Chris

A few stats for this week. (of full team including extended bench) MFC CFC Diff Average Age 23.1 23.7 -0.6 Average Games 59.5 74.2 -14.7 Back Line Ave Age 21.7 23.2 -1.5 Ave Games 36.0 60.0 -24.0 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 24.7 23.3 1.3 Ave Games 97.7 94.8 2.8 Fwd Ave Age 22.1 24.1 -2.0 Ave Games 67.2 75.2 -8.0 Int Ave Age 22.1 24.1 -2.0 Ave Games 40.3 67.9 -27.6 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 4 2 3 5 14 51-100 2 2 1 2 7 101-150 0 0 2 0 2 151-200 0 1 0 0 1 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 CFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 2 1 3 3 9 51-100 2 3 0 2 7 101-150 2 0 2 1 5 151-200 0 1 1 1 3 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 25 MFC Back CFC Fwd Diff Age 21.7 24.1 -2.5 Games 36.0 75.2 -39.2 MFC Fwd CFC Back Age 22.1 23.2 -1.0 Games 67.2 60.0 7.2 Once again we go into a game as the younger less experience side and yet again we will probably hear all about how our opposition are a team of kids with little to no mention of our age demographic.

Bernie tried on the weekend, there was one time he ran in to tackle and he knee seemed in an odd spot like he was trying to caulk him. Unfortunately he missed.

From memory he was pointing to his middle finger on his right hand as he walked off the ground against Port.

It was the same a few weeks back with them under lots of pressure. We seem to be getting lots of those this year. Hopefully we stand up to it again this week and walk away with the win.

I think 2 weeks is the minimum but it should be two weeks out, not one. Missing one game for that is laughable.

Thanks for that, makes me wonder how the hell he only got 1! Head high elbow behind play should be at least 2 if not 3!

Ceglar got suspended for hitting Jesse, did anyone see that, i certainly missed it.

I have been thinking its Ethan T

Any chance of an f%_ing free!

A few stats for those interested. MFC HFC Diff Average Age 23.0 25.7 -2.7 Average Games 62.9 124.6 -61.7 Back Line Ave Age 22.3 28.7 -6.3 Ave Games 44.8 182.7 -137.8 Fol (includes wing) Ave Age 25.0 27.0 -2.0 Ave Games 103.7 153.0 -49.3 Fwd Ave Age 23.2 24.3 -1.2 Ave Games 71.3 91.7 -20.3 Int Ave Age 21.0 21.5 -0.5 Ave Games 17.8 44.5 -26.8 Melbourne Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 3 2 3 4 12 51-100 3 2 0 0 5 101-150 0 0 3 0 3 151-200 0 1 0 0 1 200+ 0 1 0 0 1 22 HFC Games Backline Fol Fwd Int total 0-50 0 1 2 3 6 51-100 1 1 0 0 2 101-150 1 2 3 1 7 151-200 2 0 1 0 3 200+ 2 2 0 0 4 22 MFC Back HFC Fwd Diff Age 22.3 24.3 -2.0 Games 44.8 91.7 -46.8 MFC Fwd HFC Back Age 23.2 28.7 -5.5 Games 71.3 182.7 -111.3 Even though we have added much needed experience to the lineup this week we still, as expected, go into this game with no where near the same age or experience in our team and the Hawks are going to put on the park. The respective forward lines and the benches are the only place we even come close to matching them and in those areas we are still at best a season behind. Lets all hope that in this case the saying is wrong and youth and exuberance can indeed overcome old age and treachery!

Whoops, must make sure not to misread people in future. Will remove foot from mouth soon!

From that article "That is, there would be a mass exodus of Essendon players because of the circumstance they found themselves under. Certainly, unfairly, the pointy end of a tragic breakdown in trust between club leaders, staff and the players. Who would blame them at the time? They have always had the right to leave. Fortunately, the ‘three C’s’ have returned to the Essendon Culture. Confidence, Care and Compassion. Players are free to make their choice. Bit by bit they return. Well done to the Club on providing the environment where players are ‘falling back in love ‘with their footy club. " Seems they aren't too great at counting out at Tullamarine! Bit of a nothing article really.

