Bombers flying, are they still supersonic, or just gliders now?

[Asgardian]

Some of you may have seen that I am doing a series looking at the playing lists of each club. I'm a Port supporter, so there is some slight chance that you may know more about your own players that what I do, ;) .
If you disagree with any of my assessments, be specific, don't flame by just saying "your full of crap, piss off", tell me where you reckon I have gone wrong, lets get some good off-season discussion going.

I try my best to be fair and unbiased, lets have a look

Steven Alessio :- Hack
Jordan Bannister :- Likely looking type, needs some muscle
Paul Barnard :- Good mongrel, adds versatility
Justin Blumfield :- You missed his midfield distribution & goals
Mark Bolton :- Needs to come on in 2002, or he'll miss out
Marc Bullen :- Coach likes these hard defenders, so so skills
Blake Caracella :- Got it all, star performer
James Davies :- Yet to see him play
Michael Davis :- Yet to see him play
Dustin Fletcher :- Rarely beaten, class defender
Robert Forster-Knight :- Needs to adjust to pace of game
Chris Heffernan :- Laconic, should get more of the ball
Aaron Henneman :- Too loose, but Sheedy likes him
David Hille :- Looks the goods to be a long term performer
James Hird :- Superstar of the game
Sam Hunt :- Yet to see him play
Danny Jacobs :- Good desperation, finds ball in space
Jason Johnson :- Great tough nut, goes straight at the ball
Mark Johnson :- Loves a physical contest
Judd Lalich :- Every time I've seen him he looks a dud
Matthew Lloyd :- Is / will be decades best full forward
Michael Long :- Injuries reduced him to a hack in 2002
Scott Lucas :- Good third tall forward, hard to match up
Daniel McAlister :- Dud
Corey McGrath :- Good pace and skills, keep him in midfield
Mark McVeigh :- Good midfield finisher
Mark Mercuri :- Production was down a bit, but still classy
Joe Misiti :- His injury hurt team, great at what he does
Gary Moorcroft :- Back up spare part
Damien Peverill :- Has attitude, great intro into AFL
Adam Ramanauskas :- Great skills, possible future leader?
Ted Richards :- Yet to see him play
Dean Rioli :- Silky skills, nice mover, but ? concentration
Dean Solomon :- Strong mongrel defender, good type
Sean Wellman :- Defensive general

There are two question maks over the Bombers, in the ruck, and overall pace. With Barnes gone, Hille needs to step up immediately, coz Alessio just aint good enough. If these two get injured, there are no back ups, so look for the Bombers to draft a ruckman.
The Bombers pace is not bad, it just isn't quite up to what the Lions could produce on grand final day, solutions to this have to come from within, some tinkering with positions. So don't be surprised at who you see in what position next year.
Hardwick will be missed, many thanks guys, :D

Essendon will still be one of the yardsticks in 2002, look for another top 4 finish

[BomberBoy]

Thanks for coming Asg..

Insightful comments like usual. I'm just waiting for Dan to disect your post :D

[walshy1993]

you are a fair way off with a lot of those assumptions

on the ruck point, everyone has said our ruck has been weak for a number of years, yet we have still finished on top of the ladder three years running
we may have a weak ruck but we have the strongest forward line in the comp, a top defense and a capable midfield
ill give you my thoughts on our list


