Adding to the pain was all the players in the twos we wanted to play well and come in next week were average at best. Bryan was poor, will come in for an injured Philips. Walla barely got a touch. Francis had no influence on the game. Only a kid, Baldwin earned a recall.
Easily. Collingwood will kill us next week.
And then we have the Dogs…
2 Likes
This is poetry. Perfectly said.
6 Likes
I guess best of walla has been in past… i do not think Walla is going to improve when his head is not in this.
I can not find any positives for this year
1 Like
Hobbs looked good. That’s all I got.
5 Likes
With all the criticism of our mids & Hepp how can they be named our best? Is it because they were the best of a shocking team performance?? I do think Caldwell can hold his head high & Parish & Shiel were good early
AFL site
Essendon: Parish, McGrath, Heppell, Caldwell, Shiel
At what point do we start playing Baldwin, Reid, Brand, Wanganeen??
I don’t care about the rest of the season.
9 Likes
Another team has flew past us after rebuilding in only 2-3 years.
4 Likes
My take ; and I am one of the “happy clappers” so derided here - I heard Rama and Ling recently saying that if you take 4-5 of the best players out, then eventually it really hurts. But…second half was abysmal. There is no doubt we have a huge problem with our team defense which is continually slated home to our mids. Blowtorch MUST be applied to players and coaches. We have gone from exciting but flawed to slow/confused…and more flawed. Hep is the lightening rod - it is not down to him, it is down to the players who don’t do the defensive running, who are not clean with their hands. Durham ,who gets lots of wraps here, is a classic example. Hind is another, looks great when it comes off but often doesn’t.
I will still withold jusdgement until mid season when we get Merrit/stringer/Jones/Walla/Langers back. But the defensive running and transitional defense has to improve, no matter who is out there
13 Likes
Couldnt agree more
I reckon Hooker’s retirement has had a massive impact on the group. He was the only guy on the list any kid could look up to and admire and rely upon as a competitor.
10 Likes
Because they look at total possessions only
2 Likes
Im actually curious what the messaging is on the lack of two way running? Do we call this out? Who holds our ‘star’ mids accountable in a young team when they aren’t running back or working hard without the ball?
2 Likes
But it’s a consistent year on year team by team… one player will dine out after showing zero form then will die the next week
Someone will know the breakdown team by team who dines out year after year
Can’t tackle, haven’t been able to do so for 10+ years.
And players jogging and walking around the field expecting everyone else to do the hard work. Some of our better players are the worst offenders here.
3 Likes
I feel sorry for all the supporters who were really looking forward to attending games again after not being able to for so long. Now they have to witness these performances 
18 Likes
Post of the year so far
I couldn’t of said it better.
1 Like
I do not think he will accept it
The only way we’ll see real change is if attendances and membership numbers drop off drastically. A hit to the club’s coffers will force their hand.
3 Likes
Take a breath and check out the “How I see me; How Blitz sees me” thread and you’ll feel better.
Not about the club or anything, but you’ll feel better about this forum