View Full Version : Essendon Team of the Last Decade
gday bombers fans, i've tried putting together the best team of the last 10 years (99-08) for essendon. here's what i think it would look like. thoughts??
FB: D.SOLOMON D.FLETCHER D.HARDWICK
HB: A.MCPHEE S.WELLMAN M.MCVEIGH
C: J.JOHNSON J.HIRD (c) M.LONG
HF: A.LOVETT S.LUCAS M.MERCURI
FF: B.CARACELLA M.LLOYD G.MOORCROFT
RR: D.HILLE J.MISITI M.JOHNSON
INT: S.ALESSIO A.WELSH B.STANTON P.RYDER
COACH: KEVIN SHEEDY
*minimum 50 games
Pevers-Legend
2 Sep 2008, 23:27
Insert Essendon 2000 premiership team.
sen entertainment bloke
3 Sep 2008, 00:46
No Rama and to much Lovett. At this stage would have Barnes above Ryder.
WindyHillWatcher
3 Sep 2008, 00:53
Insert Essendon 2000 premiership team.
totally agree!
YouveBeenReimered
3 Sep 2008, 05:29
If that is them all at their peak, then I agree 100%
Although there are a few stiff ones.
centurion
3 Sep 2008, 08:18
Knights > Sheedy, silly.
:confused:
Phat Toni
3 Sep 2008, 09:02
gday bombers fans, i've tried putting together the best team of the last 10 years (99-08) for essendon. here's what i think it would look like. thoughts??
FB: D.SOLOMON D.FLETCHER D.HARDWICK
HB: A.MCPHEE S.WELLMAN M.MCVEIGH
C: J.JOHNSON J.HIRD (c) M.LONG
HF: A.LOVETT S.LUCAS M.MERCURI
FF: B.CARACELLA M.LLOYD G.MOORCROFT
RR: D.HILLE J.MISITI M.JOHNSON
INT: S.ALESSIO A.WELSH B.STANTON P.RYDER
COACH: KEVIN SHEEDY
*minimum 50 games
M Johnson as ruck rover?? And sorry no way Ryder makes it.
IMO:
FB: D.HARDWICK D.FLETCHERM.JOHNSON
HB: D.SOLOMON S.WELLMAN A RAMANAUSKAS
C: J BLUMFIELD J.MISITI M.LONG
HF: A.LOVETT S.LUCAS M.MERCURI
FF: B.CARACELLA M.LLOYD G.MOORCROFT
RR: D.HILLE J.JOHNSON J.HIRD (c)
INT: S.ALESSIO, B.STANTON, M.MCVEIGH, A.MCPHEE
COACH: KEVIN SHEEDY
centurion
3 Sep 2008, 10:49
Paul Barnard in for Stanton.
Small caps in for large :cool:
centurion
3 Sep 2008, 11:30
Small caps in for large :cool:
Bring back Barney, we need some toughness. ;)
BomberAce7
3 Sep 2008, 11:51
gday bombers fans, i've tried putting together the best team of the last 10 years (99-08) for essendon. here's what i think it would look like. thoughts??
FB: D.SOLOMON D.FLETCHER D.HARDWICK
HB: A.MCPHEE S.WELLMAN M.MCVEIGH
C: J.JOHNSON J.HIRD (c) M.LONG
HF: A.LOVETT S.LUCAS M.MERCURI
FF: B.CARACELLA M.LLOYD G.MOORCROFT
RR: D.HILLE J.MISITI M.JOHNSON
INT: S.ALESSIO A.WELSH B.STANTON P.RYDER
COACH: KEVIN SHEEDY
*minimum 50 games
B - M.Johnson Fletcher Solomon
HB - Hardwick Wellman McVeigh
C - Ramanauskas J.Johnson Long
HF - Hird Lucas Mercuri
F - Barnard Lloyd Rioli
Ruck - Hille Misiti Bewick
Interchange - Alessio McPhee Watson Caracella
Bombs Away
3 Sep 2008, 12:53
Still one of the best Half Forward Lines of all Time
Hird, Lucas, Mercuri. Always felt comfortable with a good result seeing that line.
