Is Essendon gonna do the '2000'? Or the West Coast vs Swans of 2005 and 2006 over again?

Doubt it, while Swans have been good they've had a relatively easy draw so far and West Coast were at home, I still think Hawthorn is the best team in the competition, just not when they're facing Geelong lol.

Yes I agree the Hawks look solid, and even though the Blues dropped a game last week, they could be the surprise packets. The Bombers may find this a long season especially if a few injuries take their toll. They are still building, perhaps next year or the year after for them. Perhaps a Hawks v Eagles final, but still ages to go. Early prediction only.

fuming we lost by 1 point today, been along time since we won on Anzac day. going in with a massive number of injuries, only a 4 day break and then loosing a player for the day early, we did a fantastic job of taking it up to the Pies. They are damn lucky to get that 4points. A poor 'so called' advantage decision by the refs with 50seconds to go cost us a chance to go deep into attack. but we will get them again later in the year.

Collingwood should have wrapped that up before it got so close, Sinclair missed 2 sitters.

Another close ANZAC game indeed. Gotta love best footy games on special days!

Brilliant game, fought right to the end in true ANZAC spirit. Pies were generally the better side for most of the day but couldn't put them away. Swan just slutted it up with his 42 touches. Nobody went near him. BIG mistake.

TS

Great game.

To be honest the Bombers look a bit overtrained. Not sure there is much improvement left in them. Injuries are obviously a major concern and getting those players back may be the only way I can see any improvement going forward.

The Pies on the other hand look to be running at about 60 %. Making a lot of mistakes but still good enough to find a way to win. They are having adjustment issues with Buckleys different style, but that will disappear as the season progresses. They will again threaten the flag. Remember they had as many out injured as the Bombers, perhaps not as many key men, but their depth is better and easily covered for them.

Mick be patient mate, the Bombers are still building. This year the finals, work on player depth in the off season and then give it a red hot next year.

im not that dissapointed over the loss, painful yes, but more so cause its collingwood!! lol.
both sides were coming off only a 4day break, so neither were going to be doing their best. but essendon came off a much harder game, and we had to activite the our sub by qtr time which put a real test on the bench, esp after such a short break. bombers have lost just as many to injuries as the pies too, so i would say the pies were lucky to get away with it.

but on another note, a few rounds into the season i am really not liking this video review system. i have seem more 'inconclusive' results on the review than i have seen for or against. so whats the point in it? i just dont think it suits our game, too many variables to look at compared to a league or union game.

dont want to say it could have changed the match or result, but even that last goal that won game was under scrutiny, but 'The Age' website reports that it looks like the ball hit the players hand after hitting his boot changing the direction of the ball. isnt this what its all about?
personally, i think we should just go back with the umps call in the heat of the moment, and put up with it, been doing it for 150years, dont see a need to change it.

Great game. I agree the Dons looked far more tired following a harder game with the Blues, coupled with a player down in the first qtr. I think Hurley's loss was on the same level as Cloak being an target on half forward. Hurley is hard at the ball, he would have taken the Pies best defender for sure. But still that all said, i think we hung around for the 4 qtrs, and had a real dip at the end.

Essendon has a pretty good run for the remainder of the first half of the season, with many players being available as most of our injuries are only 1-3 week-outs. Hird has stated that training will be modified to be more about player management and less about bulk / fitness. Looking at the draw there's a chance that the Dons could be 8-9 wins after 12 rounds. We've got a harder draw in the 2nd half of the season, so will see if the true improvement of the Dons can be verified.

Rd. 6 Brisbane Lion (Home)
Rd. 7 West Coast (Home)
Rd. 8 Richmond (Home)
Rd. 9 GWS (Away)
Rd. 10 Melbourne (Home)
Rd. 11 Sydney (Home)
Rd. 12 Bye

greg, looking at that you could put a tick against 4 of those 6, with west coast and sydney the hardest. but our trip to the gold coast proved we can be complacent.

Don't write off the Tigers either, they've challenged Carlton, Collingwood with all their best, smashed Melbourne, nearly pulled off Geelong at Simmonds.

I agree, a week in footy is long week indeed. The Dons can easily go to sleep, which is why they won't win a premiership for the next couple years - they need more development and maturity, but i do think we have the makings at least.

