Round 8 Official Tiger Team -v- Bombers

[Smokey]

I always look at our side lined up against the Bombers and think we are better.
.

Our midfield certainly stacks up better. I think we're going to have a red hot crack. One team is going to walk away really deflated after losing this one. If we lose, I'm afraid it will kill our self belief and hunger to win the next week over the Dawks.

I reckon it depends on how we lose Dwaino.  Honourable loss anyone?

I thought about that first, smokey. But how many more 'not quite good enough's can we take? We've already proved we can mix it with the best, but now it's 4 points or nothing.

For sure, I was really referring to the bit about killing our self-belief and hunger.  Losing in another tight pressure after the build up of hype and expectation might have the opposite effect - it might galvanise the group to take the final step in the big matches.

[Hellenic Tiger]

I always look at our side lined up against the Bombers and think we are better.
.

Our midfield certainly stacks up better. I think we're going to have a red hot crack. One team is going to walk away really deflated after losing this one. If we lose, I'm afraid it will kill our self belief and hunger to win the next week over the Dawks.

I reckon it depends on how we lose Dwaino.  Honourable loss anyone?

I thought about that first, smokey. But how many more 'not quite good enough's can we take? We've already proved we can mix it with the best, but now it's 4 points or nothing.

I agree Dwaino. Narrow galling losses yeah better than getting flogged or watching this site go into meltdown. Essendon are overrated. We know that and pound for pound our side stacks up well against theirs. It's not so much beating a top 4 side because the jury is still out: it is only round 8 and they haven't done anything of not since 2004, it's about beating a side that if anything will around the 5-8 mark on the ladder and given where we would like to be in 3 months time a win on Saturday night is critical. Plus I want be selfish for me and all of us and to have bragging rights over these so called contender wannabes.
What a win will do is give us the self belief to beat the teams around us when they are in form, not when they have injuries or suspensions or a in a rut for three or four weeks.
Furthermore another reason it's Newy's 200th game. Let's have a win in celebration game. We have had our share of misery at the hands of most opponents on days of their celebration.
We have more reason to win as we have built up the right way and have done it hard and dug deep they have had a much easier ride and their sins are forgiven more easily.
If we can finally break it down further it's not about us or them its about RESPECT. Do we deserve it? Saturday night will tell and I hope we get it but I don't want a close loss consolation call from anyone. It's time to win the big game. We can win a game here or there but these games like Saturday night are the hardest to win. Once we win that first one we'll start winning many more, more regularly more convincingly, more importantly.
Next Saturday against Hawthorn we can talk about the pros and cons of our chances beating a top 4 side and we can start the big game must win process again and next week game has a different story to write and a different feel and consequence of win and loss to it altogether.
It's cliche but one week at a time boys.

[Judge Roughneck]

I always look at our side lined up against the Bombers and think we are better.
.

Essendon not much good.

Doubt they are top six.

[WA Tiger]

I always look at our side lined up against the Bombers and think we are better.
.

Essendon not much good.

Doubt they are top six.

That's how I look at the Blues when we go into round one every year......doh

[eliminator]

Bit disappointed no changes. Believe it would be beneficial for Ellis to have a run at Coburg. Will be a big task for Maric. Would have taken a punt and played post up forward

[Stripes]

I think this is a clever idea from the selectors and one I thought they would make. Essendons greatest strength lately has been their spread, run and carry not their big man dominance. Ryder and Bellchambers have been good at feeding their midfield true but Maric will nullify their influence.

By having an additional midfielder who rotates through the forward half, Fletcher will need to be far more accountable and be shown up for pace and agility rather than height. Additionally, Fletcher and the other tall backs will find it much more difficult getting the ball out of their defense with an additional smaller midfielder making them accountable.

Maric should be able to shoulder much of the center square bounces and stoppages through the middle of the ground and backline by playing as a spare man in defense. This gives him time to rest too. It will also mean that he can double team either of Bellchambers and Ryder when they rest in the forwardline. The Bombers will try and man him up and then try and run off him, make him more accountable plus get him running so he blows up when rucking. Miller will ruck in the forwardline with players coming over the top when necessary.

I think its a good tactic but its yet to be seen if it works. 

[WilliamPowell]

Caught about 15 minute of this morning's training session

All emergencies trained with the main group

[Tigermonk]

if we go into this game with one ruckman. prepare for a loss, even if the weather is bad we need 2 rucks.

[Stripes]

if we go into this game with one ruckman. prepare for a loss, even if the weather is bad we need 2 rucks.

The weather is meant to be clearing in the afternoon

[tiga]

Just been reading some of the posts over at bomberblitz. Geez those guys have serious tickets on themselves and their team. The're talking like their team has won back to back premierships with another on the way this year. For some reason their Gold Coast narrow escape doesn't seem to rate a mention. A club that was beaten by GWS almost beat them. 
I can tell you If we win, I'll be parking myself in the front row with a big gulp and a bucket of popcorn to watch the complete deconstruction of what little humanity exists over there. 
 

[Tigeritis™©®]

Can we win?? ....Yes
Will we win?? ....I doubt it.
Will it be over by qtr time? ... I hope not but it wouldn't suprise me.
Have the tigers really changed? ... We'll see. I hope so.
 

[Mopsy]

no gus rain is forecast

I agree Jack

[Willy]

Gus probably wouldn't appreciate what the rain does to his cute little hairdo, anyways.