At the start of the year Essendon* was considered a bottom eight team with alot of media people even tipping bottom four. The Essendon* player list was very thin on quality. Lloyd, Fletcher,Hille,McPhee Stanton,and maybe Lucas being the exception but even doubts due to age on some of them. Watson was deemed to be a ball magnet but with poor skills. Lovett was a talent who was to hard to handle hence nearly flicked to the Cats. Ryder an emerging talent but still a way off, the rest having glimpses of ability but considered mainly honest soldiers. It was tipped that any improvement rested on the shouders of Gumbleton & Hurley.

The blues on the other hand were considered by most to be a certain eight candidate. Even the captains of the other 15 clubs thought so.
Our List is considered on the up with wonderful young talent.

At the start of the season one would ask who at Essendon* would get a game with us? Lloyd instead of Fev, Watson instead of Juddy, Pears instead of Jamo, Hooker instead of Bower/Thorton/Waite, their young ones instead of Murf,Gibbsy,Grigga etc. Maybe Hille & Ryder over our boys? okay we can except that. Welsh Monfries Lonegan instead of Scotland, Stevens, Hools Carrots? Davey instead of Bettsy? and so on.

Fast forward 3 games and would there be any difference even though they beat us by 4 points?

Fast forward to round 13 and we were still the more favored team prior to the game but after being flogged the media has now elevated their list to a higher level.

WHAT HAS REALLY CHANGED HERE? Do typecast players just get better overnight? or collectively as a unit do they get better? It would be interesting to select the best 22 from both lists based on perceived talent from the start of the year and then at the begining of round 14.

Essendon*'s list is better than was thought. Perceptions change as a result of new data. We've had 13 weeks worth of new data, and it's led to a positive reassessment of Essendon*. The media and public don't get excited by a bunch of 2nd and 3rd round picks the way they do about 3 pick 1s and Judd, now they know better.

I was concerned early that our list was being overrated, and it looks that way at the moment, but I'm sure it's an overcorrection. Carlton are inconsistent, disorganised and a bit confused. Hopefully they work through the shit to success.

It's clear that Essendon* is functioning much better as a collective than Carlton. That is down to coaching in my view. Doesn't necessarily mean Knights is better than Ratts - maybe Ratts is developing the team on a more fundamental level than we can perceive, and we'll come out the other side as Geelong

The bottom line is: perception is fleeting, results are forever.

Carlton is still a top 8 side - relax we will play finals this year

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Still just wondering who from Essendon* would get a game at Carlton right now and who would they replace?

Still just wondering who from Essendon* would get a game at Carlton right now and who would they replace?

A champion team will always beat a team of champions.

Still believe we'll finish well above them.

Knights has Rattens measure, sure. But we'll finish higher. And we'll win #17 first.

Well, provided Ratts and Knights don't face off in the GF coaching box.

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Congratulations CK95

I personally believe its a combination of their player development and psyche as well as Knights being better able to get the best out of his players and use them to their strengths. He had them for a while at bendigo so he knows their kids.

Essendon* dont have technically gifted players, so they implement a gameplan that utilises quick running movement ..... it works.

Ratten using Houlihan as a defensive mid/forward is a clear example of how our players are used incorrectly... other examples.... Cloke being used as a lead up forward on a wing against hawthorn... Wiggins being used as a deep marking forward when he cant kick for goal.... the list goes on.
Our MC and and coaching staff have it all ass up. . And dont get me started on Teague and Harvey as development coaches.

Alan Richardson did wonders at Collingwood and has been at Windy Hill 5 mins and has made massive impressions.

Still just wondering who at Essendon* would get a game with us and who would they replace. Please anybody

Knights, for one.

Really though, does it matter?

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Gaga and The Hoff party hard in London

Yeah but are we playing finals because a few times are on the way down and one crippled with injury?

On a gloomy week as such, I think it is an interesting concept! Considering the media and most people on this forum and many other forums had a perceived opinion of our list and Essendons list at the start of the season and I now read on so many sites about which players should be moved on or are not good enough or aspire to have the solution to our whoa's. Still just wondering

Taking bias out of the equation. I think that now after fourteen rounds you would have to conclude that Essendon* list is better and have more talent than Carltons list.

For starters I would have Lloyd in the position of Fev - One plays for the jumper whilst the other plays for himself.

Monfries, Davey and Reimers provide more aggression, defensive pressure, and can actually split the sticks in comparison to Houls, Fish and Garlett. I do love Eddie though and wouldnt replace him for anyone.

Based on Friday nights game you would take Welsh over Judd.
Watson alone, although lacking in foot skills is harder, has quicker hands, vision than Murph and Gibbs put together. And although you could say our players are quicker, do they match the speed and footskills of Lovett, Windelich, Stanton. I know that slowpoke Stevo and clanger king Simmo dont add much in that department.

Looking at the backs you would have to conclude that the wise head of Fletcher, athletisicm of Pears and Hooker, drive of Lovett-Murray and Dempsy far outweigh the abilities of our undersized and unskilled backmen.

Just remember that StKildas list 5 years ago was perceived to be better than Geelongs list.

Peace.

lovet murray and lovett for browne and armfield

watson for stevens

ryder for austin

welsh for bannister

Welsh over Judd...

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"Truth, for the tyrants, is the most terrible and cruel of all bindings; it is like an incandescent iron falling across their chests. And it is even more agonizing than hot iron, for that only burns the flesh, while truth burns its way into the soul"     — Lauro Aguirre

garth over johnnydees.

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#DonTheStash

'snip'

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

It's his first post, give him some time to develop.

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STURDYISM!!

"Monfries supplies aggression"

Good stuff Johnny. I thought you were serious until I read that!

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Edited for accuracy