With Connor McKenna being Covid-positive, there are now significant questions as to whether next week's game will go ahead.
Certainly the memes are already flying.
It also begs the question, if we don't play next week, when will we be on free-to-air TV?
I can see a meme like this for us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXatqcigUFw
This one is going to be hairy. No idea what the AFL are going to decide.
It's going ahead. AFL rules say as long as you have 22 fit players you play.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/06/21/why-the-afl-will-force-essendon-to-keep-playing-in-coming-weeks/
The AFL might need to be a bit careful forcing teams to play on regardless.
I have a few concerns about 'our' players and the risks to their health if this game goes ahead.
Looks like he deliberately breached the rules. If Essendon* can't field a side surely we then get the 4 points under those circumstances. It's not out fault and should not be penalised.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-20 ... c63136a0a7
Looks like he deliberately breached the rules. If Essendon* can't field a side surely we then get the 4 points under those circumstances. It's not out fault and should not be penalised.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-20 ... c63136a0a7
The page appears to be either down, or has been removed. Pity. I'd have liked to have read it.
Somehow I can see us being penalized, just because it is us. :(
We're playing. Only James Stewart and, of course, Connor McKenna stood down. So we play a full Essendon side.
Hope we don't catch anything. Imagine they are ok.
We're playing. Only James Stewart and, of course, Connor McKenna stood down. So we play a full Essendon side.
Hope we don't catch anything. Imagine they are ok.
Should still beat them anyway
We're playing. Only James Stewart and, of course, Connor McKenna stood down. So we play a full Essendon side.
Hope we don't catch anything. Imagine they are ok.
So apparently the virus doesn't spread unless you wrestle someone.
So apparently the virus doesn't spread unless you wrestle someone.
Seems weird only one other player got infected. Obviously those players at Cheats are immune to C19
Seems weird only one other player got infected. Obviously those players at Cheats are immune to C19
Well he's not infected, he has been deemed the only one at risk of being infected because he was McKenna's wrestling partner.
Laughable. We should refuse to play.
Well he's not infected, he has been deemed the only one at risk of being infected because he was McKenna's wrestling partner.
Laughable. We should refuse to play.
All Scum players must wear a mask!
No Heppell too remember.
The decision was made by the Dept of Health not the AFL.
I call bulldust. His entire training group should be isolated. This reeks of appeasing the cheats - a compromise otherwise they'll threaten to take their bat and ball and go home
The decision was made by the Dept of Health not the AFL.
So if someone I work with tests positive I don't have to quarantine?
So if someone I work with tests positive I don't have to quarantine?
If you were close by with them for 15 min you would. Otherwise I'd say not.
Apparently (TBC) he caught it during an open for inspection...are we seriously to believe that? If so, and this virus is so frighteningly transmissive, why aren't the whole club under quarantine? Again, I call bulldust!
So if someone I work with tests positive I don't have to quarantine?
They have to but you perhaps don't, your work facility has to be deep cleaned and you can resume work. What you have to do might be subject to the contact tracing. That is why the COVID App is such a great idea, there are rumors it's going to be made compulsory for people to return to work.
Is this right or wrong, I'm not sure anyone really knows it just is what it is!
The COVID-19 game has been changed by the ability to test within 48hrs, when the 14 day quarantine was formulated it took almost as long to get a test result. Now they can test you twice inside a week and things can get back to normal very quickly.
I heard a radio interview at the weekend that stated the concept of asymptomatic has been greatly overstated by the media. The claim was nobody really gets COVID-19 symptom free, it's just that some get very very mild symptoms that they might not associate with the virus.
Cripps will have some Bomber creep hanging off him for the entire game.
Players will be shoulder to shoulder throughout.
It seems bizarre that there is no concern here, but we have to accept the decision.
I hope these Health folk know what they're doing
I find it hard to believe there's only one "close" contact during the so called infectious stage. Ironically it's a player who's barely seen the big time 🤔
The sceptics might say this club is master of disguising information. For that alone, I am unconvinced and hope to goodness our blokes don't cop any filth respiratory secretions 😉
Anyways I hope we a) avoid infection b) crush them in a 29 point win, while c) keeping to an embarrassing score
Go Blues
Yes, I realise the media made the footage look as bad as possible, with the McKenna footage showing a coughing, gobbing, snotty fountain of puss for much of the training session! :o
Apparently (TBC) he caught it during an open for inspection...are we seriously to believe that? If so, and this virus is so frighteningly transmissive, why aren't the whole club under quarantine? Again, I call bulldust!
Agents are required to record your details before you walk into a house open for inspection. So I'd be checking on that first up
We're not hearing the complete story Prof
I call bulldust. His entire training group should be isolated. This reeks of appeasing the cheats - a compromise otherwise they'll threaten to take their bat and ball and go home
There was vision of the training session on the news and it showed a close up of him blowing snot out of his nose and you could see the aerosol droplets.
There was vision of the training session on the news and it showed a close up of him blowing snot out of his nose and you could see the aerosol droplets.
And he was handling the same footballs as everyone else.
A teacher or student tests positive and they close the entire school.