Wangeneen.
Left at the end of '96.
B - M.Johnson Fletcher Solomon
HB - Hardwick Wellman McVeigh
C - Ramanauskas J.Johnson Long
HF - Hird Lucas Mercuri
F - Barnard Lloyd Caracella
Foll - Hille Misiti Blumfield
I/C - Barnes, McPhee, Bewick, Rioli
BomberAce7
3 Sep 2008, 13:57
Left at the end of '96.
B - M.Johnson Fletcher Solomon
HB - Hardwick Wellman McVeigh
C - Ramanauskas J.Johnson Long
HF - Hird Lucas Mercuri
F - Barnard Lloyd Caracella
Foll - Hille Misiti Blumfield
I/C - Barnes, McPhee, Bewick, Rioli
Almost the same as mine.:thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu:
Almost the same as mine.:thumbsu::thumbsu::thumbsu:
Great minds think alike:thumbsu::D:thumbsu:
Ben the Gooner
3 Sep 2008, 17:33
B: M Johnson - D Fletcher - D Wallis
HB: D Solomon - S Wellman - D Hardwick
C: M Long - J Misiti - A Ramanauskas
HF: J Hird (c) - S Lucas - M Mercuri
F: D Rioli - M Lloyd - B Caracella
R: S Alessio - J Johnson - D Bewick
I: D Hille - P Barnard - J Blumfield - M McVeigh
Coach: K Sheedy
EDIT:o: Harvey and Hardwick#2 out for Wallis and Blumfield
B: M Johnson - D Fletcher - M Harvey (vc)
HB: D Solomon - S Wellman - D Hardwick
C: M Long - J Misiti - A Ramanauskas
HF: J Hird (c) - S Lucas - M Mercuri
F: D Rioli - M Lloyd - B Caracella
R: S Alessio - J Johnson - D Bewick
I: D Hille - P Barnard - D Hardwick - M McVeigh
Coach: K Sheedy
agree with BTG. except swap Hille and Alessio
Bomberbrilliance
3 Sep 2008, 18:57
Team Of the Decade
B: M Johnson Fletcher Solomon
HB:Hardwick Wellman McVeigh
C:Long Misiti Ramanauskas
HF:Hird(c) Lucas Mercuri
F:Caracella Lloyd(vc) Barnard
FOLL:Alessio J Johnson D Bewick
I/C:Barnes Blumfield Moorcroft Hille
COACH:Sheeds
B: M Johnson - D Fletcher - M Harvey (vc)
HB: D Solomon - S Wellman - D Hardwick
C: M Long - J Misiti - A Ramanauskas
HF: J Hird (c) - S Lucas - M Mercuri
F: D Rioli - M Lloyd - B Caracella
R: S Alessio - J Johnson - D Bewick
I: D Hille - P Barnard - D Hardwick - M McVeigh
Coach: K Sheedy
Harvey gave it away in 1997.
2000 premiership side was
FB: Damien Hardwick Dustin Fletcher Mark Johnson
HB: Dean Solomon Sean Wellman Dean Wallis
C:Justin Blumfield Joe Misiti Adam Ramanauskas,
HFJames Hird Scott Lucas Mark Mercuri
FF: Blake Caracella Matthew Lloyd Michael Long
FOLL:John Barnes Chris Heffernan Jason Johnson
INT:Paul Barnard Gary Moorcroft Darren Bewick Steve Alessio
The only other players I could see making there way into the team would be McVeigh, Rioli and Hille maybe for Wallis, Moorcroft or Alessio/Barnes. In the 99-01 period at one stage Essendon won 64 out of 67 games. In the last 6 years Essendon would have been lucky to have won 64 games
BomberAce7
3 Sep 2008, 19:08
agree with BTG. except swap Hille and Alessio
Agree with Ben the Gooner? Hmmm its difficult having Damien Hardwick on the HBF & on the bench at the same time?:confused: Harvey retired at the end of 1997.
