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Joined March 2018
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Why would Essendon want t trade out Laverde. Next 2 years will be awesome value. Injuries have hindered him but developing well. Worth keeping.
The best trade targets currently under the radar
If 22 games is too many for a player, put them on a quota, say 18 max and make better use of club lists.
The AFL's injury plague requires a radical solution
Despite the Bombers recent winning form and having lost only by 16 and 4 points in the last 9 games have won 7. And even after they win you have them dropping places, and Sydney whom they thrashed a few weeks ago you have leap-frogging past them up 4 places. Unbelievable!
AFL Power Rankings 2018: Round 21
3-4 weeks for Brown. Real dirty deliberate late head/shoulder high.
Essendon Bombers vs St Kilda Saints: AFL live scores, blog
No red cards! Just make sure the tribunal does its job properly.
Tougher free kicks for unwarranted harsh pushing might help also.
Red cards in AFL are a must
Christo, many players react quite nastily to the niggling and holding but are fortunate enough to miss on most occasions. Some don’t and get into bad trouble. I would prefer it if the AFL stamped out all this holding and nasty bumping away from the ball. Could be done by enforcing current rules where it is a free kick for holding, a free kick for shepherding or bumpiung when the ball is more that 5 meters away etc. Umpires not enforcing the rules helps to create powder keg emotions that cause the violent reaction from Gaff, Cameron, and Bugg.
Added to that, why wasn’t Johnson suspended for his hit on Gaff. It was deliberate, high impact and head high – knocked Gaff senseless for awhile. His grading and fine by Christian was a joke.
Monday Morning AFL Podcast: Will we see Andrew Gaff in Eagles colours again?
I agree with your assessment Rick. From the footage I don’t think Gaff was trying to strike Brayshaw in the face, but he did, and it was nasty. As clean a record as Gaff has, and as nice a guy as he is, he should be punished severly – 7-8 weeks. Missing the finals doubles the impact as many footballers never ever get that chance, and Gaff has lost his chance this year. The Eagles also get penalized severly as if you look at the coaches votes, Gaff is the Eagles best player.
All the Eagles team are also punished for Gaff’s action and in the long run it could be very uncomfortable for him to stay at the club as some Eagles players and supporters could blame him for a finals failure. Furthermore you have Brayshaw’s brother at the Eagles and family emotions could spill over, even though they had been great friends. Get him out of the city, trade him to the East, and let everyone get a fresh start!
Monday Morning AFL Podcast: Will we see Andrew Gaff in Eagles colours again?
Mathematically that may be correct, but when you look at who they play the likelihood of that scenario is next to impossible. After this weekend the maths will be clearer as some teams, and maybe Essendon, will be knocked out of contention.
As September nears, can Essendon sneak into the eight?
Hird was not predicting the Bombers would be Premiers, but reflected the view that if Essendon were to make the finals they would have to win the next 4 including defeating Richmond. It would mean that they would have won 12 of the last 14 games and as the “form team” of the AFL would be in serious contention to take the flag. In other words, if they make the finals, watch out, for they could indeed be the Premier side.
As September nears, can Essendon sneak into the eight?
You are indeed confused, and Ess3ndon may add to your confusion on Saturday if they beat Hawthorn. Not as good as Port? Essendon thrashed Port early in the season – Round 4 – and that was before they started playing well. They have also beaten West Coast, Geelong, GWS, Sydney and the Kangaroos – all of whom were in the Top 8 and some in top 4.
However, they will probably win 3 of last 4 but fall against the Tigers and not make it to the finals in 2018, but not a bad lead up to 2019.
As September nears, can Essendon sneak into the eight?
Ryan, great article and many fascinating scenarios. Makes the last 4 rounds worth watching!
I have an off-topic question regarding the amazing and controversial goal of the week / year!
What exactly is the rule that would say that putting the ball in the air then kicking it is a throw? Doesn’t this scenario regularly happen, almost weekly, when a player is tackled to the ground and one hand is tied up. The player throws the ball up with his free hand and kicks the ball – play on! If Higgin’s goal was deemed a throw, wouldn’t all those other “throws” to get the ball up to be kicked, be throws as well.
Many thanks.
With four AFL rounds to go, every spot in the eight is up for grabs
If you do the math and every possible combination, excluding shockers like Carlton beating Sydney, then the only way that Essendon can make the 8 is to win ALL 4 games. Because of their % they will have to win 14 to make the 8. In that scenario they would finish either 5th or 6th and their final game – Round 23 – Port vs Bombers could be an elimination final for both teams. The winner finishes 5th or 6th and the loses misses the 8. Hard ask. Not impossible but to do it would give wind to Hird’s prediction – IF Essendon makes the 8, they could go all the way. But that IF, is a huge IF.
