Pates

So was Garlett when he was a blue bagger, this year he was in AA conversations. Talent sometimes needs a different environment to grow.

I've been on holiday the last few days (a good escape, but I have to admit I feel it kind of put a dampener on it), but look at how the football world has reacted to our choke and tell me our club isn't a joke. I'll admit some of it I've had to chuckle at (otherwise I'd just get angry), but it's clear to me the wider AFL community still sees us as the butt of everybody's jokes. We made great inroads to claim relevance and credibility, I can't help but feel a lot of that has been ruined by choking at the final hurdle.

Fantastic year from him. From his first game he looked like he belongs. He's my pick for B&F this year.

This hurts. More than any other year of watching other teams in the finals this hurts. I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to watch any of it. The idea that Essendrug are in there, West Coast who are the biggest flat track bullies, that had we actually beaten the bottom team properly when we were 32pts up, that had we actually done the job when everything was on the line this week, we could/should be in there instead. We've improved, but we're still a laughing stock.

This hurts. More than any other year of watching other teams in the finals this hurts. I don't think I'll be able to bring myself to watch any of it. The idea that Essendrug are in there, West Coast who are the biggest flat track bullies, that had we actually beaten the bottom team properly when we were 32pts up, that had we actually done the job when everything was on the line this week, we could/should be in there instead. We've improved, but we're still a laughing stock.

Was this not why we brought in Lewis? Have Melbourne-ified him into accepting mediocrity? I will say this, Lewis was one that really fought hard. In fact I think he tried to bring others into it, but it almost looked like the players had accepy they were losing. Things that need to be addressed for next are: - beating teams that we should be beating - putting teams to the sword when the opportunity is there (Brisbane last week) - learning to stop the bleeding when teams get a run on Those three things we have witnessed going in the wrong direction this year. We fix one of them and we're cemented in the finals. Two of them and we're up in contention. All of them and your a real contender.

Essendon's final percentage 106.5, it we had put the Lions to the sword last week we wouldn't be in this incredibly stupid situation. I'm taking the pessimists approach, I think we're finishing 9th. But prove me wrong Adelaide!

Slightly tongue in cheek I'm assuming. What you have said is almost plucked straight out of Bailey, Craig, Neald, Roos's end of season pressers. I was philosophical about our capitulation last year in round 23, this year feels like a slap in the face of every member who's stuck fat.

I can't possibly fathom there being any upbeat attitude in the rooms after today. They should all have been hurting and pi55ed off, forgetting results to come they should've looked at today as their ticket to the finals. I'd true that there was still an upbeat feeling then all involve should have a good hard look at themselves I agree with your assessment that we are the new Richmond. Richmond were the kings at building their fans up only to disappoint them when it really counted. Finishing 9th would be extremely appropriate for us.

I'd love to have your confidence, I really would.

I think I'm pass the anger stage and onto depression now. This club deflates me so easily.

I remembered saying prior to the Brisbane game, a comfortable/big win just about cements our spot in the finals, while a tight win leaves the door ajar. I'm as angry about how we took the foot off last week as I am about today's loss. We switch off/fail to switch on so easily. We win by 30+ points last week (for crying out loud North SMASHED the Lions this week) and we force WC to play catch up to us. If we miss finals we only have ourselves to blame, and if it happens I don't want to hear the boys are gutted, I want to hear they pi55ed off!!!!

I expect nothing from this year now!!!! It's been so hard to read!

If by some miracle we do make the final jeez I hope we avoid Sydney. We will get beaten by a record margin if we come up against them.

Forward, no doubt about it. Even with his stupid play on at the end (what the actual F--- was he thinking???) he looks a lot better forward. He's a very strong mark, and his set shot accuracy is surprisingly good (again why didn't he go back????). For me in defence he doesn't look confident anymore. His field kicking can be absolutely diabolical, and at least if he has brain farts in the forward line it doesn't cost us as dearly. What that means though is we are short a proper FB, and are suddenly over stocked up forward.

Lol I have a feeling we're heading to mad Monday!

