both Gresham and Goldstein were good. Goldstein is a very good tap ruckman.
Tsatas was good, one of our best, and his kicking was ok, without being great.
Reid was ok and his reach got him out of trouble a few times.
Menzie only had one chance to kick a goal and he stuffed it up - he just has to take his chances to be a decent player.
Perkins more of what we’ve seen in the past from him, very disappointing.
Hepp was horrible. Every time he had the ball it was trouble for us.
Jones could be 10kg heavier and he still wouldn’t get a kick unless he learns to push first and not be pushed out of every single marking contest. It’s as much a mindset as it is lack of physical strength.
Bryan was pretty good, not as good as Goldstein, but he is strong in the contest now.
He is!! I just don’t see how that firm he showed can just go away forever. I suspect with training and games his belief will return. With some improved delivery I’m hopeful…
I’m glad I did it to myself by going to the ground. Preseason training reports had me hyped and this game brought me back to reality.
Anyone saying Saints were playing 100% is kidding themselves. Saints were in 2nd gear, you could sense it around the ground. They were better organised and we were all over the shop
I thought today looked exactly like the back end of last year - the true essendon. So i am in no way suprised
The backline is slow. No run, no dare. If thats martin’s audition of being our daicos, i was thoroughly disappointed after the pre season reports. Not writing off that move but he was underwhelming. Hope he is better for the run. Laverde and heppell are VFL players and neither offer anything. Baldwins injury is cruel
Reid was good when on. Tick. Stay fit please
Our forward line is easily the weakest area of our team imo. Jones looks poor, weideman is terrible and we have no aerial precence at all. Our hopes are pinned on wright, who will be double teamed all year as he is our only capable tall forward. I would fast track caddy purely for this reason, we need another tall option
Gresham looks to be a smart pick up. Same with duursma. I like those additions and i thought durham showed a bit. I would give durham every opportunity to be a inside midfielder
Again on our forward line, our small forward stocks are the worst in the AFL. When your talls are as bad as ours, you’d hope your smalls can at least be good. We have neither. We have zero dangerous small crumbing forwards. The fact we’re looking to a old hind to potentially fill a void speaks volumes on our small forwards. What I’d give for ONE of collingwoods (hill, mcreery, elliot, Schultz)
Midfield is too slow. Perkins, Caldwell, parish, Merrett, stringer, setterfield, durham, hobbs (yes, didnt play) …they all have their individual strengths, but its slow. Its why tsatas is so fkn important imo - we need break away speed from the contest. I have huge concerns around his kicking but as others talk about, his other strengths could be vital and we are crying out for some midfielders with some speed. Even despite the concerns of his kicking I’d rather us roll the dice and give him opportunities