As September nears, can Essendon sneak into the eight?
I too remember Roberts and Skilton, and Skilton, and Skilton winning Bownlows. I loved their fairness and understand that the Award is for the Fairest and Best. However, in those days – 50’s-70’s there was a lot more leniency on rough play. You could bump and knock players out and not be suspended and therefore still eligible for the “fairest and best”. What needs to be changed is the definition of which suspensions disqualify a player from the Brownlow. Fyfe’s and Dangerfield’s bumps wouldn’t have got a 2nd look back in the day and many past players won Brownlows who under todays stricter punishments on accidental bumpings would have been suspended. Fyfe and Dangerfield were not guilty of being unfair, they were rubbed out for much lesser offences. This is where Brownlow interpretations of fairness need to clarified, so that what was “fair” in Robert’s days can still be called “fair” today, even if the player was suspended due to tighter rules and TV coverage.
Changing the Brownlow rules asks more questions than it answers
No they don’t. The teans have their half-backs/half forwards on the centre square line ready to rush in. What I suggested keeps them a further 20m away as they half to be within 40m of goal. That extra 20m each end provides an extra 40m of less congestion and would bring much faster movement out of the centre reducing the congestion, at least, for a short time after every goal and and at every new quarter.
Are zones or starting positions going to make the game better?
I like the “starting positions” at the start of quarters and after each goal, where your 3 forward/backline players have to be in the forward/back line, say 20m max from goal, and the Half-Forwards and Half Backs, a max of 40m from goal. This would leave the bounce at the start of each goal and quarter to be restricted to the 3 onballers and 3 centre-line players for each team. That would ensure an openess for each start. After that, no zones, but go where you like. 40-50 years ago when I was playing we had no such zones, but that’s always how teams lined up. This would bring the starts back to that and create more open play.
Are zones or starting positions going to make the game better?
Essendon supporters have a right to be angry, frustrated and disappointed at the pathetic start to the season. Their players show no true grit and passion and their competitiveness is below par. They need to rethink their structure. In the forward line only Stewart seems capable. Daniher is lazy and may even need to be dropped. Hooker to the backline seems obvious while in their reserves McKernon has been doing really well as a tall forward who always kicks goals, even when in the AFL. Stringer doesn’t seem to make it in the middle and needs to do more. No more excuses Bombers as the next 2 to 3 weeks will confirm you are pretenders and your 2018 year will be over already, unless you get out of bed!
Essendon are nothing more than a pretender
As a former cricketer who has seen many attempts to alter conditions, to the ball, to the batting surface, to the footmarks on the crease line – all with the aim of gaining some competitive advantage, the penalty must fit the crime. In this case it seems that Warner is the architect, Bancroft the willing, yet naive victim and Smith the village idiot.
In this case, Warner losing his VC responsibilities, plus 1 year out of Test Cricket is reasonable, but not from all forms of cricket. Bancroft probably was on his last chance as a test cricketer anyway and was desperate to please his superior and show he could be a useful part of the team. That’s now lost, and a 6 month Test ban would have been appropriate. For Smith, losing his Captain’s role, the aura of greatness, now compunded by being called a “cheat” is for him a far greater punishment than missing out on Tests. A 6 month Test-ban would have been far more reasonable as he is now tainted for life.
The current punishments are way over the top and do not fit the crime. They have not brought cricket into disrepute, but they have brought themselves into eternal disrepute which can never be undone. Let them play domestic cricket and then in 6 months let them be eligible for Test-cricket for the 2 and after 12 months again for Warner.
Australia has been mighty unfair to Steve Smith
The leadership group must be sacked by the ACB. Smith must be sacked as captain and never be allowed to captain again. Australia’s day of shame cannot be allowed to go unpunished.
The integrity of Australian cricket is in tatters
A team that has lost Walker, Cameron and Lynch from its attack (50%), Lever, Knight and Brodie Smith from the defence and Brad Crouch etc from the midfield, surely cannot be compared with last years team. A lot of massive attacking and defensive power is absent. Watch out for a shock start to the season for the Crows!
Essendon vs Adelaide: Friday night forecast
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23 crazy, fearless predictions for the 2018 AFL season
Forward line too heavy. Move Jack to FF. Put R.Gray in the HFF and drop Brown.
My 2018 All Australian team