I love writing after a win.
And this was one hell of a win. Essendon comprehensively demolished the hapless North Melbourne Kangaroos to put them one win outside the eight with the best percentage of their cellar-dwelling peers.
Read on for my thoughts regarding the Essendon Bombers’ 72-point victory.
1. Livin’ Laverde Loca parte tres
This is the third component of what I decided to make a weekly thing because of a bad pun I made after the Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood. The Livin’ Laverde Loca award is my way of giving a little bit of love to players whose contributions may be going under the radar.
The recipient this week is Peter Wright. He played his best game for the Bombers in his short career. He currently leads the Bombers in the hit-out department, kicked his highest score (three goals, two behinds) when it should’ve probably been closer to five when Todd Goldstein punched him, and gathered the ball 16 times.
That performance sees him earn the coveted Livin’ Laverde Loca award this week, as I feel so much has been made of the Essendon youth and the early-season form of Darcy Parish plus Zach Merrett.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Other players that were considered were perennial Essendon whipping boy Kyle Langford playing his new striker role, and Alec Waterman with a couple of goals that exemplified the flexible forward line of the Bombers.
2. Bombers score their second highest score since 2014
The Bombers have a potent forward line with an array of weapons at their disposal. They were on full display on Sunday afternoon as the Bombers scored over 100 points for the fifth time. This is also the first time since Kevin Sheedy that the Bombers have had two 70-plus-point wins in a single season, let alone two in the first ten rounds.
This is new for the Bombers, whose forward line has been misfiring drastically since 2018 when they were criticised for allowing big scores too frequently. The best news for the Bombers’ faithful was the 13 different goal kickers, particularly Peter Wright, Harry Jones and Nik Cox.
This is extremely important when you consider the wider context of the past two years with the forward line being pillaged last year when Orazio Fantasia and Joe Daniher left the side for Port Adelaide and the Brisbane Lions respectively. It was expected that the Bombers would default to a dour and defensive style as they didn’t have the cattle to kick a winning score.
The Bombers currently have the second highest aggregate score across the league with 954, but they would be somewhat concerned about their defence as has been the theme throughout the year.
The point is the Bombers are eagerly playing with fast outside run to slice and dice many a side this year. If Essendon can tighten up their defence and win a few more games this year, they may be a finals smokey.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
3. The AFL Rising Star Award is a joke
Ever since Lewis Taylor won the award over Marcus Bontempelli in 2014, it has been clear that the deciders of the Rising Star Award do not have a feel for the game.
This isn’t to say that Cody Weightman is not deserving of the nomination this week. But the Rising Star Award is supposed to be based upon a body of work, and the fact that Essendon have not had a player picked in the first ten weeks is symbolic of the shambles with which the AFL Rising Star award is run.
While I am willing to admit that Harry Jones and Nik Cox need to get more of the ball, I do not want that to be at the cost of the other aspects of their performance.
I don’t want to pressure the Bombers’ young guns, but I am incredulous that their performances have not been deemed worthy of recognition.
Particularly when you consider statistical similarities between Weightman’s game and Cox’s game yet Cox uses the ball better, and he is the rare unicorn-style player where opposition clubs have no idea how to deal with him, and sometimes I get the feeling that Ben Rutten has no idea what to do with him either.
4. Bombers contract talks begin heating up
The Bombers have a massive 23 players out of contract at the end of this year, headlined by Darcy Parish, Zach Merrett and Jake Stringer.
The news surrounding Harry Jones and Devon Smith was positive as they each signed on for another two years. The Bombers’ administration would be keen to extend some more players before the end of the season while the club has the room to extend them.
Furthermore, the Bombers would also be keen to parlay the players that want out into suitable draft hauls. But the priority for Essendon is not the trade table but the contract negotiations as the Bombers need to extend several players.
5. Darcy Parish is a Brownlow smokey
Darcy Parish has the ability to win the Brownlow this year such is his reversal of fortunes. I would almost consider him a bigger threat on the ball than Zach Merrett, but he’s never had to break through a tag. If he does that, then he becomes a bigger priority to re-sign than Merrett.
(Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Of particular note are his stats surround disposals (29.7), clearances (7.4), metres gained (443), and score involvements (7.5), which are all rated as elite across the game, while he is above average in contested possessions (12.7) and kicks (14.9).
His performances have been based off relentless effort, and having the license to break off the chain while he hits the ball at pace. I hope against hope that Ben Rutten doesn’t push him back to his old role as a forward-midfielder hybrid.
Best
1. Nik Cox (seven votes)
2. Kyle Langford (six votes)
3. Peter Wright (seven votes)
4. Nick Hind (17 votes)
5. Zach Merrett (29 votes)
6. Darcy Parish (28 votes)
Leaderboard
1. Zach Merrett (29)
2. Darcy Parish (28)
3. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Nick Hind (17)
Final thoughts
I was glad to see the Bombers put another side to the sword this year. It indicates that the Bombers are building something and they have a lot of buy-in from the players.
I eagerly await the introduction of players such as Zach Reid to play on the big monster forwards, Nick Bryan as a ruck-forward hybrid, and hopefully extending the young players that have shown very solid signs this year.
