View Full Version : Crunch Player
With the retirement of Hird who will become the player that will lift the dons when the chips are down and everything is going against us. For years it was James, going into the middle and getting that all-important clearance, going back and becoming that loose player in defense, or going forward and kicking that crucial goal.
Who will be Hird's immediate successor, and who from the kids will be the one to step in the future?
For the immediate successor i think McVeigh has the goods to play this role, Lovett to i think can do it as well. If McPhee can recapture his early Essendon form he could also easily fit this role, the potential is there.
In the future I think the likes of Hislop, Monfries, Ryder, Winderlich could all play this role.
B-Bomber
29 Oct 2007, 11:13
Answered the question pretty well yourself -- First name that came to mind was McVeigh.
However, other then the ones you mentioned, I think we've already seen that Laycock can take on a game when the pressure is on, and do the job given to him be it in the ruck, the forward line or in defense.
To be a real crunch player like what you suggest I think it's important to be in the thick of the action so being able to play on the whole ground is important.
Not a Wellman
29 Oct 2007, 11:16
Monfries mate, he will play midfield all year surely and will become our next captian in 3 or 4 years.
Gus2Gumby
29 Oct 2007, 11:17
I agree.
I think next season it will be McVeigh. He is a leader and has real heart and passion for the club. Most importantly, he has the talent.
I think as far as providing inspiration when it is so badly needed, Davey has shown he can be that guy.
He may not provide the leadership that Jim did, but he can spur the other 21 do step up too because, let's be honest, no one can do what James did...
We don't have one atm and we don't want one either atm.
What we need is to have a more realistic and improved output from the younger guys.
Having Hird, while so good to watch him win games off his own play, has only hurt us in the development in the last few years.
So many times he would put himself into the play and win the ball at will, but this was hindering our other players having the chance to do similar.
We have no one on our list who is CURRENTLY ready to step up and be the Crunch player, on a consistent basis and that type of player is not what we need YET.
We have a few players that in a few years MIGHT turn out be that player but they are not ready yet.
Answered the question pretty well yourself -- First name that came to mind was McVeigh.
However, other then the ones you mentioned, I think we've already seen that Laycock can take on a game when the pressure is on, and do the job given to him be it in the ruck, the forward line or in defense.
To be a real crunch player like what you suggest I think it's important to be in the thick of the action so being able to play on the whole ground is important.
Spot on, was the reason I didnt include Gumbleton in there, sure he will kick goals but if the ball isnt getting down there then its hard to life the team with some individual brilliance.
Agree with your Laycock statement, must say his name escaped me when thinking of my crunch players.
Longy413
29 Oct 2007, 11:41
Davey...
The Donners
29 Oct 2007, 11:45
Jetta.
We don't have one atm and we don't want one either atm.
What we need is to have a more realistic and improved output from the younger guys.
I'm with you. No single player can grab a game by the throat the way Jim could, so we'll need several players to pick up the slack. McPhee is probably the one player with a range attributes that could allow him to become a genuine match winner...unfortunately, he has nowhere near the smarts that Hird possessed.
Pevers-Legend
29 Oct 2007, 11:55
Lucas - has been doing it for a few years in games that count.
The Donners
29 Oct 2007, 12:09
Lucas - has been doing it for a few years in games that count.
How true you are!:thumbsu:
The Dustbin
29 Oct 2007, 12:39
Jetta.
Looking forward to seeing Leroy burn the grass in 08. Prescott has spoken very highly of him, can't wait to see Leroy perform again....
:cool:
kelvin_sheedy
29 Oct 2007, 12:41
Courtney Dempsey.
16flags
29 Oct 2007, 12:58
McVeigh has the hardness and the mental strength to get into the tough situation. Lovett can also turn a game on his own. Just needs to be more consistent. he dropped away toward the end of the year. Was great early on. But I agree with Merv, we need more consistency and overall improvement especially among the youngsters. That's what will help us going forward
donsman4eva
29 Oct 2007, 13:13
I reckon Reimers could do this. He has alot of Steve Johnsons onfield assets about him. He can find the ball, kick a goal, and push up into the midfield if need be. Cant wait to see him blossom.
Definitely Reimers.
Also Jobe though, witness the last quarter in our first game against Richmond for a perfect example.
TheDon35
29 Oct 2007, 13:41
We don't have one atm and we don't want one either atm.
What we need is to have a more realistic and improved output from the younger guys.
