Dreamtime 2020 Game Day

[leon]

And Castagna was more involved, 12 disposals, used his pace and got more of it in close, with a few mistakes but it was a greasy ball.

I agree; he was definitely better but still doesn't look like getting a goal; not even a behind. Aarts has dried up too; also 0.0.
On a night with almost a record i50 diff in our favour. That's unbelievable.
When all those defenders are spoiling our talls, where are they? In the stands having a smoke? They are unsighted.

Meanwhile the Bummers two SFs, including a first gamer, each bag two goals from 7/8 Ds. It's an absolute mess in our FL. ( and Butler kicks another 2 for a losing side and should have won it for the Aints).

 

[leon]

Yes, interesting the vitriol coming from the Fox commentators. Could be to get more viewer interaction knowing that we have 100,000 members and oppo supporters want our scalp. The fact that Foxtel have been reported as in trouble with a significant drop in subscriptions may be the stimulus for targeting Richmond. That staging by Danger was 1 min before half time in last year's PF. Watched it this morning and such a blatant lurch forward but the umpires and commentators ignored it because he's a protected species.

Good post, seeking a rational explanation for Fox's campaign. I have little doubt it's a deliberate tactic. They use it for political purrposes in a highly targetted manner in US politics. Ut works for several audiences so why not for sports?

Business is the bottom line. Didn't Donald say, "All publicity is good [publicity" ?

 

[year of the tiger]

I agree; he was definitely better but still doesn't look like getting a goal; not even a behind. Aarts has dried up too; also 0.0.
On a night with almost a record i50 diff in our favour. That's unbelievable.
When all those defenders are spoiling our talls, where are they? In the stands having a smoke? They are unsighted.

Meanwhile the Bummers two SFs, including a first gamer, each bag two goals from 7/8 Ds. It's an absolute mess in our FL. ( and Butler kicks another 2 for a losing side and should have won it for the Aints).

Agree and I reckon Aarts has been serviceable but time to move on with him although for some reason Castna will most likely keep his spot.

As you suggest, you often see a player come in and do some good things but then they can’t maintain the output - pretty normally really.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

They were not hard conditions.

Disagree. It was 27 degrees throughout with humidity pushing 75% by the end of the game. The Gold Coast provides some conditioning but is still about 10 degrees cooler at this time.

The conditions were extreme in an AFL context and I'm not reading too much into the game.

 

[The Mole]

My last comment on the anit-Tigers witch hunt. If you play both "staging" charges in slow motion they don't look like anything. Play them in real time. You will see Grimes is just about to launch off his leg when he gets a shove which unbalanced him. Think about it. go thru the mechanics of the motion. Grimes move was to stop him falling flat on his face.
Similarly Vlastuin's reaction was one of more surprise that he had a trailing arm across his chest/neck. He got up straight away. Didn't stay down or go on with it. Besides it was a 50 all day long. Bellchambers was not in the marking contest and hit him high and late. Epitome of a 50.
Personally I think the Tigers should defend vigorously.

 

[leon]

Disagree. It was 27 degrees throughout with humidity pushing 75% by the end of the game. The Gold Coast provides some conditioning but is still about 10 degrees cooler at this time.

The conditions were extreme in an AFL context and I'm not reading too much into the game.

But Lee, conditions were the same for both sides. The Bums kicked 10.1. If we had kicked as well (but that was freakish, I know) we would have won by 12 goals.
I know teams are flooding to an extent, then getting us on the slingshot, but we know that and must expect it. So why no better combating of it? Why no better conversion still? What are our SFs doing? Or are they completely ineffective now?

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

But Lee, conditions were the same for both sides. The Bums kicked 10.1. If we had kicked as well (but that was freakish, I know) we would have won by 12 goals.
I know teams are flooding to an extent, then getting us on the slingshot, but we know that and must expect it. So why no better combating of it? Why no better conversion still? What are our SFs doing? Or are they completely ineffective now?

Yes it was the same for both sides. I thought it was an ordinary, forgettable game and not a great form guide. It was a different look for Essendon and they obviously didn't feel they had a good enough handle on the Caracella method to go head to head, hence Worsfold's post-game comments.

