Round 2 – Essendon v St Kilda: Bombers bomb out

 

Waking this morning, as I came to my senses, I hoped it was only a nightmare!

 

Unfortunately, the hype surrounding the expectations of the Essendon Football Club for season 2019 is proving to be that: hype. Two losses from two games, and the way the team is playing at the moment, the year is just about a write off even at this early stage of the season.

 

There is supposed to be a new game plan, but what is the game plan? I couldn’t make out anything except the Bombers were an unskilled rabble at times, there was lots of fumbling, dropped marks, easy shots on goal missed, and they looked very slow. Very little run at all.

 

And to add to this nightmare, I received an email early this morning, from 3RRR’s Brian Wise  who is leading “The Off the Record” tour to New Orleans for Jazzfest, informing me the headline act The Rolling Stones had cancelled on medical advice. Jagger is crook apparently. Must be as crook as my Bombers! I was looking forward to seeing the Stones in New Orleans. However, there are plenty of other fantastic acts performing over the 7 days of the festival.

 

It saddened me watching the Bombers with my grandson and friends at Marvel. To hear supporters abuse and boo their under performing team the way they did was unacceptable as far as I was concerned. The talk going around the ground to sack Worsfold is extremely premature to say the least. I appreciate their frustrations and understand their feelings, I was frustrated as well but to act in the heat of the moment can lead to later regrets. That is, if the Bombers can turn around their form, which they must do  at this early stage of the season  if they want to eliminate the adverse reactions to form and maintain the support of their followers.

 

I live in hope and acknowledge there is always next week.

 

There needs to be some changes made to the team. Bellchambers lumbered through the game, lacked mobility and appeared disinterested at times. Maybe the more mobile Clarke, or up and coming Sam Draper deserve an opportunity. Tippa is sadly out of form and looks to have lost a yard in pace, Bagueley is getting on in age and hasn’t had a lot of impact over the two games, at least McKernan had a better game on the forward line though he missed easy goals at crucial stages during the game. Perhaps Laverde must be given the opportunity to improve on his good late last season form, Dylan Clarke and Mutch all need to be given a chance to prove their worth. I don’t think they could play any worse than the players they may replace.

 

Obviously Hooker and Daniher are desparately missed. I like Ambrose, he’s a good honest toiler but when he has to step up and play against a better creditential player he often is out of his league. Hurley has played well in both games but needs support, it can’t be left to one or two players to win the game, others need to have an impact.

 

Saad had a good third quarter, along with Shiel and Merrett helped to kick start a more positive approach to the second half of the game. It’s a pity a few other players couldn’t match their commitment.

 

To say the Bombers next game is a season defining one is beyond doubt. We play an equally disappointing Melbourne and both teams will be endeavouring to make a statement to their supporters. I  can only hope the Bombers can keep the Demons in their miserable hell!

 

And like the Stones, the Bombers can only keep on rolling, and hopefully next week there will be more satisfaction for their supporters.

 

ESSENDON     0.2     4.5      7.8       9.11      (65)
ST KILDA        2.7     7.9     8.12     10.16     (76)

 

GOALS
Essendon: Heppell 2, Baguley, Bellchambers, Myers, Brown, Smith, Stringer, McKernan
St Kilda: Membrey 2, Bruce 2, Gresham 2, Dunstan, Kent, Parker, Sinclair

 

BEST
Essendon: Stringer, McGrath, Hurley, Francis, Heppell
St Kilda: Gresham, Steele, Bruce, Ross, Sinclair, Newnes

 

INJURIES
Essendon: Nil
St Kilda: Nil

 

Reports: Nil

 

Umpires: Rosebury, Stephens, Hosking

 

Official crowd: 44,252 at Marvel Stadium

 

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About Colin Ritchie

Retired teacher who enjoys following the Bombers, listening to music especially Bob Dylan, reading, and swimming.

Comments

  1. Well said Col,
    I hate it when so called supporters boo and scream at the players as they did last night. I’m afraid we all fell for the pre season garbage the press served up to us.

  2. Once again, the Saints went marching in. Meanwhile, the only bombs the Dons dropped were either damp squibs or duds. However who knows what next week will bring – Essendon could be foxing only to peak at the business end of the season – eventually, all will be revealed…

  3. Mick Symons says

    Spot on Col.
    The players didn’t seem to know what each other was planning to do. Maybe Ben Rutten’s defensive system will kick into gear soon.
    There was no clear forward approach, got to kick more than nine goals to win a match.
    Still, stick with them. Keep the Demons on the bottom after Friday night.

  4. Big game next Friday night, Col!

  5. Bruce, Gresham and Parker have good skills. And Billings start shining.

    Getting Ratten as the assistant coach moves positive for my Saints.

    Your coach needs good assistant coaches and makes good formation to perform the best.

    God luck with next weekend to change Dees’ coach’s surname into Badloss.

    Cheers

    Yoshi

  6. Rulebook says

    Colin personally have always thought,Worsfold under achieved at the eagles considering how good there list was and again purely from the outside seems to be like,Neil Craig struggle once the game starts geez massive game for both clubs this fri night

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