A teacher or student tests positive and they close the entire school.
I suppose there is relatively little control over children, then again I woudn't assume all AFL footballers are better!
School communities range from the illiterate to the elite.
AFL players almost have a 1:1 minder ratio!
I find it hard to believe there's only one "close" contact during the so called infectious stage. Ironically it's a player who's barely seen the big time 🤔
The sceptics might say this club is master of disguising information. For that alone, I am unconvinced and hope to goodness our blokes don't cop any filth respiratory secretions 😉
Anyways I hope we a) avoid infection b) crush them in a 29 point win, while c) keeping to an embarrassing score
Go Blues
I could do a calculation, after all, I teach that stuff, but the the probability of only two players from that group being 'at risk' sounds like wishful thinking at best and not in touch with reality at worst. I'd be thinking closer to the 2nd alternative, and not just because I hate the Drug Cheats.
So we are playing the Cheats. I wouldnt make a change to the side that beat the Catastrophes. What I want to see is the exact same attitude, effort and skill as last week from the first bounce to the last.
Agree with ProfE, that entire training group should be isolated to make sure everyone else is safe, ie if they were passengers from a cruise ship they would be quarantined for 14 days. EFC should have volunteered to isolate those players for 14 days in the interest of the community....
Agree with ProfE, that entire training group should be isolated to make sure everyone else is safe, ie if they were passengers from a cruise ship they would be quarantined for 14 days. EFC should have volunteered to isolate those players for 14 days in the interest of the community....
You know he has tested negative right? He had 5 tests previous to Frid and they were all negative. He had one postive and now another negative. I'm no expert but I suspect his positive test might have been dodgy.
You know he has tested negative right? He had 5 tests previous to Frid and they were all negative. He had one postive and now another negative. I'm no expert but I suspect his positive test might have been dodgy.
I'd like to make an ammendment to this...
(https://scontent.fmel5-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/104388293_10158501796304275_3976839175202828133_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&_nc_sid=ca434c&_nc_ohc=W9iwpU3f8FYAX-JeAoM&_nc_ht=scontent.fmel5-1.fna&oh=a674e06d29224a3dd30e7cdfad3df4cc&oe=5F12329D)
Denying/covering up positive tests since 2011
Last time Essendon really smashed us as we gave a pretty insipid performance which turned out to be Bolton's last game. It will be interesting to see how much things have changed. Essendon like the ball bobbling out side so they get run and carry. Their mid-field can be very attacking and devastating but are not so good in hard contested in close football. Down hill skiers is the term that comes to mind. They don't have enough players who actually win the ball. I think they have a fairly strong defence with some really attacking options around pacy small forwards. However if they start losing in the middle the whole thing can fall apart very quickly. Kreuzer had a shocker last time so I expect Pittonet to be better for us in the ruck. Our forward line has a lot more options and our defence is very solid. Our weakness is pace, or lack of it, so Essendon could damage us, however if we turn up to play, and play out the whole game, we should win comfortably.
Me thinks
In: The King
Out: H (reportedly battling soreness).
A game not to be taken lightly but if we focus for 4 qrtrs we should beat them imo. They are quick out of defence, we need to check that in particular.
Me thinks
In: The King
Out: H (reportedly battling soreness).
Sore after only two games back and shorter game time??, we dont exactly breed em tough at Carlton anymore.
Must have knocked him around getting those 7 possies vs the Cats....
You know he has tested negative right? He had 5 tests previous to Frid and they were all negative. He had one postive and now another negative. I'm no expert but I suspect his positive test might have been dodgy.
2 tests trending positive.
At the end of the day it is what it is, but lets not let them off that easily.
Better to err on the side of caution and give us the 4 points so we can go into our WA bubble in peace.
Early talk is
OUT: Harry (sore)
IN: Philp
The durability of our players has got to be the worst in living memory?
Great to see Philp getting a run, but I’m now a tad concerned about our tall targets. Is this McGovern’s time to kick a bag?
Samo, Setterfield, Newnes and Plowman need to step up for the blues to win.
Dont get the small for the big. Going for pace I guess.
Dont get the small for the big. Going for pace I guess.
2 possibilities.
1. TDK not ready
2. We dont want to be too tall....or too slow....relative to our opposition
Dont get the small for the big. Going for pace I guess.
I like it. Not a big fan of our 3 talls forward line... especially with H not quite up to it yet (IMHO).
Great to see Philp getting a debut.
Jsos, McGovern and Levi as the talls?
Jsos, McGovern and Levi as the talls?
Need at least 6 minimum from these 3.
Need four quarters from MacG.
Jsos, McGovern and Levi as the talls?
They should be able to do the job, particularly with the defenders worrying about Eddie ... and Cripps, Martin and others from time to time!
Need four quarters from MacG.
Be happy with two given his output so far, if he gets Hurley as an opponent he will be earning every kick.
Reckon it will be a small forward fest given we have a better lineup now with Eddie, Martin, Gibbons etc and the Bombers have Fantasia and Tipper
down their end. Wouldnt be surprised if they make a change and bring Ambrose in to play on Cripps..