Really it was the reverse of the Port game where we kicked 11.3 (with three rushed) from minimal entries. We'll get more practice at working through the flooding against teams like Freo. It keeps the opposition in the hunt but loses more games than it wins. I don't expect our finals to be played that way (unless maybe if we play Collingwood).

 

[mrposhman]

But Lee, conditions were the same for both sides. The Bums kicked 10.1. If we had kicked as well (but that was freakish, I know) we would have won by 12 goals.
I know teams are flooding to an extent, then getting us on the slingshot, but we know that and must expect it. So why no better combating of it? Why no better conversion still? What are our SFs doing? Or are they completely ineffective now?

I think theres a bit of a mix, they had a lot of intercept marks again, much like GC. They are swarming our talls, so it makes it difficult to bring it to ground, thats 1 area that we need to get better at.

When the ball came to ground, they outnumbered us as they had so many back, there was one that came down around the goal square and they had about 7 defenders within a short handball radius. Its very difficult for the smalls to get their hands on the ball there as they can be shepherded out of the play by one of the outnumber and then they can clear under less pressure. The thing is these teams cannot score heavily in most cases (the bombers and the hawks have been the best against us) as they have to rely on slingshot footy and in most cases we will turn the ball over and can then restart our move back inside 50, but again there are still all those players remaining in forward 50. I don't think there is an easy solution to any of this, hence why we have struggled to find a way to combat it.

West Coast will not play like that on Thursday night, they will trust their gameplan. I think too much has been blown up about our inefficiency, some of it has been dumb footy but a lot of it has been due to the flood. These are tactics of coaches that don't trust their own gameplans and players to beat us. That to me is a massive indictment on Essendon looking at the age profile of their list, their list profile suggests they should be a lot better and should be challenging for top 4 but they have massive void of talent in the mid age range group, they have several that are either at their peak or past it (think 27+) and then some coming through under 22, but how many good players do they have in that 22-27 age group that should be pushing them forward. Their over 27's aren't good enough to get them to finals, and they have that massive void.

Reckon the Bombers are in for a world of hurt over the next 5 years.

 

[mrposhman]

Yes it was the same for both sides. I thought it was an ordinary, forgettable game and not a great form guide. Obviously Essendon didn't feel they had a good enough handle on the Caracella method to go head to head.

Really it was the reverse of the Port game where we kicked 11.3 (with three rushed) from minimal entries. We'll get more practice at working through the flooding against teams like Freo. It keeps the opposition in the hunt but loses more games than it wins. I don't expect our finals to be played that way (unless maybe if we play Collingwood).

I'm actually starting to think that the Pies might miss our and Carlton replace them in the 8. The bak to back games against Carlton and the the Lions will be telling for Collingwood. They should beat North tonight but lose the next 2 and they may not be in the 8 anymore going into the final 2 games.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

AFLCA

9 Bolton, Martin
5 Graham
4 Merrett
2 Baker
1 Ridley

Coach 1 <=> Coach 2
5 Martin <=> Bolton
4 Bolton <=> Martin
3 Merrett <=> Graham
2 Graham <=> Baker
1 Ridley <=> Merrett

Hardwick's been generous to the opposition this year so I suspect he is Coach 1.


