If anything this last 15-20 years has built character in all of us.
The fact we are all still here speaking about the club and the heartache it causes speaks volumes.
When we do eventually turn the corner (2028? 2035? 2041?), we’ll all be much older and much greyer but we will all be able to say we’ve seen the absolute worst. Might make those good moments a hell of a lot better.
There we go. Guelfi was having a great time too.
We are not allowed to criticise players smiling after losing a game.
I just can’t get over my head that Heppell said we are working hard on the track, validated by people like Scooter who saw the defensive game plan pre season, and then we roll out this shyte. Even Kelly said the same thing. Why? It appears the players are only “champions” on the training track ala Jack Thompson in The Club; they just simply don’t want it enough when the tough gets going. They give up too easily. Who to blame? My view:- Rutten and Heppell. Rutten is everyone’s best mate and Heppell is all “she’ll be right”. How I would love a 28 year old Goddard to be captain and a ruthless …t like Lyon to be a coach right now.
I think we all bought into this blue collar theme last year. Reconnecting to our roots as a club. Puting players through an induction into who we are, and what we stand for.
But all of that is just nonsense unless it really means something. In fact, what does blue collar actually mean??
Here is what it should mean… a club that hates losing.
Essendon historically, has been a club that despises losing.
These days, after copping a hiding in week one of the finals, our players and coaches are sitting in a room congratulating themselves on a successful year. Really??
These days, we are happy that our best football matches the best teams for patches of games. Our best footy stacks up apparently.
Whats clear is, as a whole, we dont hate losing anymore. We are so far from blur collar, whatever that means anyway.
It all starts with recruiting. Stop looking for athletes who tick all the boxes physically. Who display great leadership qualities. Who are humble and were A grade students. That aint working.
Start recruiting blue collar footy players, who simply hate losing.
I don’t think that’s quite fair. I wouldn’t measure it on win-loss, but more on getting the players to be able to play a style of football, both offensively and defensively, that will stand up to finals football. Right now what’s being served up is absolute nothingness. We can’t defend, we can’t move the football, we shirk contests, we don’t work hard. So that’s what we need to see a complete 180 on:
If he can’t do that, see ya.
the season is cooked, just enjoy going to the footy with mates, catching up witg people and getting on the cans, and really enjoy it when we get the odd win
When? If, more like it.
I hope we lose every game for the season.
There will be nowhere to hide. Fark them all.
What is it 1 win between the ones and the twos for the year, do we need to say anymore. At least in the past when the ones were rubbish we could watch the twos and get excited about the kids. They have even taken that from us.
Good point - with only 1 win, after 5 rounds between our senior and reserve teams this might just be the worst start to a season in our history senior-reserves combined.
apposite (for EFC) typo!
All you people are crazy. We are perfectly poised to win at least a couple more. And even if we’re not. Is that so bad? Think of all the non-Essendon fans we are cheering up. We’re making people happy, so that is good I say.
Thing is, this could very well happen, and a lot of people will be convinced it’s all hunky dory. And it might look like it for a week or two, but at some point there will be another game like Sunday.
The fact is, too many times, the only way to get the team to perform and play at a high level is for them to be embarrassed. And even then it’s only temporary.
Well said.
Heppell said after the game something along the lines of “we know we can turn it around, as we’ve done it before”.
It’s like it has become a part of the culture at Essendon. Who cares how bad we are for periods, “that isn’t who we are”. Yes it is who you are. You’ve done it every year since 2018. Every year you go through a period of horrible footy and only respond once the pressure is on.
But the club and a big portion of the supporter base ignore the underlying issues and are just happy they turned it around and made finals
Was a real head scratcher couldn’t believe the club said that last year wtf are they thinking?
I was one of the first on here to disagree with that statement but ■■■■■ on here we’re like “the club is right to lower our expectations for next season” etc
lols fck off with that ■■■■
Yes, what about Brasher’s promise that he would oversee the complete change in the culture at Essendon.
The culture has changed but for the worse. We are now the softest club in the AFL. 18th for contested possessions.
All summer I was impatiently waiting for the football season to start. Because finally in my 20 years of supporting this club we were not going to be bad anymore. Most people I spoke to about the boys thought we would be a genuine chance at a top 6 finish. I was so excited. I was even going to buy myself a membership for the first time.
Anyway, roll around to 2 weeks before the season proper began and we absolutely stunk it up in our pre season games. As usual though most on here were telling us ‘negative’ people its not a worry we are just avoiding injuries. After watching the pre season I did the wisest thing I could and decided i’d wait till after round 3 on picking up a membership. I would know if the club was worth giving my money to in those 3 games.
Its honestly so depressing that it didnt take me 3 games to decide. After the first half against Geelong all my excitement was gone and the only thing I had to be remotely happy about was that I had saved myself 250$ on the membership. I would have much rather payed the money and had a decent team to watch.
The club currently has no standards for its players. Players being grossly overweight by modern AFL standards, players refusing to chase when we dont have the ball. Players having a joke straight after a belting in plain site. Players spending their summer at parties on the pills and then dishing up these performances. They literally care more about having a good time with some music in the background then digging in during the summer and getting fit enough to make the history and supporters of our club proud.
Its a slap in the face to all of the members who spend their hard earned each year to support the club. Its a slap in the face to the supporters who give up their time and emotions hoping to see our guys at least want to win the game.
I can honestly say over the last month I have never felt so disassociated with our results. Of course I will always want us to win, Im sadly red and black through and through but Im at this current moment, less excited about footy then I was even in 2016.
Rip to our club.
Been a paid member the last 22 years and have spent the last 20 not even in the same continent as the team. Don’t want to even think about the expense. Basically just paying for the stickers and the odd scarf at this point. Glue and synthetic fabric. There is a metaphor in there somewhere.
Numbness.
It’s quite unbelievable really that those guys who rocked up in 2016, when they didn’t really have to and upset the plans of many other teams around the country, showed more spirit and determination then the current crop of players.
That year was way more enjoyable then any I can remember since 2004.