Agreed EB, I'd take a half. I reckon that Levi is now close to our most important tall forward, certainly most effective. MacG can continue to run interference for him and let him do what he does. I guess it still comes down to how we use the pill into F50.
Need four quarters from MacG.
Also need 4 qtrs from Pitto, not that he hasnt but he needs to be at his agressive best. First use to mids in the middle will be crucial.
Orazio Fantasia back into the team after injury.
Orazio Fantasia back into the team after injury.
More speed unfortunately.
More speed unfortunately.
Yes, hopefully he'll be rusty after the lay off. The last thing we need is a very good goal sneak in red hot form
Yes, hopefully he'll be rusty after the lay off. The last thing we need is a very good goal sneak in red hot form
Will we do to Fantasia what Crameri did to Judd when he returned from a hamstring?
....or Casboult. I. E. Run straight at him in a marking contest with the sole purpose of tunnelling him? Problem is he missed, took out a team mate and hurt himself in the process. Effing clown.
Now that we've shown what we can do, I'd like to see it all the time. Do you think we can?
Now that we've shown what we can do, I'd like to see it all the time. Do you think we can?
The acid test. Very interested to see how we go tonight.
The acid test. Very interested to see how we go tonight.
Yep exactly what im thinking. Took a nice small step forward last week winning a game at a venue not many win it but will mean little unless we can get the points tonight.
A loss to this mob will be as deflating as any loss in recent years, that's how big a game i see this one as.
Yep exactly what im thinking. Took a nice small step forward last week winning a game at a venue not many win it but will mean little unless we can get the points tonight.
A loss to this mob will be as deflating as any loss in recent years, that's how big a game i see this one as.
Yep. Back up the win and belt an old enemy.
The recent upgrades through Pittonet, Docherty, Martin and Betts, the stronger gelling of our back line every week and The confidence gained by the performances over the last two weeks, should ensure that we take the scalp of another 2019 finalist. A good performance resulting in a strong win today, sets up the next 3 weeks against Saints, Swans and GC Suns. .......just dreamin’
Yep exactly what im thinking. Took a nice small step forward last week winning a game at a venue not many win it but will mean little unless we can get the points tonight.
A loss to this mob will be as deflating as any loss in recent years, that's how big a game i see this one as.
Yep if our club doesn't get it by now, what it means to lose to these fingerpointing CheatsFC hypocrites, it never will!
our biggest problem over the last few years (regardless of talent) is bringing the heat week after week, especially after a good win. it's all about mentality, and the best teams are mental. there will come a turning point at some stage during our lifetimes, and I hope it's now...
winning breeds confidence, and confidence brings wins. looking forward to this one.
Blues by 4 goals, we have to win to show the Cats games wasnt a fluke and the players need to lift for Kade Simpson
who is breaking Nicks record. Bombers are nothing special other than being quick and are more outside than we are and I expect Cripps to get 30 plus possies and be BOG, reckon the Eddie show with sidekick Jack Martin might be a highlight tonight.
Eddie worked back into some form last game and reckon he can get a bag of 5 plus assisted by JM who should be good for 2-3 goals also.
I'm feeling unusually optimistic about tonight's game as well. On top of everything else, the brouhaha with McKenna may also throw them off their game.
I don't share the optimism simply because I don't know which Carlton we will get.
They'll be thinking that if they can restrict Cripps they'll go a long way towards winning. Expect he'll have a rough (maybe not always legal) night.
They'll be thinking that if they can restrict Cripps they'll go a long way towards winning. Expect he'll have a rough (maybe not always legal) night.
Until they shake the "one man team tag", thats what teams will think coming to play Carlton. I heard a whisper he may be a late out, dunno how accurate that is.
I don't share the optimism simply because I don't know which Carlton we will get.
....and for how long we will get it!
I anticipate a win .... around 2 goals. Low scoring as well
If we are serious we just have to back up with another win tonight, pretty or ugly I don't care!!
We usually lose the ones we are expected to win and I dont remember milestone games being great viewing either but I'm just hoping the odds are on our side like they were with Geelong and we can break that trend.
I'll add a caveat that if Cripps doesnt play then all bets are off and we will probably stick to tradition and let Simmo down...lets hope thats a EFC inspired rumour only.
We did win in Simpson's 250th, against Port in 2016. R8 by 2 points. Onya Bolts.
We did win in Simpson's 250th, against Port in 2016. R8 by 2 points. Onya Bolts.
😎😉
Blues by 4 goals, we have to win to show the Cats games wasnt a fluke and the players need to lift for Kade Simpson
who is breaking Nicks record. Bombers are nothing special other than being quick and are more outside than we are and I expect Cripps to get 30 plus possies and be BOG, reckon the Eddie show with sidekick Jack Martin might be a highlight tonight.
Eddie worked back into some form last game and reckon he can get a bag of 5 plus assisted by JM who should be good for 2-3 goals also.
Sounds reasonable EB :)
I wonder how much last week's missed game and the COVID-19 uncertainty will affect the Cheats :-\
I also feel a glimmer of optimism, but will say no more 🤐
Go Blues
If we go goalless in the 1st qtr I will spew up.