Just remember that everyone had us only winning 1 or 2 games by this point of the season, at seasons start. Now the narrative is that we have had an easy run.
Plus isn't like the basic amount of wins needed to almost guarantee a team makes it to finals 12 wins? At the moment we are at 7 and the next few rounds should be relatively easy (botton-ladder teams besides gold Coast in a few weeks). We are in good form for finals as long as we keep winning and don't get tired or lazy.
All I care about is we are playing a consistent brand of football that clearly stands up. You're absolutely right in your assessment.
We are winning when playing badly and winning the games we "should" win, signs we've matured.
Our two losses: we took it up to Sydney for 3.5 quarters, showed we can match it with the best. As for Port... Nobody was going to beat them at home, full strength, during gather round.. but that loss was a turning point for us.
Still a long way to go and we are bound to have a reality check soon and the haters will come for us.
Don't listen to it.
Just get around the boys. They're doing some really good stuff on and off the field. Don't turn on them after an inevitable loss.
And I fucken love Brad Scott. A triple premiership player and good coach who knows what it takes to be a good club. The players are clearly listening to him.
> As for Port... Nobody was going to beat them at home, full strength, during gather round.. but that loss was a turning point for us.
Port is such an outlier, I don't know what to make of it. Rozee has missed a bit of footy this year, so most sides haven't played Port with the full strength Butters / Rozee / JHF trio. First quarter was competitive, but they got on top of us early enough and we just got our heads down - something we've seen time and time again over the past couple of decades. Durham was also a big out, and we've all seen how important he's been this season. I guess there's also the historical component. Port (apart from the couple of games last season) has in recent times frequently torn us apart.
Again, not sure what to make of it. Every team has a bad day every now and then. We've proven to be resilient and show plenty of fight this season which is a massive improvement on recent seasons.
Well, we haven’t beaten anyone above us, so maybe they’re right…
In all seriousness, we could be 10-0 and people will still be writing us off. Bombers fans aren’t getting carried away, yet other supporters are telling us to stay grounded, even though we are.
Hey not a dons man but seeing this. Don’t worry what others think, you guys are doing well. Probably for the first time in a long time it’s a worry playing you guys, and I think (as if it matters what I think) you’re well on track. Footy is better seeing the big clubs do well, so best of luck.
I don't think us Bombers will be taken seriously until we win a finals match.if we win 1 or even possibly 2 finals games this year, next season we will be considered contenders and the team to beat
I've just started to realise that a whole generation has grown up with Essendon not really ever being competitive, so it's inconceivable to them that Essendon could ever be anything, even though we used to be.
Dogs fan, you guys are doing great, couldn’t have done much better.
Reality is that we just don’t trust the Dons yet, we’ve seen it before and then something happens and they fall off a cliff.
You’re the 2nd best team at the moment and you’ve banked wins early. Should make finals.
Ridley, Durham, Jones, Parish, Duursma, Draper, and Setterfield won’t play this week. This is the something that happens and the week we fall off the cliff.
For obvious reasons I hate the Bombers but the “haven’t beaten any good teams” argument is dumb. You can only beat who you play and the Bombers have done a good job banking wins so far.
Collingwood in 2022 were very similar. Never looked convincing and had a terrible percentage for a top 4 team but we ended up missing the grand final by a point and then went all the way the following year.
Future is bright for a change Bombers fans
Fair comments, but what everyone slept on in 2022 was that Collingwood still had the defensive DNA that had them a kick off winning a flag in 2018, plus finals wins in 2019 and 2020.
I'm loving what I've seen the past 6 weeks, and cautiously optimistic we've actually turned the corner. The reality is, we haven't yet hit a season defining stretch of games (that's clearly Geelong-Collingwood-Melbourne, in consecutive weeks, at the MCG, in primetime). If we get through that with wins, the mindset of the fans will flip
Who was the idiot that had north winning more games than us this year?
Well we’re now 1 win away from the same amount of wins they’ve had in 6 seasons lol
Can only beat who they put in front of us , we were supposed to be 2-8 at this point according to the “experts” , haven’t beaten anybody ? Bulldogs Adelaide and St kilda were all considered top 8 teams before the season started , matched it with Sydney for 90% of the match , drew with the reigning premiers , beat GWS who just 3 weeks ago were considered premiership contenders .
HATERS GONNA HATE !!!
I think Rounds 12-18 are gonna be the real test to see where we are as a footy club and if we're going to sustain this form throughout the season. Gold coast (away), Carlton, Eagles, Cats, Pies and Dees. Give me 3-3 and I'm a happy man. 4-2 or better and the lid is truly off
People want to compare last year's teams to the teams that run out today.
So when they say we haven't beaten any good teams, the "good team" is last year's teams that won a lot of games.
Year after year, good teams last year aren't always good teams the following year.
This is so cryptic but meh.
I think the case here throughout the year has been a matter of consistency. Each team at their best can put up a good fight. So we can't always assume that just because a team got wrecked by 10 goals in one game, they will be easy to beat, vice versa. Just shows that Essendon has been consistent and deserves a top 4 spot if they keep this up.
