Brian Connor

@Kyptastic1 @JonathanJWalsh Fantastic - we need one now for Essendon content creators!

EXCLUSIVE! I’ve been sent the whiteboard of an unnamed media organisation where they are dissecting the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors.

@CraiG_Mc @ScooterMcNeice @The_Red_Sash Accept that as fact if you want but then discuss the quality and experience leading and supporting the youngsters during the week and on game day. It makes a huge difference. Morris v Caddy is the obvious comparison. Compare how hard they each have to work for their goals.

@ScooterMcNeice @The_Red_Sash Not to mention the 4 players drafted last year and players that have been at the club for not even 2 years and played that many games. Games together and cohesion is a massive factor. And let’s not forget games and experience between the 2 sides.

Brisbane had the same number of players 22 years old or less. Curtin 18 L Ashcroft 19 Morris 20 Gallop 20 W Ashcroft 21 Wilmont 22 Fletcher 22 Lohmann 22

@SilentGhost263 I think so too but having made him play in defence for a year and a half …

@bconnor67_brian i still think Kayle is a forward but hes been very good there

Maybe a hot take but i think Zach Reid has been much worse than Ben McKay this year, especially relative to talent.

@CraiG_Mc @SilverTopHurls It’s a hard watch - Caddy looks so good but he’s got the yips in front of goal.

@SilverTopHurls The kids playing well which is good to see. Also give ourselves some looks but just not converting. Could be 5 goals for 4 behinds instead of 3 goals 6.

Finding some positives - Robey playing his best game Sharp in the middle for a taste Duzz having a crack

@ScooterMcNeice The only one he could find in a 77 point loss. Seemed like we were pretty poor when he wasn’t on the field as well. Strange statement

Brad Scott just said Tsatas was dropped due to poor defensive transition that Pies carved us up on.

@absoessendon I think we all want him to be successful and his games against Melbourne and GC gave us a look at what he could do in our midfield set up. His joy when he kicked his goal at Gather Round was a highlight in a year lacking in good news stories. And now with Parish rested he is out?

Was dropping Elijah Tsatas justified? Maybe, maybe not. To be fair we the general public are not always aware of the details. On the surface this looks like a ridiculous decision. You have to feel for the lad especially when so many other players have not earned their place.

@pauljames1968 @DarrenF68995283 @essendonfc I have been a Scott supporter up till now but these last two weeks have been baffling. Edwards on the wing, suddenly bringing Durham back into the middle, now the Tsatas omission. Not sure what the plan is for Kondogiannis. Probably Farrow into the middle and Max at half back!

I am super filthy at Tsatas being dropped @essendonfc. I don’t think I have ever been this underwhelmed by selection and development in 38 years of loyalty.

@ScooterMcNeice Unbelievable especially with Parish rested.

Totally gob smack at Tsatas. Lost me

@JonathanJWalsh Well done - thanks for the insights. Always appreciated.

Some post-work thoughts on Essendon in 2026. Unedited, so apologies for spelling and grammar mistakes 😜 donthestat.com/post/round-7-c…

@DonCaldwelll The coaches seemed to want more dynamism at the centre bounce given the pace of Daicos and others getting off the chain. Didn’t work and I agree Lee him up forward. It looked like the coaches might have also failed to step up to the big stage and occasion.

I like Sam Durham, a lot, but is he really a good full time midfielder? 19 Centre Bounce Attendances yesterday = 1 Clearance? 15 Disposals - 7 Turnovers? In the 3rd Quarter when the heat was on, he had 1 Disposal from 7 CBAs? 0 Tackles in 3 quarters of footy? I’m confused.

@CraiG_Mc Two weeks on the road, tough conditions in the GC last week - a bad result not unexpected but there were some very poor efforts. After a good few weeks in the coaches box today was poor. Why was Edward’s playing up the ground? Gotta get Bryan back quickly.

Yeah, we should be expecting more than what we dished up today. But the silver lining is the kids keep getting games & experience. That’s what matters atm. We need to keep giving them games & backing them in. I have no doubt that with more games/experience it will turn. #GoDons

@SilentGhost263 Goodnpoint, but I was actually thinking about Brad himself and a couple of his coaching team, specifically Solly.

@SilentGhost263 I liked his final comment in his post match presser when he was asked about the president’s citizen’s arrest. He said something like competitors don’t stop being competitors and I suspect he wasn’t just talking about Welsh.

i think this more 'fiery' Brad Scott recently is a good improvement indicator. Theres no point yelling at a group that doesn't know their own ability or what their best looks like. now that we're playing half-decent footy vs good teams theres a place for fire + accountability.

@ScooterMcNeice @jackt1808 and McKay only played 10 games last year.

@jackt1808 You sure about that? Parish, Langford, Martin, Caldwell, Reid, Edwards, Draper, Ridley. These are all best 23. Then have good depth or possible 23 in Bryan, Cox, Jones, Setterfield, Hayes etc

I can recall one team

@CraiG_Mc @CharlieDons Well deserved

@bconnor67_brian @CharlieDons He never has, the players have a genuine respect for Brad..

😜

@PatrickRyen Can’t hurt!

👀

@pauljames1968 Yep the list is building nicely. Loved to see Tsatas take his chance on Saturday as well - almost shed a tear when he got his goal and celebrated.

@pauljames1968 I thought that Kako hadn’t worked out until this weekend’s game? S Robey next up.