Rd 1 v Hawks Preview and discussion

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
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Not sure if there’s an official thread already but I’m looking forward to this game.

Everyone knows the back story and theatre but what a golden opportunity for us to come out firing, show some dare, show some excitement and a little bit of swagger.

It’s an opportunity for our promising kids to show they have what it takes to become competition elite players not just solid Essendon players, in particular Caddy, Roberts, Kako, Reid, Durham, Caldwell, Johnson.

What an opportunity for Merrett to stick the dagger into the side that wouldn’t cough up that extra first rounder for him and clearly needs some extra talent in the midfield.

Don’t forget round 1 last year we dominated them in the midfield but we’re outclassed on the outside. We won contested by 30, inside 50 by 10, clearances by 20, tackles by 20, tackles inside 50 by 10.

We have the midfield to dominate them again and if we can play with a bit more dare and excitement who knows what’s possible.

Could we send the Hawks into a tailspin and set us on an upward trajectory the fan base has been longing for decades? Time will tell.

They are beatable, and after the offseason drama wouldn’t it be satisfying.

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Whatever happens, I like your thinking here

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Let’s just hope we don’t throw it away at the selection committee.

No dud positional buggery this year please.

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A good first quarter I thinks going to matter a LOT.

The hawks have the game under their belt and ended fairly well against gws.

I’d be happy with a low scoring scrappy first quarter if possible.

Just get into the pace of the game. Because I think if they jump us we won’t have the firepower to drag ourselves back into it.

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Essendon EDGE ™

SWAGGER ™

not being overly RESULTIST ™

Our first look at the KNIFEDGE ™

Hawks by 74.

NOT WHAT WE STAND FOR ™

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8 goal loss

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It can’t be underestimated what an advantage this is.

AFL level playing field at it’s finest.

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I don’t think we have a decent system in place yet.

We won’t see our best footy this year(whatever that level is) for a couple of months.

Just a number of new faces and a lot of guys returning from injury. Nowhere near settled.

I don’t think we will be horrible but I can see hawthorn putting on 100 points next week and we won’t get more than 75.

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In fairness, we are only 19 years in to a 4 year rebuild.

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Hawthorn comfortably.

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The Hawks are beatable, sure they are.

We are a bottom 4 team who finished last year looking like the spooners. Don’t do it to yourself for Christ’s sake.

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I agree that’s our biggest problem.

The cohesion piece, when the pressure is really on needs to be instinctive.

Even though he’s no longer our captain, we really need Zac to be in the middle and showing leadership.

Our midfield looked a bit rudderless in the Saints preseason game

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got a feeling we are not going to learn our lesson and play 5 talls, we will all watch the ball rebound out with ease wondering when something will change

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You got to get it right over a pre season however I think that hopefully we will see some players last longer in games.

The upside this year has to be getting Reid, Caddy, Kako and Roberts to about 50 games and seeing them having bigger impacts. I think that will be second half of the season.

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100% agree. We are no where near being a good side even if all we need to do this year is make top 10…. FFS

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They will do us by about 10 goals i recko. Anything under 5, with the kids playing alright would be great.

Of course though, round 1 generally provides a tiny bit of excitement/anticipation and round 1 wins always taste that tad better. Fk i hope we roll these c*nts, but very unlikely

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I think we will be exposed in the first quarter due to match practice.

Hawthorn looked much better by the last quarter on the weekend.

I’ll be happiest with a win, but if we don’t get the chocolates but otherwise match them for the last 3/4s or half of football I’ll take it as a good sign and justbput it down to match practice.

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If I see Gresham, Cox or Jones anywhere near this side and I will spew up.

Hawks by 30

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You are not getting McMahon, and you will LIKE it.

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The positive being, if we get him in the first quarter, there’s only two more to get through until he kicks three goals.

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