Tiggers Troubled - review round 11 of 2024

[efc1robbo]

We seem to have quite a good ability this year to really shut teams down defensively in the last qtr

Would love to know the stats. I would be surprised if we have conceded more than 5 goals total over the past 3 or so final qtrs

[Brewer_s_Droop]

@Clone_Hirdy

I went to the game and unfortunately I am off the lid on bandwagon. The injuries are now hitting us hard.

So, on the lid off?

[Glu]

Our whole team keeps telling us we’re a long way from the finished product. So we’re expecting to improve the way we play a fair bit yet.

I listened to Brad’s post match conference. His answer was that we could choose to play quick attacking footy, and if we did that against a less skilled team, we could beat them by a lot.

But if we did that, we’d have to go away from the way we want to play, which is a more contested, and a slower defensive movement forward.

We used to play quick, attacking footy. And we used to put even good teams away at times, and lose to bottom teams the following week.

My assumption is Brad doesn’t want us to get used to playing that type of footy, as it would be a step backwards. At least at this level of development.

The hidden bonus of us playing our more contested brand is that we’re grinding games out every week. Our effort and will to win has to be on every week. And we’re getting plenty of experiencing adding a few goals in the last quarter, then holding play up once we’re ahead. That will be very useful experience if we finish top 8, and play finals footy.

[Michael_Long_Legend]

@BakerWasAStar

Ruckmen are simply bullying Goldstein and shoving him out of the way, especially at centre clearances (because Goldstein’s first instinct is to make body contact with the other ruckman and not go for the ball). In turn, these ruckmen are racking up big clearance numbers in turn:

Do you reckon we are setting up at bounces in an attacking manner as if we will win the tap?

With ruckman you either need to know if you’re going to win or lose the tap and plan accordingly. Maybe we should set up as if Goldstein cannot win the tap.

[Donslaught9]

@reincarnated

Adelaide 46 Wet Toast 1. That is how you treat a ■■■■■ team. We got those sniffers in 3 or 4 weeks, can we do the same or only win by 1 point at the last second.

That amazing percentage (9% above ours) will be great for Adelaide when they eventually finish 11th.

I would rather have banked 8.5 wins at the halfway point of the season (including against them) and sit in the top 4 compared with their 4.5 wins in 12th spot.

I do get the frustration at not ‘smashing’ lesser teams though.

[Caliban]

I think as a team we rise to our opposition. I’m pretty confident now that we’ll be competitive, at least against the best sides, and will win our share. Against lesser teams, we seem to ease off a bit.

Our defence around the ground has improved dramatically, but it is an ethic that has affected our offence. It was a necessary change, but I hope we open up more offensively in the months ahead when the opportunity presents itself. That also means being more efficient. We should be scoring about 20 points more a game on stats and should have won by more on Saturday.

Otherwise, injuries are starting to impact, particularly around the ball, and we look a little tired. The bye will help us out when we get there.

Richmond was much better this week. It was a big occasion, and having been stung by so much criticism, they were always going to lift. And they clearly reverted to their old game plan.

We need to change things around the ball, particularly the ruck, and our on-ballers seemed a bit flat - if they were virus-affected, it makes sense.

Overall, not much to be excited about, but trust the process. Just need to clean up a few things and take our opportunities more crisply.

[Bully]

@Michael_Long_Legend

@BakerWasAStar

Ruckmen are simply bullying Goldstein and shoving him out of the way, especially at centre clearances (because Goldstein’s first instinct is to make body contact with the other ruckman and not go for the ball). In turn, these ruckmen are racking up big clearance numbers in turn:

Do you reckon we are setting up at bounces in an attacking manner as if we will win the tap?

With ruckman you either need to know if you’re going to win or lose the tap and plan accordingly. Maybe we should set up as if Goldstein cannot win the tap.

Exactly what Jimmy Bartel said is the issue with our midfield last night.

[Maxx]

I thought Scott was trying to say we’re not going to down hill sky against lesser opponents and get in attacking positions as we’re trying to structure up the same no matter the opposition. If you compare us to maybe Adelaide that’s the difference, Adelaide will smash lesser teams than them but struggle against the best because it’s all about attack for them. For too long we’ve been a team that will try and outscore a team and allow the possibility of a high scoring game. That’s changed and we have to stick fat to a defensive style because it’s not a common attribute that we’ve had for a long time.

