It begins...
SlobboQuote:
Essendon*'S defeat at the hands of a much-improved Fremantle at Etihad Stadium was one of the club's most disappointing under coach Matthew Knights.
Lacklustre for much of the game, its disposal deplorable by foot and hand, and carrying too many players with no influence on the game, the Bombers kicked three goals after halftime while the Dockers added 11.
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The Bombers have some issues
SheehanQuote:
Now, to the real story, the dismal, often sloppy and generally inept performance by an Essendon* that considered itself a little unlucky to go down to the mighty Geelong in Round 1.
Freo won by 44 points, having lost the corresponding fixture in 2009 by 38. That's an 82-point turnaround in exactly 12 months. At the Essendon* "cauldron".
The Bombers are 0-2 and in disarray, with Carlton to come at the MCG on Saturday night.
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The Carlton engagement suddenly has massive ramifications for both clubs. A loss would leave Essendon* at 0-3, setting it the task of winning 11 of 19 to improve on last season's result.
There was no hint yesterday the Bombers are going to improve this year.
ConnollyQuote:
THERE can't have been too many finalists as critically unloved as Essendon* was last summer, few pundits putting the Bombers in their pre-season top eights for 2010, despite reaching September for the first time in five years, albeit with fewer wins than losses.
But you have to earn respect with the football cognoscenti. And the Dons' 44-point drubbing at the hands of Fremantle yesterday was a timely reminder of how far this group has to go before it starts seriously challenging those above it in the pecking order.
Any plaudits Essendon* earned with its first three quarters against Geelong in round one have been more than cancelled out by the five they have produced since, the concern being the manner of each loss as much as the margin.
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So at 0-2, there's already a crunch game looming for the Dons. Essendon* has won its past five against Carlton. If the Bombers don't do some serious skill work and find a bit more backbone, you can write your own ticket about that streak extending to six.
Poll: Bombers gone?No expense will be spared to get their boys over the line this week.