So I have noticed a trend of late on The Roar, that is people writing reviews or re-caps or their favourite team’s performance, such as the fine work by the Sports Bloke regarding Collingwood Magpies, or Jacob Walton’s work with the suddenly resurgent Adelaide Crows.
So I have decided to try my hand at this, and I intend to do so for every Essendon game remaining this year (come hell or high-water). So without further ado let us begin.
What a win ladies and gentlemen, the Bombers have shown optimistic signs in their season to date, but they’ve never so ruthlessly torn apart a side as they did so today. To take what was a premiership smokey at the start of the week and systematically and surgically deconstruct their side in such a ruthless fashion after the poor fortnight the Bombers have had is impressive.
They absolutely dominated possession (+111), tackles (+22), and marks (+41) the Bombers were able to give a significant boost to their percentage while getting the important first win on the board for their new coach.
So what impressed me the most? If I had to say specifically I would break it down into three specific categories: category 1 is the sustained dominance throughout the match, category 2 is the Bombers ability to separate the externalities of this game and win, and category 3 is the inspirational young guns the Bombers have blooded over the first few weeks.
Category 1: Sustained dominance
The Bombers have been something of a tease the last few years, they have shown the ability to play absolutely scintillating football at their best. Most recently they capitulated to fellow cellar dwellers Hawthorn after being up by 40 points at the main break, Clarko put on a masterclass to show his younger contemporary what swinging around the magnets really means.
The Bombers were able to repel the somewhat meek resistance of the St Kilda footy club and push through to build the confidence necessary to have a solid victory, hopefully, this trend does hold so the Bombers can surprise a few sides.
That being said the St Kilda opposition was absolutely insipid so it is uncertain how generalisable the results from this current game and how applicable the frenetic pressure brought to bear by the Bombers on the Saints will hold particularly with the increasing injury toll the Bombers have.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Category 2: Phasing out the noise
The Bombers had the proverbial hell week as their performances in the first two rounds have left a lot to be desired. In particular, the injuries to Sam Draper (High Ankle Sprain- Syndesmosis Injury 8-10 weeks), Jye Caldwell (Hamstring injury 6-8 weeks), and Dylan Shiel (Meniscal damage six weeks) have left the Bombers desperate for support in the midfield and criticised from all directions for what have been considered mentally weak performances.
In particular, the Bombers were predicted to finish bottom two based on a woefully insignificant sample space, while this still may occur the Bombers were able to separate these externalities and put to the sword a highly fancied St Kilda outfight as they drew a swathe through the high-pressure game style of the Saints. Part of me is willing to attribute this to the adrenaline, and statistical regression to the mean but I still believe this shows the mental toughness of the Bombers side to phase out the noise and put their best foot forward.
Of particular note, the new faces brought in over the off-season showed why the Bombers pursued them in the first place. Nick Hind in particular is the early favourite to win the best and fairest as his dash and dare off the halfback line has provided the Bombers fans with some respite despite losing the talented Adam Saad in the off-season.
The other recruits today played well and fulfilled their role with Alec Waterman showing why the Bombers pursued him with his powerful booming left boot nailing a set shot from outside fifty as part of a well-rounded performance as a small forward.
Finally, there was Peter Wright, the former top 10 pick from the Gold Coast Suns, and make-shift ruckman for the Essendon Football Club. While his ungainly two-meter frame has had moments he does make the Essendon forward line a little bit too tall, moving to the ruck in an understrength St Kilda ruck department may prove to save his chances going forward at Essendon as he worked his way to 14 disposals, 19 hit outs and one behind.
His work through the centre of the ground to provide a vital linking player between the backline and forward lines was very important as the fast break Essendon side seamlessly cut through the St Kilda press.
Category 3: The young guns
The Bombers became the first side since Hawthorn in 2004 where they selected objective legends of the game Lance Franklin, Jarryd Roughead, and Jordan Lewis. So the standards on Zach Reid, Nikolas Cox, and Archie Perkins are high, while Reid is yet to debut the signs shown by Perkins and Cox show them to be promising prospects for the Bombers.
