Round 8 Essendon v Footscray @ Whitten Oval, 7pm Friday 9 June 2017

[jonovdp]

What position did Jake Long play?

[chris_64]

There was one stage where Begley made about 4 repeat efforts and won the footy. The kid is an animal. I was pleased to see Hocking and Jerrett find some form. Thought they were right up there in the bests as was Dea who looked the same assured defender we saw in the AFL before he missed the Giants game.

Langford another solid hitout and Draper is beginning to build very nicely. His confidence is building as he realises he can make an impact. For someone who hasn’t played too much footy he has amazing potential.

The AFL side does need more animal. atm we have Hurls and Tippa, who are about the only players our opposition fear, but we need some more brutes like Ambo, to come back, add in Begley and Francis , when he gets going. If only we could get a bit more animal into the Langford.

[theDJR]

What position did Jake Long play?

Wing and defence.

It was one of his better games, but geez he always makes a few catastrophic errors. And in a game determined by less than a goal that means…

[theDJR]

Francis is a brute. It’s not translating into many goals right now, but it’s curious to think Worsfold wants him to be more brutish before he gets a senior game.

By the way, when I said he was steaming at three-quarter-time… he had everyone beat (by a long way) on that aspect, including more obvious short-haired candidates like Draper. He’s not being lazy out there.

[riley13]

There was one stage where Begley made about 4 repeat efforts and won the footy. The kid is an animal. I was pleased to see Hocking and Jerrett find some form. Thought they were right up there in the bests as was Dea who looked the same assured defender we saw in the AFL before he missed the Giants game.

Langford another solid hitout and Draper is beginning to build very nicely. His confidence is building as he realises he can make an impact. For someone who hasn’t played too much footy he has amazing potential.

The AFL side does need more animal. atm we have Hurls and Tippa, who are about the only players our opposition fear, but we need some more brutes like Ambo, to come back, add in Begley and Francis , when he gets going. If only we could get a bit more animal into the Langford.

We can. His name is Laverde.

[Reboot]

There was one stage where Begley made about 4 repeat efforts and won the footy. The kid is an animal. I was pleased to see Hocking and Jerrett find some form. Thought they were right up there in the bests as was Dea who looked the same assured defender we saw in the AFL before he missed the Giants game.

Langford another solid hitout and Draper is beginning to build very nicely. His confidence is building as he realises he can make an impact. For someone who hasn’t played too much footy he has amazing potential.

The AFL side does need more animal. atm we have Hurls and Tippa, who are about the only players our opposition fear, but we need some more brutes like Ambo, to come back, add in Begley and Francis , when he gets going. If only we could get a bit more animal into the Langford.

We can. His name is Laverde.

Well except for the fact that they are very different players of course.

[theDJR]

The AFL side does need more animal. atm we have Hurls and Tippa, who are about the only players our opposition fear, but we need some more brutes like Ambo, to come back, add in Begley and Francis , when he gets going. If only we could get a bit more animal into the Langford.

We can. His name is Laverde.

Uhhhhhh… no. At all.

(Not that any of us can really remember Laverde playing.)

[barnz]

vid up on efc with all vfl goals.

[Speedy_Gonzales]

Smack is such an enigma

4 goals in a row in that vid

[Reboot]

Francis is a brute. It’s not translating into many goals right now, but it’s curious to think Worsfold wants him to be more brutish before he gets a senior game.

By the way, when I said he was steaming at three-quarter-time… he had everyone beat (by a long way) on that aspect, including more obvious short-haired candidates like Draper. He’s not being lazy out there.

Francis has never been lazy.
Once the aerobic capacity catches up with the rest of the package, the man will be a genuine star of the competition.

[Speedy_Gonzales]

Young Don impresses Natalie MacGregor 10 June 2017 11:08 AM

Essendon VFL coach Paul Corrigan says he’s been impressed by the form of Josh Begley and is tipping a senior call-up might be just around the corner if the first year player’s form continues.

Begley has shown promising signs developing his game in a range of positions.

On Friday night in the Bombers narrow loss to Footscray he finished with 11 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

“His work rate was outstanding – we are seeing improvement from him week in, week out,” Corrigan said.

“I think as he grows more confidence in his style of playing and how we want to play he has been getting aspects of playing in the midfield as well in recent weeks.

“We’re just continuing to develop his game, not only as a forward but pushing him inside as well so he now has the versatility to be able to play numerous roles.

“He needs to keep building that consistency that he has in his game at the moment. I’m sure that he will get an opportunity later in the year if his form continues like that.”

