NAB Challenge: Carlton vs. Essendon Sunday 28th Feb

[Barbs]

Given that 12 of Essendon's best 15 were missing most of us probably expected a tighter contest, particularly at Princes Park, or at the very least to see some acceptable level of skill.

I hoped for a better contest, but in reality the dons still ran out with a more experienced team (Goddard, Zaharakis, Daniher) and brought in more match ready guys like simpkin and Crowley. We brought in several players with no seniors experience (Weitering, Mckay, Curnow, Cunningham and Silvagni) and some with minimal AFL experience (Phillips, Gorringe, Boekhurst, Gallucci, Byrne, Smith, Whiley, Dick, Graham etc).

That said, yes, I think we all expected some better skills on display and more willingness to take the game on. We are going to lose plenty of times this year, but I want to see us losing by making mistakes that are at least taking us in the right direction or give glimpses of hope (ie trying a new innovative game plan, taking some risks like playing on more with quick ball movement, playing with more physical presence) than making the same old mistakes that have been endemic in our game for the last few years (ie. booting it long to nobody and watching it come back for a goal) and got us nowhere. I'd rather see free kicks given against us for high hits in a tough contest, players getting caught with the ball while trying to take on the opposition and clangers being kicked because someone just took 4 bounces while running their guts out than the steady stream of 50m kicks from half back along the boundary line that get intercepted all to easily or are to a 3-1 contest. At least we'll learn from the former and the young guns will be better for it in a couple of years time. As a team we cannot continue to be so individually risk averse.

I really hope that what BB is drilling into the playing group after yesterday's performance is that its ok to make mistakes but its not ok to not try hard enough. As a supporter I accept mistakes will be made and there will be losses this year, some pretty bad ones too. What I can't abide this year is players not fighting like hell every time they take the field and not showing some passion for the jumper.