games.

And we beat them without May

Nothing like beating West Coast, Richmond and Essendon. And then, wait, what’s that? Losing to an actual contender at home.

Carlton are reminding us why we hate them. Such arrogance. Umps got Blues home again 😡😡😡

When did that ever stop?

The guy is way past his use by date.

Dermie🤡 has always hated the Dees. He misses so much obvious things. Oliver couldn’t spoil due to his right hand which clearly is restricting him. Oliver has never taken short steps. Note that 🤡Dermie also says the Blues lack for midfield runners and have only Cripps as a gun mid. He has forgotten about a bloke called Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra. Footy Expert? Hardly !!!

I spent a lot of time at my Grandma’s farm in SA during May or Sept holidays and my Uncle Butch would always take us to the Truro Market he loved the German metwurst and Fritz, we would have it on toast with homemade chutney and lunch as a sandwich with lettuce tomato and cucumber salad. It was far superior to anything made back in Vic. My holidays on the farm are the best memories a kid could have, free range eggs, fresh milk and cream, lots of lamb and bacon, riding on the tractor, sheep dogs, etc. a little glass of port each night after playing 500 or Eucre before bedtime each night.!!

He didn’t lift the elbow. It was by his side.

I watched the Port Adelaide vs Essendon game last night as a neutral, but also as someone who has a bit of a dislike for both sides. I did however, enjoy seeing Port tip Essendon completely over the edge because the Bombers have been unashamedly promoted in the Herald Sun throughout the preseason and into the first few weeks of the season proper. No coincidence that Mark Robinson, the paper’s chief football writer, is an Essendon fan. I wonder if we are now going to see a change of direction at the HUN and for someone among their team of journos to start questioning the culture of the club at the hanger?

We have a 7 day break and then a bye. Nobody is getting rested unless they can’t physically get out of bed. Brisbane is still, despite their early form, a formidable opponent. We need all our best players out on the field. Sadly I think Kosi will be a forced out as I can’t see him getting off if we appeal.

Go watch the third quarter again. Instrumental. This guy had barely no pre season, a mountain of personal issues to deal with, and is playing with a busted hand. The glaring lack of understanding and empathy is totally unnecessary. This guy has carried our side more than once and you can’t find me one player at Casey who could come in and be half as good as he is, even at his current lower output. 10 pressure acts, equal second highest clearance, highest goal assists. And he did not pull up short, he avoided a suspension. To suggest Clarry is nothing but incredibly brave and tough is plain wrong. Try playing with a dislocated finger.

sickening it is for sure Red. Luckily we still have Essendon to cheer us up.

Also Cotterill was allowed to play on from a free and goal when Freo players stopped and then with a few minutes to go and Dockers up, they got a free, played on to the wing and ready to go in and score and umpire brought it back. Carlton then got dodgy decision and win it. Game turning decision.

It’s going to be very hard to beat Carlscum this year What an absolute disgrace that is Bordering on cheating, just like the Cripps Brownlow

@Axis of Bob what did you think about the umpire’s influence on the Carlton Freo game?

Strange, I've been actively noting that Langdon is playing quite well. Useful connections, and blocking space defensively. I thought he was very important at limiting the Port dynamic midfield.

Absolute Gold F off Essendon i will never forget the years of my youth when you lot were arrogant and vile watch your old VHS tapes and F off

Spot on. The football media is dominated by these boneheads. And what happens when one shuffles of to ABC special comments (eg McClure)? They get replaced by recently retired boneheads, who have zero public speaking skills, like hodge. Selwood is the latest. Just like Jonesy, he has been ok. But low bar. The recently retired players bring current knowledge about the game, which often makes them interesting. But the pattern is none continue to do any work to update their knowledge, so after 2-3 years they lose their value as people who are up with current trends eyc. But remain terrible public speakers.

I thought he could have spoiled too, but he is up there with Jack Viney as one of our toughest players. All the noise in the media regarding Kozzie, we know the AFL pick and choose what to suspend players for depending on who you are. Best way to shut em up? Keep winning. Us v them mentality.

Not Billings his best effort but the bloke hasn't played in 2 years, is learning a new system and was coming off a 5 day break. I think he's coming along ok. He will know there are competitors for his spot. Taj has had two small bites, probably not enought to stake a major claim though (tool us way to long to get Brown off and him on in the last qtr though). Hunter will need to prove himself at Casey. And eventually it will be impossble to ignore the Kolt.

Imagine anyone saying this about Goodwin?! Even though he has had a great start despite all the pressure and off field stuff. The only time he is mentioned in the media is unsubstantiated off field nonsense year after year

The one thing that all my Essendon mates say is “we have a young list, what do you expect - we’ve just got to put games into them”. It’s rubbish. Shout out to @WheeloRatings, but Essendon are at the AFL mean (25.9 years) and only 0.2 years younger than us, which isn’t that impressive when you think we have Ben Brown (31), TMac (31) and Gawn (32) playing. Absolutely time for the focus and commentary on their culture to be turned up.

We now don't travel again for 6 weeks (next game away from the G is Round 10 vs West Coast), and only have two games away from the G between now and Round 16 vs Brisbane in the last week of June. That's a relatively kind run given we've been on the road 3 of our first 5 weeks. It does, though, include difficult sides - Brisbane, Geelong, Carlton, Fremantle and Collingwood.

Thursday night - Mighty Dees put the cherry on top of their Gather Round experience Friday night - perversely reading through Dustin Fletcher Hangar game thread. Does it get better?

I think the whole team ran out of Gas last night. it was a fantastic effort to defensively hold Adelaide to a loss

On Billing’s whilst his three misses were frustrating they could easily have him with 3 goals to go with his 14 possessions. The reason I think he should be ommitted is the amount of missed tackles he had.