2018 Discussion Thread

[Torpedo10]

Is it just me or do the Bombers come to Perth more than any other Vic team?

Usually twice a year.

[Jukes]

Is it just me or do the Bombers come to Perth more than any other Vic team?

We do do it a lot, but I'm not necessarily complaining :P for some reason we play Freo away every single season no matter what (with a home game every few years), and most seasons we play west coast over here too. I guess they see us as a drawcard team to really get fans through the gates in Perth ;) our supporter base here is pretty massive, there was a huge waitlist to become a WA member until they mixed it all up and split the WA membership into two parts for 2018 - guaranteed reserved ticket membership and a membership with access to the member pre-sale for seats.

Quick google comes up with this to basically confirm it:
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/most-supported-interstate-team-in-each-state.320484/

If you can't beat us at Etihad, then you won't be beating us at the Gabba ;)

Not a bad draw though, would expect a 5-8 finish.

Actually, we haven't lost a match at the Gabba since 2009 and only the once since R3 2006! Basically a home away from home ;) admittedly we have only played there three times in the last 8 1/2 seasons, so basically a reverse-Freo


Dons-Lions (meaning since 1997) has been a super close match-up evidently. 14 wins apiece, highest scores of 160 (dons) and 162 (lions), lowest scores of 61 and 57, and biggest wins of 67 and 66. Time to jump ahead me thinks.

[Jukes]

So three new additions to the team yesterday.

The best pick of the lot in my opinion is Guelfi - as a Claremont recruit, I know a bit about him. Rejected from last year's draft (possible chip on the shoulder?), fits the need at inside midfielder and, at 20, is more mature than most of the other draftees (with plenty of WAFL seniors and colts experience). From his 19 WAFL league games in 2017 he averaged 15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles and a goal a game. Been compared to Sam Mitchell for his stoppage work, but could also be likened to Ben Howlett but with much higher upside. Probably undervalued because he lacks that X-factor, but that's what we need - a tough, hard working inside midfield specialist.
http://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/2017-10-30/wa-draft-gun-matt-guelfi
http://footyprophet.com/afl-draft-profile-matt-guelfi/

Houlahan is a pretty decent pick as well. Very similar player to Laverde which may be a good thing (as Laverde has potential as a gun M/HF) and a bad thing (because Lav has stunk so far). Was talked up as a 15-30 pick so to get him later is a great grab. If Ridley+Mutch+Clarke couldn't get a game in their rookie seasons I doubt Houlahan will, but he projects as a solid best 22 player in the future if he can get the experience necessary. Another competent forward would also help with versatility, possibly allowing Hooker to spend more time down back?

The other guy we selected was Zerk-Thatcher (BZT). Would've preferred Dylan Moore, who went the next pick, but oh well. A tall defender was certainly a need to back-up/support/replace Hartley. He'll certainly be a long-term prospect as he needs to put on some bulk. Could he be another Sean Gregory (pick 88 in 2012)? Possibly. Hopefully he can develop into that long-term FB that we need.

I'd only imagine Guelfi would be a shot at AFL games for 2018, but I wouldn't be surprised if none of them played at all.

[Jukes]

Had our first real intraclub match today, went pretty well.

Links for videos:
1st QTR » http://bombe.rs/2ESGOOK 
2nd QTR » http://bombe.rs/2Euk8Xf
3rd QTR » http://bombe.rs/2H5fqOn
4th QTR » http://bombe.rs/2EiWPjV

The Good
Stringer - close to BOG. A lot of great stoppage work, kicked a couple of goals, did some solid uncontested work too.
Smith - also close to BOG. Very very good playing inside and rotated forward a few times, kicking a goal. Could certainly be a B&F smokey if he stays healthy.
McKenna and Saad - played very well as our two primary rebounders. Saad was good, but McKenna was really fantastic - could be elite this season.
Heppell - definitely bulked up a lot. Big year coming up.
Langford - also bulked up and played very well, should be in the team for round one. Definitely looks better than he has in the last few years, might not play so much inside as we would have liked but will be a good half forward/wing option.
Guelfi - genuine bolter for the round one side, expect him to play some senior footy this season. Good at half back and outside midfield, plays stronger than he looks but will need to bulk up a bit more to play more inside footy.
Green - played pretty well, kicked a couple of goals. Wouldn't have him in the best 22 but good depth. Begley wasn't great today but I'd prefer him in as that sixth forward over Greeny.
Merrett - looks to have put on some bulk as well, won plenty of the footy as always.
Zaharakis - lethal on the outside/wing.
McDonald-Tipungwuti - played well up forward, looks like his tank has grown and he could certainly play some midfield.

The Bad
Laverde - pretty poor before going off in the second quarter and not coming back on.
Hurley - injured his wrist, should be okay.
Hooker - missed all four shots on goal. I still like him up forward but needs to improve his kicking at goal.
Parish - wasn't bad, but I have very high hopes for him this season and he didn't quite live up to it today. With Stringer and Smith playing great there may not even be a midfield spot available for him.
Mutch - wasn't today but had surgery on his meniscus and will miss a month. Was hopeful he could press for best 22 in 2018 but now it looks doubtful for at least the first half of the season.

My best 22 right now
FB: Gleeson Hartley McKenna
HB: McGrath Hurley Saad
C: Zaharakis Heppell Parish
HF: Stringer Daniher Begley
FF: Fantasia Hooker McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Bellchambers Merrett Smith
Int: Goddard (B/M) Myers (M) Langford (M/F) Ambrose (B)

Emg: Stewart (F) Laverde (M/F) Baguley (B)

Really confident in that team. If Smith, Stringer and McKenna play as good in the season as they did today top four is definitely not out of the question.