Cox in particular is an extremely versatile prospect who can play anywhere on the ground found himself in the ruck at times as well as the forward line, and the wing. Of particular note is the dexterity with which he carries his 200 cm frame and the ambidextrous nature of his kicking ability.
His goal in the first quarter as well as his bullet pass in the third quarter show him to be the chief among the first-year prospects that Essendon has recruited. Perkins on the other hand has a creative streak and plays with an enthusiasm endemic to youth, while he has not shown much in his debut I predict he will soon jump ahead of more advanced names in the Essendon forward-midfield hybrids.
Finally, there was Jones, he has shown a workmanlike ability to get into the right spots in the first few weeks, his big mark against his name was his goal kicking but today he was able to get into the right spots and kick goals that will do wonders for his confidence.
If the Essendon debutants this year are any indication I believe the Bombers can look forward to a lot of new names running around for the Bombers over the next year.
Best Six
Zach Merrett
Darcy Parrish
Aaron Francis
Jake Stringer
Jordan Ridley
Cale Hooker
Leaderboard:
Merrett (6)
Parrish (5)
Francis (4)
Stringer (3)
Ridley (2)
Hooker (1)
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Haha I never tip the bombers.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Haha, you didn't answer my question. Come one, you, are a sports writer not a politician. Allegiances aside, who are you tipping?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I was thinking that too haha
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
We always play better against the swans than we should haha
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Laverde doesn’t really have a position, he’s not good enough below his knees to be a midfielder and he’s a little too injury prone to be a forward while Francis has always had the athletic ability he just has had a few problems where he drops his head
Ditto
Roar Rookie
Interesting that the Roar's stock photo used for this article is David Zaharakis, that's Dyson Heppell in the background isn't it? Neither played and Essendon had their best win in a long time. Zaharakis, they could delist and cop the flak, but Heppell is the captain, is only 28, has a year left on his contract and takes his pay home in buckets. They've moved him out of the midfield, but as a defender he's so far stunk and they have more immediate/future better options anyway. Are they stuck with him? What do they do with a piece of dead wood? What if he thinks he's got another 3 or 4 seasons left in him?
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Will Essendon hold up next week against the young Swans side? Who will you be tipping?
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Good write up man. ????
Aransan
Roar Rookie
BZT was the only genuine key position back we have had this year. It is good to see Laverde and Francis being given opportunities closer to their capabilities, it is make or break this year for both of them but they have been played too often out of position in the past.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Nick Bryan is 203cm tall and is 19yo until October, he shouldn’t get more than a couple of games this year and I would be more inclined to give him a start as an emergency.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
is out for another few weeks, unfortunately with his ankle and knee injury history. We need to bring in Nick Bryan soon because Wright is gonna struggle against the more established ruckmen.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
no wackas thanks for reading.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Draper?
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Statistically speaking that was parrishs best game in terms of possessions, metres gained and he nearly equaled his personal best for clearances. As to Merrett he is on track for a third Crichton medal at this rate so I hope he stays and sticks it out with the bombers
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Excellent to see weekly analysis of the mighty Bombers. Thanks.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The ruck is most certainly a problem we were lucky Ryder was out last week because we would not have dealt well with it if he was in
Rissole
Roar Rookie
Watched the highlights and even more impressed by Merrett's kicking than I was on Saturday. Really enjoyed Parish's game too. I feel like there are less plodders and list cloggers than previous seasons. Thanks for putting in the effort Chuckakhan.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I’m not quite ready to say Cox will be the next bont but he will definitely push him. I would compare him to Blicavs of any of the current players running around the AFL.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
All of those players except BZT, Ham, Waterman, Guelfi, Redman, and snelling will be gone at the end of the year. BZT is my candidate for player who made to most difference to the bombers line up as his aggressive lockdown job on the king brother was very impressive and enable franga and Ridley to play their more natural games.
chris0
Guest
1DER, about half the clubs are now playing Mathew Knights style. The new "standing the mark" rule has enabled it. I think we might find it difficult to compare the game after 2021 with the game in the 10 years before it.