Boots and all

Typo....4?

We are just not a good side yet, hell I can't remember the last time we won 3 in a row. We will be though, I have seen better patches of footy from us this year than any time in the last 5.

JW has been playing ruck far too often this season already. Who the [censored] will play ruck now, we have no other AFL standard ruckmen?

Of the key forwards you don't want to go to ground against, Jack R would have to be the worst. Tom got smoked tonight, on all fronts.

I knew we were [censored] going into the last. Honestly thought the boys were valiant, but so many were clearly out on their feet during the last quarter. I feel as though we are turning things around, just to be cursed by injury....so miserable tonight.

I hate it when we make it look easy, like we did in the second quarter, because no other side gets more ahead of themselves than the dees....unbelievable. I bet freo don't take the foot off the accelerator in the final quarter.

Agree, even when fit CD offers very little, move on. He simply cannot take a mark and I find his disposal really poor as well. I prefer Pedersen, but like Dawes struggles to impact on a game. I don't see much to lose in blooding either of Hullett or Weiderman.

Just watched the second half of that quarter. We were looking ok at the start and sure as nuts we just switched off. The 'aints layed down the challenge, our disposal went to [censored], stopped running and stopped playing team footy. There are no excuses Melbourne, poor umpiring, playing in Darwin or any other [censored] doesn't cut it....[censored] switch on!!!

Me too Jumbo. They are a young, and hopefully up and coming side like the Dees. I know they have a few stalwarts leading the way but some pretty solid young players as well. I would prefer to see the Saints up there in the eight, than those usual clubs.

We are an average side....albeit on the rise and improving. We might slip a spot or two but I doubt we will leapfrog Port. Either way I'm not particularly concerned, just being realistic about where we are at. I should probably say that it is unlikely we will knock the sides above us off rather than outlandish statements like we won't beat them. I certainly don't feel as though the sky is falling in...I am bullish about next season, our young guns just need another pre-season together to consolidate playing relationships, game plans and build strength. We come undone against strong bodied sides or sides with an exceptional transition game with outside run and carry, but I think this will change next season.

If I'm being absolutely honest, I don't rate the GWS win at all. IMO it was a complete upset as regularly occurs in the first one or two rounds of the season. If the game was played today we would probably lose. I'm stoked that we have beaten clubs below us on the ladder...great. But I do not see us beating any of the sides above us at this stage. We are exactly where we deserve to be, middle of the table. We just need to improve for next season. On the Saints, they just seem to have the right attitude with a good mix of outside run and good stoppage work. The results speak for themselves. I think they will beat us next time as well...which is disappointing but they have shown considerable improvement this season.

Leak....the floodgates will open. We already get caned by big KPF's. . The whole idea of him leaving just freaks me out.

But where does that leave us defensively next season, especially if we miss out on Hurley.

In my view, it's partially the weight of expectation that has delayed JW from getting to stage he's at now. He has been bashed from pillar to post by media and supporters alike. I now want to sit back and enjoy the second half of his career. I'm sure there will be many great games ahead!!

Today I would say the same. Tomorrow, after knocking the Swannies off, and with a spring in my step, I say get him back.

Exactly, they are as scarce as hens teeth. We would almost certainly have to trade for another. Unless, as I mentioned in a previous post, O Mc and/or Frost come on very quickly.

Congrats to the young fella! I hope he soaks it all up. There is nothing like the feeling of winning a GF...in any sport.

I do admit his deficiencies are frustrating to say the least (especially decision making and disposal) and the FD are probably left pulling their hair out in frustration at times. I also don't see any significant improvement in these deficiencies. I do think that his abilities in both body on body marking contests and intercept marking are both sensational. The key to our backline in the future will be ensuring our flankers and pockets provide him with good options...he just needs to learn to take them.

I think in hindsight you may be right AF. We need as much cash in the kitty for Hurley as we can manage. It would be very disappointing to lose T Mc though, we really need both players. Unless of course O Mc and Frosty come on quicker than expected. The other concern I have is, should T Mc leave, does this also give O Mc reason to leave? I think O Mc will become a solid backman with time.

T Mc really is in a position to get overs from us, given our backline deficiencies. Is his manager just playing the game, knowing his value to the Dees. FWIW I would be happy to pay over market value to retain him at the club, whatever that might be.

Not if he's already made his decision.

Plus, a good tall, even if unable to take the mark, can outbody their opponent and bring the ball to ground to our advantage. Incidentally I see Dawes as an excellent proponent of this.

Gee, you would hope not. Surely, any Essendon player worth their salt would be maintaining their fitness in the knowledge they would be playing again after this season. I think Hibberd would be great for our defence. Opposition sides will very focussed on negating forward thrusts through the flanks with both Hibberd and Salem playing there. Hopefully this will relieve the pressure on our less effective users of the ball e.g. McDonald brothers, Frost, Garland etc.

I agree. We still have structural problems in defence, which good sides seem to regularly exploit, as will average sides on their day. IMO, a win or loss to Carlton or St Kilda could easily be decided by one poor quarter of football from us, which still occurs too often. Despite this, I still believe we are capable of beating any side if we play well. On a different note, I recall the AFL having a policy whereby the draw for each club is partly influenced by their final ladder position during the previous year i.e. play more often against sides that finish in similar ladder positions. Can anyone confirm that this is actually the case? If it is true, this will make our rise up the ladder more challenging.

Pulled this from the ABC website. I wonder if he decided to go with his mothers surname? CYRIL KALIPPA RIOLI: I came here (Tiwi Islands) in 1941 from Nguiu. Then the mission started. They said, "You've gotta go cos you're not a full-blood. You're going up there for a mission started for half-caste people. I was brought up by missionaries to grow up and be a decent person, you know? They gave us opportunities to go to school and to do work after school when there's a break. All sorts of sports at the same time. And that's what we took up. But I wasn't at school long enough. But at the same time, I was brought up to try and do the right thing, stay on the right track, you know, don't go off the track.