Having Hird, while so good to watch him win games off his own play, has only hurt us in the development in the last few years.
So many times he would put himself into the play and win the ball at will, but this was hindering our other players having the chance to do similar.
We have no one on our list who is CURRENTLY ready to step up and be the Crunch player, on a consistent basis and that type of player is not what we need YET.
We have a few players that in a few years MIGHT turn out be that player but they are not ready yet.
Well said, we have relied on Hird to do this for too long and now represents a great opportunity for some of these kids to put their hands up and collectively go in and make it happen.
Still think that we're a few years off seeing anywhere near the best of the likes of Hislop, Dempsey, Jetta, Houli, Gumby, Neagle who all have the potential to be that cruch player.
In the mean time, our 4 best players - Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher and McVeigh will be the crunch players.
BABYBOMBERS2007
29 Oct 2007, 14:25
I reackon Davey will be that player. The way he plays is electrifing and he always puts in 100% and plays the 1 percenters too. Also it is exciting every time he gets the ball.
Lucas - has been doing it for a few years in games that count.
Glad someone said it...
Of the younger players, Davey.
Ludwig van Bertstare
29 Oct 2007, 14:45
Leroy Jetta.
bombersno1
29 Oct 2007, 14:55
Monfries or Houli
super_wog
29 Oct 2007, 16:00
one word JOHNSY the great. he will be our go to man wen we want to tank our season.
jules101
29 Oct 2007, 16:17
Davey...
Jetta.
Dempsey
Lovett
:D
mojon95
29 Oct 2007, 16:20
I reckon Reimers could do this. He has alot of Steve Johnsons onfield assets about him. He can find the ball, kick a goal, and push up into the midfield if need be. Cant wait to see him blossom.
Hislop or Masten ;)
also agree mcveigh, but i'm looking further into the future
The Donners
29 Oct 2007, 17:12
Courtney Dempsey.
Looking forward to seeing Leroy burn the grass in 08. Prescott has spoken very highly of him, can't wait to see Leroy perform again....
:cool:
Add Gumbleton to these 2 players and they're the players I look forward to watching develop the most! :thumbsu:
I think the closest thing we have is Jobe Watson.
When Jobe's up and running, our game goes up phenomenally. He reads the play very well, gets it in the tough situations and is developing a very balanced football brain.
He's turned games before, and I think we'll see him do it a bit more consistently now.
Guys like Davey, Jetta, Dempsey and Lovett will turn games in the future, I just don't think they can be relied upon like Jobe could be.
I think the closest thing we have is Jobe Watson.
When Jobe's up and running, our game goes up phenomenally. He reads the play very well, gets it in the tough situations and is developing a very balanced football brain.
He's turned games before, and I think we'll see him do it a bit more consistently now.
You beat me to it. Whilst not in ANY way saying he is of the class of Hird, he's the one that most reminds me of Jim. The way he can get into the middle of a pack and never appears to be flustered and will whip a handball out 10 or 20 meters to someone in the clear just smacks of Jimmy. If he just improves his kicking, which I'm sure they'll be aware of over summer - he's my pick.
Boris_Bewick
29 Oct 2007, 17:53
Courtenay Dempsey + Confidence in his hamstrings + a string of AFL games = One of our most important players. Very capable of being this type of player, frequently. In my opinion of course.
Gumbleton. Will have presence a plenty in a few years time. If he turns out better than Scotty Lucas, which some think he will, he'll be a champion ...
Davey...
Yep Davey is the man. Missed him a hell of a lot when he went down and with another pre season under his belt he will have improved fitness.
The Donners
29 Oct 2007, 18:33
Yep Davey is the man. Missed him a hell of a lot when he went down and with another pre season under his belt he will have improved fitness.
I'm assuming you've met Jetta, I hear he's a confident young man... that's fantastic! We need confident people/players. I get the feeling that Lovett is confident, not so much Stanton and Ryder... is that accurate?
I'm assuming you've met Jetta, I hear he's a confident young man... that's fantastic! We need confident people/players. I get the feeling that Lovett is confident, not so much Stanton and Ryder... is that accurate?
Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.
Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.
The Donners
29 Oct 2007, 19:12
Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.
Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.
