Cheesy D. Pun

I generally agree but I do wonder what sort of commentary we'd be seeing here if he played the same game in a losing side. I suspect there'd be some saying he should never play again.

Gus is too talented to leave out and is working hard enough to warrant his spot in the side but gee, it felt as though every possession he has yesterday was a clanger.

A classy and detailed response to my assertions. I'm going to take a look at those games and re-evaluate. The personnel based stuff, I certainly agree with.

I love watching half the dudes here jumping on and off the train based on weekly results. A coach showing emotion in the box means nothing. His game plan either works or it doesn't. The game plan we've played with in the past two games is exactly the same as we've been playing since Goodwin took over. It's a good one when we execute. Go Dees!

Ridiculous time to be analysing this. I love what we've done at the draft and trade table over the past 6-7 years. We just need a game plan that clicks with these players and none of that will matter. People are so quick to judge.

I'm with you and I'd prefer this kind of youthful optimism than the usual wrist-slashing that goes on here. We have a good list and if Weideman can emerge as a player, we'll be pretty strong across the ground. We have no trouble winning the ball and in fact, we win most key stats week after week. I'm going to go out on a limb and say, we also have enough good kicks in the side - what needs to click is composure and decision-making. The weekend's game was a very small step in that direction.

His inclusion was huge in this game. If he can avoid one out marking contests, he's a very useful player. Uses the ball consistently well and reads the play well when the forwards lead up.

He's not getting near it and isn't getting anywhere near the space he had in 2018. His ability to catch the thing hasn't gone anywhere - he's not moving well at all and that's his strength, his ability to run his man around and still have plenty in the tank.

Tom is a gun but looks sore to me. He has the turning circle of a truck at the moment but I still think we're a better side with him in it.

The fact that this only effects the Essendon V Melbourne is a big tick for the AFL and strong vindication for the measures they put in place e.g training hubs, shorter qtrs and an intensive testing regime. As much as I wanted us to play tomorrow, the fact that their strategy seems to be robust enough to survive a few positive tests is great and means we are pretty likely to get through the season.

She'll be right, guys. We'll come good and you'll all be singing the praises of the same guys you're defecating on here. One of the small joys that comes with losing (and winning so it seems) is the entertainment value of the ill-considered content that people post here - keep it coming!

I reckon TMac will come good. He has the turning circle of a truck right now for some reason. If he can get his body right, I still see him as a forward.

We didn't play well and deserved to lose. With that out of the way, I saw some things that gave me hope. Our intent kicking the ball inside 50 was fantastic - low, penetrating kicks that even when they missed, put the opposition defence under pressure. The other side of this that makes me hopeful we can turn this around is that when things went bad, it was our work rate around the ball that went south - that's something we're usually good at. I believe this might be why Goodwin didn't throw things around - he was backing our midfield to regain ascendancy. It didn't happen. My final random observation - Carlton are a crap football team but are very fit. Their ability to get numbers around the ball late in both games this year has been impressive.

A good run with injuries and a few more players with good foot skills. I don't think we're as far away as some are saying. It just needs to click. Also, I'm ok with a kick long game plan but those kicks need to penetrate. We saw this last Sunday - when Viney kicked the ball forward, those kicks were long and flat and the ball ended up on the ground where we had a chance. On the flipside, when Hibbo kicked the ball I50, it gave the interceptors far too much time to set up.

It makes more sense to me that the draft would be more about providing a large enough list to deal with playing a game every 4 days from rounds 2-6, than covering for those with the virus itself.

This thread has the potential to come back and bite us in the behind. Some of the evaluations of the Hawks after 0 rounds are staggering.

I want to see Petracca in the middle for as long as possible. If that means Harmesy goes to half back, so be it. Lockhart's potential is huge but he's got a bit of work to do to get up to speed at AFL level. While he does that, I prefer him as a forward.

He's trying to motivate and inspire new players. Imagine if coaches weren't allowed to use a bit of hyperbole. There'd be none left. It's the fact that we get to see it via the doco that is out of the ordinary.

Yep. Me too.

This. Strategic marketing has nothing to do with our football. As fans, we might be concerned about the embarrassment this might cause but the people selling our club don't have the luxury of sharing this sentiment with us. Regardless of our results, the job of the communications team is to talk up the club and provide access to players.

I think it tells you that it wasn't his calves they were testing but his attitude. He's throwing everything at this chance and that's what they wanted to see before taking the leap.

Yep, and he's done a good block of training already so should be fine with sitting out for a while. That said, I have the feeling he'll be ready in advance of round 1. He's the consumate professional and will leave no stone unturned in his rehab.

I'm with you, LN. Repeat efforts, strength and concentration. Defender played him almost flawlessly and he still found a way to win the battle. Kennedy is one of the best forwards of the last decade and that vision shows you why. Agile, strong and smart.

So it's not just me! I've called him Beavis and Butthead since game 1!

A relatively injury-free run, so that we can make an accurate assessment of the list and coaches.