Anthony🔴⚫️🏇🏎🏏🎬🤟

My extended Essendon 2026 preview is 🆙 on #thebombersblog It’s a long one as I cover -every player on the list -fixture -game style changes -positional changes -improvements needed -coaching -what it all looks like -KPI’s I’ll be tracking #godons thebombersblog.wixsite.com/thebombersblog…

@RicFinlay 😂

@AnthP_ They went down fighting….

Meanwhile, in Botswana, Rwanda (2-288) have defeated Ivory Coast (17) by 271 runs - the third-heaviest defeated inflicted on a team in T20Is. Zimbabwe's 290-run of defeat of Gambia (344 to 54) in October 2024 remains top of the pile.

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@WatsonsTroops1 Off the sprint, I have McLaren as a match. Yes, Mercedes’ upgrades looked to be an improvement, but I think tyre wear would be a factor. Also need to include Kimi & George racing each other. It’s similar so far to Oscar & Lando racing each other last year & it helping the others

@AnthP_ Yep, I don't think the would have been. match for the updated Mercs, but well ahead of Ferrari and RB. I'd be interested to see how Max would be in the McLarens (not the stuff up today) but the 2nd best car nor far off the Mercs how much he can pull the difference

What a weekend to be an Essendon and McLaren supporter

@onepercentas I think there’s more to it than that. Have the rule changes exposed a lack of speed in their lineup to defend the chaos game… Last 2 wks they’ve had to play a groundball game & been punished from both ends of the ground. Are/were they too reliant on stoppage…

This is one of the most anomalous results in footy history and yet I'm not convinced it shifts my priors on either side? GWS often give Brisbane trouble and the Lions half-arse the odd H&A game because they know they can do it when it matters.

“In damp conditions…the team chose the Inter tyre…but lost out as the light rain petered out. The decision was driven by a greasy track and rain with five-minutes to go” Light rain? when has that required inters? If it was greasy (it wasn’t), it got ungreasy very quickly

@WatsonsTroops1 In the end the worst McLaren should’ve been was 2nd & 3rd

@AnthP_ Lewis drove very well. I think Max drove very well too think the car still is a bit of a. handful compared to the others in some areas. I think they both enjoyed their little fight on track Max making him work for it

@WatsonsTroops1 There was no need to do anything contrasting from the second row, maybe if they were on the 4th or further back, from there, trust the car & drivers

@AnthP_ Yep it was very strange. if the track was wet but not really raining I might get the risk. Lando and particularly Oscar questioning the team on the strategy in the reconnaissance laps

@WatsonsTroops1 Kimi shouldn’t either. IMO he’s flying, really in touch with the car. McLaren was a big challenger this weekend & they fcuked it. What a decision to be on inters, phenomenal. I can’t believe it. Imagine starting a race on inters 🤯

@AnthP_ Starting on inters when the track was almost been dry, a few damp patches cold, but dry,, Lando gearbox, Oscar ...very uncharacteristic. The George/Kimi battle was very good though, Kimi certainly doesn't want to play second fiddle

@FactsNOpinions0 @DonsTragic Name the fast players that tuck the ball under their arm, run, carry, bounce. Speed isn’t just off ball winning, there’s overlap h/ball, spread, close the space, recover from poor positioning, chase down tackles, I can name more that Ess doesn’t do because it’s slow

@AnthP_ @DonsTragic I don’t think our list is too slow it’s just we fail to get the ball into positions where we can use our speed. Were caught the wrong side of the contest a lot because our structure at the contest fails to win a 1v1/ drops a mark or fails to bring the ball to the front

One of many concerning Essendon stats: Last 3 weeks: 465 handballs for 130 metres gained Average of 0.28 metres gained per handball Highlights how we’re utilising handballs as a defensive tool rather than looking to attack utilising overlaps etc. Clear gameplan issue for me

@MatterOfStats I’m not sure the landings on these steps are up to code

Leaked image from the GWS changeroom at half time

@CraiG_Mc Surely you’re saying that rebuild has different meanings? Or are you saying those teams didn’t rebuild or aren’t rebuilding? Rebuilds don’t ALL have to be the same.