Only if GWS win tonight, if Geelong wins look out for a couple of late withdrawals and cagey performances. It's an argument for playing every round 23 game at the same time. Logistically it would be a nightmare, but it would eliminate this situation.

I think think is something that frustrates me. Time and time againweve had the chance to make statements when the year is done and we don't have finals to look forward to and we don't come to play. The expression of "the boys looked tired" tired seemed to be trotted out as an excuse for pissweak performances at the end of the year. Well take a look at Collingwood, our most hated rival, they didn't have finals, hell they didn't even have their best side but they played with passion and hunger. We had EVERYTHING to play for, just like last week, and yet both times we looked like much of the way we've looked when we've had nothing on the line. Flat, passionless, uninspired. Hearing that we didn't lay a single tackle in the first 10min makes me sick. Jack Viney must be fuming right now.

Haha that's right, in front of a massive crowd too!

Wow what a bump. You must have a hell of a memory to want to bump this post up! He was crap from what I saw today, and moving him forward appears to have lost any ability he had in defence. His kick out was a disgrace, as was the carry on after Cox missed (we were behind you peanut, worry about your own game), and then with 3 minutes to go he has the opportunity for a set for from 45m out and immediately kicks it to a 3 on 1. It was his worst performance for the club. But having said all that, he has actually been good for most of this year. I think he is officially a forward though, so the question becomes how do you squeeze him, Hogan, Watts, and Pederson into the forward line?

I can't remember the last time we had a positive end to a season.

I've seen you around enough Ash to know your one of the good Essendon fans. You love your footy and love chatting about it. I agree with with about the whole "we don't deserve to make finals" garbage being thrown up here. If we make it we deserve it. You can't say WC deserve it any more or less, both teams have been inconsistent, but whichever team gets the chocolates deserve their place. Playing finals has been my goal for the team this year, I'm not worried about winning a final (of course I'd love that) but I just want to see us a part of finals action again. Getting that experience into the young players would be invaluable, and players like Jones deserve finals action for all the crap they've put up with. I will be barracking hard for GWS to win tonight to put the pressure on Adelaide, and barracking even harder for Adelaide. I can't see Freo knocking off Essendon (but who knows!). As you say, the writing was on the wall last week. A lot were happy to say "oh but Brisbane have improved", I think we have a reputation for being mentally weak. Lower teams know if they hit us hard early they can catch us off guard, they go into the contest ready to go hard. After all that though, we were in front by 32pts last week in the final quarter but only limped over the line. We keep that margin and we have more percentage to play with, likewise we allowed the Saints and Port back into the contest. As I said earlier I think we are mentally weak. As for Petracca, he was a big reason why we were back in the game at 3 quarter time. I don't know whether Goody changed things with him or if Buckley sent coverage to him but yeah he was missing badly at the end. He wasn't the only one. He's young though, he'll get better.

From the second half I saw none of those surprise me. Tyson was one in particular that coughed up some disgraceful kicks forward. There was one in particular in the final quarter where we won the clearance and he was in meters of space, had a player to kick to 20m away and kicked it well over his head straight to the trailer Pies player. I don't know what has happened to him, I remember his first year his kicking was deadly. Feels like a fully Melbourne transformation. Nibbler as well I recall a spearing kick he had in the 3rd quarter to set up a mark 35m out directly in front for someone. Fell well short and Pies cleared. These were text book basic easy kicks that cost us dearly. Incredible.

That call was a complete guess, Peterson took it out of the ruck and had a hand laid on him (hardly a tackle) and handballed it immediately. It was a big call too because we were away and it started a run of repeat entries. Feels like this was the evener for QB, we got a good run that day, they got a good run today. It happens. What we could control was not up to it.

Agreed, I only saw the second half but when the game started turning it was being driven by Jones. He's a club champion and deserves better. Lewis also had a some telling passages of play in the second. The other three (from what I saw) deserve the criticism. Vince looks lost at times, I think he only seems effective when tagging someone out of the game. Gawn, I'm not sure if he's lost some confidence after the umpires umpired him out of the game against the Saints, but he was EASILY beaten by Grundy. And TMac, I've already said it, but I'll say it again. Made two ridiculously stupid errors at the end.