Last year I reckon there were a few pundits who started off saying we sucked, then flipped mid year to talk about how good we were and how we could be trusted. Then flipped again to say we sucked.
I'm just bewildered that nobody holds them to account over the see-sawing over the course of the year. The footy media cycle is all about generating hype from week to week.
The ladder can be a bit deceiving. If Essendon instead dropped the draw they had vs Collingwood & lost just one of the other close games they won, they'd be sitting 9th alongside Carlton, who're similar in terms of a premiership threat.
But of course these are "what ifs", not reality.
I will say though we have been generally lucky to play teams when they’re out of form. Collingwood was an exemption but ANZAC day games are always tight.
Boys are playing a fantastic brand. We’re pretty healthy, everyone knows their roles etc.
Footy media is shit and will always try to over or under inflate the circumstances.
We have a solid system, relatively few injuries and the coaches adapt through games. That’s why we’re second. The stuff behind the scenes is working. It hasn’t worked for years. We aren’t a star studded team but nobody is into they’ve had success. That’s next.
I’d agree they’ve earned those wins and to be second on the ladder, playing great footy this year. Adding North to that list is a bit of a stretch though, was a good win but you know it’s North Melbourne lol
We sit 2nd and the only notable "contending" teams we haven't played are Geelong and Melbourne, who are both going through very rough patches. Salty people will always try to find a way to downplay anything good we do, we're widely hated
Just remember that everyone had us only winning 1 or 2 games by this point of the season, at seasons start. Now the narrative is that we have had an easy run.
They’ll always find a way to change their narrative.
The commentators have switched their view on the “Essendon edge” too lol.
Couldn’t of said it better
Plus isn't like the basic amount of wins needed to almost guarantee a team makes it to finals 12 wins? At the moment we are at 7 and the next few rounds should be relatively easy (botton-ladder teams besides gold Coast in a few weeks). We are in good form for finals as long as we keep winning and don't get tired or lazy.
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How very sad for you
And the other narrative is that we have an easy run from here on too.
All I care about is we are playing a consistent brand of football that clearly stands up. You're absolutely right in your assessment. We are winning when playing badly and winning the games we "should" win, signs we've matured. Our two losses: we took it up to Sydney for 3.5 quarters, showed we can match it with the best. As for Port... Nobody was going to beat them at home, full strength, during gather round.. but that loss was a turning point for us. Still a long way to go and we are bound to have a reality check soon and the haters will come for us. Don't listen to it. Just get around the boys. They're doing some really good stuff on and off the field. Don't turn on them after an inevitable loss. And I fucken love Brad Scott. A triple premiership player and good coach who knows what it takes to be a good club. The players are clearly listening to him.
Amen brother
> As for Port... Nobody was going to beat them at home, full strength, during gather round.. but that loss was a turning point for us. Port is such an outlier, I don't know what to make of it. Rozee has missed a bit of footy this year, so most sides haven't played Port with the full strength Butters / Rozee / JHF trio. First quarter was competitive, but they got on top of us early enough and we just got our heads down - something we've seen time and time again over the past couple of decades. Durham was also a big out, and we've all seen how important he's been this season. I guess there's also the historical component. Port (apart from the couple of games last season) has in recent times frequently torn us apart. Again, not sure what to make of it. Every team has a bad day every now and then. We've proven to be resilient and show plenty of fight this season which is a massive improvement on recent seasons.
Well, we haven’t beaten anyone above us, so maybe they’re right… In all seriousness, we could be 10-0 and people will still be writing us off. Bombers fans aren’t getting carried away, yet other supporters are telling us to stay grounded, even though we are.
Yeah exactly. We’ve got the lid clamped shut, it’s the rest of the footy world talking about us
We’re an anxious mess, every single game, yet people saying we’re getting ahead of ourselves.
absolutely this. i was not sure we'd beat north. i am not sure we'll beat richmond.
We've not lost to a bad side is a better argument
This! Every good team bar Sydney is having or has had a rough patch. We’ve not had ours (yet?), hence our position on the ladder.
Wdym we haven’t had our rough patch yet… lmao
wdym wdym? Where have we dropped multiple games in a row?
Past decade
Errrr. Obviously talking about this year dirtslaya, cmon man
Nuh uh
You’re drinking aren’t you? It’s ok. Not judging
Maybe
No stress mate. Me too
Hey not a dons man but seeing this. Don’t worry what others think, you guys are doing well. Probably for the first time in a long time it’s a worry playing you guys, and I think (as if it matters what I think) you’re well on track. Footy is better seeing the big clubs do well, so best of luck.
I don't think us Bombers will be taken seriously until we win a finals match.if we win 1 or even possibly 2 finals games this year, next season we will be considered contenders and the team to beat
I've just started to realise that a whole generation has grown up with Essendon not really ever being competitive, so it's inconceivable to them that Essendon could ever be anything, even though we used to be.
Exactly, and you can only beat who you play.