It’s fascinating to look at other clubs who we seem to get compared to. ▪️ West Coast premiership in 2018 and 7 premiership players on the list. ▪️ Richmond premierships in 17-19-20, 8 premiership players on the list. ▪️ Melbourne premiership in 2021 and 13 premiership players & 10 first-round picks since 2019 on the list. And Carlton is not in a rebuild, recruited for the now. Essendon in a rebuild, zero premiership players. #GoDons

@F1 Get him Kimi!

👻 Ghost Car... George Vs Kimi Edition 😎 Watch the comparison of the two Mercedes' fastest laps in Qualifying to see how close 0.068s really is 👀 #F1 #CanadianGP

@PHX_ESS_RM @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen I would put forms of tanking well down the list on why things aren’t working to my expectations

@AnthP_ @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen No, I'm saying it's intentional. Change up selections by bringing players in & out to disrupt consistency, play players out of position, and change the instructions. You don't tell senior players you're tanking, you stack the decks so the team is less likely to win.

Tonight was appalling. Yes, we had injuries, but Richmond were clearly the better side from the outset, and they had injury issues too. They are a club that almost had to ask the AFL to be able to play VFL listed players due to injuries! They had half of their best 23 out! Despite that when Richmond transition the ball they look organised and have confidence in each other and you can actually see what they are trying to do! Right now, we have no cohesion, no structure, and too many players lacking basic AFL-standard fundamentals. The way we’re setting up and being coached across multiple areas simply isn’t working. I’ve supported the heavy lifting and rebuild to this point, but too many players are stagnating or, worse, going backwards. That’s the most concerning part. Something has to change. If it doesn’t, we risk losing some of our most important assets, our young talent and drifting even further off track. I love this club, but I’ve seen enough. It’s time for change! #godons ♥️🖤👊

Essendon Rd11 review 🆙 on #thebombersblog Two game styles to look at here, one that should’ve suited 🔴⚫️ but didn’t, the other that gave them their best chance. Also had to have my 5c on selection, as well as preseason to now #godons thebombersblog.wixsite.com/thebombersblog…

@kurtmans @PatrickRyen @SilverTopHurls Execution is different to drills trained. You’re saying they did no drills? They just kicked & handballed?…

@AnthP_ @PatrickRyen @SilverTopHurls I went to training and they play exactly how they train. Sloppy, lazy and playing on like headless chooks. Zero system or structure.

@PHX_ESS_RM @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen Oof, if understanding is an issue it doesn’t bode well for upstairs. Imo there’s a disconnect between coaches & certain players, despite what everyone hears coming from players. What’s said publicly can be very diff to what is said privately/thought away from the🎤

@AnthP_ @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen I don't think this directive has been passed down to the players. It's more a lack of consistency in selection & strategy that leads to less effort & effectiveness across the team. If enough players don't put in effort or don't understand their roles, we're more likely to lose.

@kensoath @ScooterMcNeice @BomberRicko @cleary_mitch @CalTwomey @SilentGhost263 @JoshJenkins24 @Sammy__Edmund @Kyptastic1 Up to a point, but in the box with the game under way you’re concentrating on what’s happening in those moments

@AnthP_ @ScooterMcNeice @BomberRicko @cleary_mitch @CalTwomey @SilentGhost263 @JoshJenkins24 @Sammy__Edmund @Kyptastic1 Surely you’re working that out in the box? 🤷🏽‍♂️

There is no coach talking to backs or forwards for most of Qtr time. Is this normal? Tigers in their team huddle with coach for a lot longer than Dons 🤷🏽‍♂️ @ScooterMcNeice @BomberRicko @AnthP_ @cleary_mitch @CalTwomey @SilentGhost263

@PHX_ESS_RM @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen Maybe some like yourself believe that, I just can’t. Because I don’t agree with team selection isn’t enough. IMO there’s performance issues from the players, they’re not to past standards or improved upon, some may think they’re not up to it, I think there’s enough talent in them

@AnthP_ @SilverTopHurls @PatrickRyen x.com/i/status/20579…