Essendon were reknowned for being chirpy on the field... arrogant if you will, wouldn't mind a bit of that arrogance back! It's a sign that there's success around the corner!!! :thumbsu:
McVeigh.. by a street. Next 'Dons captain IMO.
kelvin_sheedy
29 Oct 2007, 21:40
Davey or McVeigh don't have the ability to influence games as much as a "Hird" type player.
McVeigh has the heart and courage but lacks the class while Davey will have moments but will struggle to grab games by the scruff of the neck.
The only people on our list with potential to do that are Gumbleton and Dempsey and possibly Jetta.
davey, so many times in 07 before the injury he would in "hird style" just make something happen, a chase down, goal, smother or whatever... we we lost both him and hird in the same game we lost our season,
i fully expect with another preseason and some speed around him davey will be the crunch player of 08!!
Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.
Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.
The last "big" talkers on the field would of been Barnes (who still gets the job done), Wallis, Hardwick, Barnard, M.Johnson
Another name I'd like to throw out there is Adam Ramanauskas.
I think we'll see a bit more than we expect next season...
WindyHillWatcher
30 Oct 2007, 10:07
there were a few games in 2007 when the game when is in the balance and mcveigh stood tall. I think him, davey, lucas and mcphee will be the ones to lead the club in 2008 and hopefully we'll see old mate lloyd back down in the goalscore doing what we like most: kicking tons of goals.
andrew lovett is taking a little longer than I expected to be a constant force, perhaps this is his year and if that happens we should be on fire!
there were a few games in 2007 when the game when is in the balance and mcveigh stood tall. I think him, davey, lucas and mcphee will be the ones to lead the club in 2008 and hopefully we'll see old mate lloyd back down in the goalscore doing what we like most: kicking tons of goals.
andrew lovett is taking a little longer than I expected to be a constant force, perhaps this is his year and if that happens we should be on fire!
Next year he will definately get going I think, had a couple of great games in the last few rounds this year and I think he should carry that on next year..
carmi99
31 Oct 2007, 20:58
With the retirement of Hird who will become the player that will lift the dons when the chips are down and everything is going against us. For years it was James, going into the middle and getting that all-important clearance, going back and becoming that loose player in defense, or going forward and kicking that crucial goal.
Who will be Hird's immediate successor, and who from the kids will be the one to step in the future?
For the immediate successor i think McVeigh has the goods to play this role, Lovett to i think can do it as well. If McPhee can recapture his early Essendon form he could also easily fit this role, the potential is there.
In the future I think the likes of Hislop, Monfries, Ryder, Winderlich could all play this role.
Lucas already is a crunch player for us and will continue to do so...
Monfries - he's always had that 'Hird'ness about him, obviously not on the same level; but the ability to play forward and midfield, is extremely courageous, leads from the front, and loves a goal (and a snap).
Monfries - he's always had that 'Hird'ness about him, obviously not on the same level; but the ability to play forward and back, courageous, leads from the front, and loves a goal (and a snap).
I don't think Angus will ever dominate like Hird did, but that's no fault of his, few will.
The main reason though is that Angus doesn't have the attributes. Hird could out mark a ruckman and beat a small for agility and at the same time. Hird could move from CHF to the centre. Angus is no where near as multi-dimensional.
What Monfries could become is Mark Mercuri like player; good in the packs, good as a receiver, good foot skills, good above the shoulders and an effective goalkicker. A long way to go yet though and it'd be a mighty achievement if he got that far.
IMO, I think Welsh could be a player to step up.
He can play that defensive role, go forward or even play in the midfield.
He has everything to be a star IMO.
Also Monfries and Davey could be this crunch player.
Both are very hard at the ball and very courageous.
What allowed Hird to be that "Crunch Player" was his football brain, he just knew where to be, he seemed to always have a headstart on the opposition based simply on reading the play better..... who has the best football brain now that Jimmy has hung the boots up?
McVeigh is probably the most likely to fill the void next year in Hirds absence as he can influence a game when thrown forward or put in the middle as we've seen this year.
Another possibility would be McPhee. I have a feeling he may get back to his best with all this talk about Knights focusing on disposal and decision making which are his 2 major weaknesses, if he works hard on it with Knights over the summer we could see him get back to his best in o8 playing off half back and also being chucked into the middle or up forward if need be.
Longy413
2 Nov 2007, 18:44
What allowed Hird to be that "Crunch Player" was his football brain, he just knew where to be, he seemed to always have a headstart on the opposition based simply on reading the play better..... who has the best football brain now that Jimmy has hung the boots up?
Watson...