AFL Game Day R15 2021

[1eyedog]

I hate Essington but they are getting crucified.

[jeemak]

I hate Essington but they are getting crucified.

So that means you're happy?

[comrade]

I hate Essington but they are getting crucified.

Melbourne have been kissed on the d*** all year.

[DOG GOD]

Essendon will have to take some massive corridor risks to get back into this. Stringer and Tippa need to kick multiple goals to be a chance.

[bornadog]

Only watched the last 15 min, and the skill errors by Essendon cost them.

[comrade]

Only watched the last 15 min, and the skill errors by Essendon cost them.

Had all the play in the last 15 and kept torching the kick inside 50. That one from Waterman straight to Lever was horrid.

They got a golden run from the umpires the Demons, but geez they set up and adhere to their structure impeccably. Gawn mentioned after the game about making the ground small and turning it into a stoppage/contested game after half time to combat Essendon's run and they did it perfectly. It's not overly enjoyable to watch, they're like one of those highly disciplined counter attack soccer teams that just grind out 1-0 or 2-1 wins all season long.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I know they've stood up so far all year, and look very good. I still can't help think they are a good chance to defecate their pants in the finals. Having to fight adversity throughout a season is a critical component to a premiership ready team. They've not yet had to face any significant challenges so far in 2021.
Lets see how they go should they lose Gawn, or Petracca for 4-5 weeks.

[comrade]

I know they've stood up so far all year, and look very good. I still can't help think they are a good chance to defecate their pants in the finals. Having to fight adversity throughout a season is a critical component to a premiership ready team. They've not yet had to face any significant challenges so far in 2021.
Lets see how they go should they lose Gawn, or Petracca for 4-5 weeks.

Yeah, they are extremely settled. Last night was literally the best team they can roll out given Tomlinson is the only one missing through injury and won't be back. They might play around with spots 22/23 with the likes of Melksham/Weideman/Brown but that's it. Compare that to us and we're introducing Richards and Garcia into the mix now, our ruck situation is a mess, we're still missing 2 A grade mids and our best backline group is TBD. I would say a good 5-8 positions in our best 18 are currently undecided which is a concern to be honest.

[DOG GOD]

Yeah, they are extremely settled. Last night was literally the best team they can roll out given Tomlinson is the only one missing through injury and won't be back. They might play around with spots 22/23 with the likes of Melksham/Weideman/Brown but that's it. Compare that to us and we're introducing Richards and Garcia into the mix now, our ruck situation is a mess, we're still missing 2 A grade mids and our best backline group is TBD. I would say a good 5-8 positions in our best 18 are currently undecided which is a concern to be honest.

Thinking the same thing. They look extremely settled. May and Lever are absolute rocks down there, and along with Salem, seem very well drilled about where to be and the expectations of each other. Gawn is massive for them, and feeds Petracca and Oliver beautifully. If Gawn went down, they would massively struggle against the better teams. Essendon looked great when they took it on through the corridor. Unfortunately they couldn’t make the most of their opportunities.

And compared to Melb, our team seems all over the place with injuries the main culprit. We desperately need our best 22 out there in the next 3-5 weeks.

[comrade]

Thinking the same thing. They look extremely settled. May and Lever are absolute rocks down there, and along with Salem, seem very well drilled about where to be and the expectations of each other. Gawn is massive for them, and feeds Petracca and Oliver beautifully. If Gawn went down, they would massively struggle against the better teams. Essendon looked great when they took it on through the corridor. Unfortunately they couldn’t make the most of their opportunities.

And compared to Melb, our team seems all over the place with injuries the main culprit. We desperately need our best 22 out there in the next 3-5 weeks.

If Melbourne can’t win it this year, they might never. Will never have a better chance with the lack of injuries, soft draw and fellow MCG tenant in Richmond looking off the pace.

[Grantysghost]

If Melbourne can’t win it this year, they might never. Will never have a better chance with the lack of injuries, soft draw and fellow MCG tenant in Richmond looking off the pace.

They certainly aren't an outlier to me.

Yes they've been good for a long period but their last two games in isolation they lost to a very poor Collingwood side, then really just got across the line against a young Bombers who really botched their entries.

They are up there in contention of course, but far from purring at the moment.

I'm sure they'd like to get their forward line settled.
Looked dysfunctional at times, I don't trust McDonald to deliver in big games. It's a sentiment shared by a few of my die-hard Dees mates.

[comrade]

They certainly aren't an outlier to me.

Yes they've been good for a long period but their last two games in isolation they lost to a very poor Collingwood side, then really just got across the line against a young Bombers who really botched their entries.

They are up there in contention of course, but far from purring at the moment.

I'm sure they'd like to get their forward line settled.
Looked dysfunctional at times, I don't trust McDonald to deliver in big games. It's a sentiment shared by a few of my die-hard Dees mates.

Kozzy has gone missing the last 6 weeks too.

I don't think their scoring matters too much given how good defensively they are. They won't get 100 scored on them at any point of this year, so they just need to manage to scrounge up a winning score which they are more than capable of against the best sides so far.

[Grantysghost]

Kozzy has gone missing the last 6 weeks too.

I don't think their scoring matters too much given how good defensively they are. They won't get 100 scored on them at any point of this year, so they just need to manage to scrounge up a winning score which they are more than capable of against the best sides so far.

Their defence is amazing, especially when Gawn gets back there too.

[Hotdog60]

So when we play them next do we rest Astro and Bruce and go in with a very small forward line and grub the kicks in or only honor the leads.
That might thrown their defense out a bit.

[DOG GOD]

If Melbourne can’t win it this year, they might never. Will never have a better chance with the lack of injuries, soft draw and fellow MCG tenant in Richmond looking off the pace.

Agree. They won’t have a better opportunity for awhile. If they get their 2 finals at the G against interstate teams, they SHOULD make the GF if they keep their injuries to a minimum.