Jack Watson

@ScooterMcNeice While it is hard to blame it all on Parish we have seen it with him before. The midfield sometimes looks better with him out of the team. Now do you take him out or the people around him?

Want to talk more on this on the podcast tonight. We have two mid 20's players celebrated for grunt in the current midfield mix but in reality they are struggling to get hands on the ball first. We won hit outs by 5 yesterday v Port?

@ScooterMcNeice I don't think we will be 0-6. We will probably get 1-2 wins, if we are 3-3 that is an amazing result. The worry is if we are 0-6 I could easily see us ending up 0-10.....

Adam Simpson noting on SEN that he has Essendon starting 0-6🤔 Hawks at MCG Port (away) North - Marvel Dogs - Marvel Demons (Gather round) Suns - (away)

@ScooterMcNeice I have always liked Eddie, yes when Collingwood president he could be a bit annoying but he really just loves footy. I also think he was a good commentator, his call of Tippa kicking the goal to put us into the 8 is one of my favourites.

Can i give a shout out to Eddie McGuire. He helped provide Welsh a platform last night to promote and unify the Bombers and just quietly tried to sway Hinkley to Essendon. Has been enormous in lifting Hird up also to now be in the media footy world again. This fan takes notice👍

@FlightPlanPod Merrett's time as captain is done, I agree he cannot hold that position any longer. I think his reputation as an Essendon player can be salvaged if just puts his hand up and says it was a massive error and never tries again. But I would have such little faith until he retires .

Zach Merrett wants to play for Hawthorn. Our reaction to the latest details and what must happen from here. #godons ✈️ creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/fl…

@FlightPlanPod If it's any of Parish, Langford or Ridley I would let any two of them go for the right price. But also clearly their concerns are being listened to because Murphy was let go.

Reports circulating that Essendon senior players are 'concerned' with the current state of the club's strength & conditioning coach. Their concerns might be completely justified. However, if they've lost faith in the club, maybe it's time some of those guys seek a fresh start? The club needs to pull the trigger and go all in on building around our young, talented, and hungry core of players

@HockeyJade Good news Vigo is fine, Duursma is subbed out.

@jackww53 Thanks mate

Can someone please give me an update on Will Setterfield and Vigo Visentini ❤️🖤

@AnthProc @ScooterMcNeice That's a fan club you can sign me up for. Love the blog btw.

@jackww53 @ScooterMcNeice Hey I’m all for Nic to be in the midfield, have said it for yrs, but like Zach, the back half/behind the play, needs to be steadied while players are out/the team list improves/changes

So i read this blog from @AnthProc and humbly have to change my opinion on how we used Merrett. One thing I try to do is never be stubborn and listen to all sides with an open mind. This is a great explanation of why he was in defense.

@AnthProc @ScooterMcNeice I think it's understandable for now, we don't really have too many luxuries. I would just hope when players come back we push Martin further up the ground. My worry is we seem to like keeping him back, which I don't think gets the best out of him after seeing it for most of 2024.

@ScooterMcNeice @jackww53 I don’t think Ess would’ve got the same ball movement from behind centre if it was reliant on Johnson, Clarke, Prior, McGrath & Lav There he got free rein vs 1v1 etc at stoppage, which wasn’t an issue until the last qtr

@AnthProc @ScooterMcNeice But he could also do that from the front half. For the first three quarters Martin had ~70% of his disposal in the back half, compared to 71% first the forward half in the last quarter. I just feel he had a lot more impact in that last quarter when getting disposals up the ground

@jackww53 @ScooterMcNeice Martin had a free license to play wherever he wanted to, that’s effectively a mid, he doesn’t have to be at CB & stp to be a mid There’s on ave 98 stoppages a game inc CB, the game is in motion the rest of the time

@AnthProc @ScooterMcNeice I wouldn't call it the issue but I also want the team to be the best it can be. Ball movement had highs and lows, overall it looked like we carried on from the more positive ball movement we saw against the lions.

@jackww53 @ScooterMcNeice Was Ess midfield game the issue for 3 qtrs? How did Ess ball movement look to you? I wouldn’t be drawn into starting positions of players, I’d be looking where they are & what they do when the game is in motion & what impact that has

@ScooterMcNeice Really excited to see how good he was in general play and at his feet for a big man.

Have to say I am intrigued to see Vigo next Sunday given a challenge by the coaches to play on Tom De Koning

@ScooterMcNeice If we're going to move Merrett I would rather He go to the HF line. Could be very damaging there.

I am convinced Martin, Caldwell and Durham is our best balanced midfield setup for the future. Marrett to hurt in other areas where required as a tactic and Parish to rotate through when fully fit.

@ScooterMcNeice At the very least we now have height. Asking a player to run with someone else and contest isn't the hardest job for three weeks.

We are without defenders for just 4 games only. I wonder how much that weighs in to list decisions. Ridley, McKay and Reid all back after that. Is it better to just work with what you have for a month and pick up players more linked to longer future needs

@ScooterMcNeice Honestly there are so many bad teams at the moment we may finish in the top 12.

Port losing by 90 points meant their % goes just below EFC and we go up to 11th.

@ScooterMcNeice Could be the worst performance of any team so far this year. Saints +20 in clearances is horrible for the dockers, especially with their midfield.

So if you're upset at Essendon's form.... be comforted with Freo's first half.

@ScooterMcNeice Duursma probably a bit too high, loved his efforts but his disposal hurt us at times, he just kept giving that 1 extra handball that was selling us into trouble.

My Votes: 5. Merrett 4. Duursma (8 intercepts, 6 tackles, 25 Disp) 3. Durham 2. Caddy 1. Setterfield Roberts, Perkins and Wright unlucky. Another solid game from Reid as well

@ScooterMcNeice With an 8 day break it seems a bit excessive. But I will be very excited to see him debut.

Well i think we can see whats happening

@ScooterMcNeice Rising up the draft boards, might need to start thinking about our approach to the end of the year.

Yeh so 10 mins into the VIC Metro game and Adam Sweid kicks a brilliant goal. Already their most damaging player. Game live on AFL website