Pre Match - Pies v. Dons on Anzac Day. All comments.

[Joel]

[RudeBoy]

Very disappointed not to see Medhurst back, as he works very well alongside Pebbles. Dare I say we would have won on the weekend had he been in the side. Still, it's great to have our reigning copeland winner Dids back where he belongs. Don't worry about lack of match practice with this bloke - class finds its own level. He'll have a major impact.

[Tannin]

No Medhurst, no forward line.

Unless Didak can do somrthing magic in his first game back, which seems too much like wishful thinking to me. I predict a grim battle all day, with the Collingwood backs under a ton of pressure, constantly working it forward only to se us beak down in the usual place - across half-forward - and buggerise about kicking it sideways until our poor disposal results in a turnover and another Essendon thrust into attack. Rocca can't do it on his own. Our centres can't deliver it fast enough or straight enough to give our lack-lustre forwards a chance to kick a winning score. Last year, Didak (and sometimes Buckley) gave us a third second avenue of attack (after Tarrant and Rocca). This year Medhurst has provided the counterpoint to big Ant. With some match fitness, Didak will do the same, of course, but first game back ... it's a hell of a big ask, and he hasn't got the proven goalkickers from previous seasons to help out (Holland, Blake C, Tarrant, Buckley) - he has to do it pretty much on his own. I've given up waiting for Leon to kick more than one or two.

Sorry guys, no Medhurst, no forward line.

Essendon by 7 goals.

[RudeBoy]

No Medhurst, no forward line.

Unless Didak can do somrthing magic in his first game back, which seems too much like wishful thinking to me. I predict a grim battle all day, with the Collingwood backs under a ton of pressure, constantly working it forward only to se us beak down in the usual place - across half-forward - and buggerise about kicking it sideways until our poor disposal results in a turnover and another Essendon thrust into attack. Rocca can't do it on his own. Our centres can't deliver it fast enough or straight enough to give our lack-lustre forwards a chance to kick a winning score. Last year, Didak (and sometimes Buckley) gave us a third second avenue of attack (after Tarrant and Rocca). This year Medhurst has provided the counterpoint to big Ant. With some match fitness, Didak will do the same, of course, but first game back ... it's a hell of a big ask, and he hasn't got the proven goalkickers from previous seasons to help out (Holland, Blake C, Tarrant, Buckley) - he has to do it pretty much on his own. I've given up waiting for Leon to kick more than one or two.

Sorry guys, no Medhurst, no forward line.

Essendon by 7 goals.

I take it you're not going to the game.

[DaVe86]

My greatest concern is the Essendons defence seems to match up on ours a lot better than ours matches theirs. Michael is the perfect match for Rocca as he will not be out muscled...and Fletcher will eat Trav up. McVeigh has been fantastic this year and will most likely take Didak. Just hope our midfield pumps it in long and quick

[Woods Of Ypres]

No Medhurst no forward line?

Thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard

[Big T]

Fletcher is a big worry running off Cloke - he could be the difference

[David]

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but our emergencies aren't too spectacular:
Richards, who was dropped.
Egan, who is probably a fair way off breaking back into the side.
Iles, still yet to debut.

Essendon appear to have a similar lack of depth, looking at their emergencies, but its a concern that our list is so thin at the moment.

[panga]

Essendon appear to have a similar lack of depth, looking at their emergencies, but its a concern that our list is so thin at the moment.

Somewhat literally... Someone strap some weights on Dicky this is gonna be a physical contest he'll need it!

[eddiesmith]

I don't know if this has been mentioned, but our emergencies aren't too spectacular:
Richards, who was dropped.
Egan, who is probably a fair way off breaking back into the side.
Iles, still yet to debut.

Essendon appear to have a similar lack of depth, looking at their emergencies, but its a concern that our list is so thin at the moment.

Iles actually played last year

[Johnson#26]

No Medhurst no forward line?

Thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard

Injured foot, one more week.

[punkologist]

I really don't like our chances today. can't see us winning. As someone said, we will stuff around with it until the inevitable turnover where they will kick it lace out to lloyd or lucas for an easy goal. When we do manage to get it forward, it will be bombed into rocca with 4 bombers hanging off him and will rebound. Essendon always looks a million dollars against us on anzac day and recently we have looked second rate.

I hope I am wrong and we end up smashing them, just can't see it happening.

I will be there cheering them on regardless.

[Cam]

Head says it will be game over by the 15 minute mark of the 3rd quarter.

Heart says sadly we have little chance.

Soul says with a small voice, deep, deep down... never write any team off on ANZAC day.

[Joel]

I've gone into every game this year thinking that it go either way, and I go into this game thinking the exact same thing. I guess the moral of the story is, we can win it if we are on (and easily), but if we aren't then they will beat us probably by 5 goals or more. Now, that's probably stating the obvious, but it could really go either way today, and I think it all comes down to whether we are up for it.

[RudeBoy]

I'm confident because I actually don't rate the bombers as a genuine top side. We've got a much better midfield, which is where the game will be won and lost. Go Pies.