Steven Alessio :- His finals football was career best, if he produces that form again he will be a strong player this season, he is never going to be a darcy or primus, but he will contribute (also hard to match up on as a forward, something most other ruckman cant do)
Jordan Bannister :- great skills, great overhead for his size, next blake caracella (look for him in 2003)
Paul Barnard :- handy player, kicks goals, can play in the defense and do a job, or add a bit of spark when required in the midfield
Justin Blumfield :- full preseason and injury free 2002 will see a great year from juzzy, great mark for his size and a goal kicking midfielder which is something we were screaming for this year
Mark Bolton :- showed enough this year to prove to me that he has the goods, will step up next year
Marc Bullen :- chris, this guy aint a defender, he is a brett ratten style player, won the reserves b&f and was highly impressive, needs another years development, but mark it down, this guy will be a star. he is hard, gets the ball out and has fine skills
Blake Caracella :- Got it all, star performer (cant argue with that)
James Davies :- pace, skills, smarts. class act, needs development
Michael Davis :- gets the ball and plenty of it, a couple of years away
Dustin Fletcher :- best of the best
Robert Forster-Knight :- thought he was just about there this season. could be hardwicks replacement if he can step up
Chris Heffernan :- injury didnt do him any favours, he runs and carries the ball which was something we missed in 2001. fully fit heff is a great asset to the club
Aaron Henneman :- at times the villan at others the hero. 2002 will be his make or break as a chb. still young and learning, a bit preseason might set him up
David Hille :- he will make it in a big way, best tap ruckman ive seen for someone of his age, just puts the ball in his teammates lap time after time
James Hird :- Superstar of the game (enough said)
Sam Hunt :- jury is out, disapointing season but still in school, has great skills when he gets the ball but struggles to get it (if he makes it, it will be as a tall back)
Danny Jacobs :- asked to stand up in 2001 and did it, fine player, can play tall or small and loves a challenge
Jason Johnson :- awesome footballer, consistancy the key in 2002
Mark Johnson :- one of a dying breed. loves it tough and just does his job
Judd Lalich :- works hard, improved this year, next year is make or break, might just have something
Matthew Lloyd :- simply the best, cant go past him
Michael Long :- i still feel he has something to offer, even if it is just in spurts. the team lifts when he is on the paddock
Scott Lucas :- under-rated in my book. fine forward who sets up a lot of goals
Daniel McAlister :- has the goods but cant produce it
Corey McGrath :- could be the next big thing in our midfield, i expect a fair bit from him next year
Mark McVeigh :- played a number of rolls, from attacking midfielder to run with player, finals experience should do him good
Mark Mercuri :- all class but needs to produce, wasnt his greatest year
Joe Misiti :- awesome workrate, just keeps going in for the ball, important part of our side
Gary Moorcroft :- midfield might be his making, i think thats were he will be next season
Damien Peverill :- hard, tough, loves a challenge, great kick, respected. no one at ess can speak highly enough of him
Adam Ramanauskas :- freak
Ted Richards :- key position, forward or back. hard worker who really wants to learn. has fine hands and a good long kick. wouldnt think he will do too much in 2002, but has enough to suggest he will make the grade
Dean Rioli :- freakish skills, needs to use them more. looked more hurt than anyone. could be the year of dean rioli in 2002
Dean Solomon :- most impressive. huge heart. i dont know what to say about this guy, he really is fantastic

Sean Wellman :- Defensive general

[Dave]

Not bad Chris, the only one I disagree with is Alessio. His ruck work this year was superb.

[M29]

Alessio was fantastic this year.

[windyhill]

I should stop drinking at games,alessio is a spastic

[Stegelator]

Originally posted by windyhill
I should stop drinking at games,alessio is a spastic :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

[BomberGal]

You've underrated Moorcroft big time. A lot of your assessments are great, some are a bit off, but I can forgive you for that since you don't know them as well as we would.

[Asgardian]

Walshy, you are a long way off with your assumptions

That's a pretty arrogant thing for me to say, and frankly unwarrented, just as Walshy's comment is

This is not a precise science, there is no absolute rights and wrongs, sure disagree with me Walshy, but don't be so dogmatic and say "you're wrong", say I disagree in the following areas, ........................... This is an assumption game, so errors will be made by all of us, footy involves a million variables, disappoinments will be minimised by accepting that contary views can sometimes hold weight.

Anyway, thats for responding Walshy

[Asgardian]

As a follow up to my series summing up team lists, I'm now committing myself to definate guesses, lol, :D where each team will end up in 2002. Regarding the Dons squad, there is lots to like about it, genuine superstars, top quality players throughout the team list, plus depth of quality back up players.

I still stand by my belief that Hille needs to have a major year for the Bombers to go all the way, with Alessio as the back up, you cannot afford to lose Hille. If injury were to occur to both of them then the one glaring weakness in your squad is exposed, sorry, I just do not rate Lalich as a viable ruckman.

The concern of pace is not a major one, overall the Bombers have some very quick of foot and mind players, the pace exposure would only happen against the fastest and best midfields, and then Sheedy would have some contingency plans on hand.

Overall another good year for the Bombers coming up.

I predict the Bombers will finish season 2002 in 3rd position

[walshy1993]

Originally posted by Asgardian

I still stand by my belief that Hille needs to have a major year for the Bombers to go all the way, with Alessio as the back up, you cannot afford to lose Hille. If injury were to occur to both of them then the one glaring weakness in your squad is exposed, sorry, I just do not rate Lalich as a viable ruckman.


this was the assumption or opinion that got me
perhaps i worded what i said above incorrectly

last three years essendon has finished 3rd, 1st and 2nd
our ruck has been made up of somerville, alessio and barnes
players no one rates
yet we have still had huge success

and my other issue is the way people keep underestimating steve alessio
he was a huge performer this season, and his form before getting injured and towards the end of the season made a huge impact

On Hille and Lalich, i saw every game they played this year
Hille has all the requirements to be a top level ruckman, and Lalich took a major step in 2001, similar levels of improvement over this preseason and i believe he will make an impact on the senior side