O M
Roar Rookie
Hey Yattz….just remind us all what the result of last year’s GF was again please?????
O M
Roar Rookie
Steady on now Yattz….you’re not trying to influence Chucka are you? :laughing: Tigers will be 10 and 6 in 6 weeks time and you’ll be quietly crapping yourselves! :stoked:
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yep probably could’ve dropped them down a bit what with lynch being injured
Gatto Nero
Roar Rookie
Ninth not their ranking, their reality.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I didn’t actually have Richmond in ninth that’s the round 12 special after Essendon beats them by 78 points
Gatto Nero
Roar Rookie
Maybe just give us the Ninethmond ranking and speel as a post.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
You’re not wrong he started like a house on fire. Taking my Essendon hat off for a moment I think it probably should have gone to caleb Poulter. However, Nik Cox will almost certainly get a nod but I think it’s a cop out not to give him one over Weightman
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
No power rankings this week I submitted them too late
JamesH
Roar Guru
The Cox case is an interesting one. His stats are similar to Weightman's but interestingly, he had 11 of his 14 touches and 7 of his 9 marks at half time. He fell away late after the game was done. To me he had a bigger impact on setting the game up, whereas Weightman was the beneficiary of the Dogs' second term midfield domination. I can't help but feel that if Cox had touched the ball a couple more times in the last quarter, he'd have been given the nod. Which makes no sense, since the Bombers were cruising at that point anyway. He and Jones have been pretty unlucky to not get a nomination yet.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
See I think it’s gone to his head somewhat. I don’t mind paying stringer the same amount of money for a longer term deal, but I think the amount he wants and the fact that he wants to be extended for four or five years is a bit over the top. I think we can negotiate him down to 500-550 a season over 5 years than that’ll be a win
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Man I submitted this story at the wrong time apparently there was a positive rona case at the bombers kangas game haha.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Nah mate they’re in the pipeline. He didn’t, even if I was little trolling I just submitted them today.
Gatto Nero
Roar Rookie
What happened to the power rankings. Don’t tell me OM got you bucked.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah there are a few players who will g get delisted unfortunately. It sounds bad but a lot of clubs have that amount out of contract
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Some of those without a contract will be without a club. For long term success players must be prepared to stay for 20% under market value. There might be one player at a club where one might be prepared to pay market value. There may be players undervalued by other clubs where you would be happy to pay more.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
wow, 23 players out of contract. Will be interesting.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah those are fair questions, I think Stewart is a fantastic athlete who’s never quiet been able to put it together both for the giants and the bombers. I think he’s still young enough that he can make a very good full back for the bombers but I do think he’s a bit of a stop gap while Reid and BZT develop. With Reid he can play at both ends or in the ruck but we have more depth at that position for the time being. My understanding is that he prefers playing back and keeping the ball in front of him. I think the age of Jones, Baldwin and Wright means he will have better luck down back. Yeah there’s a spot for stringer and waterman in the line up. You’d just play waterman higher up the ground
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I hope you don’t mind someone other than Chuck responding to your post. 1.) Stewart’s background is as a forward, having trained as a back over the pre-season it was disappointing that he was unavailable for the first couple of games. We do need a tall defender after Hooker went to the forward line and with Zerk-Thatcher not developing as hoped. It is too early to say how Stewart will turn out as a tall defender but it is good that he is getting the opportunity with Laverde and Francis being given opportunities as well. Laverde has already proved himself and we shall know about Stewart and Francis by the end of the season. I am confident that Stewart will be at least a backup key defender. 2.) I hope Reid is held back this year and it is too early to say where his best position is, but I am confident he will be a very good player — big players need time, Nik Cox is unusual and has huge upside on what is already a strong base. Baldwin is interesting and was a gamble worth taking. 3.) I see Waterman as a similar type of player to Stringer, he has only had a couple of AFL games and I hope he is given opportunities with his potential. The stories about Stringer’s management wanting big money on a long contract worry me. Rather than meeting those demands it might be better to let him go as we did with Saad. He is injured a little too often.
Hammond Jeff
Roar Rookie
Thanks Chuckakhan for another positive review. A couple of questions: 1. How do you rate Stewart's role in the backline? Is he just a 2021 stand-in or do you see him locking down that position going forward? 2. Reid - he played forward several times in the past and kicked 4 goals in a Bombers practice match. Could he be developed as a tall forward for 2022 to replace Hooker or is Baldwin the player for the future in that role. No disrespect for Hooker as he's done well so far this year but seems to be slowing and I worry about next year if he stays there. 3. Waterman kicked 2 goals but is there a place for both he and Stringer in the line up. Did he get enough use of the ball against North or is that about what we should expect?
Aransan
Roar Rookie
I backed Parish for the Brownlow medal at 200/1 and 150/1 after his Anzac Day game and had my bet at 80/1 last week halved by the bookie, he is now at 25/1 and 33/1. I live in hope. Apart from Merrett, Parish, McGrath it is good to see the development of Redman, Laverde and Langford. Amazing that Phillips took 9 years to reach 50 games, he has been good. Add players such as Wright, Hind and the kids in Cox and Jones and there is a lot to like about Essendon.