Said it to my richmond mate the other day. In two years they’ll be finishing above us.
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Hird has his own thread. Take it in there.
Upon request from @Heffsgirl 
Watching Q1 live at the MCG last night we actually looked worse than we did on TV last week in Q1. Our kicking was abysmal and we were +6 for turn overs, went in at half time +11, at 3QT + 13, before easing slightly to “only” +11 by the end of the game. This was the prime reason Richmond stayed in the game for as long as they did. Like clearances, contested possessions and tackles we dominated turnovers too.
Countering this was how slippery the ball was. All night the ball often slipped from a player’s hands in the actual ball drop (both sides). I really noticed it with Merrett in Q4 when he went to pass to a team mate deep in the forward line - the ball slipped slightly in his hands when he was dropping the ball on to his boot. consequently, the ball spin on kick as poor but at least the kick found the target.
Biggest issue is the lack of movement of our forwards which is why we have so many turnovers in our front half. it was noticeable how Richmond players always led up to the ball carrier for a pass.
Our forwards - especially Langford and a very lazy Caddy, don’t:
- In Q1, Roberts is streaming out of defence towards the wing. He is almost directly across from me on the southern side. it is clear he is waiting for Langford to lead to space out wide. But Langford doesn’t, staying about 5 metres behind his man. Roberts then must think Langford wants a long dump kick into space in the corridor where he can cut the angle behind his opponent and run onto the loose ball. So, Roberts puts his head down, has a bounce and does a long dump kick to exactly where he thinks Langford will run to. Instead Langford, who refused to lead when he had eye contact with Roberts, starts leading out wide as Roberts has his head down bouncing the ball. In this time another Tiger defender sweeps across HB, easily takes the loose ball high in our F50 and is away.
- In Q4 (I think - it was when we were kicking to the Punt Rd end), we had a defender stream up through HB and seeing Caddy on at CHF (about 55m from goal) kicks what looks like a beautiful, low sizzling drop punt for Caddy to lead into and mark. Instead, Caddy literally remains stationary as his opponent simply steps around and in front of him and receives the pass lace out.
If you want to know why we can’t score, these two examples illustrate a key reason as to why. I have watched many games from all sides this year and we are worst at having HFs who can’t/won’t/don’t lead up to the ball carrier for a simple pass. In the above examples, we end up with turn turnovers inside of two, easy I50s. Given this has happened nearly all year; it is a prime cause behind our high, and unacceptable turnover numbers.
Another thing we are the worst team mate is score from kick-in-kick in differential. Whilst we hesitate to kick the ball out from an opposition behind and go coast-to-coast, the Tigers, like all our opponents this year, do not.
Our first two behinds in the game yielded coast-to-coast F50 entries/scores/goals for the Tigers. They would quickly play on from an Essendon behind and hit up a team mate just inside our F50 arc on a slight angle, up the corridor. There would then be a procession of passes where we don’t touch the ball as they easily waltz into F50. Whatever zone we keep trying to implement is ineffectual and weak. Finally, towards the back end of Q3 following an Essendon behind, we simply went man-on-man. There were no free Tigers simply sitting on our F50 arc and the Tigers now struggled to move the ball up the ground. It’s quite sad - and damning on the coach - our game plan is so poor that we have to implement a 1:1 play in order to drag them down to our level of slow movement from a kick-out to stop them. But it was at this point I felt the game change and we started to look in complete control. Q4 consequently was no surprise, including our ongoing inability to convert multiple I50 opportunities into goals. Consequently, we end up with ~ 4 goal win rather than an ~ 8 goal win which would have been a truer reflection of the game in experience between the two sides.
As for players:
- Martin easily BoG. He has now got his natural role. Start at HF and then roam the ground to find, and attract when he can’t find, the ball. He is a natural at this.
- Wright and Perkins both started poorly but got better as the game went on and Wright’s second half was outstanding (goal kicking aside).
- Durham’s combativeness was uncontrollable at times last night but he was very sore in Q3 and spent quite some time on the bench. It was a great game nonetheless. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does not get up for next week. He was not alone; both McKay and Redman were limping noticeably, at different times, in the second half. McKay played his 3rd really good game in a row which is pleasing to see. However, he really had nothing to beat with Lynch out.
- Merrett’s defensive running in Q4 was a highlight for me as it ensured we never let them back in the game.
- Angus Clarke’s 1:1 contested marking work was outstanding as was his kicking (a rarity last night).
- It was good to see Caldwell to return to some of his best form. Easily his best game since returning from injury.
- Reid was right up with Martin and Durham as the 3 best players on the ground. Finger’s crossed the scans show nothing and he is rested next week as a precaution.
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Thank you Mr Coach in waiting.
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We’re screaming out for run and carry. Hope he can improve and get back in the seniors and stay there
The conversation has never been about saying people shouldn’t be/get frustrated Robbo.
And may we Fark Carlton twice!
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This is very frustrating as any good team will absolutely capitalize on that situation for a goal, our whole forward setup and strategy stinks 
edit: and I lost count of how many f50 kicks sailed right over the head of our forwards, even kicks in general play tend to be much loftier than required (EG Hobbs kicking to Merrett on the wing)
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Missing Draper big time that bloke sets the tone for the team with his physicality amd unpredictability his team mates walk taller with him in the side.
Draper would have been straigt over and drop West on his arse
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Just for the record WE are 2 games ahead of Carlton and have a game in game, which we will win easily.
So we are really 3 games ahead of the Poos after 11 rounds!!!
Go figure !!!
A Won Weekend is a Won Weekend.
Even improved our percentage.
| Team | For | Against | Result | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFL | 81 | 58 | W | 140% |
| VFLW | 64 | 24 | W | 267% |
| VFL | 52 | 74 | L | 70% |
| TOTAL | 197 | 156 | 2 - 1 | 126% |
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Feels like 2022 again with the VFLW boosting our percentage each week.
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Clap after the odd goal last night but no excitement, enthusiasm or ‘get out your seat’ stuff … much like the entire season so far.
What was always going to be a dour game made even worse by the wet/dewy ball conditions.
There is a real unenthusiastic lull amongst a majority of the supporter base.
Quite a grand statement don’t you think?
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Not at all.
What did you think about the general mood of the home crowd last night at the ground?
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I thought it was pretty good overall, obviously numerous groans (esp in the first half) with all the turnovers and skill errors but there was a fair bit of excitement especially when any of the youngsters went near it. Wasn’t really cold either last night, pretty perfect for footy aside from the dewy and wet ball
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Apart from Angus Clarke and his couple of highlights, there wasn’t much for the crowd to get up and about.
The most lacklustre atmosphere for a game with over 75k you’re likely to see. On par with when one of the Premier League clubs come out to Australia with their C-team and play one of the A-League clubs in a ‘friendly’.
There’s a pretty broad ‘Meh’ feeling amongst a majority (that’s the word I used previously, there is the obvious odd exception who enjoy finishing 11th) of the supporter base. Not many would have been really surprised or cared if we dropped last night.
If that’s your worldview that’s fine bu clubs are choc full of supporters and punters that just want to go to the footy and watch their team win games, or be competitive
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Your not allowed to enjoy wins or anything positive if your an Essendon fan
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Frustration. Pure and simple.
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