Just home from the game.
What a shocking 2nd half of footy. No structure, no run, noone can mark the ball, no forward line.
Couldnt believe how easily we coughed up the ball, dont like this boundary line game plan. Brisbane went inside us and always went the short way home.
A reality check for sure. Maybe part of our plan to give Richmond false hope.

Remember we went winless last Pre season and everyone was having a field day at our expense. then we started the season 5-1 before injuries hit.
Remember Brisbane kept us scoreless for a half last Pre season. We belted them twice in the season proper.
Remember we looked like world beaters in the 2005 and 2007 Pre Seasons. How did those years end up again ?

My point is, no need to panic now. Better to not have to put up with the overhype and unrealistic supporter expectations prior to Rnd 1 that would be accompanied a Blues NAB Cup win.

_________________
James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

The list is a 9th or 10th list. To finish 7th or 8th would be above par

We looked exhausted, players with hands on their knees etc with brisbane players gliding past them.

In the end it means nothing, let's get it right for Round 1, should we be spanked there, then start the worrying.

This whole preseason has been even more out of step with reality than usual.

We beat the GWS in the last 30 sec of the game, we comfortably beat the premiers because they named half a side & went at quarter pace, we thrashed Freo who looked nothing like a Ross Lyon team & went about one eighth pace, then we should've won against Adelaide if you take out the supergoals, but we lost....& that game was more open than you'll see from either side in the season proper

Then we go scoreles in a half against a side that'll struggle to make the 8!

Oh & the premiership favorites are winless this preseason.


Bring on the Tigers!

_________________
#DonTheStash

The elephant in the room was Judds movement...

phew... looked 40 yo.

_________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

It was like the Pagan era all over again.

Kick it blindly, preferably high and long to a contest, or even better - non-one.

And get the ball first only to fumble it when you get tackled, then when the opposition gets it you tackle them but not hard enough to prevent them from getting it off to a team mate sprinting past.

Not to mention how slow we looked.

I really hope we were keeping some stuff in the tank, because we really don't look too flash.

Haven't watched the replay, but can someone clarify for me, was there a bit in the 2nd qtr where we got a free, but they took it...

....and were courteous enough to kick it the wrong way anyway, then get caught holding the ball?

_________________
#DonTheStash

PS. If I have to watch umpiring like that in the season proper I am just not going to bother.

It's not about winning the ball any more, it's about winning free kicks.

And that's just [REDACTED].

As far as NAB Cup grand finals go, it was the exact opposite of the Pagan era all over again

_________________
#DonTheStash

Most players looked 40. That happens when you're always chasing. Shocking play tonight. I hope it's not because the players are unsure what to do and think they have to kick long????...back to Pagan days tonight....except we used to win the pre season then

_________________
“Every single element of the Club has to be the best in the league, meticulously and methodically, and only by doing this will we be elite and challenge for number 17.”
Greg Lee

Yep, looked like something from a comedy script. A free was paid, the umpire signalled it was ours as he pointed that way. Longer took the ball and because the umpire was pointing the wrong way he got confused and was going to kick it our way.
someone yelled at him that he was going to kick it the wrong way so he turned around and as he went to play on a Carlton player tackled him and he got holding the ball against him. Technically i think it should have been a 50 metre penalty because the tackler was over the mark.
It was the strangest thing i have ever seen.
It the NAB cup is anything to go by then the umpiring has gotten worse, if thats possible.

We were bombing long because we were lethargic and usually under pressure kicking forward.

It wasn't a different game plan to previously this pre season, we just didn't play well.

Some worrying signs with the downhill skier syndrome though, could be some more sifting through the haves and have nots for our best team is required.

It did remind me of the Pagan days. It was Pagan's paddock all over again. Noone in our forward 50 so many times.
A shocking night, no structure. Malthouse is going to earn his money with this lot.

Don't know what to make of the game.

Seems to be quicker style games we have a problem with. Pattern is: the odd critical turnover by a Lucas or Simmo (not bagging them just putting it together). Either that or long bomb to out numbered forwards. Either situation exposes a few of our players for their lack of shut down speed (eg:Robbo, McLean). Transition eventuates.

Becomes a nightmare for our backline - which I think is quite competent given an even break but not when players are streaming at them with no pressure.

Isn't a new problem and seems difficult to fix.

Most times the whistle blew the players stopped and looked confused and had to wait for the umpire to know whose free it was.

It's not helped much by supposed hard men like Jonathan Brown who shamelessly played for and won two free kicks in about 5 minutes.

After giving away that free kick to White, they showed a close up of Merrett who was saying - either to a teammate or one of the umps - "I have no idea what's a free any more". Strangely enough the replay showed him clearly clobber White in the face, but the Ump had paid it for in the back.

A Gree.

_________________
THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

Turnovers absolutely kill us. All our players flood forward and we give it away, leaving the likes of Duigan and Jameson trying to chase down opposition players into a wide-open 50.

Watching the game on TV we didn't appear that we were overly exerting ourselves. Had a little spurt in 2nd quarter when we applied a bit of fair dinkum pressure on them but apart from that we appeared pretty lack lustre. Even when Eddie kicked a great goal early in the game there was no celebration or excitement. I think Brisbane were primed for this after all they were the only unbeaten team in this hit and giggle competition. Mind you we did look awfully slow. We will just have to wait until the real stuff starts before making too many judgements.

I noticed a couple of times we did the Pies Harry O'Brien tactic of shepherding the man on the mark when it was our kick.

_________________
#DonTheStash