Essendon Gameday Thread

[Lucky Knickers]

Wow, what does that add up to?

According to I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E. that would 9/11 times 1000

[Bear]

At least 28 actually played his role, with six tackles. How many did our little blond friend get? Zero. He was more concerned with picking up his usual cheap, uncontested marks than picking up an opponent.

He's had some fumbles in the last couple of weeks, but you're right, he is playing a blanketing role for the team which he is largely succeeding at.

Like keeping Aker or Alwyn Davey out of the game.

He is acheiving the main objective the coach is setting him. He was quite good at limiting the influence of match winner like Davey on Sunday.

Crouch had 15 possessions with 67% efficiency (+ 1 goal). Davey had 13 possessions with 69% efficiency (0 goals).

It's makes you wonder how many people here actually understand all of the aspects of football that need to be analysed.

[Nico]

Crouch is ahead of Bevan in terms of skill and contribution x infinity to all your subsequent posts.

So how do you explain the atrocious shank by Crouch from 20 metres. At least Bevan kicks the goals when in range.

Connolly is spot on with Crouch. Anyone who cared to watch the game closely would have noticed umpteen turnovers by Crouch with blind kicks and nothing handpasses. He just strolled around and was miles from a player a lot of the time, and I was watching the telly.

[Nico]

At least 28 actually played his role, with six tackles. How many did our little blond friend get? Zero. He was more concerned with picking up his usual cheap, uncontested marks than picking up an opponent.

The reason why Crouch had 6 tackles was because he was always second to the ball.

[liz]

The reason why Crouch had 6 tackles was because he was always second to the ball.

This isn't a comment on Crouch, who I barely noticed at the weekend, but that general observation about high tackle counts meaning you're second to the ball (which is often spruiked) is a load of rubbish.

If you were to look at the players who consistently finish in the top 10 of tacklers over a season, you will see names like Lenny Hayes, Jimmy Bartel, Luke Ball and Domenic Cassissi - player who win heaps of the ball as well. Even our own BK, who plays a more defensive role than the first 3 of those listed, regularly gets well over 20 possessions and sometimes upwards of 30.

Does anyone know where to find stats on total tackles this season by team? I'd be surprised if Geelong and the Saints weren't in the top 4, at least.

[Lohengrin]

So how do you explain the atrocious shank by Crouch from 20 metres. At least Bevan kicks the goals when in range.

Well we know that's not true.

[Lohengrin]

Does anyone know where to find stats on total tackles this season by team? I'd be surprised if Geelong and the Saints weren't in the top 4, at least.

Yes. No and yes.

PRO-STATS Australian Rules Football - The Stats The Coaches Use

[Nico]

This isn't a comment on Crouch, who I barely noticed at the weekend, but that general observation about high tackle counts meaning you're second to the ball (which is often spruiked) is a load of rubbish.

If you were to look at the players who consistently finish in the top 10 of tacklers over a season, you will see names like Lenny Hayes, Jimmy Bartel, Luke Ball and Domenic Cassissi - player who win heaps of the ball as well. Even our own BK, who plays a more defensive role than the first 3 of those listed, regularly gets well over 20 possessions and sometimes upwards of 30.

Does anyone know where to find stats on total tackles this season by team? I'd be surprised if Geelong and the Saints weren't in the top 4, at least.

That was my observation of Crouch on the weekend and not a general observation.

[liz]

Yes. No and yes.

PRO-STATS Australian Rules Football - The Stats The Coaches Use

So not quite as conclusive as I thought. This version (total tackles rather than differentials) is a reasonably decent mirror of the league ladder.

PRO-STATS Australian Rules Football - The Stats The Coaches Use

Swans and North are outliers at the top (and I suspect Sydney's is largely due to having the two biggest tackling machines this year - I don't think the rest of the team is tackling nearly as much as it used to, relative to the competition). And Geelong and Adelaide are outliers in the middle. But still a fairly decent correlation between tackling and winningness.

[caj23]

Like keeping Aker or Alwyn Davey out of the game.

He is acheiving the main objective the coach is setting him. He was quite good at limiting the influence of match winner like Davey on Sunday.

Crouch had 15 possessions with 67% efficiency (+ 1 goal). Davey had 13 possessions with 69% efficiency (0 goals).

It's makes you wonder how many people here actually understand all of the aspects of football that need to be analysed.

Alwyn Davey a matchwinner? I think you need to do a bit more analysis.

He's a one trick pony who's main role is to apply defensive pressure in the forward line due to his speed.

This season he has kicked 12 goals from 15 games and averages 14 possessions per game. Wow Crouchy really nullified him

If Crouch can keep Aaron Davey to those numbers I'll be more impressed.

Having said that, the role of the nullifier who doesn't have an attacking side to his game is redundant. That is why Crouch and Ablett don't (or shouldn't) have a future at the swans

[Donners]

So how do you explain the atrocious shank by Crouch from 20 metres. At least Bevan kicks the goals when in range.

Obviously Bevan's range is under 20 metres, given how he hit the post last week. Short memories...

[Bear]

This season he has kicked 12 goals from 15 games and averages 14 possessions per game.

If Crouch can keep Aaron Davey to those numbers I'll be more impressed.

So Crouch kept Davey to less than his average goals AND possessions this year.

How is the bullet hole in your foot feeling?

[caj23]

So Crouch kept Davey to less than his average goals AND possessions this year.

How is the bullet hole in your foot feeling?

You're kidding aren't you

So Crouch kept an ordinary player (not quite the matchwinner you described is he) to 1 less possession than average and down from 0.8 goals per match. Give the man 3 votes.

Wow lets hope Crouchy can restrict Judd to 26 possessions this week instead of his usual 27

[Bear]

You're kidding aren't you

So Crouch kept an ordinary player (not quite the matchwinner you described is he) to 1 less possession than average and down from 0.8 goals per match. Give the man 3 votes.

Wow lets hope Crouchy can restrict Judd to 26 possessions this week instead of his usual 27

You got what you asked for, and still have no respect

Although making errors (like most of our players), I think he is doing his job 'reasonably well'. Certainly not outstanding (except the Bulldogs game), but certainly contributing in his role to the team, and there IS a role for negating players in AFL whether you think so or not.

[Lohengrin]

Wow lets hope Crouchy can restrict Judd to 26 possessions this week instead of his usual 27

I'd be quite pleased if we can keep Judd to a couple of possessions below his average and no goals.