You couldn’t squeeze Simpson in for a con or two?

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

Winston Churchill

Pros:

We showed a want to compete. Loved the tackling and aggression at the body. Haven't seen that before this year.
Defensive organisation. Don't know if there's been an adjustment, or if it was just the difference having a real leader in Rowe back there made.
Got a nice run with the umps.
The opposition kicked inaccurately.
The remaining senior core led the way. Cripps, Simmo, Ed, Rowe and Daisy.
Dow, Harry and O'Brien were all pretty exciting.
Charlie and Fisher continue to be good.
Phillips showed again that he's a good player. Did a terrific job today against Natanui.
Jones was very good.
Mullett was good.
Kerridge had a good 2nd half.

Cons:

Our ability to butcher goal scoring opportunities and concede easy goals through simple spilled marks, fumbles and horrible turnovers.
O'Shea tries hard. But his kicking is horrible.
SOJ and Lamb seem to be invisible most weeks, until the pace comes off the game late.

You replace Mullet and O'Shea with Williamson and Docherty and we win the game. Those two walking inkspots just don't do it for me.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

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"our electorate seeks less to be informed and more to be validated." Sad times.

Totally Agree. Levi is on notice

Spot on.

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Loved Dow's first quarter, taste of things to come. Play him all year and he'll be a star after another pre-season.

Harry McKay. Great to see his game.

Really encouraging signs from Curnow, LOB, Fisher.

Philips did some great things. His tackling and marking was very good. Happy to keep him in and give Kreuzer as long as he needs to get back to 100%.

Played a bit more (but not too much) defensive style this week, more physical pressure and intensity. Full credit to Bolton for realising a change was needed, we played a lot better as a result.

Depth is being tested with all these injuries but I'd really rather quite a few other blokes in over O'Shea. Struggling to see where Silvagni will fit while all of McKay, Curnow and Casboult are in the team.

I still think there's an AFL player in Kerridge. Gives everything for all four quarters.

SPS is feeling the lack of a decent pre-season I reckon. Will be a star though and he's getting good AFL experience.

For me, faith restored in the coach and most importantly it's another more AFL experience for Dow, LOB, SPS, Fisher, Curnow, Silvagni, McKay, Garlett.

Worth mentioning who wasn't available again too. Murphy, Docherty, Kreuzer, Marchbank, Weitering, Williamson, Kennedy, Lang, Byrne, Pickett. Will make a massive difference when we have those guys back.

That's the second time you have posted that. if you think the team or the structure is the same as it was in 2016, that either Phillips or Kreuzer is the same player he was in 2016 then you have your head in the sand. Back then Kreuzer was first ruck and Phillips the back up. This time they would o it in reverse to let Kreuzer look after the forward structure and relieve Phillips in the ruck.
Casboult isn't the future. he's the present for the present. Neither is Kreuzer, by the way. He is on his last frail legs. Yes he's a warrior but that doesn't make him jump any higher or tap any straighter.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Great post Sin City agree entirely

Injury list is killing us at the moment when you tally it up

Very good post.
Lots to like. Dow had some fantastic moments and Fisher is special. Some of his tackling should put the bigger bodies to shame.
O'Brien was better although he too often goes to ground when contact is approaching. Yesterday it cost us a couple of costly contests. Something small for the coaches to get out of his game.

With the players missing, it was a great effort. Well done to Bolts and co for sticking to the course.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Also don't see any reason for playing OShea is terrible and cost us multiple goals with disposal errors fumbling and shocking decision making
Surely there is another on the list who is better or potentially better than him

Note the experience thrown in to the backline and the young mid / fwd...

Defence largely: Simmo, Jones, Rowe, Mullett, Thomas (large stretches), Plowman...

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Check out www.blueseum.org for all of your Carlton information needs.

I like Dow. Rioli lined him up......Paddy sensed contact was imminent, and braced himself. Rioli finished up on the deck !
''Footy instinct'', you can't teach that, you've either got it or you haven't.
Impressive !

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

Was one of my favourite moments from yesterday.

So used to seeing our players buckle and/or get injured after a hit like that.

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WADA medical director Dr Alan Vernec describes Essendon* FC drug case as biggest scandal in team sport the world of sport has seen. #WC2WB

#GUILTY

If there is we might only find out who that player is during the AFL’s “Rainbow - Not that there is anything wrong with that Round”.

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

Winston Churchill

Would be replaced by Williamson long term.

Probably getting a game due to injuries, but he was woeful last night.

You missed the other 2045?

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#DonTheStash

Yes, we got the balance right. Of experience and youth. Of equal importance we got the right spirit. All of those players had a hunger to win the ball. I honestly do not want Murph back until he is able to perform at or near his best both mentally and physically. I'm starting to see how much an inspired Captain can lift a team. I swear there was a moment when Cripps bursting out of the centre morphed into Judd.
When I see that plus Charlie plus Mc.Kay..then Dow and Fisher ...I can't help but renew my patience.
The other one who needs to renew mentally is Weitering. As a club we should be able to bring out the absolute best in all types of players. Especially our introverts. If they aren't improving we should look at the support staff in both psychologists and also the teaching style of our line coaches. It may be that the coaches need training in how to relate to different personality types.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

Thought O'Brien was good as well but did notice a couple of efforts like you highlight. It's ok now but won't be acceptable. I think he can fix it because shortly after almost having his neck broken (that was ugly stuff) he went hard as hell at the next contest.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

This is why Murphy being captain does my head in so much.

People need leaders. They look to them for inspiration. Having a weak one isn’t just a case of missing out on having a strong one, you’re actually creating a negative effect where the players look to their captain and get nothing back. That’s completely dispiriting!

Making an introvert captain is one of the dumbest things this club has ever done. I can’t think of a single instance where it’s worked.

Cripps would be fine but I still want Doc. The club needs an injection of intelligence and he’s comfortably the smartest bloke on the list.

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"Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen."

Mort Sahl