That’s the feeling I got after Essendon’s win over the West Coast Eagles. A 16 point win might not sound convincing to most footy followers, but to Essendon it meant a hell of a lot.
I mentioned before in my previous article about this week’s game how consistency would play a big part in determining the result. Well, the first quarter of the game didn’t alleviate my fears about our mental capabilities to play each week at such a level.
We just didn’t turn up and play, simple as that.
Our inability to rebound from 50 and our terrible use of the footy in the midfield, combined with some brilliance from Daniel Kerr (14 disposals in the first term) caused us to fall behind on the scoreboard and we showed some worrying signs of just switching off our pressure.
Once that goes in a game, you’re behind the eight ball.
However, we weren’t made to pay on the scoreboard by the Eagles. Usually when a team has 21 inside 50′s for the quarter, you can bet your lucky stars a five goal lead will be the result.
It wasn’t and the few forays forward we had we converted them, which allowed us to stay in the hunt.
Our start to the second quarter wasn’t much better and I have to admit I was having my doubts on us being able to perform week in, week out, not when it suits us.
However, our intensity during the middle of the quarter was great, and goals to Crameri and Zaharakis really lifted our team moral and you could we were starting to get into top gear.
A couple of late goals, one a contender for ‘Goal Of The Year’ by Brad Ebert, kept us behind at the long change, but you could tell that the boys had another gear left in them.
And what a time to stand up!
Our renowned fast attacking game came to the fore and we completely blew the eagles off the park. We started linking up with one another and one of our many strengths in our forward line is players like Hille, Crameri and Reimers being long strong kicks and there’s nothing better than seeing players having confidence in their ability to kick 50 and 60 metre bombs.
We were able to kick the only six goals of the quarter and set up a match leading 24 point lead at the last change.
After our frenetic third quarter the boys knew that they would come back and make a really good fist of it, and I thought that we held up the dam wall pretty well.
We probably, in all honesty, didn’t deserve to win today, especially when you consider the Eagles shocking goal kicking conversion rate (12.18) but then again you could mount an equally solid argument that the loss to Sydney and the draw to Carlton should’ve been victories.
It’s all about making your opportunities count in the game of AFL, and that’s exactly what we did. It may not have been pretty, but we got the four points.
Now let’s move on to the match against Brisbane at the Gabba next Saturday night. We can’t take this team on lightly and nor will we.
Great Article Nathan
nathan
Guest
ill be posting another article up after saturday night's game against the struggling lions :D
Redb
Roar Guru
Suggest you focus on the 3rd Qtr. :)
Grrrrrr! Anyone got the phone number of a hit man? Shouldn't have watched the replay! :)
Redb I really hate having a go at the umpires because I know they have a difficult job with the speed of the game nowadays. However when umpires put in pathetic performances I don't think we should accept it. The AFL are not deaf or blind and if people keep complaining they will listen (eventually). ;)
Redb
Roar Guru
Yep, it was frustrating with the free kick count at 35 to 20.
Fair enough !
nathan
Guest
thanks guys for the feedback. We need to get over the umpires and just get on with the job of playing footy. If we can do that we will win more games than we lose
Redb
Roar Guru
GrantS, I was dirty on the umpires dont worry, but you need to move on. It also does not pay enough respect to West Coast who out played us in the first half, when you chase you give away more free kicks.
I agree with a lot of what you say but I find it hard to believe that you didn't even mention the disgusting umpiring which occurred throughout the match. Obviously James or the team itself cannot complain about the umpires as they are a protected species and would be fined. Also we don't wish to be known as a team who use excuses for bad performances or losses but if you didn't see something wrong with that umpiring exhibition, then you must have been watching a different game to me. Because I am a fair person I try extremely hard to be impartial in my decisions about the game, team performance and umpires but half way through the first quarter I was already livid and my blood pressure approaching boiling point. The fact that Redb ,a one eyed supporter, didn't mention the umpiring astounds me. I called umpire M.Leppard a maggot in another post and I think this term sums him up appropriately. His poor performance, topped off by the ridiculous "tripping" charge against Reimers shows he is not worthy of being on an AFL field in any capacity. The AFL must look at his performance! I, for one, would be pleased if Essendon and the "maggot" never appeared on another football field at the same time.
Redb
Roar Guru
Carn the Bombers! After 5 tough games, then a belting we looked a bit tired. Tough win agaisnt West Coast they have improved like us out of sight. They applied massive pressure in the first half, only a dominant 3rd qtr got us home. We are Essendon Said we are Essendon!