BomberAce7
3 Sep 2008, 19:12
Harvey gave it away in 1997.
2000 premiership side was
FB: Damien Hardwick Dustin Fletcher Mark Johnson
HB: Dean Solomon Sean Wellman Dean Wallis
C:Justin Blumfield Joe Misiti Adam Ramanauskas,
HFJames Hird Scott Lucas Mark Mercuri
FF: Blake Caracella Matthew Lloyd Michael Long
FOLL:John Barnes Chris Heffernan Jason Johnson
INT:Paul Barnard Gary Moorcroft Darren Bewick Steve Alessio
The only other players I could see making there way into the team would be McVeigh, Rioli and Hille maybe for Wallis, Moorcroft or Alessio/Barnes. In the 99-01 period at one stage Essendon won 64 out of 67 games. In the last 6 years Essendon would have been lucky to have won 64 games
Have a look at those players on the left & right side of Wellman! Hard, tough, intimidating!:thumbsu:
Bombertastic
3 Sep 2008, 19:29
Can't really knock anyone out of that 2000 side. Yeah Wallis looks like a weak link but added toughness and a fear factor. Would like to find room for McVeigh. Still, what a side that was, the best side ever to grace a football field. Would have eaten the Cats current side for breakfast.
BomberAce7
3 Sep 2008, 20:31
Can't really knock anyone out of that 2000 side. Yeah Wallis looks like a weak link but added toughness and a fear factor. Would like to find room for McVeigh. Still, what a side that was, the best side ever to grace a football field. Would have eaten the Cats current side for breakfast.
Damn Straight!
phoenix77
3 Sep 2008, 22:16
Darren Bewick would be miles ahead of Andy Lovett.
Ludwig van Bertstare
3 Sep 2008, 22:44
B: Mark Johnson, Dustin Fletcher, Damien Hardwick
HB: Dean Solomon, Sean Wellman, Dean Wallis
C: Michael Long, Joe Misiti, Adam Ramanauskas
HF: James Hird, Scott Lucas, Mark Mercuri
F: Darren Bewick, Matthew Lloyd, Dean Rioli
FOLL: David Hille, Chris Heffernan, Jason Johnson
I/C: Blake Caracella, Gary Moorcroft, Mark McVeigh, Steve Alessio
Slattery_20
6 Sep 2008, 17:39
B: MJohnson, Fletcher, Hardwick
HB: Solomon, Wellman, McVeigh
C: Long, Misiti, Ramanauskas
HF: Hird, Lucas, Mercuri
FF: Salmon, Lloyd, Rioli
FOLL: Hille J Johnson Stanton
INT: Wallis McPhee Caracella Bewick
Few players pushed their way in @ expense of 00-01 players, sadly not many. Pev pretty unlucky to miss
Can't really knock anyone out of that 2000 side. Yeah Wallis looks like a weak link but added toughness and a fear factor. Would like to find room for McVeigh. Still, what a side that was, the best side ever to grace a football field. Would have eaten the Cats current side for breakfast.
I'd have argued Wallis actually played CHB most of the time in 99 & 00, freeing up Wellman to play as the third tall/sweeper - which he totally excelled at. The number of times he was third man up to mark was fantastic.
Its hard to go past the 2000 side, because everyone brought something to it. My selections would be:
FB: ..M. McVeigh .. D. Fletcher .. D. Solomon
CHB: S. Wellman .. D. Wallis .. D. Hardwick
C: ...D. Bewick .. J. Misiti .. D. Rioli
CHF: M. Mercuri .. S.Lucas .. J. Hird
FF: ..B. Caracella .. M. Lloyd .. M. Long
R: ...J. Barnes .. J. Johnson .. C. Heffernen
Int: .S. Allessio .. P. Barnard .. G.Moorcroft .. A. Lovett
Swaps I've made
Rioli for Blumfield. Brings as much strength in the air, adds aggression and silkiness.
