Essendon convincingly won its first final against Fremantle and proceeded to week two of the finals. In a repeat of last year’s first Semi Final, Port Adelaide ended the Bombers’ finals aspirations and season 2003 came to a grinding holt. In last week’s 3 poll, Essendon supporters rated the team’s performance this season. 54% of people said that the team met expectations this year. 30% voted that Essendon exceeded their expectations and 16% commented the team performed below their expectations.
This is what some of the fans had to say:
Stuart Nixon from Ascot Vale says: After losing some quality players during the off season with trades etc. the team could have slumped out of the eight. Credit to the determination of players who remained and the input of the trade replacements that got us into the eight. Clearly we need to bring on our young talls for ruck duties as opposition clubs are exploiting that weakness, especially in finals footy.
Mike K from Heidelberg says: Another season over - well done to all the bombers for getting so far. Time for some to reflect and make decisions that will be best for the TEAM in 2004.
Brett Crabtree from Adelaide says: Great effort by the whole club, especially the second half on the season. Great wins against Brisbane, West Coast, Freo, Collingwood and Freo again are among many highlights for the year. Dean Solomon's comeback and McPhee's season standout among many fine performances this year. Thanks to a great team.
Matt Rasmussen from Knoxfield says: Essendon still has all its great players and therefore an expectation to perform exists. However, in perspective, the half way mark of the season showed us that Essendon weren't a huge force. To finish eighth and win a final in Perth is far beyond any expectations that I had even with 5 rounds to go. I actually think our finish this year will build confidence for the future. Well done Bombers! And good luck to Jason Johnson in the Crichton Medal!
Abhinav Ramachandran from Melbourne says: Over the last season, Essendon have had serious problems playing interstate and in wet weather conditions. This problem seems to lie in the roof of Telstra Dome, but we can’t change that can we? These are the two biggest areas the coaching staff must work on. Against Port we faced both these problems together and we were thrashed in the process. Essendon should do everything possible to make sure the players get as much practice/training time in the rain and interstate. As everyone in Australia knows, we play like crap interstate except for the Elimination Final. Also, in rounds 22 and the semi-final, we played in wet weather and got spanked. Something must happen.
Leena from Darwin says: I think the team played fantastic - you only have to look at where the team was sitting on the ladder at towards the middle of the season to acknowledge that they worked tremendously hard to get to where they did. I just want to congratulate them on their efforts for this season and I wish them all good luck for next year, and also to enjoy their well-earned rest.
Gavin Ford from Mt Waverley says: I believed that the Bombers were a top 4 side at the start of the season and therefore felt that they underachieved. I believe that they let a couple of games slip against the Kangaroos and Carlton
Karen Rowley from Mooroolbark says: Congratulations on a good effort. We did a good effort considering all the obvious. Fletcher the arms & legs man should learn finally that he has to take things under control. Even we are a little sick of the penalties that the side afford him.
Ross Hamilton from Essendon says: The Bombers did roughly what I expected them to do so they met my expectations, but really it was an unsatisfactory year. There are many problems. They are unable to play in adverse conditions. They play poorly interstate. Their finals performances are poor. Kevin Sheedy's winning percentage is about 66% during the year but slumps to about 50% during finals.Too often there are selection blunders in finals.
Mike Rance from Brisbane says: Salary cap losses meant the blooding of new players and this perhaps was why our first half showing was below par. We have to learn however that wet and dry weather footy requires different skill sets and approach to the game.
Janaka Williams from St Kilda says: Thanks for a great year. I would have loved a preliminary final, but with such a young list. Thanx Scotty Lucas for putting in all year, J & J, Smoking Joe for his courage to keep trying against the odds, all the lads really. You sure get value for money with this club. Looking forward to the draft and to see how the baby bombers come through.
Clifford Davison from Minto says: Given the players that we were forced to let go, I predicted we would finish between 6th & 12th on the ladder. In the end, a lot of younger players stood up throughout the year and I am looking forward to next season when some of these young guns have had a bit more experience.
Billie Preston from Ocean Grove says: Before the season began, I didn't expect the guys to make the GF, that doesn't mean that I didn't want them to make it. If they didn't make the finals, I would have been disappointed-so well done to a relatively good year fellas!
Damon Beckwith from Essendon says: At the start of the season looking at our list, at the strength and experience of the spine at the quality of young players coming through and at the preseason health and fitness levels of the players, eighth would seem a disappointing position after round 22. And it was. Before the elimination finals looking at our form, fitness and opposition, losing our second successive semi-final to a jittery Port Adelaide would seem a disappointing result. And it was. The only part of the year that the Bombers performed above expectations was the second 11 home-and-away matches but this was only because expectations had dropped due to a lackluster first half of the season. In 2004 the Bombers will still have the talent, perhaps the most seen since 2000, but the question is will they have regained the will to win, the team spirit to do it for each other, and the focus to battle through adversity? If not another disappointing year awaits.
