Unfortunately the other option is we man up forcing the long kick and we get out muscled and tackled when the ball is at ground level
Based on the ‘practice matches’ so far. Norf are the undoubted flag favourites. Praccy matches are just that - a little work out.
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When you practice anything, do you practice like you don’t have a clue what you’re doing?
Like, I used to play the clarinet a fair bit. I practiced it a lot. When I practiced it I didn’t stick the reed in one of the holes, douse the clarinet in butter and put it in the freezer. I practiced as if I wanted to get the fkg piece of music I was playing, right.
We either don’t give a ■■■■ about practice matches (which is an arrogant approach to take given how ■■■■ we have been and historically has never worked well for us) or we were actually trying really hard and we are just ■■■■.
Take your pick.
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I watched most of the game and gave up.
I was just surprised by the fumbling and ineptitude of the disposals. Marty certainly didn’t get that part of his game going.
Certainly need to get km’s into Ridleys legs very fast.
I was also worried about how neither Jones or Weiderman were able to get separation from their opponents. They were constantly bodied out of the contest.
I don’t expect a win every week but I expect endeavour. Looking at the game gave me a sinking feeling because it did look just like the way last year finished.
Hopefully it was just a practice match with the club looking to improve from here.
The one good thing is that it has ended the golden haze of pre season and we now have a more realistic view of things.
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Turnovers have killed us for many years
They break the spirit
If you think you are going to prove something in a 1st up praccy, with that starting list and the rotations we used, all you prove is that you have no grip on reality
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We all go on about poor structures, but do we realise that Essendon have no elite (or even good) small forwards?
All the best sides of the last 3 seasons have had an army of small forwards who can either apply elite pressure and/or hit the scoreboard. We have 6 small forwards on our list that can’t do either.
Teams waltz the ball out of our backline while our gassed midfielders who are playing as make shift forwards are 20m away off them.
This means our ‘structures’ suck because we can never set up the ground ahead of the ball and hence why our transition statistics are putrid year after year.
I’d argue Collingwood’s defence would struggle to defend EFC’s upfield pressure.
It’s a huge gap, it’s been this way for 3 years and Dodoro is to blame.
It’s gonna be a long season…
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It’s definitely an issue I agree.
I’m not convinced Menzie is the answer. Caldwell has been tried but isn’t effective.
They has Massimo but he doesn’t have defensive instincts. Wanganeen isn’t professional / ruthlessly committed enough (my instincts and a bit of intel).
The retirement of Tippa put a spanner in the works. Their list planning would certainly have been planning on Tippa still having, to this day, at least another 2-3 years to run. So, they would’ve had to recalibrate with this news 18 months ago. Further, they seemed to have an exciting prospect with Mosquito but the timing of his ACL, during Covid, was unfortunate as it meant Mozzie wasn’t prepared to live the difficult life of recovering for 12 months, in Covid conditions away from ‘home’.
So, here we are. They have Jayden Davey but he’s a longer term proposition. Alwyn isn’t developed enough yet to step up and there’s certainly a gap to fill.
They have the upcoming draft and trades to try and solve. The list in terms of its journey is still reasonably young. They have time but if an opportunity arises they will no doubt look at it.
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I agree.
Its our number 1 issue imo.
Ive stated in the past we need to play hind or davey forward and drop one of our 2nd sting midfielders.
You just cant play langford, stringer, perkins and caldwell in the same forward line.
We overcommit to the ball and need to be smarter with our chasing/spreading from the contest. This is where u need elite acceleration and only hind or davey offer that.
Id personally play hind while davey x2 develop in the vfl.
Id leave out caldwell over perkins as at least perkins can mark overhead and provide a leading option.
Our problem is not the game plan.
Our problem is that we don’t play hard enough.
Every single game plan ever invented depends upon the players in our team getting clear possession of the ball at some point and doing something constructive with it.
Our problem on Friday, and our problem for years and years and years against any halfway decent team, is that we’re second or third to the ball, if we happen to get the ball it’s a possession under pressure, it’s impossible to make a choice about how to dispose of the ball, we’re under pressure the whole time.
It’s not plan, it’s effort, the lack thereof.
Yes McGrath does dump kicks over his shoulder. So do all our backs. That’s because they’re under pressure when they get the ball, they’re under pressure when they dispose of it, there are no clear players upfield, and there’s no choice to make about who to give it to because there’s nobody good to give it to.
Because the opposition play harder than us. They want the ball more and they get the ball more. If one of them makes a mistake, one of their teammates mops up. If one of our players makes a mistake, the opposition jump on it and score a goal.
I’m sick of us being a half-hearted, low-intensity team. Sick to death.
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oh so thats what they mean when they sy smooth as butter
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As long as we all understand we are a bottom 6 team, all will be ok.
Dont be optimistic. Its February when reality, and injuries, hit.
We are a top six team, mark my words.
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Not in 2024. What makes you so confident Foxy?
Because I am very wise and not a peasant like the rest of you.
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Ok thanks for that
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This is going to be us every week as we get decimated by 50 points week after week
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Bet a slab on it?
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From what I saw on Friday we will win 4-6 games this year……I hope BDB has something up his sleeve and we turn it around ……because if we keep dishing up the craap I saw on Friday then BDB is going to be under extreme pressure by round 7
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