Well after 2 defeats the supporters are rightly upset and angry, and I suspect more than a few of them are starting to compare and extrapolate this seasons start to last seasons and with the Bombers coming up , expecting us to be 0-3 after 3 rounds.

What I see however is not so dismal. Our first round loss to Port was to a very good side, and their ability to run out the game was the main difference. Were we underdone? Well it was speculated that we were, going into the match and so it proved to be. 20 odd post season operations and then key injuries were the main contributors. But we lead after every change and there was some bad kicking thrown in for good measure. But IMO Port are a very good side. They had a very good 55 point win against Adelaide this week . They are a lock for the 8 and possibly top 4. We competed very well for most of the match, but in the end we were beaten by the better team, but we showed that we are not too far from them.

Then we had the Tigers this round. This was always going to be a dangerous match. They have had a dismal record against us recently and were super motivated to reverse that. They came out firing, but to our credit we fought back solidly and probably should have won, had we not got confused with which 2 sticks to kick the ball through.

So there you have it 2 losses , one to a very good side in which we were their equal for three quarters, and the other to a potential top 8 side in which we should have won it. This is hardly the stuff of years gone by where we were never in it and there were no positive signs. However this season more than any other that I can remember, the competition is so even that a few games like these can make a huge difference at the end. I think 12 wins will get a team in the 8 but there might be 3 or 4 teams on 12 wins. Best not to have blow out losses, for percentage sake.

I am sure the Players are just as frustrated with the results, but there are some definite signs there and some things to look forward to.

What you said about the two games is correct Padre but the glass half-empty view is that we suffered from the same issues that have plagued us for the last 10 years:

not able to stop surges
bad disposal
bad kicking for goal at key times
no forward structure

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

I'd add conservative selections as well, risking underdone players rather than fit, younger players. On the whole Padre, I agree BUT we must win big games like next week or the entrenchment of mid-table blah will prevail

needing renovation of list - too many foot soldiers too many b grade players - little leadership and little star quality - long and disappointing season will effectively be out of finals race before mid april - second season in a row will likely be 0-3 - play all list -load up on draft picks at the end -shed dead wood

I think our forward structure has improved out of sight, (especially when our entry is via run and carry). We can't bomb long when the opposition put the extra man back and stop Waite from being able to lead.

From a list perspective, we really are a genuine Full Forward and Fullback short of contending for a top 6. No matter how well we play and how well Mick coaches, this glaringly obvious shortage will always be our achilles.

In Round 1 we were overtaken by a team who were a basket case a couple of years ago. We're just treading water.

the first sentence is spot on

The rest is just an excuse for insipid preparation, coaching and execution.

They did collect some A grade talent during their basket case years. They were always going to get better. Time will tell if they have enough talent to win a flag.


I think we show the same traits as we have shown for the last 7 seasons. We will win some biggish games ,lose some easy ones and get beat easily by Hawthorn, Freo, Geelong and Sydney.

Hence the anger and disillusionment washing through these threads. We're sick and tired if being dished up with the same shite and issues, all overseen by the same people.

The side will probably improve as key players find more fitness but we're a long way off top four and even finals. Time to act.

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I just want my old club back ... (edit) maybe I have!

Wish we had Sydney this weekend!

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dane's trolling again

After seeing the way Port destroyed the Crows on Saturday, our loss to them doesn't seem so bad after all.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

I think we'll improve & honestly don't think we're as bad as we looked at times in the Port game. Might scrape into 8th but more likely about 10th.

But really that's small picture stuff, the bigger picture is that this group can't win a flag in the next few years. We simply have too many players who've been together for a decade without even playing a prelim.

We badly need to keep bringing youth through now. Dylan Buckley was a shining light from that game on Thursday.

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#DonTheStash

How refreshing was it to finally have a Rising Star Nomination,gee it felt good.
Lets play MORE youth,how about giving Cripps, Graham,Temay and Holman a game. Maybe not this week but surely against Melbourne. Maybe its also time to send Robbo back to the twos,the poor guy has no footy sense ,vision or skill but plenty of determination. Bell has only played a handful of games he will get better similar to Robbo but a bit more class.so lets perservere with him they play similar roles
I am quietly confident we will beat the scum , we are not that bad heres hoping anyway