Talked about being slapped right back down to earth. Thanks Sherriff Woody.
But you forgot to mention this positive too: Brisbane have the worst defence by some distance. So that's another one.
I'm still nervous as hell and this year's a year that anything can happen. This will be a close game and I'm optimistic we can get over the line this time. I am confident we will play better than what we did against the Bulldogs for starters.

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Essendon-Only team to have ever been found guilty of salary cap breaches in a premiership year!

Error using the "for" aspect of scoring as a guide. Even the best sides with free scoring sides struggle against us. We average 88 against v Brisbane 119. Scoring both ways is about game style.

"for" 72.56 v 82.43
"against" 88.19 v 119.4

So long as we don't give them a 40 point head start like last year.... Aaarrrggghhh

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

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“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

I'll join you



He's right.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

It's been very frustrating watching the team play almost boring negative and highly defensive games, but this is the way Bolton has said his young players have to Develop and improve!!

Bolton is applying a Hawthorn type of Game Style where we play a very highly defensive game by slowing the game and Chip-chipping the ball with Short Kicks until we can Switch the ball & Counter attack.

This style that Won Hawthorn Glory games has failed miserably with our Boys. Not because it doesn't work, but because our boys need a good 2-3 years to perfect it.

The Fact that we are losing games by small margins doesn't reflect how the team is travelling. This boring game style is restricting all opposition teams from scoring freely, Yet at the same time we are not scoring either. This game style is producing 7-10 goals a game for us, which is not enough. Opposition teams only need 10-12 goals to beat us.

Bolton needs to mix it up a little bit. He needs to change his game Style a bit and try different things. How about trying to take some risks and play through the middle? Or at least Stop pushing all the forwards down the ground and then end up with no one to kick to when we win the ball.

I can not understand yet, why all 6 Forwards are pushing so high up the ground and standing in the middle of the ground with no ability to run hard back to goal?

I can't stand this Game Style, it's boring & very negative but it's the only way those young kids will learn and develop, so I can't blame Bolton for persisting with it all year!!

PS: Can someone at the club please teach Young SoS run? what's the story with this guy? I understand he has the same running style as his dad, but his dad was a lot faster than him. Young Sos seems to only Jog at half pace and quite frankly, he runs like a school kid. He also has no second go. Once the ball hits the ground, he is gone. He can't chase and can't apply any sort of pressure. He is becoming a liability. He is still young, I just hope he works hard at his running and aerobic capacity.

Brisbane to skip out to an early seven goal lead. Nothing surer.

I vowed after that final that I'd never return to Brisbane under any circumstances.

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Audere est Facere

KJ might get a run with so many out?

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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.”

I know where you're coming from Dodo, but I don't think you're right with a few things you say.

Lets remember the age and stage of development 12 of our kids in the Seniors are at before comparing them to the top 8 teams.

2-3 years to perfect? I've seen plenty of evidence to prove to me there is an attacking style when we open the opposition up. Things just need to be in place and the players will get use to those conditions over time.

I'd rather have a team who can close down an opponent at a flick of a switch when needed. This will hold us in good stead when playing finals against attacking teams like Crows. We nearly beat the Crows. Have a look at the Crows scores then have a look at their winning margin. They are one of the superior teams with the best attack yet our team with half of them kids did allright.

I was up on the fence watching Blues vs Dees and my Demons mates suggested the opposite to you, in that we were a good attacking team and found openings to run through. I didn't think we were boring.

Then I look back to the 2005 and 2006 GFs which were decided by less than a goal in a very low scoring game yet highly enjoyable.

Maybe youre expecting our famous Premiership Quarter to return with 8-10 goal bursts....like back in the day in the 70's and 80's....aint going to happen...but wait...it might.

I like most others feel we are heading in the right direction and we need to start the rebuild with a solid foundation, and that starts with defense...so be it.

Who cares what Matty Lloyd says about our dour defensive mindset.

Ive never felt better about our rebuild over the last 20 years.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

I don't find it that boring plus it's an essential part of our development. Worked for Clarko when he first started with Hawthorn, and it's worked for Melbourne too. Like those two clubs eventually we'll blend more offence in. It's called patience. Defence is a foundation of any side. As it is, when we create an opening we can suddenly move it quickly. Because we had a bad one last week supporters suddenly think the system is no good.

Given we've led 5 times in the last qtr and lost the small margins DO reflect the way we are travelling.

I'm with Jim. The style we play wins Premierships and sets us well on that path.

As for SOJ? Well for. 19 year old kid growing in shape, he isn't that slow and is far quicker upstairs than most players in the AFL. I think he is coming along very well for his age. His defensive efforts are very good also. He might not run everyone down, but perceived pressure chasing still causes turnovers.

Maybe.

But they are still using him as a bit player here and there. He'd only come in for ASOS i reckon.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

At least I know that there won't be an "honourable loss" this week.
Had enough of those.

The natives are starting to get restless on this site. Loses are starting to bring out all the negative rubbish in the last few weeks maybe its just bringing out the negative posters. Not wishing to loose against Brisbane but if we do it isn't the end of the world and wont effect us going forward but maybe seel the careers of a few players.
I predicted around 5 wins this year which is where we are with a chance for a couple more. Personally been surprised with all the rookie draftees having an impact this year added to Marchbank fitting right in and Jones amazing comeback. Plenty of players are also having career years.

Yep game style and the way we play are important but would rather our kids continue to develop and play well. 5 rising stars this year (I don't really rate the rising star) but surely that shows everyone we are on the right track.

Patience...........Green shoots are happening every game.

what a boring place this would be if all we did was sing kumbaya every day

Slowly puts away guitar, puts camp fire out and tells everyone to go home

Hold hands and sing Kumbaya Rexy

I'm restless and I don't mind admitting it.

I was brought up believing that 8 years was the most I'd ever have to wait for a flag, (and that was only because we played cheats in the GF a couple of years earlier).

I don't like the new order.