Something seriously wrong with the club (Part 2, March 2022)

Football Discussion Dustin Fletcher Hangar
1790

I reckon it’s a culture thing, it’s a complacency culture that has been at Essendon a long, long time.

To start debate:
The late 1990’s, Essendon had a fantastic side but all too often never quite put it together, at least not consistently and cohesively. 1999 is a painful recollection, where the best team in the competition and minor premiers got beaten in a preliminary final by one point by playing just one winning quarter of football. There is a retrospective pertinent observation from 1999 - we were/are complacent. It took the ire of losing that game to compel the team of 2000 to perform at the consistent level they were capable of. One year, just one year of proven desire.

The great comeback game against North Melbourne of round-16, 2001 was a wondrous thing - but have you ever stopped long enough to wonder how the all conquering team of 2000, sixteen rounds later finds itself 11-goals down by halfway through the second quarter. What complacency allowed that and what kicked in (Jason Johnson) to remedy the mindset?

For the season 2001, I think yep injuries struck, we played a grand final against a team on the rise but to my eye, the competitiveness and the desire of 2000 had waned. Sure we finished top of the ladder but showed inconsistency and certainly looked unconvincing in the finals.

My belief - the noughties through until now have shown Essendon to be in a holding pattern of complacent professional footballers going through the motions of playing football for a wage with no proven commitment to succeed in the outcome of the collective enterprise. Hmm, the successful outcome of the collective enterprise.

I believe Essendon has had an over reliance on individual brilliance, ala James and Jobe and held up by players who were the exceptions to the rule, those who were self motivated (on their day) and driven to succeed - all be it as individuals and not as a team.

So, the aforementioned ‘successful outcome of the collective enterprise’. What does Essendon Football Club stand for? What do they exist to do? What are their goals and what lenghts will they go to in reaching those goals? Anyone?

Do we need a new mission statement?
Probably.
Is an introspective and overhaul of the entire club the answer?
Probably.

6 Likes
1791

I’m sceptical of anything coming out of the club that’s pinning our woes on an underling. If we sack an assistant coach, RJK and head of futness(this one may be warranted), we’ve missed the entire point and nothing will change.

Who’s made all the hiring decisions and why do they keep getting it either a) wrong or b)don’t support the hire to be successful.

Start at the top and work our way down.

3 Likes
1792

I see a massive issue with the leadership, in particular Heppell. there’s no fire or accountability. Too much She’ll be right and pandering to not hurt feelings.
Without a burning fire to drive success and DEMAND excellence.
Maybe this isn’t just Heppell and stems through the whole coaching group too. Pushed by the Admin as a result from the saga and delicate handling of the suspended players, due to the pain caused by club because of player fragility and the clubs desire to hold onto the group than prevent the mass exodus, the playing group gets off lightly in particular as individuals.

This has become the club standard and culture since

2 Likes
1793

It’s like he’s picked random comments and phrases from Blitz and put them in an article. They are all things we’ve said on here.

3 Likes
1794

This is sadly exactly what I want - and what the club actually needs to progress. We’ve been meandering in mediocrity for 20 years, and a terrible season to end all terrible seasons is exactly what is needed to kick-start some kind of ACTUAL change.

2 Likes
1795

Interesting observations. I disagree in part… I think that Sheedy was an innovator… he changed the way the game was played both as a player and then, later, as a coach. He was the first to really see the ‘showmanship’ side of the industry… it lead to us being an industry leader off field. He then changed the way we looked at fitness when he went and recruited track and field fitness team… revolutionary at the time but it meant our teams were fitter than others… this allowed us to be a lot more inventive with our defensive running and use of handball.

Then we got lucky with some exceptionally talented players that brought it together. But Sheeds, again, made his own luck by seeing guys in different positions and being very good at bringing out the ‘best’ in a player (with some notable exceptions).

Then after 2001, the league caught up a little. Terry Wallace (for better or worse) changed the game with the flood… we saw all teams become more athletic (remember the Tambling era - guys recruited for athletics first and football second)… and Sheedy missed the boat. It is very hard for a coach to reinvent themselves for three straight decades.

Then we could have had DImma… but we all know that Knights got the gig. He got the gig because he told the board that he was going to deliver what they wanted and faster. THAT is when we saw the hubris of the sheedy years really impact things. We were so used to success, so used to being in the top pack that we didn’t see the gaping holes. We wanted to believe we were only a ‘tweak’ away from another tilt… Knights promised something readily believable.

Knights was an innovator… unfortunately for us… his radical plan didn’t succeed at the time and he never quite got the list or the injuries to make it work.

