Paul Patrick

@HeathLyons That wasn’t the only inconsistent umpiring interpretation for the night. Even chopping in marking contests was hard to fathom at times.

Wasent it said that if you fend off and get caught it will be holding the ball?... Durham got done for it early.. not the bulldogs tho...

@DonCaldwelll Tsatas disposal by foot lets him down more often than you’d like to see.

Essendon VFL up 4pts at Half Time Elijah Tsatas taking the total piss, everywhere with 23 disposals. Nik Cox looks good up forward with 2 goals. Jayden Nguyen up forward is fun. Bryan + Ridley will be big ins for the senior team soon. Robey, Jones, Clarke quiet so far. 🟥⬛️

@CraiG_Mc I didn’t go to the level of detail you did but I did make same observations when looking at amount of games played by each player between 2023 and 2025. Definitely been lack of solid core of 15-16 players playing 75% or more games together.

Been doing some research around our cohesion and games played together of our current players since 2023. This is what I have found. Just a snapshot.. #GoDons

@kanecornes A lot are missing his point. The AFL is all about protecting the head by banning sling tackles, bumping etc, yet doesn’t worry about these types of knocks in marking contests. AFL can’t be half pregnant by being selective with what’s ok related to head knocks and what’s not.

Let’s worry about contact hours at training while Weitering is destroyed by a knee to the head

@absoessendon @jemmyjembo @DonCaldwelll He does, but what no one knows is whether the other coaches on the Match Committee are pushing forward Tsatas to play. So the fact he’s not getting games can’t be said to be down to Scott alone.

@P_Squarded @jemmyjembo @DonCaldwelll He has final say.

Oh boy… Tsatas still not considered this week.

@WayneJ99819 @DonCaldwelll You may think it’s BS but facts are it’s correct as much as you don’t think so

@P_Squarded @DonCaldwelll BS

@jemmyjembo @DonCaldwelll You only don’t like it because it doesn’t suit your narrative. Facts are Scott doesn’t pick the side by himself, nor does any coach.

@P_Squarded @DonCaldwelll This is the worst take I’ve seen for a long time.

@AnthP_ So what you are saying is we need to lobby the AFL to shorten games by removing the 3rd quarter 😋

Essendon’s 3rd Qtrs this year 😳 *cumulative differential* -12 Clearance 🤢 -65 Uncontested marks 🤮 -1079 Metres gained 😵 -50pts from turnover ⚰️ #thebombersblog #godons

@PatrickRyen The perception is definitely poor implementing this now but reality is the AFL don’t care. You could look at their actions and conclude that their main focus is the elevation of clubs in non traditional markets. Clubs like Blues and Dons not their priority

In principle, I’m comfortable with the proposed changes to the father–son rule. My issue is with the timing and the fact there’s a fairer, more logical alternative available. These changes should be introduced in three years, when Tasmania enters the competition. That would give clubs clarity and avoid pulling the rug out mid-cycle. The AFL has known for years that Carlton and Essendon have been preparing for prospects like Walker and Bewick. Changing the rules now, after that long lead time, is fundamentally unfair. There’s also a clear perception problem. The person driving these changes previously oversaw one of the most successful father–son pipelines in AFL history. Having benefited from that system, it’s hard to ignore how this decision now impacts other clubs particularly when it’s widely acknowledged that the timing isn’t equitable. This isn’t about resisting reform. It’s about implementing change in a way that is transparent, consistent, and fair to all clubs. Right now, the process falls short of that standard! #afl #gregswann #fatherson #godons

@AnthP_ We are easily controlled

Chaos & Total Chaos vs Control & Total Control to Rd3 #thebombersblog :12 x Total Control games so far Essendon 0-3 Stk 0-3 GWS 0-2 Nth 2-0 :Carl & WCE have only played in chaos games :Bris has only played in control games

@AnthP_ Centre clearance definitely an issue, thought the new ruck rule might suit Blakiston. Seems our mids can’t get to right spots. And work rate is very poor, hardly any mid wants to spread to create space. Our setup is so narrow makes us easy to defend against and rebound past.