Season

Player	Votes	Rank	Gms	Career	Age	Ca	Co	Ha	St	Me	Sy	NM	GWS	WB	Br	PA	GC	Es
Martin, Dustin	37	eq 11th	12	236	29y57d	4							7	10	7			9
Bolton, Shai	29	eq 20th	12	40	21y258d							6	4	2	8			9
Lambert, Kane	18	eq 59th	13	108	28y270d					10	5						3
Cotchin, Trent	17	eq 71st	9	243	30y137d		4		1					3			9
Baker, Liam	11	eq 110th	12	34	22y208d										9			2
Balta, Noah	11	eq 110th	9	22	20y304d					6				4	1
Prestia, Dion	9	eq 129th	5	160	27y315d	9
Short, Jayden	9	eq 129th	13	84	24y211d						4	1		4
Eggmolesse-Smith, Derek	8	eq 137th	6	8	22y110d							8
Graham, Jack	8	eq 137th	8	47	22y179d						3							5
Houli, Bachar	8	eq 137th	5	212	32y102d		8
Vlastuin, Nick	8	eq 137th	12	153	26y125d						3	3					2
Grimes, Dylan	7	eq 149th	13	164	29y37d							6		1
Higgins, Jack	6	eq 161st	9	42	21y156d					6
Nankervis, Toby	5	eq 179th	3	74	26y10d				5
Pickett, Marlion	5	eq 179th	11	12	28y229d							5
Lynch, Tom J.	4	eq 200th	13	169	27y296d					1					3
Rioli, Daniel	4	eq 200th	10	87	23y128d	4
McIntosh, Kamdyn	2	eq 242nd	10	100	26y141d						2
Riewoldt, Jack	1	eq 264th	13	275	31y296d												1

 

[tigersnake]

was going to start a thread called 'essendon fans are tools', but thought I'd post here. Went to the dreamtime game in Darwin. Wasn't going to go, footy is usually about family and friends for me, I'm 3rd gen Tiger, and another gen after me so 4 all-up in the family. Was going to be on my pat malone. Decided to go, stoked I did. Had a mate I work with, young ruckman from Castlemaine, decide to come along, and met Fastin Bulbous at the game, top man and great company. Had a great time, felt very lucky to be able to see some footy, got the win, and had a great few days in Darwin, my first time there.

All that aside, Essendon supporters are tools. All the wankers there were bombers, and there were quite a few. Sledging players relentlessly, liberal use of the the C word, booing our goals including Dan Rioli. It wasn't enough to spoil the night, but it was a noticeable negative presence. I took a couple on, didn't use any C words of course but turned a couple of their buffoon sledges back on them at appropriate times. Which I kind of felt like I'd stooped to their level, but I enjoyed it anyway, and I just couldn't resist.

Years ago I wouldn't have thought twice about it, I would have been sledging and might have used the c word. Don't feel the need to do it anymore, and it hasn't just been since weve been supreme. Its about the positive. I reckon we have a good culture across the board now, and essendon don't. I had these thoughts prior to the Grimes hate, didn't surprise me when it happened.

 

[AstuteTiger]

Was a bombers home game. The crowd was definitely pro-bombers.

From what i was told due to restricted numbers bombers being the home team got 3,000 tkts, Tigers 2,000 and 1,000 the AFL handed out to clubs and within the community. We have very good support in Darwin many definitely missed out. Bombers having 1,000+ more is a lot, especially in a 6,000 capacity.

 

[AstuteTiger]

On a night with almost a record i50 diff in our favour. That's unbelievable.
When all those defenders are spoiling our talls, where are they? In the stands having a smoke? They are unsighted.

Our small forward's are going up the ground "to fwd 50 and wing" to assist our mids/wingers its one of the reasons why we are winning a lot of the ball and going into fwd 50, The problem is the oppo backs are having easy pickings as when the ball comes in quick "long bombs" we don't have many of our small forwards crumbing. Sure it happens a few times but nothing like 2017 when they were like hyenas crumbing to every contest with insane pressure. They are not getting back quickly enough to be front and square.

If this is the plan to go up the ground to assist then we might as well drop one of Castagna or Aarts (which likely will be Aarts.) and bring in Caddy as another strong marking forward. Caddy is easily good for 15 disposals and a goal also tackles hard.

I think we are missing that 3rd strong marking forward when the ball is getting bombed in, still, remember how good Caddy was in 2018 taking big grabs and kicking plenty of goals (one of our better set shots at goal). Id trust Caddy 35-45 out from goal than Castagna or Aarts.
Just on Castagna not even one tackle in his last 2 games and no goals too. Aarts also has dropped off last 2 games whilst Rioli has stepped up.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

All the wankers there were bombers, and there were quite a few. Sledging players relentlessly, liberal use of the the C word, booing our goals including Dan Rioli. It wasn't enough to spoil the night, but it was a noticeable negative presence.

Came across loud and clear on the TV.