Jordan Ridley was also a standout in Friday night’s clash against Footscray.

In his second game back after three months on the sidelines, Ridley displayed the talent that saw him selected early in the second round of last November’s National Draft.

He was dominant overhead, taking 12 marks in defence, and creating multiple turnovers in the Dons favour.

“It’s really good for ‘Rids’, I think he looked a lot more comfortable tonight, sometimes that’s the way after you’ve had a week back,” Corrigan said.

“He is good with ball in hand, great with his kicking and he looks strong in the air.

“He’ll keep adapting, hopefully over the next month he can put some really strong performances together and start to gel with that back six.”

Corrigan credited a number of the Essendon players for their solid performances in the round eight game against the Dogs.

Shaun McKernan was the leading goal kicker, booting four and taking his VFL season total to 15.

The Bombers midfield was dominant. Heath Hocking finished with 29 disposals, four marks and six tackles and 20 year old Kyle Langford finished with 26 disposals and five marks.

“McKernan up forward looked really lively for us, once again he was able to get on the end of a few,” Corrigan said.

“Through the middle Hocking and Langford worked tirelessly, they both put a really good effort in there.

“Matty Dea down back was super tonight. I thought some of his efforts were outstanding at times.

“Longy on the wing – I thought his intensity to run up and down the field was really pleasing.

“We had good performances from the whole team.”

Although a number of players put their best foot forward, Essendon was defeated by Footscray by four points in a hotly contest game.

“It was a tussle the whole game,” Corrigan said.

“We probably started a little bit slowly. I thought we hit our straps in the second quarter and the game started to unfold the way we wanted it to.

“I thought we started to look after the contest more, we stopped their run and we started to get more entries going forward.

“We probably just needed to reward ourselves more going forward but the pleasing thing going into half time was the game was looking how we wanted it to.

“I thought we defended really well in that third quarter and we started to use the ball well going forward.

“It was just a tight tussle in that last quarter. The effort and the intent was outstanding by the boys, it just comes back to the basic fundamentals at times and doing them really well.

“A couple of times we might have fumbled the ball but I couldn’t question the endeavour of the boys throughout the game.

“It’s more disappointing for them that they lost it by four points but that’s footy and we’ll move on and we will learn from that.

“Hopefully if we are in another situation like that, we will come out on top.”

“They can’t give us umpire #5 every week, after all.”

Corrigan says the team will head back to the track and continue to work on their game plan and consistency.

“It’s about looking at the way we want to play and getting that right from the start, and not being inconsistent or wavering from that,” he said.

“When we responded and played the way in offence and defence that we had spoken about before the game, the game looked really good.

“We just have to have belief that that does work for us and we don’t go away from that at times when it does become more pressured and in their hands.

“We need to trust ourselves and keep going with our own game plan.

“I took many positives out of the game and we can take going forward.”

The Bombers have four wins and five losses heading into the mid-season bye. They are currently sitting in seventh spot with four games still to be played this weekend.

“The VFL competition is pretty even,” Corrigan said.

“Yeah we are sitting at the bottom of the eight at the moment and it would be nice to have a couple more wins but we know the season can really open up in the back half of the year.

“We have to make sure that we start playing some really consistent football and put the whole game together not just patches within games.

“If we are able to do that, we can play some really good football. We have to have the belief we can play like that week in and week out.

“It’s all about bringing the effort and intent that we showed tonight to the season.”

[Humbert_Humbert]

Thanks DJR. Just got on this now. Riveting call.

[Henry_s_Angry_Pills]

Glad to hear about Langers and Begley stacking up some form. Two more good classy big kids around mid and half forward makes the whole list look a lot better.
Looks like Stanton and Hocking will be straight in.

[Ants]

Young Don impresses Natalie MacGregor 10 June 2017 11:08 AM

Essendon VFL coach Paul Corrigan says he’s been impressed by the form of Josh Begley and is tipping a senior call-up might be just around the corner if the first year player’s form continues.

Begley has shown promising signs developing his game in a range of positions.

On Friday night in the Bombers narrow loss to Footscray he finished with 11 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

“His work rate was outstanding – we are seeing improvement from him week in, week out,” Corrigan said.

“I think as he grows more confidence in his style of playing and how we want to play he has been getting aspects of playing in the midfield as well in recent weeks.

“We’re just continuing to develop his game, not only as a forward but pushing him inside as well so he now has the versatility to be able to play numerous roles.

“He needs to keep building that consistency that he has in his game at the moment. I’m sure that he will get an opportunity later in the year if his form continues like that.”

