Pre-Match: Rnd 5 Pies v Bombers. All comments here please

[Kristin5]

How are we going to go this week in the all-important Anzac Day clash?


They're usually fairly close matches between the Pies and the Dons, and I doubt this'll be any exception. Looks like they have a few players back from injury, to test us a bit. Though, on form, we should come away with a fairly easy win.

[AnthonyC]

We will win of course. But you just never know, someone always comes out and does something for them against us. Remember moorcroft last year, wasn't even meant to play, 5 goals thankyou.

lloyd is the biggest worry. We don't want him to have a game like the last time we played them. Hate to say it but Presti my have his hands full. If Presti can do his job they shouldn't worry us.

Looking forward to it, I think this is the game that turned it around for us last year and setup the whole season.

[peter_pies4ever]

Without Wellman in defence the Dons look a bit weak down back. Rocca and Tarrant are primed for another big game and can hopefully stretch their defence. Lloyd looks a danger for them as he played a top game last week and Wakelin will have his work cut out this week on him.

The Pies should have a good win though and I think Chris Tarrant will be the 2003 Anzac Day medallist.

Pies by 35 points. Whats everyone elses thoughts on who will get the Anzac Medal?

[bokka]

I doubt too many would disagree that this is a classic example of a danger game. I've been to a couple of Anzac day games and they do seem to have a special character, the Anzac "spirit" and the ceremony seem to permeate the game and crowd and give it a sort of sombre noble feeling and also a timeless feel. maybe this just comes from my fevered imagination but anyway.. maybe that's why they are usually close no matter how far apart on the ladder and form.
We still could win by 6 plus but I guess the margin will be more like 2 goals.

[zoia]

i rekon this will be a 1-3 goal match either way

[MissMagpie_20]

ANZAC Day is always a gr8 sturggle and a good game to watch, so this year should follow in that trend.

The Bombers do have some injury worry early in the season and the Pies do look stronger on paper but this will be a very close game all day I beleive, with the Pies kicking away at the end.

Fletcher looks set to return with will be a godsend for Essendon given the talent of our forward line, but with Wellman likely to miss, I think the Bombers will really be lacking to keep up in defence. Tazza is set to kick a bag, then throw in Pebbles, possibly Josh, and Molly and i stuggle to see how Essendon can stop us.

Agree about Lloyd, he must be well held for us to have a comfortable win.

Overall I think as usual, it will be the forward line that is the big difference in this clash. Looking forward to a great game, Tazza to kick 6 goals and win the ANZAC medal.

Collingwood by 22 points.

[Blanch]

Danger game alright. We've come off a game that has had huge build up. How many times have we seen this result in a "flat" week following the big build up. This is where MM earns his money. On paper its not too close I don't think. We should win by 6+ goals. In reality MM has a large job to do to get the boys mentally ready for this week following last weeks build up and let down.

Pies by 11 points, with the sealer to come from leon davis.

[chalky]

Without having seen the teams makes this exercise all the more interesting.
Have the dons turned the corner? Is Collingwood on the way up?Will Presti get his bitch? Will the martian employ his variation of the paddock?
I hope MM keeps true to his former philosophy of "horses for courses" and set up something to throw their coaching box on its ear.
I reckon their forward set up will be small and mobile with "Mummy's boy" and Harvey jnr the main focus. Clement to get lloyd, Johnno to get jnr. Cloke at quarterback
Most already confirm our forwards will be the key so expect everyone from the scum to be flooding back to lock us out of the 50.
Our midfield will be solid, as usual, getting plenty of ball forward. This is where our talls have to be at their best. A few contested pack marks and they will fold. Anthony looms large as THE MAN. We must make every thrust forward count or we let them in ala bears.And if they get a sniff then we are in for a dog fight.
Or....... we will by 6 goals + !! simple really
For those lucky enough to be there -- Make it LOUD cheers

[JLC]

I havnt seen a great deal of Essendon as i dont enjoy watching mediocre opposition teams play. However from what i have seen Essendon appear to be slow starters so hopefully this week we can bounce out of the blocks and stamp our authority on the game. Bulldogs and Melbourne failed to capitalise against Essendon after reasonably good starts.

In past years i think Lucas tends to play his best football against us. Ryan Lonie played a good game on him a few years ago as he ran off Lucas heaps and kicked a couple goals as well. I think Lucas is a bit of a hogg but he does fire up against us.

Moorcroft tormented us second time round last year but he is no longer there......lol Rioli i think is the other key forward as he has very silky skills.

Surely we could break even in the ruck this week?? Hille and Alesidud are very beatable in the centre. This would be a great time for Fraser to stand up and play a good game and repay the coaches faith in him.

Our midfield should win through its strength in numbers. That means Sheedy will have to resort to one of his only two coaching moves. You guessed it Hird into the middle. We know if he resorts to his second and only coaching move of Fletcher up forward then Essendon will either be very far ahead and he is experimenting or it is a sign of desperation.

Personally i think Rocca will be too strong for any of their backman. The only danger would be Fletcher running off Rocca. However they may be forced to put Fletcher on Tarrant depending on how the game is panning out.

Good teams bounce back from losses so hopefully we can show everyone we are a good team and demolish Essendon by a minimum of 8 goals.

Scott Burns or Pebbles for the Anzac Day Medal

jlc

[Culprit]

It's a danger game as we go in Favourites. Should win, but anything can happen. As long as we don't stand there and try to decide what to do we should win in a cakewalk.

[molloymagic]

Just hope we kick all the goals we have the opportunity to. I know it sounds stupid but these past couple of games we have been poor kicking for goals.

In the Geelong game for example or maybe it was the Carlton game,we had to many in the points margin at some stage.

And please tackle,don;t let the dons just slip past. I know its harsh to comment on the Lions game being in Brisbane and all,but we started off well and then well,we all know what happened next.

GO MAGGIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cam]

The key to us winning, and anyone beating essendon is twofold. Limiting Jason Johnson (McGough edged him last year A Day) and for goodness sake having someone go with Hird. Has anyone else seen how he slinks off back or up the wing or into the forward line, and gets it by himself with no-one near him? The last few weeks i have been yelling at the tv "someone get on hird!". Last year i think it was Steiner or Clemo.

I think the Essendon backline will stand up and jacobs/bolton will play Taz pretty tight. It will be the midfield where this one is decided and hopefully the additions of woey and williams will bring us out on top.

Rioli is another wildcard who will look to stick it up us after the fat pig comments. (yeah thanks shawy)

Too close to call. ok, pies by 2 pts.

[Pies Premiers 2003]

Good sides dont lose two games in a row....

Pies will bounce back and give essendon the spanking they deserve....

[Culprit]

Clemo on Hird. Kills him.

[MiB & W]

McGough has to play! He's an ANZAC day specialist!