From the article " Watson faces the possibility of being stripped of his 2012 medal because he is serving an anti-doping suspension for allegedly being administered the banned drug thymosin beta 4 during the Bombers' injection program." Surely the 'allegedly can be dropped now, or does that have to wait until the final appeal is heard? "To be honest, I don't understand why Jobe doesn't demand that you charge him, and immediately set up a hearing which is open to the public. Allowing the CAS panel, which was incompetent at best, to make the decision for the AFL, is nothing but cowardly." Does he not realise Jobe has been charged and found guilty? Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-doping-saga-james-hirds-father-joins-fight-to-save-jobe-watsons-brownlow-medal-20160601-gp9bxi.html#ixzz4AO7EMGBM Follow us: @theage on Twitter | theageAustralia on Facebook Interesting that Hird is in London, seems nice and close to France pita pata pita pata.

He was sick two weeks ago and I would assume didn't get better quick enough. If he was running around for Casey I would start to ask the questions you are but he isn't (at this point). I think we really missed having him against Port. That third marking tall in the forward line, and ability to have one back and one forward was something we sorely lacked. Oliver was the other I think we missed, which is great that he is so valuable but not so great that we are starting to really rely on a bloke who has played a handful of games.

Agreed O Mac is a way off and wonder why Dunn isnt in in his place. My conclusion is from you bagging the defence and saying how bad they are while saying we should be playing players who arent available. The only other option, except for Dunn, is the young players, hence you are paying out on the young players. You cant expect players with 5 games experience to be great every game, it is unrealistic. Unfortunately we have had little choice but to keep playing at least 2 of them.

Hate to say it but it will only be 9 weeks!

Why complain about the defence of the youngsters, who still need to learn, when your solution is bringing in players who aren't playing due to injury? If they weren't injured they would be playing and we may not have the issues we are. Seems you are putting all the failings at the feet of the youngsters who between them would be lucky to rustle up 30 games!

I would be very surprised if H came back through the VFL. If fit he plays for exactly the reasons you say. Not many more options in the mean time though other then teaching the youngsters. Dunn is the other who I think should be playing, has me puzzled why he isn't.

It is reality that they are hot and cold, so are all inexperienced players, that is why it is harsh as it is not unexpected. Not sure how you plan to draft in experienced either unless you are talking the trade period

That may well be the case, I for one am glad they are playing attacking fun footy and not just the clamping down game we have seen for the last few years. We have enough of this up to pace in my view to bring in this game plan, it will take time to bed down though.

But you want to compare to clubs with similar lists, unless you are making subjective claims on the talent of each list then you must look at it in terms of age and experience. On that measure we are middle of the pack or just above with only really the dogs and GWS well clear, both of whom are older and more experienced. We can try and compare our list as similar to the ones you listed if you like but that is purely subjective and gives no indication of the potential future.

Agree with most of it but disagree that the players aren't worth persevering with our aren't good enough to do what we need. Most of those listed either are good enough now or don't have the experience to be consistent in application. To complain that players that have played less than 10 games are hot and cold is a little harsh. They need to be given time. If come the end of next year we are still at the same point then I would agree with you, not yet though.

So who is the problem. Our back line consists of Jetta and McDonald who are both good, Dunn who can be good, Garland who is now only OK and on the way out over the next year or so, H who is pretty good when he has support, Salem who is pretty good when healthy and he has less than 50 games under his belt, and a bunch of players with a handful of games in Hunt, Wagner, Frost, and O Mac. Dunn and Garland have a couple of years left at most and as the others come on will find it harder to get a game, McDonald and Jetta are both more than capable, so that leaves the young ones, do you want to throw them out and start again? You can also add to the defence the forwards and midfielders because with our game plan if they don't defend then the defenders job is impossible. Who are you throwing out there?

Maybe I got your comment around the wrong way. Were you saying we should compare ourselves to the teams I listed, as they are similar? I get a bit jaded in here due to the mass negativity after a loss and think everyone is going all out and asking why we aren't Hawthorn yet.

Thanks for agreeing that the group can't do anything consistently yet, it will take time. I disagree about the incremental as well, last year there were signs of the incremental push to be more offensive. We weren't good at it but it was there. This year they have gone with the full game plan and the balance is out. When it works it works but if the players are off then it doesn't, it is the same at any team then only difference is that when our players are off they are off by 40% not by 5% like you get with older players.