I hear ya Ant, the Tigers has always been a bogey side for the Dons - i'm always nervous about playing those guys.

Well done tigers on a great win today, tho the game was abysmal so the points are a deserved reward. If the kanga's get up that will be 8 tips for me... bloody crows. Well i have been a strong supporter of Matty Primus up until last week, now i am convinced he has to go. Last week they didnt have Rodan in their starting 20 but at the last minute thay drop Dan Stewart ???? for Rodan and Jacobs, (Adelaide) towelled us up. This week we pick up hitchcock and Logan... 10 touches between them (okay hitchy did a hammy)but WTF. We have our best tackler, Thomas sitting on the sidelines, Ebert cant get a game, yet he can kick 5 for the maggies and Salopek plays in the reserves for the Tigers. Then they drop Pearce yet last week he had 22 touches. Seeya later Primus you oversized clown

well the kangas took it up to the eagles in the west this evening, but now west coast sit pretty on top by 1 game. wont last long for them though, what a cracker saturday night match up, bombers v eagles in melbourne. cant wait!!

Got the game booked on Fox already, i'm at a wedding interstate on Sat - in Essendon of all places. Perhaps i can slip out down to Napier St to Windy Hill to a bit of a looksie:)

go for it greg!! lol.

i have a decision to make. flying to melbourne, i want to obviously see a game, take the kids.
do i go to
1- Ess v Geelong at docklands
2- Ess v Hawks at docklands
3- Ess v Kangaroos at docklands
4- Ess v Carlton at MCG
5- Ess v Richmond at MCG

keeping in mind, i havent see Essendon win at a game in 4 years, and im taking the kids so want to see a game we 'should' win. also taking into account we have to get tickets. cats and hawks might be a squeeze!!
also want to take the kids up to the snow for a day at lake mountain, is there still snow in late august???

Go Richmond i reckon following your criteria. If the Tigers have strung a couple games together by then, then their supporters get really vocal and it can be fun to be apart of. Plus, there'll still be a 60 plus crowd at the G.

If you want the ultimate 50/50 contest, then of course go Carlton, cause it doesn't really matter where these 2 clubs are at, they just hate each other and it shows in the contest.

For a docklands game, go the Kangas, you'll have plenty of seats to choose from. The other 2 will be sell outs, or close to. It's a different type of viewing experience to the G, but i would say i enjoyed it more in a lot of ways... you feel like you're a lot closer to the action on the field. The G is great for the block busters, but make sure you are closer to the boundary, or the first couple rows on the 2nd tier. 3 years ago i bought late tickets to the Anzac game and was right up the back.... it was like watching ants go about their business.

Geeze, if that's one thing i miss about living in Melb is hoping on a train / tram on Friday evening, jump off South Cross station, walk across the bridge, and you're at the game! Loved it.

I think the Adelaide Oval redevelopment will be a positive change for the city. It will really kickstart the precinct before and after a game, and will force the revamping of the public transport which is sorely needed. Like Docklands in Melb, Adelaide has a great opportunity to do the same.

Re late snow..... yes, there should def be snow in late Aug. If that doesn't look likely, then go to Bulla which is the closest resort to Melb. Another hot tip is Mt.Donna Buang. There's a nice little tobogganing run there and it doesn't get as packed as Lake Mountain. Nice drive too.... you'll see plenty of Lyre Birds in amongst the rainforest. If you strike it lucky, you'll get one of those late Aug bursts with low level snow as has been the case for the past few years.

Good luck mate, geeze i'd like to snag this week's scalp!

I would go to the Docklands with the kids Mick, you don't know what the weather will be like. Being at the G in the cold and rain isn't much fun and it would be worse with the kidlets.

Lets hope the Bombers kick some Weagle butt.

would love to go to the carlton match. but taking in family commitments and the like, looks like it will be the kanga's match. might even be able to get some free tickets through work if its not a sell out.
greg, i worked at 7melbourne at the docklands for 3 years before i came back to townsville, i would catch the train in from huntingdale station when ever i could (shift worker!!) and i always loved that walk from southern cross around the dome to work. i worked there when that gold apartment building was being built next the dome and while southern cross was being revamped. in the winter with a strong southerly, it was the hardest walk ever going between the stadium and that apartment building. was like walking into a wind tunnel, didnt matter how many layers of clothes i had on, it bit straight through you!