Just now, rjay said:

No, but a fit Tyson, Jones, Salem, Vanders & Kent along with more games & footy fitness into Viney, Hogan, Braysaw & co do...

Rebuilding the team is not just about adding new players, it's about the others getting better. With the class & competitive nature of those we have recruited in recent years we would expect to be a much better and harder team this year than in the previous 10...

yep...just a tad  eh  

2 hours ago, beelzebub said:

that is a good point...lol

do you think we should needle them a little bit

2 hours ago, rjay said:

No, but a fit Tyson, Jones, Salem, Vanders & Kent along with more games & footy fitness into Viney, Hogan, Braysaw & co do...

 

I also expect injuries to mount as soon as the NAB games start.

As per usual.

On 4 February 2016 at 11:37 AM, Radar Detector said:

Not really - that is subjective. We could play really well and win by 4 goals. I just want us to get some early wins and gain confidence and momentum. Momentum is one of the more amazing phenomenons in competitive sport. This is a game we should win.

 

On 4 February 2016 at 11:38 AM, nutbean said:

Wins are good enough ? you need 10 goal wins  ?

 

After losses (is that spelt correctly??) last year to Essendon and Carlton I will take any win, but ... considering we are still a side that "gets up" for certain games as opposed to coming to play each week I would like to think the players have this game bookmarked as hammer time. If ever a side was there for the taking its Essendon. They have an away game against the Suns then return home to play us. This game is a litmus as to whether the players have taken ownership. 

2 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

I also expect injuries to mount as soon as the NAB games start.

As per usual.

MFCSS is alive and well !

Have a little faith in our new fortunes fork'em

1 hour ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

 

After losses (is that spelt correctly??) last year to Essendon and Carlton I will take any win, but....

considering we are still a side that "gets up" for certain games as opposed to coming to play each week I would like to think the players have this game bookmarked as hammer time. If ever a side was there for the taking its Essendon. They have an away game against the Suns then return home to play us. This game is a litmus as to whether the players have taken ownership. 

 

Bookmarked as "Hammer Time"

perfect analogy...

BANG...BANG...BANG...BANG...

4 Quarters of Hammer Time...

Lock it in.

Here's a thought:   Perhaps some players at the end of their careers get dropped by their respective teams, take time to think about footy and realize they haven't done everything they wanted to do.  If given another chance, they may come back with renewed commitment.  Like Crossy!  .and Jetta, rookied and returning better than ever.

 

Roos was probably the first to realize this and, at Sydney & now here, has made a history of getting great work from other teams discards.

 

It's just another factor, but may mean some of Essendungs top-up players play better and do more selfless team things than expected.

 

I think they'll play a few decent games and wouldn't assume they're certainties for the spoon.  It'll be a gigantic game for them!  

Watch out if we're not really psyched for it too.

On 4 February 2016 at 3:10 PM, barneymfc said:

do you think we should needle them a little bit

Stick it to them

Our banner Vs Dons should read

"This won't hurt a bit!"

9 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

Our banner Vs Dons should read

"This won't hurt a bit!"

maybe a blow-up Hirdy Doll, & we can supply the Hyper-Dermie needle to just sedate him a little in the posterior ?

it is he who has the infliction isn't he?

7 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Our banner Vs Dons should read

"This won't hurt a bit!"

I'd prefer the banner said "WADA WE SING"

I assume the banned players are able to attend the games as members of the general public.

Would be interesting to know if Melksham rocks up to watch the game. Hope he does, and he gets to see the Dees absolutely demolish his old club.

 

5 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

I assume the banned players are able to attend the games as members of the general public.

Would be interesting to know if Melksham rocks up to watch the game. Hope he does, and he gets to see the Dees absolutely demolish his old club.

 

I don't they should be able to.  But i honestly am not sure. 

Why?

 

They can attend but not in any official capacity nor have contact with the club/players.

So we couldn't sit Melksham in the stands with a coach like we did for Hogan and Petracca.

37 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

They can attend but not in any official capacity nor have contact with the club/players.

So we couldn't sit Melksham in the stands with a coach like we did for Hogan and Petracca.

Unless youre an Essendon player of course....carte blanche you understand !!

21 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Our banner Vs Dons should read

"This won't hurt a bit!"

Good v The Club of Drug Cheats

14 minutes ago, DemonFrog said:

Good v The Club of Drug Cheats

Zing!

On 2 February 2016 at 10:58 PM, Red and Bluebeard said:

Run and spread with tanks and intent ... got them all over Western Europe and a fair way towards Moscow. But they wren't much chop in the wet ... 

Hitler failed in Russia because his supply line was too long....ran out of the good stuff.    EssUndone's supply line has run out...though they do have a new pharmacist 

On 2 February 2016 at 11:42 PM, 1 red eye 1 blue eye said:

The veil of negativity I see is alive and well in this thread. The Club achieved it's realistic goal of 7 wins last year, the goal is to make the finals this year. The Club is aiming for significant improvement over last year. I have faith that Essendung will be beaten as a consequence of this. 

I guess the club still needs to earn the trust of their supporters.

A bit like politicians saying they deserve to be treated with respect: they have no inherent right to respect - they just need to earn it  

On 4 February 2016 at 3:10 PM, barneymfc said:

do you think we should needle them a little bit

 

On 6 February 2016 at 1:50 PM, small but forward said:

Stick it to them

Good points barney and small. 

My only observation is that there will be ten very pixxed off "Top-Up" players should the current 'player's appeal' get up!  What a shambles for Essendon FC team structures if it occurs part-way into the season and they have to try to re-integrate their twelve stars who haven't had a pre-season or are (officially) privy to the strategies rehearsed by their new coach during the off-season!  I only hope that it happens the week before they play us!

The biggest threat is that rd 2 will be the Bummers first home game, the walk to G, lots of past and present players etc. It will be a huge game for them.

A real danger game for us.

 

2 hours ago, jnrmac said:

The biggest threat is that rd 2 will be the Bummers first home game, the walk to G, lots of past and present players etc. It will be a huge game for them.

A real danger game for us.

 

It'll be a good test for us. It gives us a chance to play a real pressure game without playing against a quality opponent. 

I'm loading up on us to win it.

The GWS game is more of a danger game.

1 hour ago, Good Times Grimes said:

It'll be a good test for us. It gives us a chance to play a real pressure game without playing against a quality opponent. 

Call me naive but I cant see  it being a "real' pressure game unless the opponents are of quality. Im not suggesting we take the game for granted but I really can't see Essendon putting too much pressure on too many teams especially early in the season.