Doesn’t bode well for the seniors if they play the same way. We should have slaughtered that VFL side. We are missing opportunities at this level similar to losing to Carlton. Anyway…
Thanks to all for the call… much appreciated always.
Go bombers tonight… finish them.
Thanks for the call folks
Yes, thanks guys for keeping us informed.
Langford watch?
Any good news gents?
Any wrap ups or even just a list of the best handful of players? Is Langford still putting his hand up?
So apparently if the VFL team loses the senior team is f*cked.
I think the lack of reporting / wrap up’s might have something to do with how hard it was to see anything there under the pathetic excuses for lights they have at that ground, … fk it was hard to see who was who. The two far pockets were especially dark, to the point that if it weren’t for our white shorts, you wouldn’t have known our players from theirs.
That said, if pushed, I’d say Draper Howlett Morgan McNeice & Jerret were who I noticed most of the listed players, then Langford and Mutch, with a cameo from Begley occasionally, although I didn’t think he did too well with it when he got it from what I saw.
Maybe take some of that with a grain, as I missed half the 1st qtr, half the last, … and was spending a bit of time looking at the phone, and a lot of time trying to actually identify which player had just done something worth noting in the horrible gloom. God knows what it must have been like to play in it, just not up to standard for any game of footy, let alone VFL.
Thanks mate
H-S has Boyse, Howlett, Gleeson, Francis, Draper, McNiece as our best.
I’m pretty keen for Morgan to make it. If his hammies ever don’t break he is QUICK
Almost none of our players stood out. Most of the game was very blah (Richmond isn’t and wasn’t good). If we’d kicked a little straighter, we walk away happy to take the points and forget the game.
Merrett did a few nice things.
Gleeson did alright on his 2 metre opponent, I guess: Chol is intermittently brilliant and awful.
Clarke was decent.
Howlett again got stacks of it (36 disposals, two goals), and was sharp with his disposals.
Boyse keeps on delivering (5 goals).
There were a lot of near invisible guys you need to drive the team: Mutch (copped a few whacks), Stanton, Redman (in defence), Francis (injured late), HepA, and McKernan.
Whats the extent of the Francis injury?
Pride
Just a corky according to the vfl report … probs six weeks 
Cup of concrete and he’ll be fine.
Essendon VFL Vice-Captain Aaron Heppell has made a promising return from injury and Performance Coach Mark Corrigan says he’ll only get better over the coming weeks.
The reigning best and fairest winner missed the opening six games of the season after undergoing knee surgery late in the pre-season.
He returned for the Bombers against Richmond on Saturday and picked up ten possessions and laid five tackles in modified game time.
“We didn’t have too big expectations on Hep coming back, obviously he’s had a bit of a lay off but I thought he did a couple of really nice things,” Corrigan said.
“To be honest he still looked like he still had some touch so we expect he’ll only get better with more continuity and more game time.
“We were quite pleased and happy that he got through, that’s the main thing.”
Essendon went down by 17 points in a highly contested game with Kobe Mutch and Aaron Francis both helped off the field after heavy tackles.
“Mutch was almost right to come back on so I think he’s just got a bit of a corky. We expect that he’ll pull up okay from that and get through the week,” Performance Coach Mark Corrigan said.
“Francis got a little bit of a knock, a bit of a corky but he was able to return to the field. We expect that he’ll be fine and be right to play next week.”
Although the result was disappointing for the Dons, there were some strong individual performances.
Essendon rookie listed player Sam Draper was dominant in the ruck. The 203cm 18 year old controlled majority of the hit outs against the Tigers.
“He’s developing really quickly, he’s a long term prospect for us, having not played much footy,” Corrigan said.
“His last two weeks have been super, to the extent where he is sort of taking on the number one ruckman and acquitting himself really well.
“It’s really pleasing to see. He obviously still has a lot to learn but always gives a really honest effort.”
Ben Howlett was the major ball winner, finishing with 36 disposals and two goals.
“’Bobcat’ has been playing a little bit of forward/midfield and we chose to push him more on ball because we thought it was a greater impact for us,” Corrigan said.
“He was probably one of the few that played consistent four quarters and single handily got us there but unfortunately didn’t have enough teammates.”
The Dons backline was without key defender James Ferry, who was selected to play in the state game.
“When you lose some of your top quality players, obviously they are hard to replace,” Corrigan said.
“At the same time when we turn the ball over like we did, doesn’t matter how good your backline is they are going to be put under the pump.
“We have to be better using the ball and help out the backs and not put them under so much pressure with the all coming back in.”
The Bombers had their opportunities winning their share of the inside 50s, clearances and ground balls, but it only translated to ten goals and 14 behinds.
“From that aspect it’s a positive, if we had used the ball better and kicked goals, converting going inside 50 then we put ourselves in a position to win the game,” Corrigan said.
“We weren’t able to get too many good shots on goal. Good shots on goal obviously help with your accuracy.
“It’s about how we are entering the ball inside 50, not being able to mark the ball means you’re under more pressure when you’re kicking on goal.
“There is plenty to work on. It’s something that cost us in previous weeks and it’s something we need to keep working at.”
Apparently so!
Stats are up in the app and on the VFL site.
When your second-highest disposal getter is 40% below the first…
(Howlett 35, Hind 21)
Clarke had 20, and thanks to that including 14 effective handballs he avoided his weaker aspect.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say playing the “utility” Dewit (2 disposals) instead of Marklew (a tall, in form) may not have been the greatest decision.
HepA 9 disposals and 4 frees for. Seems the umps missed him too.
Old school with the FF, Boyse, topping the marks (10) instead of some midfielder chipping sideways.
Leading tacklers were Howlett (8), Clarke (7), Langford and Bird (6).
Howlett had double (16) the handball receives of the next player, Long (8). Plus 9 inside fifties (we won that stat easily).
DJR do you think boyse would be a chance to be rookied? He seemed pretty good the game i saw him in too. Another dickson/crameri type maybe?