Essendon Rd3 review 🆙 on #thebombersblog More clouds this wk & the usual causes making them grey unfortunately, individuals mostly But I also saw some flickers of sunlight coming thru, not enough for the😎but some vitamin D is better than none #godons thebombersblog.wixsite.com/thebombersblog…

@BradKlibansky You’d be better off saying Blues play in 5 of next 9 weeks on Thursday/Friday, Tigers twice and Essendon once. So really AFL want/need Blues to improve more than other 2. An AFL would have known scheduling Tigers v Dons ran risk both near bottom of ladder.

👀 ⬇️ 7 of the next 9 Thursday or Friday night matches will feature at least one of Carlton, Essendon and Richmond. The AFL will be hoping all three start to improve and fast!!

@DonCaldwelll We’ve seen this before with Roos and Eagles. Clubs get into a spiral which is hard to get out of and everything keeps manifesting week on week. No easy or quick solution as much as people want one.

16 losses in a row. Lost 29 of the last 38. Many playing career worst footy. Can’t move the ball, can’t defend, can’t execute basic fundamentals and can’t kick a score. 6 of the next 7 upcoming games against finals contenders. It’s grim. 🟥⬛️

@7AFL OMG How can the media still be going on about this. If Hawks had have been like Roos/Tigers/Eagles and around bottom 4 then that’s 3 1st round picks that are worth something not the late teens/early 20’s likely in 26/27 given Hawks likely ladder position in these years.

"Three first rounders for Zach Merrett. If (rebuilding) is your club strategy, would that not have been potentially what you explore?" Messaging from Brad Scott's press conference about the club's stance to rebuild, has raised questions around the Zach Merrett trade decision.

@JakeDav08180745 The list of AFL listed players available isn’t that great. Some are long term injured, others need more game time in VFL after injuries and some not really showing much in VFL form wise. Dropping players only makes fans feel better does nothing to improve team performance

Fans have known this for years, but these incompetent coaches refuse to drop them. Until they start acting like a serious team, I’m out

@CraiG_Mc Your last sentence hits the nail on the head. Past administrations going back in particular post the saga thought the list was somewhere it wasn’t and traded in experienced players. Finally reality hits and this administration commits to the brutal reality of a rebuild

I know things for us fans are tough right now, me included, and many of you (after 20 plus years) won’t have the same thoughts as I do, but this is honestly how I feel: The club needed to go into a rebuild. Soo I understand the 30+ list changes, bringing in new kids, reshaping the list, and giving them games so they can develop and grow together. I also understand that when you actually look at the list profile, it tells a story. Nearly half the list has been at the club for 3 years or less, and that group has played on average only around 20 games at the club. That’s barely a season of footy together — still learning the system, still building cohesion. I also get that young teams, including 19 debutants in 26 games, take time to build chemistry and properly ingrain a system and have a lot of ups and downs. Plus when you factor in the injuries we had last year, that continuity and cohesion become even harder to build. So I understand there is still a lot of work to do and growth to come with this playing list and that things won’t dramatically improve quickly and there will be inconsistencies/ups and downs. But hopefully once these kids get 40-50 games into them, things will improve and look better. But bare in mind, that’s not excusing the coaches who also needs to develop and coach these kids the right way as-well… With all that said, and as tough as it is right now, this just feels like the reality of a proper rebuild and what can it actually look like. Which is something the club hasn’t fully committed to before. So here we are.. #GoDons

@AnthP_ Yep. Watching at the game and our players give their opponents too much leg rope. Basically end up in no man’s land, and this allows easy chain of possession for opposition.

Complete loss of system with the football, not helped AT ALL by poor work rate, again 🚮

@JakeDav08180745 There are two ways to go, drop a player or players or challenge them to respond. Either can be valid, which lever you pull probably comes down to which one you think will get the best response. And yes VFL not really throwing up a bunch of options for players to bring in.

People will obviously be annoyed at this and fair enough too, but how can a coach drop players when there’s not many players in the reserves pushing for selection?

@JakeDav08180745 My theory is they remember him saving games as a player and think he can do same as coach. Would have loved it if he’d worked out 10+ years ago but that ship’s sailed. The constant speculation about him and would he coach again is not helpful to the club. The past is the past.

I’ve got a question for the pro Hird camp. Explain to me why you think he’s the answer to Essendon’s problems? To me it seems like the players will pick and choose when to perform. If Scott isn’t the coach long term, then bring in somebody younger who understands the modern game