Essendon v West Coast / Fremantle NAB Cup Match Thread

[paddyl90]

So another year begins...boy did it come around quickly in the end.

Not as excited as I would normally be about having football back. I think last year's NAB Cup excitement with Hird / Thompson new game plan and the emergence of Crameri etc. wore off after first 5-7 rounds of the season proper and then mid season collapse. I'm sick of doing well in the NAB Cup then tiring out come middle of the season. It was very disappointing last year to start so well, thinking we'd turned a corner after the Brisbane game for it to go pear shape again.

However, 2011 is over and this is 2012. The main thing I'm excited about tonight is to see players like Kavanagh and Del'Ollio (need to check that spelling) etc. See who will make a statement a la Crameri last year! I want to see the physical improvement, increase in size of players like Melksham and Colyer as well overall team size and fitness. Has the weapon taken them to the next level. I know it's only NAB Cup, it's not a true reflection of the season to come but all you ask is to see decent footy and signs of hope for the season to come.

3 hours to go and I can't wait. Will be the only match I'll be missing all year

[Malky]

I feel nothing for the Micky Mouse Cup but will be happy to watch the boys on the box - see who's made the most of their pre-season training, to see who's bulked up and who has got any quicker.

Most of all, I'm looking forward to seeing what Plan B might look like if and when Plan A doesn't work out against the bigger and faster teams.

[Megan]

Sick of doing well in the pre season? We're usually a monty to get arsed in the first round

[paddyl90]

Sick of doing well in the pre season? We're usually a monty to get arsed in the first round

LOL not last year...i have short term memory lol

[swoodley]

Hard to get interested in this stuff...couldn't even be bothered going to Subiaco to watch it today.

I'll check the scores on the net later.

[BERT]

Red Shorts. =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

[bomberdonnie]

Getting our arses handed to us

Slattery is a f****** nightmare seriously how this guy is still on our list f**** with my head .... Getting dominated by some kid I have never heard of

Umpires are still c****

[robbie67]

Red shorts, Hibberd and Colyer about the only positives so far.

Hille, Hooker and Slattery all laughable.

No way is Anthony related to Michael, must have been a mix up at the hospital.

[Gyoza]

Round 1: IN: Del'Ollio

In one passage of play just did more in the forward line than Alwyn Davey has done in 2 years.
Head down, pick up the ball cleanly, evade defenders, kick the goal.

[paddyl90]

I got what I wanted from the match.

DEL'OLIO!!!! - looks good
Crameri - Being big, bustling forward he is known for. Good to see post injury
Colyer - excited!

Too many fumbles / shit skills. Put it down to pre-season cobwebs. Don't want to make too much of NAB Cup. No Watson, Hocking, Stanton, Lonergan, Zaka, Heppell, etc in that match.

Onto next match

[robrulz5]

Colyer looks damn fit and with Del,Olio could be our two small forwards instead of having Davey and whoever else we have up there.

[robrulz5]

Freo have a very strong side playing.

[robrulz5]

Leroy Jetta off half back is interesting.

[Windy_Hill]

Havnt seen any of the two games so cant comment. However, is it possible that the focus during the off season has been on physical development and as such, we may still have some way to go with the ball skills and game plan.

[paddyl90]

Do people expect such sharp skills so early in the year?

[Gyoza]

Well....no....but you never like seeing other teams look better than we do.

I like the fact that there's now no way we will be in the NAB Cup GF, so when you consider it's 19th Feb and we're setting a course to be ready for 31st Mar, today becomes totally irrelevant.

Seeing us stink it up did make me understand why I haven't been as excited about the footy starting as much as other years, and might even explain a bit of the lack of footy talk around here - despite all the upsides, despite all the youth, despite James Hird and Mark Thompson...I feel physically sick thinking of even the slightest possibility of having to sit through yet another year of mediocrity.

[robrulz5]

However, is it possible that the focus during the off season has been on physical development and as such, we may still have some way to go with the ball skills and game plan.

They needed to work on the skills as well as they have been shite for years.

[BenDoolan]

I feel physically sick thinking of even the slightest possibility of having to sit through yet another year of mediocrity.

Yes indeed.

Just when the f*** is our club going to f****** well grow up? Another "development" year coming along? Another "working on improvement" year perhaps?

I think I have zero tolerance left....

[swoodley]

Moan and groan you whiners...it's the f****** NAB Cup....who really gives a rat's arse about today.

Hird and co will hopefully take a lot out of the game and as long as we are ready to go for Round 1, I personally could not give a fat rat's clacker about today's meaningless events.

I hope we don't lose our next game or you lot will be talking season over already

[Gyoza]

Moan and groan you whiners...it's the f****** NAB Cup....who really gives a rat's arse about today.

Hird and co will hopefully take a lot out of the game and as long as we are ready to go for Round 1, I personally could not give a fat rat's clacker about today's meaningless events.

I hope we don't lose our next game or you lot will be talking season over already

Yeah fair point JumboPa....err...I mean, swoodley!