But if you intentionally have a safety first program that means very little.
Yep, we tend to play better against Geelong, especially at Kardinia Park.
3 Likes
Tuned in from the far side of the world halfway through Q2 in the middle of the night in normal pre season hope. And stayed until halfway through Q3 …
Phew. So much already well said.
But we were so outnumbered at the contest, practically no one home for when we got forward and when the Saints intercepted they waltzed through the corridor. Pretty sadly familiar. Our defence as usual under the pump. Was the half forwards and midfield that seemed to be in trouble …but overall we were spanked.
Saints seemed a country mile in front of us and looked way fitter and stronger which struck me. Always in numbers … Ross has them humming already has to be said.
For us? Limited shafts of light.
Where’s Brad ?
2 Likes
I think careers and spots in the rnd 1 team need to be threanted.
We can not play like this again
But we will.
It doesn’t matter that we have brought players in from other clubs, when the players are unable to grasp a simple game plan and just dont have a standard level of competitiveness.
3 Likes
I’d love to see us start with tackling and defending ……plus not letting the opposition setup wide and receive the easy option out ……too many times yesterday the Saints were un manned
4 Likes
I woke up and the optimist in me says its ok, they were instructed not to sweat, not to get injured, but what that does not justify is blokes who should be able to hold a mark, compete, etc being as much value to the team as me sitting at home dunking a tim tam in my coffee to distract me from kicking the dog. Jones, i can only think his role is decoy if he plays as hes soft as the butter that Weid rubs on his hands before each contest. I know a praccy match but we look like Fitzroy Vs a juiced up West Coast Eagles at times, hoping held back and we see them off the leash somewhat week with a balanced side, with structure that we can take into R1.
1 Like
I saw one crunching tackle yesterday inside our fwd line by Caldwell which resulted in htb
Brad needs to show that tackle on repeat and say anything less then this is unexceptable
3 Likes
In my limited visual roughly an hour, I saw no semblance of a plan. We were always on the back foot, defending last line type. Saints once they got the footy swarmed
Something v wrong with our supposed plan(s) … The scoreboard even in a practice match hit out doesn’t lie…
2 Likes
Essendon’s kryptonite is opposition pressure.
8 Likes
I got a very ‘same olds’ vibe and not in a good way.
Not going to read into this too much but if early performances are similar I’m reserving the right to throw the toys out the cot.
People say the talent is there but I don’t really see it at this stage. Some good pieces of the puzzle sprinkled in there but pretty sparsely.
1 Like
We have been a bad side for years, a single preseason is not going to fix everything. It’s going to be 2 years of really hard work to turn us around.
4 Likes
That’s a cop out. Other teams have turned it around in season. Look at GWS.
Let’s be honest, we have an average list and rubbish game-plan.
4 Likes
In all my years of wacthing Essendon never seen a team that turns to mush so quickly when the opposition puts pressure on us.
2 Likes
Problem is, I have seen this before. Pretty much every year.
5 Likes
Yes they have. However, their group is more stable and have been playing together for longer. Still, yesterdays output wasn’t acceptable and we should expect a more prepared outfit, irrespective of the time it will take to synchronise.
least reid got through the game
3 Likes
I probably have the lowest expectations of anyone here. I have stated over and over that we won’t be making finals this year because of our list demographic. Tbh, after yesterday, I have lowered my expectations again. I’m now thinking all things going well, 2028 we make and win a final under a different coach.
2 Likes
I think if they have a good injury run they can. But I think if we’re all honest we can see 2024 is going to be bumpy. Some joy but also frustration!
Only played the first half