Jordan Ridley was also a standout in Friday night’s clash against Footscray.

In his second game back after three months on the sidelines, Ridley displayed the talent that saw him selected early in the second round of last November’s National Draft.

He was dominant overhead, taking 12 marks in defence, and creating multiple turnovers in the Dons favour.

“It’s really good for ‘Rids’, I think he looked a lot more comfortable tonight, sometimes that’s the way after you’ve had a week back,” Corrigan said.

“He is good with ball in hand, great with his kicking and he looks strong in the air.

“He’ll keep adapting, hopefully over the next month he can put some really strong performances together and start to gel with that back six.”

Corrigan credited a number of the Essendon players for their solid performances in the round eight game against the Dogs.

Shaun McKernan was the leading goal kicker, booting four and taking his VFL season total to 15.

The Bombers midfield was dominant. Heath Hocking finished with 29 disposals, four marks and six tackles and 20 year old Kyle Langford finished with 26 disposals and five marks.

“McKernan up forward looked really lively for us, once again he was able to get on the end of a few,” Corrigan said.

“Through the middle Hocking and Langford worked tirelessly, they both put a really good effort in there.

“Matty Dea down back was super tonight. I thought some of his efforts were outstanding at times.

“Longy on the wing – I thought his intensity to run up and down the field was really pleasing.

“We had good performances from the whole team.”

Although a number of players put their best foot forward, Essendon was defeated by Footscray by four points in a hotly contest game.

“It was a tussle the whole game,” Corrigan said.

“We probably started a little bit slowly. I thought we hit our straps in the second quarter and the game started to unfold the way we wanted it to.

“I thought we started to look after the contest more, we stopped their run and we started to get more entries going forward.

“We probably just needed to reward ourselves more going forward but the pleasing thing going into half time was the game was looking how we wanted it to.

“I thought we defended really well in that third quarter and we started to use the ball well going forward.

“It was just a tight tussle in that last quarter. The effort and the intent was outstanding by the boys, it just comes back to the basic fundamentals at times and doing them really well.

“A couple of times we might have fumbled the ball but I couldn’t question the endeavour of the boys throughout the game.

“It’s more disappointing for them that they lost it by four points but that’s footy and we’ll move on and we will learn from that.

“Hopefully if we are in another situation like that, we will come out on top.”

“They can’t give us umpire #5 every week, after all.”

Corrigan says the team will head back to the track and continue to work on their game plan and consistency.

“It’s about looking at the way we want to play and getting that right from the start, and not being inconsistent or wavering from that,” he said.

“When we responded and played the way in offence and defence that we had spoken about before the game, the game looked really good.

“We just have to have belief that that does work for us and we don’t go away from that at times when it does become more pressured and in their hands.

“We need to trust ourselves and keep going with our own game plan.

“I took many positives out of the game and we can take going forward.”

The Bombers have four wins and five losses heading into the mid-season bye. They are currently sitting in seventh spot with four games still to be played this weekend.

“The VFL competition is pretty even,” Corrigan said.

“Yeah we are sitting at the bottom of the eight at the moment and it would be nice to have a couple more wins but we know the season can really open up in the back half of the year.

“We have to make sure that we start playing some really consistent football and put the whole game together not just patches within games.

“If we are able to do that, we can play some really good football. We have to have the belief we can play like that week in and week out.

“It’s all about bringing the effort and intent that we showed tonight to the season.”

Lol, he even mentioned umpire #5!

[Ants]

On Ridley, the club post the draft was touting him as a tall HBF/midfielder with great marking and disposal. At U18 level he’d been used all over the park, although I gather his stint across the back half really caught the eye.

However, since then he’s meant to have kept growing (reputedly) to the point he is KP height (albeit at the shorter end of the scale).

For those who have now seen him live, what is his height/mobility like, and what roles do you think he could play now?

[dingus]

Young Don impresses Natalie MacGregor 10 June 2017 11:08 AM

Essendon VFL coach Paul Corrigan says he’s been impressed by the form of Josh Begley and is tipping a senior call-up might be just around the corner if the first year player’s form continues.

Begley has shown promising signs developing his game in a range of positions.

On Friday night in the Bombers narrow loss to Footscray he finished with 11 disposals, four tackles and a goal.

“His work rate was outstanding – we are seeing improvement from him week in, week out,” Corrigan said.

“I think as he grows more confidence in his style of playing and how we want to play he has been getting aspects of playing in the midfield as well in recent weeks.

“We’re just continuing to develop his game, not only as a forward but pushing him inside as well so he now has the versatility to be able to play numerous roles.

