Training, developing and formulating a gameplan requires players to be able to train, play and work on developing themselves and the gameplan. Essendon spent majority of this year without players who could train, develop and implement a gameplan. That’s not the coaches fault.
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6W / 4L after 10 games probably had us performing better than expectations when we had availability (despite still having plenty of players injured btw). They probably had a win or two more than they expected as a bottom 4-6 team.
I had us bottom 4-6 at the start of the year. They were performing as well as could be expected until injuries mounted. If you don’t honestly believe that’s on the money then I think your expectations were too high this year.
Come on! 13 losses on the trot. That is inexcusable.
You didn’t read my post did you.
we should really accelerate the physical development of our players. perhaps should follow the footsteps of the information in the saga thread.
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I did and I read the excuses too that do not wash.
I think your expectations of Essendon this year were too high. Where did you have us finishing at start of the year?
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I had limited expectations given Barham & Scott were in charge.
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Where did you have us roughly on the ladder this year at start of the year?
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We beat a under 18 Richmond side (barely), the usual depressing close wins against Eagles & Roos, A Swans team with no forwards, a really bad Melbourne side & who else? Port Adelaide. Then we had an injury run that saved Scott from getting the assist
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I really don’t know now.
My information came from someone you all know but even he wasn’t convinced.
There was a second part of the rumour that came after my original post. I can’t take it seriously at the moment
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Yep, in this first 10 games we played poorly in 3-4 games. Really poorly against Crows, Dogs. Like every side in the AFL, we / they play poorly every 3/4 weeks. We also did better than expected against Swans, Power and possibly the Demons based on talent.
I could go through any team in the AFL this year and highlight 5-7 poor games each played. That’s a fact. Difference is, poor teams like Essendon can’t afford to play poorly as it likely won’t win… Unlike the better teams.
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we pretty much toasted Brisbane after qtr time on their home deck with half our team absent.
Take a big deep breath
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You really have belief in what Scott is building don’t you? I commend you on that. We just have polar opposite opinions. We both want the same thing, a premiership. If you believe Scott can bring us there that’s cool. I definitely don’t & have 3 years of proof.
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WOB!
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No I don’t. I’m far from convinced he’s going to get us to a Premiership. I’ve said this many times, I think Scott is well skilled at the stuff I think is more important for Essendon right now.
I don’t really care about weekly selection and who’s the sub, or whether Merrett is playing in the backline etc. yes, that stuff matters but to me none of that right now is critical to the clubs big picture.
Essendon needs clear air more than anything else right now to build a successful footy department and program. Sacking coaches regularly because we’re frustrated sets us backwards and continues a virtuous cycle of repeated failure.
Building culture, unity and ensuring alignment is most important and takes time.
The injuries ruined any potential progress this year. Scott was criticised for not wanting to play the kids every opportunity. Then we learn end of year Caddy had sore groins, Angus Clarke was exhausted and had sore groins. Playing the kids every week isn’t the right thing to do… It hurts their development. But Blitz seems to know best.
When Hardwick lost to Swans last game of 2016 by 116 points, 4 years into his tenure the media / fans wanted to sack him. History proves that would’ve been a disaster.
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I understand your faith in stability but I do not share it. Scott was appointed for the wrong reasons. He is not the bloke who will be the building block to success. Essendon has floundered since Evans. It is no longer a club that believes in itself. Appointing an AFL operative demonstrates we have no soul.
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You didn’t answer my question. We see it differently.
I wonder if the rumour came as a result of the media linking Hinkley to us? What was the 2nd part of the rumour?
Your question was about where I thought the dons would finish at at the end of the home away? Well, I could not answer that simply because I had never contemplated where we would finish. As I have made clear I had no faith in Barham or Scott.
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