Then we fell for the Messiah complex and got Hird back. And he made us feel like EFC again… we were winning… we were tough… we were getting fitter… Very easy to think we were ‘close’.

Then the saga hit and from that point on… we have been scared and directionless. We have no authority to demand anything from the players… we have shied away from innovation or demanding standards… we have become a shadow.

So I think our biggest problem is that we switch between trying to innovate and trying to emulate. This is highlighted in our recruiting. When we were trying to innovate… we were recruiting players that didn’t fit that purpose… then we have tried to emulate but again we have been found lacking in our list.

It isn’t just a ‘quick fix’ issue either… we have just been unable to stick with a plan long enough because we have failed to get the first bit right… the coach. The coach should drive the recruiting and not vice versa.

Lots of things wrong at the club but start at the top and rebuild from there.

10 Likes
1796

Haven’t seen any burning drive from Xavier or Brasher either. Starts at the top.

1797

I can see Xavier Campbell getting on the phone to Ziggy to get the review done. It will say exactly what X wants it to say.

I know I’m cynical, but I’m an Essendon supporter, how could I not be?

1 Like
1798

You know what gets me ticked off. When you get a so called member exclusive email with some news but you’ve already seen that news on Instagram 4 hours earlier.

The club must think we are fkn stupid

1 Like
1799

going for a sponsorship deal?

1800

Don’t stop baby I’m almost there

1 Like
1801

Those 2 FC games were some of the most fun I’ve ever had at the footy. We gave it the biggen that day.

1 Like
1802

We talk about what’s gone wrong with the club over the last 15+ years.

All I want to know is how the club can somehow use a preseason to reverse the most palpable positives of 2021. The first time I remember enjoying watching us for such a long time… feeling like something was happening? There was progress. What happened over that period of time - offseason/preseason? As I’ve said, it’s just baffling. Does anyone have any idea? It seemed like there was something to build on finally, and a spirited closeknit team. So many players seemed to find their position and confidence.

I didn’t expect a lot early with the draw we were given, but a chance to continue to improve a bit more again.

I know there’s no simple answers, but it is wrecking my mind.

To be honest, when Shiel et al went down last year, and after the Port game, this what is happening now wouldn’t have surprised me. But we at least showed resilience. This is some strange inversion, or reversion rather.

8 Likes
1803

Watch the excuses start to come out from Rutten and co around injuries and loss of structure after our next bad loss.

It’s the only next card they can play to save face.

1 Like
1804

He’s been asked about that ad nauseum and he says it’s obviously not ideal, but he doesn’t use it as an excuse, even though it’s completely part of the problem. It’s not everything, but how can you deny injuries and how they have messed with us structurally hasn’t been an issue? I think most of us accept that. It’s the inconsistency of effort that he should be asked about and taken to account for, just as the players should - but that’s when his answers aren’t adequate.

And I don’t really think he has any avenue to save face at the moment. He’s in the ■■■■ and he knows it. If he can turn things around somewhat it will speak a lot more than words. I hope he can, but I’m really not sure because this team is more baffling than ■■■■■■■ crop circles at the moment.

4 Likes
1805

expectations is the only thing that’s changed.

last year everything looked better cos they weren’t essentially expected to do be anything.
they were young and developing and it was a development year. you had the freedom to sell the ■■■■ sandwich whatever way you wanted cos you always had “development” year to fall back on.

they luck onto a finals spot and then the expectations start coming.
they were expected to move up the ladder
they were expected to show more improvement (cox jones etc)
They were expected to learn from the years of learnings now that they had clear air
They were simply expected to be better across all facets.

and they aren’t, and as per usual when this club ■■■■■ the bed, they have no resilience to overcome any adversity (in football specific circumstances). when they drop their bundle they ironically go all in and complete just give up.

2 Likes
1806

100%

1807

Daisy Thomas reckons Rutten is talking like a coach who’s under pressure in his press conferences. he was comparing it to David Teague in his last year just keeps repeating the same cliche stuff with out explaining anything

1 Like
1808

None of these “expectations” were unreasonable, except I think you’re twisting them and I don’t really get your point. Expecting to improve upon a year of improvement when other than a tough draw and some injuries, nothing has evidently changed isn’t unreasonable.

It still doesn’t explain anything.

1809

You really meant to say this;

and they aren’t, and as per usual when this club ■■■■■ the bed, I, @darkknightpheonix have no resilience to overcome any adversity (in football specific circumstances). when I drop the bundle I ironically go all in and completely just give up.