“He needs to keep building that consistency that he has in his game at the moment. I’m sure that he will get an opportunity later in the year if his form continues like that.”

Jordan Ridley was also a standout in Friday night’s clash against Footscray.

In his second game back after three months on the sidelines, Ridley displayed the talent that saw him selected early in the second round of last November’s National Draft.

He was dominant overhead, taking 12 marks in defence, and creating multiple turnovers in the Dons favour.

“It’s really good for ‘Rids’, I think he looked a lot more comfortable tonight, sometimes that’s the way after you’ve had a week back,” Corrigan said.

“He is good with ball in hand, great with his kicking and he looks strong in the air.

“He’ll keep adapting, hopefully over the next month he can put some really strong performances together and start to gel with that back six.”

Corrigan credited a number of the Essendon players for their solid performances in the round eight game against the Dogs.

Shaun McKernan was the leading goal kicker, booting four and taking his VFL season total to 15.

The Bombers midfield was dominant. Heath Hocking finished with 29 disposals, four marks and six tackles and 20 year old Kyle Langford finished with 26 disposals and five marks.

“McKernan up forward looked really lively for us, once again he was able to get on the end of a few,” Corrigan said.

“Through the middle Hocking and Langford worked tirelessly, they both put a really good effort in there.

“Matty Dea down back was super tonight. I thought some of his efforts were outstanding at times.

“Longy on the wing – I thought his intensity to run up and down the field was really pleasing.

“We had good performances from the whole team.”

Although a number of players put their best foot forward, Essendon was defeated by Footscray by four points in a hotly contest game.

“It was a tussle the whole game,” Corrigan said.

“We probably started a little bit slowly. I thought we hit our straps in the second quarter and the game started to unfold the way we wanted it to.

“I thought we started to look after the contest more, we stopped their run and we started to get more entries going forward.

“We probably just needed to reward ourselves more going forward but the pleasing thing going into half time was the game was looking how we wanted it to.

“I thought we defended really well in that third quarter and we started to use the ball well going forward.

“It was just a tight tussle in that last quarter. The effort and the intent was outstanding by the boys, it just comes back to the basic fundamentals at times and doing them really well.

“A couple of times we might have fumbled the ball but I couldn’t question the endeavour of the boys throughout the game.

“It’s more disappointing for them that they lost it by four points but that’s footy and we’ll move on and we will learn from that.

“Hopefully if we are in another situation like that, we will come out on top.”

“They can’t give us umpire #5 every week, after all.”

Corrigan says the team will head back to the track and continue to work on their game plan and consistency.

“It’s about looking at the way we want to play and getting that right from the start, and not being inconsistent or wavering from that,” he said.

“When we responded and played the way in offence and defence that we had spoken about before the game, the game looked really good.

“We just have to have belief that that does work for us and we don’t go away from that at times when it does become more pressured and in their hands.

“We need to trust ourselves and keep going with our own game plan.

“I took many positives out of the game and we can take going forward.”

The Bombers have four wins and five losses heading into the mid-season bye. They are currently sitting in seventh spot with four games still to be played this weekend.

“The VFL competition is pretty even,” Corrigan said.

“Yeah we are sitting at the bottom of the eight at the moment and it would be nice to have a couple more wins but we know the season can really open up in the back half of the year.

“We have to make sure that we start playing some really consistent football and put the whole game together not just patches within games.

“If we are able to do that, we can play some really good football. We have to have the belief we can play like that week in and week out.

“It’s all about bringing the effort and intent that we showed tonight to the season.”

Lol, he even mentioned umpire #5!

Watch and marvel as we now receive umpire #5 each week, after all.

[theDJR]

(apologies to @Speedy_Gonzales for that little edit )

[Crazy_Bomber]

Da fuq? Is that umpire #5 comment real? LOL.

[BLOODSTAINED_DEVILS]

(No…)

[Killer_Mike]

He looks KP height and his mobility from the small sample size is very good but again based on small sample size I wouldn’t think he wouldnt have the physicality to be a KP player.

He looks like in time he will have a good frame on him but to me he doesn’t have that physical prescence as say a hurley, hooker or even a francis has.

Using Langford as an example who I personally believe has a massive future, he has a big body that would make a great inside mid in the mold of say a fyfe. What he doesn’t have and what I feel is the same with Ridley is that want to hurt somebody or get hurt.

I dont think you can ever train that instinct and in Ridleys case and Langford its probably not necessary.

They both have different strengths and its up to Woosha and the coaching team to find a role in the team that can exploit those strengths.