Preview Round 3: Melbourne vs Essendon, MCG, Friday 05/04/19, 7:50 PM, The Melksham-Hibberd-Neeld Trophy

[ghostdog]

So out of interest I sat down and watched the final game of last year against Port to see the difference between how we finished last year and how it was different to how we've started this season. Would have loved Woosha to show them the tape this week instead of the saints game as the "learnings" that he loves to mention could come from watching a good performance v a shocker like Saturday.

1. The commentators were raving about our clean hands around the contest and playing on instinct. This is something that we have clearly lacked in the first two weeks. So many times under pressure we had clean hands and got the ball forward and created an even contest. Complete contrast to this season so far.

2. Leading on from this every time we kicked it long, even with a smaller forward line without Daniher, Hooker, Raz, McKernan etc we created a contest and were able to play "front half" football by tackling and locking the ball in with fierce tackling, which the commentators raved on about in that first qtr when we were up 40-8. Where is this style this season?

3. Our tackling in this game was unbelievable. Every one stuck tackles. At one point on the broadcast they said Langford had as many tackles as Port Adelaide in the first qtr (5). Langford I don't reckon has laid 5 tackles all up this season.

4. "It looks like one team is enjoying their footy and the other isn't". Bruce said this in reference to how we were playing versus Port who were "stale". Can we argue this season so far that the boys are enjoying their footy?

5. Bruce and Wayne Carey mentioned also that the bombers attacking brand of footy really stood out from the rest of the comp and was our point of difference as we looked to take risks that perhaps other clubs didn't e.g Richmond etc. So why have we gone away from this?

Ultimately, this has made me think that the blue print for Friday night and this weekend onwards is pretty simple. Play on instinct, bring the heat and stick tackles, be clean around the contest and attack the Dees with leg speed and fast ball movement like Port Adelaide did in Round 1. Not beyond us this week.

Great post.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

You just made me think. Tomorrow's match is exactly the kind of opportunity the AFL should jump at to experiment a bit and see if the international audience they crave will bite. I for one wouldn't mind seeing some type of experiment where the whole game should be played as a 3 legged race type thing with players legs tied together. Or tied to their opposition might be even better. Alternatively I would tune into any sport whatsoever if I knew in advance that everyone on the field had taken LSD an hour previously. It would be interesting and would certainly make a few headlines.

Have always wanted to see this!

A mandatory 4 pints before each quarter would also be entertaining.

 

[Shanghaistu]

this is true... but tbh being a Demons supporter over that time hasn't exactly been a cakewalk.

The first step to freedom is going to a game saying things like "I just want to see a competitive match and know that the boys gave it a really good crack". With some time and effort you can get to a point where you toast the coach for only losing by 5 goals

I’m actually doing that already

 

[Shanghaistu]

So out of interest I sat down and watched the final game of last year against Port to see the difference between how we finished last year and how it was different to how we've started this season. Would have loved Woosha to show them the tape this week instead of the saints game as the "learnings" that he loves to mention could come from watching a good performance v a shocker like Saturday.

1. The commentators were raving about our clean hands around the contest and playing on instinct. This is something that we have clearly lacked in the first two weeks. So many times under pressure we had clean hands and got the ball forward and created an even contest. Complete contrast to this season so far.

2. Leading on from this every time we kicked it long, even with a smaller forward line without Daniher, Hooker, Raz, McKernan etc we created a contest and were able to play "front half" football by tackling and locking the ball in with fierce tackling, which the commentators raved on about in that first qtr when we were up 40-8. Where is this style this season?

3. Our tackling in this game was unbelievable. Every one stuck tackles. At one point on the broadcast they said Langford had as many tackles as Port Adelaide in the first qtr (5). Langford I don't reckon has laid 5 tackles all up this season.

4. "It looks like one team is enjoying their footy and the other isn't". Bruce said this in reference to how we were playing versus Port who were "stale". Can we argue this season so far that the boys are enjoying their footy?

5. Bruce and Wayne Carey mentioned also that the bombers attacking brand of footy really stood out from the rest of the comp and was our point of difference as we looked to take risks that perhaps other clubs didn't e.g Richmond etc. So why have we gone away from this?

Ultimately, this has made me think that the blue print for Friday night and this weekend onwards is pretty simple. Play on instinct, bring the heat and stick tackles, be clean around the contest and attack the Dees with leg speed and fast ball movement like Port Adelaide did in Round 1. Not beyond us this week.

How did we go so far backwards from that during the summer? We spent 6 months going backwards at break-neck speed. Are we actually victims of sabotage?

 

[Blood Bomber]

Great post.

Someone put this guy in the box this week.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Looking forward to a goal in the first quarter.

Is Redman ready? If he is he’s a must.

In: Redman, Ridley
Out: Guelfi, Baguley

couldn't agree any more.

Redman is already integral imo, as dumb as that statement clearly is. He and Ridley should play every single time they are fit.

 

[VelvetSledge]

The perennial forgotten man, Redman. People forget just how good he was in his few games last year.

 

[Old Stuckup]

What I would like to see:
Out: Brown, Myers, Zaharakis, Baguley
In: Draper, Clarke, Mutch, Redman

What we should see:
Out: Brown, Myers, Baguley
In: Clarke, Clarke, Mutch

What we will see:
In: Dea
Out: Francis

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

The perennial forgotten man, Redman. People forget just how good he was in his few games last year.

Don't worry he'll play a couple of average games and we'll all forget that and demand his delisting.

 

[Atavistic]

So what ins and outs would upset people the most this week? I'm just wondering what to expect.

 

[madrigal]

So what ins and outs would upset people the most this week? I'm just wondering what to expect.

IN: Hird
OUT: Worsfold

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

IN: Hird
OUT: Worsfold

He said upset people.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

So what ins and outs would upset people the most this week? I'm just wondering what to expect.

IN: Dea
OUT: Francis

 

[madrigal]

He said upset people.

I would cry.

 

[DapperJong]

So what ins and outs would upset people the most this week? I'm just wondering what to expect.

no change

 

[madrigal]

IN: Long
OUT: Saad

 

[mzuppit]

 

[Vindicater]

Gross if true.

How the **** is Baguley still in the team...

 

[DapperJong]

Gross if true.

How the **** is Baguley still in the team...

It's a start.

 

[Old Stuckup]

All three of Myers, Zaharakis and Baguley survive the cull haha spare me.

 

[Burzum]

Terrible.

 

[Lore]

 

[Old Stuckup]

If they’re going to play like shit every week the least they could do is play the team the fans would like to see.

 

[CBombers17]

Langford has been poor but he needs to play senior football imo. Clarke for Brown fair enough but Mutch could easily have replaced an aging battler instead.

 

[Lore]

He wrote an entire article in five minutes?? The teams aren't lodged with the AFL until 5pm. Not meant to be released until 6.25 or something. Someone's got the good goss...