[CameronClayton]

@Michael_Long_Legend

Do you reckon we are setting up at bounces in an attacking manner as if we will win the tap?

This is where we are really missing Parish. He is great at sharking the opposition’s ruck taps when we are getting beaten in the middle. Guys that are newer to CBA’s like Duzza, Caldwell and Archie are great when the taps come our way, but have struggled in recent weeks due to not having enough experience when Goldstein is getting beaten.

[Dunnybrush]

@Davo

@ruxpin

Stringer just saying he has been sick all week, reckon we’ve had a virus rip through the boys.

Phew I knew there’d be a convenient excuse

Never had the flu @Davo?

[wasaharvsfanasakid]

@Bomb_Doe

Guelfi seems to be able to make one big bone jarring hit a game

Hes been a game breaker for us the last few weeks, but he also made one big bone headed decision on Saturday night ….

[Clone_Hirdy]

Essendon kryptonite is 1 on 1 footy.

I’m watching the replay right now. Martin was horrid. The reason why teams aren’t stopping him getting the ball is because his decision making and kicking has been atrocious.

[Jaymin]

@wasaharvsfanasakid

@Bomb_Doe

Guelfi seems to be able to make one big bone jarring hit a game

Hes been a game breaker for us the last few weeks, but he also made one big bone headed decision on Saturday night ….

I still have no idea what happened in that play late. Saw him take the mark, looked away and then suddenly Richmond have the ball and are running away with it.

[Clone_Hirdy]

He played on quickly to center the ball to a couple of loose players. He was too close to man on mark so ball was smothered.

Really stupid. 1 point guarantees the win. Didn’t hurt us this time, but imagine this against Collingwood!

[Clone_Hirdy]

Why wasn’t Kelly playing on Dusty?

[Glu]

I think you’re saying the same as me in different words…

[WaltertheBlueHeeler]

@Clone_Hirdy

Why wasn’t Kelly playing on Dusty?

Because Lav is probably a better match up and did a really good job for the most part. Also because Kelly has the running capacity to play wing, and we are missing both Duursma and now Cox from the wing.

[ivan]

@Clone_Hirdy

He played on quickly to center the ball to a couple of loose players. He was too close to man on mark so ball was smothered.

Really stupid. 1 point guarantees the win. Didn’t hurt us this time, but imagine this against Collingwood!

yeah, guelfi was in range with just under 2minutes on the clock. Just needed to take his 30 seconds and hit the scoreboard. He has the leg for it from that range.

Perkins’ kick from outside 50 a few moments earlier was just as bad. He actually had durham just inside the 50 in the corridor in a heap of space and it was an easy chip. don’t know why he didn’t take it. after he passed that up he still had hind outside him with another spare behind so we had an easy opportunity to kill the clock there. Instead he went long to a 3 v 1. shocking decision making.

i’m sure both moments will be reviewed internally with a mind to how we want to control close finishes.

[Clone_Hirdy]

Surly Martin to the wing and Kelly in the backline is the better move. Both look lost in the opposite position.

[j_w]

@Houli_Dooley

Anybody looking forward to us losing should delete their account. Who are these people?

Sitting second after round 11 is foreign territory for us as supporters and puts you firmly in the box seat to play finals. And a better than usual chance to actually host one.

Are you sure you’re not confusing people who might discuss areas of concern or express doubts, with wanting their own team to lose?

The only circumstance I could understand a supporter being indifferent to the result or even hoping we lose would be if we were a non-factor in the later stages of the season and the draft was around the corner.

This.

The notion that people are spending their time on an Essendon fan forum secretly hoping that the very thing they dedicate their time to is unsuccessful is frankly farking stupid.

There is a growing narrative on this site that we should be blindly basking in the greatness of every win and anyone who posts criticism or concern or areas to improve is a gLOoMa (which is the anti CLaPpa - both are farking stupid) trying to white ant the football club or derive some satisfaction from being right.

It’s great to be winning. Farking great. Beats losing every time. But we have all seen false dawns before and so for the cynics amongst us it is hard to not feel a little bit sceptical, particularly when there are some emerging parallels with past seasons including a growing injury list, underwhelming wins against poor opposition and some seemingly stubborn selection.

Some will ride the wave. Great, happy for them. Others will worry about returning to type and use this forum as a place to discuss those concerns. Should be space for both.