[ubeaut]

Sux to be a Bombers supporter right about now.
When we were set to play struggling Doggies I thought oh no another team we will lose to when we're favourites and play them into form.
Sure enough...
It's a contentious issue amongst Bomber fans, but I believe Hooker must be played mostly back. He Is an all Australian CHB. He and Hartley should take 2 best fwds and free Hurley up even more. As good as he can be at times fwd, we have Stewart and Stringer to help Joe out fwd.
Which brings me to my next point.  Stringer is NOT a midfielder! He is too lazy and lacks the awareness. End the experiment.
Woosha needs to move the magnets around ala Clarkson. We are too tall fwd at times and Hooker should play both ends depending on the opposition.
Daniher needs a kick up the arse and could well benefit from longer stints in the ruck or even drop him to the twos to wake the muppet up. His attitude is not great and how bout that handball after marking 15 m out? What the actual flower?
And why did we drop Hartley and play Brown?? What the???
And the whole team needs to improve defensively. Effort was not there against the Dogs or Freo, in fact we've only played one really good quarter vs the Crows out of 12.
And Merrett has stuffed my midfield scores in SC lol. I don't know what's up with him but the tag never affected him this badly before and without him our midfield is B grade at best.
Smith has been great tho, is working hard along with Hurley, but the rest of the team need to LIFT!!

End rant.

[Trindacut]

Sux to be a Bombers supporter right about now.
When we were set to play struggling Doggies I thought oh no another team we will lose to when we're favourites and play them into form.
Sure enough...
It's a contentious issue amongst Bomber fans, but I believe Hooker must be played mostly back. He Is an all Australian CHB. He and Hartley should take 2 best fwds and free Hurley up even more. As good as he can be at times fwd, we have Stewart and Stringer to help Joe out fwd.
Which brings me to my next point.  Stringer is NOT a midfielder! He is too lazy and lacks the awareness. End the experiment.
Woosha needs to move the magnets around ala Clarkson. We are too tall fwd at times and Hooker should play both ends depending on the opposition.
Daniher needs a kick up the arse and could well benefit from longer stints in the ruck or even drop him to the twos to wake the muppet up. His attitude is not great and how bout that handball after marking 15 m out? What the actual flower?
And why did we drop Hartley and play Brown?? What the???
And the whole team needs to improve defensively. Effort was not there against the Dogs or Freo, in fact we've only played one really good quarter vs the Crows out of 12.
And Merrett has stuffed my midfield scores in SC lol. I don't know what's up with him but the tag never affected him this badly before and without him our midfield is B grade at best.
Smith has been great tho, is working hard along with Hurley, but the rest of the team need to LIFT!!

End rant.

I like this club, a close to a second team as I've ever had, but jesus what a basket case.

Agree with you a lot ubeaut. Watching the game on the weekend, just can't help but feel Woosha has lost the playing group. They've been through a lot, particularly the players banned, and I reckon they think his coaching style is too old school and not modern enough.

I don't extensively know the history of Essendon players, but I'd be very interested to know if these positional changes by Woosha are in line with recruitment strengths. I know the Tiges harped on about how they went back to basics and part of that was playing players in their natural positions a bit more a.k.a ellis/cotchin/grigg/vlaustain

If it's going the other way then maybe that's something to think about.

[Toga]

Has Merrett been tagged the last two weeks? Haven't watched but have heard he looked disinterested, so keen to find out if it's a mental/physical thing after his concussion or whether he is crumbling with attention.

[elephants]

Lets watch Essendon come out and beat Port at AO after losing to Doggies and Freo

[crowls]

Lets watch Essendon come out and beat Port at AO after losing to Doggies and Freo

if only it wasn;t likely.   bloody headcase of a team we follow.  think ubeaut summed it up well.

[Nige]

Lets watch Essendon come out and beat Port at AO after losing to Doggies and Freo

Almost feels like a certainty in a weird kinda way.

[Jukes]

Well it's at home, and we beat them by 70 points last season so any less than that is a bad result.

I'm more confident in beating port than freo and the dogs that's for sure

[Trindacut]

Well it's at home, and we beat them by 70 points last season so any less than that is a bad result.

I'm more confident in beating port than freo and the dogs that's for sure

Reckon Port are going to be a powerhouse this year, so I’d just be happy with a win if they can get that.

[Jukes]

Going into the season I probably would've been content with a 2-2 start, seeing as we had four reasonably tough games - reigning minor premiers, away at Freo in a big game for them, against the 2016 premiers, and the rising Port. Just would've thought the wins would be in the middle two rather than the outer two against the gun South Australian sides! Just keeps on the trend of beating the good teams and capitulating against the weak.

Looking ahead the fixture doesn't get any easier - a three-week stretch against the red-hot Collingwood and Hawthorn with bogey team Melbourne in the middle. 2-1 would be nice, 3-0 spectacular and what we really should be aiming for if we want to contend for the flag, 1-2 below expectations, and 0-3 disastrous and making it a write-off season and I really can see any of those four results happening. I'll be at the Collingwood and Melbourne games, better not go 0-2!


Saw Hooker go back yesterday and loved it, need to keep him back there with occasional swings forward where required. Makes the backline much better and the forward line almost looks better without him with Stringer playing there full-time, Daniher and Stewart the true talls, and Fantasia, Walla, and Green playing small.

[kilbluff1985]

beat Pies, lose to Melb, Beat Hawks is my prediction

i hope the long break helps Zerrett too

[kilbluff1985]

sack the coach imo