McVeigh for M. Johnson. Damn hard decision, but I rate McVeigh as one of the best small defenders around. Lose some possessions, but the ones you get are slicker. And totally shuts down opponents.
Lovett for Rama. I know I'll be howled at. But I think Lovett brings more to the same role. I think Rama would have been better, but didn't get the chance.
I've moved Bewick to the position he played in 1999 when he was playing better than 2000 - the wing.
I was tempted to replace Heffernen with Peverill as the run-with man, but Heffernen's disposal won out.
Unlucky
D. Hille - Sorry mate, but I prefer Barnes in the ruck, he was also effective around the ground, and Allessio brings more to the forward line. Very tough I know, but its mostly team balance.
M. Johnson - think McVeigh brings the same qualities, at a better level. Very tempted to drop Barnard over Johnson, but Barnard is taller.
Stanton/Watson - both had arguments with Blumfield/Moorcroft/Heffernen. Arguments could be made for them.
Davey - I was tempted to drop Long for him, but can't do it on 20 odd games.
The Donners
7 Sep 2008, 11:07
McVeigh for M. Johnson. Damn hard decision, but I rate McVeigh as one of the best small defenders around. Lose some possessions, but the ones you get are slicker. And totally shuts down opponents.
McVeigh has had 1.5 decent seasons, he'd underachieved before then, M Johnson was an absolute gun for 10 years, short memories on this Essendon board!!! :thumbsd:
Slattery_20
7 Sep 2008, 12:00
Ants - Slasher over MJ? Love Slasher as much as anyone, but surely MJ was better as a small forward, as well as being better back & bursts in teh middle. We are judging over a decade here, MJ was at least around for about 8 of those years and a good player for most of them.
McVeigh has had 1.5 decent seasons, he'd underachieved before then, M Johnson was an absolute gun for 10 years, short memories on this Essendon board!!! :thumbsd:
No. McVeigh has excelled for 1.5 seasons in the midfield, performing better there than Johnson ever did. But he had about 3 seasons before that where he consistently wiped the floor of any small forward when he was played in the backline. And that is where Johnson played in 2000, and where I've got McVeigh playing.
And I'm assuming its not over a decade, but the best they played during that time over 50 odd games. Otherwise players like Barnes, Long, Bewick who only had one or two good seasons during that period would struggle.
Phat Toni
8 Sep 2008, 13:54
FB: ..M. McVeigh .. D. Fletcher .. D. Solomon
CHB: S. Wellman .. D. Wallis .. D. Hardwick
C: ...D. Bewick .. J. Misiti .. D. Rioli
CHF: M. Mercuri .. S.Lucas .. J. Hird
FF: ..B. Caracella .. M. Lloyd .. M. Long
R: ...J. Barnes .. J. Johnson .. C. Heffernen
Int: .S. Allessio .. P. Barnard .. G.Moorcroft .. A. Lovett
Ants I am not sure about Bewick, loved him but if we talk the last decade Bewick play 43 games for 34 goals throughout this time, All decade Team worthy? Cupido done 40 games and 50 goals in the past decade and i wouldn't think anybody would put him in this team. I would have thought Rama would get a gig before Bewick.
Same could be said for Wallis.
Ants I am not sure about Bewick, loved him but if we talk the last decade Bewick play 43 games for 34 goals throughout this time, All decade Team worthy? Cupido done 40 games and 50 goals in the past decade and i wouldn't think anybody would put him in this team. I would have thought Rama would get a gig before Bewick.
Same could be said for Wallis.
Remember, 1999 is included in the OP.
Wallis pretty much played CHB from 99=>01, freeing up Wellman to play 3rd tall. It would be my preferred option, as it also adds a lot of hardness.
Bewick was exceptional in 1999, playing most of the time on the wing - which is why his goal tally was down. In 2000 he rotated between the wing and the forward line and was also very effective.
In 1999 Misiti, Mercuri and Bewick were three of our main drivers in the midfield.