Sydney v Essendon

[goswannies]

Will Tom D stay in when Pyke is ready? I think you can only play one now!

Is that a serious question? Really?

Who is the better tap ruckman?
Better tackler?
Better contested mark?
Better leg-speed?
Better set shot at goal?
Better mover around the ground?
Better handballer (take note of Tom's last quarter hand ball tonight)?

If your question was serious, please answer the above with examples.

[Mel_C]

Did anyone at the ground hear Goodes being booed?

Watching on TV sounded like he was being booed - just wondering if anything else was going on.

He is booed at most games down here. When he got that free kick and 50 metres the comments were terrible.

[goods78]

He is booed at most games down here. When he got that free kick and 50 metres the comments were terrible.

I don't mind giving the umpires some, but it is a bit rich to boo the player!

[Matt80]

Is that a serious question? Really?

Who is the better tap ruckman?
Better tackler?
Better contested mark?
Better leg-speed?
Better set shot at goal?
Better mover around the ground?
Better handballer (take note of Tom's last quarter hand ball tonight)?

If your question was serious, please answer the above with examples.

Is Tom D a better kick for goal from outside 50 on the run?

Tom D would be disappointed to be dropped after his recent improvement!

[goods78]

biiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrdddddddddeeeeeeeeeeee

has come to play

31 disposals must be close to a career high.

He looked very composed all night and hopefully silenced those calling for his head.

[CJK]

That presser from Bomber was amazing.

[Swansinger]

As usual , the game v Bombers has lived up to expectations for talking points.

Good to see all the praise for Bird-Man - fine game. He won't get too many media accolades , but I don't care : we know how good he is.

Hanners will not be in trouble . Anyway , it's karma - whenever Hurley is hurt , I can never resist saying "Now you know how that taxi driver felt."

Eski , I think , will be in trouble . Which is a shame , because I've seen collisions being the umpire's fault , but they never have to answer for it.

Talking of umpires , I thought we should have had a few frees when Essendon were tackling us by the throat.

All up , it was a very good performance . Sure , we were not at our very best - that can wait til September - but it would be churlish to criticise anyone after a 50-point victory away from home.

[goods78]

Is Tom D a better kick for goal from outside 50 on the run?

Tom D would be disappointed to be dropped after his recent improvement!

I thought it was going to be a tough night for him after dropping that chest mark very early!

[Nico]

Did anyone at the ground hear Goodes being booed?

Watching on TV sounded like he was being booed - just wondering if anything else was going on.

Essendon flogs, what velse would you expect.

A couple of observations.

After round 3 how many of us were very worried?

Tom Derickx - many said he was a fill in at best. Absolutely great tonight. Second efforts as good as Mummy. Rucked all game. Took every centre bounce.

Did someone say our intensity was inconsistent? I don't know what more you could want. We won by 50 points, we flogged them all game and they constantly turned it over through our sheer pressure. Was as comprehensive a win as you could get.

[0918330512]

Who is the better tap ruckman?

Both are serviceable. But I reckon Mike is better - tries to direct it more

Better tackler?

Pyke played international rugby. He caresses players to the ground, rarely giving away frees ... & they stay tackled

Better contested mark?

Pyke HANDS DOWN ... 2nd leading contested mark in the comp last year ... Derickx took a couple of speckies tonight (& stuffed up a few more) ... Pyke took contested marks ALL YEAR in 2013

Better leg-speed?

Just uTube "Pyke All Blacks". Enough said

Better set shot at goal?

Pyke lead resting rucks for goal scoring last year I think

Better mover around the ground?

Pyke, for me, has a better tank and contests better

Better handballer (take note of Tom's last quarter hand ball tonight)?

LoL Tom missed his target badly tonight in that last quarter.

Is Tom D a better kick for goal from outside 50 on the run?

You mean from a sample size of 1?? Sure, I guess. But for every one of Derickx's long bombs, Pyke takes 3 or 4 contested marks inside 50 and converts from a set shot.

Tom D would be disappointed to be dropped after his recent improvement!

Matt80, at this stage, Tom is playing his role admirably in the absence of Mike, but the only thing Tom Derickx possible does better than Pyke is follow Buddy around on the beach. There probably isn't room for Pyke, Buddy, Tippet, Goodsey, Reid & Derickx. Who is the least valuable of those guys?

[Nico]

Is Tom D a better kick for goal from outside 50 on the run?

Tom D would be disappointed to be dropped after his recent improvement!

Why on earth would you consider dropping him. What more do supporters want.

[Meg]

The crowd's behaviour( Essendon supporters) was pretty shabby

[DK_]

What's with the AFL.com match highlights? You could be forgiven for concluding that the Dons won going by the video...

[Nico]

Both are serviceable. But I reckon Mike is better - tries to direct it more

Pyke played international rugby. He caresses players to the ground, rarely giving away frees ... & they stay tackled

Pyke HANDS DOWN ... 2nd leading contested mark in the comp last year ... Derickx took a couple of speckies tonight (& stuffed up a few more) ... Pyke took contested marks ALL YEAR in 2013

Just uTube "Pyke All Blacks". Enough said

Pyke lead resting rucks for goal scoring last year I think

Pyke, for me, has a better tank and contests better

LoL Tom missed his target badly tonight in that last quarter.

Matt80, at this stage, Tom is playing his role admirably in the absence of Mike, but the only thing Tom Derickx possible does better than Pyke is follow Buddy around on the beach.

Nebulous argument. Pyke is injured. Tom D was outstanding. Pyke now has to win his spot back. Richmond once again got it horribly wrong.

[DK_]

The crowd's behaviour( Essendon supporters) was pretty shabby

Totally agree. Why we're they booing Goodes FFS?

I guess they've probably got a lot of angst to release.