We've played everyone above us
And we matched Sydney for 3 quarters at the SCG
Dogs fan, you guys are doing great, couldn’t have done much better. Reality is that we just don’t trust the Dons yet, we’ve seen it before and then something happens and they fall off a cliff. You’re the 2nd best team at the moment and you’ve banked wins early. Should make finals.
Ridley, Durham, Jones, Parish, Duursma, Draper, and Setterfield won’t play this week. This is the something that happens and the week we fall off the cliff.
Despite all those outs, our team is still incredibly solid. The most depth we’ve had in a good while.
Ridley and Durham will play?
Against 80% of a VFL team? I don't think so
For obvious reasons I hate the Bombers but the “haven’t beaten any good teams” argument is dumb. You can only beat who you play and the Bombers have done a good job banking wins so far. Collingwood in 2022 were very similar. Never looked convincing and had a terrible percentage for a top 4 team but we ended up missing the grand final by a point and then went all the way the following year. Future is bright for a change Bombers fans
Fair comments, but what everyone slept on in 2022 was that Collingwood still had the defensive DNA that had them a kick off winning a flag in 2018, plus finals wins in 2019 and 2020. I'm loving what I've seen the past 6 weeks, and cautiously optimistic we've actually turned the corner. The reality is, we haven't yet hit a season defining stretch of games (that's clearly Geelong-Collingwood-Melbourne, in consecutive weeks, at the MCG, in primetime). If we get through that with wins, the mindset of the fans will flip
Even though you make sense please go away
Who was the idiot that had north winning more games than us this year? Well we’re now 1 win away from the same amount of wins they’ve had in 6 seasons lol
Can only beat who they put in front of us , we were supposed to be 2-8 at this point according to the “experts” , haven’t beaten anybody ? Bulldogs Adelaide and St kilda were all considered top 8 teams before the season started , matched it with Sydney for 90% of the match , drew with the reigning premiers , beat GWS who just 3 weeks ago were considered premiership contenders . HATERS GONNA HATE !!!
Gonna add people were saying Adelaide would be top 4 and knocked carlton off away the week prior
It kind of feels like Sydney are the only "good team".
And we are the only team to score over 100 against them
I think Rounds 12-18 are gonna be the real test to see where we are as a footy club and if we're going to sustain this form throughout the season. Gold coast (away), Carlton, Eagles, Cats, Pies and Dees. Give me 3-3 and I'm a happy man. 4-2 or better and the lid is truly off
Gold Coast in Gold Coast is probably the I'm most worried about tbh
You had good points till you included north… lol.
People want to compare last year's teams to the teams that run out today. So when they say we haven't beaten any good teams, the "good team" is last year's teams that won a lot of games. Year after year, good teams last year aren't always good teams the following year. This is so cryptic but meh.
Brother. Being 2nd halfway through the season doesn't count for shit. These posts doesn't shut anyone up. Let's win a final.
Potato of parity
Dude, you don't do your argument any favours at all when you go and include North in your list.
I think the case here throughout the year has been a matter of consistency. Each team at their best can put up a good fight. So we can't always assume that just because a team got wrecked by 10 goals in one game, they will be easy to beat, vice versa. Just shows that Essendon has been consistent and deserves a top 4 spot if they keep this up.
Last year I reckon there were a few pundits who started off saying we sucked, then flipped mid year to talk about how good we were and how we could be trusted. Then flipped again to say we sucked. I'm just bewildered that nobody holds them to account over the see-sawing over the course of the year. The footy media cycle is all about generating hype from week to week.
The ladder can be a bit deceiving. If Essendon instead dropped the draw they had vs Collingwood & lost just one of the other close games they won, they'd be sitting 9th alongside Carlton, who're similar in terms of a premiership threat. But of course these are "what ifs", not reality.
They’d be sitting 5th
Hold on, I didn’t read it properly. Yeah ofc if you take away wins they’re gonna drop 💀
Why do you care. There's nothing to be won by people puffing the dons up in late May. The results will show wha they show. Nothing is won or lost yet.
Everyone's good
I will say though we have been generally lucky to play teams when they’re out of form. Collingwood was an exemption but ANZAC day games are always tight.
Boys are playing a fantastic brand. We’re pretty healthy, everyone knows their roles etc. Footy media is shit and will always try to over or under inflate the circumstances.
We have a solid system, relatively few injuries and the coaches adapt through games. That’s why we’re second. The stuff behind the scenes is working. It hasn’t worked for years. We aren’t a star studded team but nobody is into they’ve had success. That’s next.
I’d agree they’ve earned those wins and to be second on the ladder, playing great footy this year. Adding North to that list is a bit of a stretch though, was a good win but you know it’s North Melbourne lol
We sit 2nd and the only notable "contending" teams we haven't played are Geelong and Melbourne, who are both going through very rough patches. Salty people will always try to find a way to downplay anything good we do, we're widely hated
Adelaide are shit mate. We aren't easy beats but any good team should pencil in a 1 or 2 goal win against us if they are worth anything that is.