View Full Version : Essendon's Tough Players
The Donners
29 Sep 2008, 17:27
I am finding it difficult to name hard and tough players at the Essendon Football Club, this is by no means an insult to the players currently on our list as I believe we have some highly talented footballers- but tough players we don't.
What I would regard as tough players (or at least with a bit of mongrel):
Kyle Reimers
Nathan Lovett-Murray
Potentially:
Jay Neagle
Further to this, something DaSawx posted really resonated with me, a premiership could be closer than we all think. With that in mind I was thinking of what we need other than an A-grade midfielder (sounding like a broken record), execution of defensive skills and finally I thought, tough players ala C Brown, S Dew, J Lewis and to a lesser degree, Chance Bateman.
Can anyone think of any other current player on our list that has a bit of mongrel or toughness about them or even who you would like (realistically) at the club that could provide said toughness?
bomberstomake8
29 Sep 2008, 17:34
I am finding it difficult to name hard and tough players at the Essendon Football Club, this is by no means an insult to the players currently on our list as I believe we have some highly talented footballers- but tough players we don't.
What I would regard as tough players (or at least with a bit of mongrel):
Kyle Reimers
Nathan Lovett-Murray
Potentially:
Jay Neagle
Further to this, something DaSawx posted really resonated with me, a premiership could be closer than we all think. With that in mind I was thinking of what we need other than an A-grade midfielder (sounding like a broken record), execution of defensive skills and finally I thought, tough players ala C Brown, S Dew, J Lewis and to a lesser degree, Chance Bateman.
Can anyone think of any other current player on our list that has a bit of mongrel or toughness about them or even who you would like (realistically) at the club that could provide said toughness?
mcveigh and welsh > reimers, NLM
hille as well - no so much in the physical intimidation sense but definately by the way he throws his body around when he needs to (refer to the brisbane match this year when he levelled mcdonald (i think) and black within 5 seconds of each other.
tom hislop will be tough in a couple of years if he is still on our list.
i agree that we need a bit of physical intimidation on our list, we dont really have it especially in defence where we were the toughest team in the comp with solomon, MJ, hardwick etc.
Laycock obviously
Hi Ben!
Ludwig van Bertstare
29 Sep 2008, 17:41
Sam Lonergan.
I was going to say in before the Hislop fanboys but someone already mentioned him (not accusing that poster of being a fanboy though).
Hocking will be a hard at it player if he makes it at AFL level.
Smyth94
29 Sep 2008, 18:01
I am finding it difficult to name hard and tough players at the Essendon Football Club, this is by no means an insult to the players currently on our list as I believe we have some highly talented footballers- but tough players we don't.
What I would regard as tough players (or at least with a bit of mongrel):
Kyle Reimers
Nathan Lovett-Murray
Potentially:
Jay Neagle
True toughness for mine, is putting your body on the line when you know you're going to get hit time and time again. NLM might know how to throw a few but I've seen him go the soft option a few too many times
Add McPhee, Slattery, Welsh, Lloyd, Hille and McVeigh to the group
The Donners
29 Sep 2008, 18:04
True toughness for mine, is putting your body on the line when you know you're going to get hit time and time again. NLM might know how to throw a few but I've seen him go the soft option a few too many times
Add McPhee, Slattery, Welsh, Lloyd, Hille and McVeigh to the group
Courageous, not tough.
NLM has mongrel, I said tough or mongrel.
Smyth94
29 Sep 2008, 18:16
What's the point of being able to throw a few punches around? It is outlawed in today's game.
I want players who put their bodies on the line, not players who know how to fight.
Sam Lonergan.
:thumbsu::thumbsu: Quite possibly the toughest at the club!
Hislop
AndyLesPaul
29 Sep 2008, 18:47
True toughness for mine, is putting your body on the line when you know you're going to get hit time and time again. NLM might know how to throw a few but I've seen him go the soft option a few too many times
Add McPhee, Slattery, Welsh, Lloyd, Hille and McVeigh to the group
courageous is tough really isnt it?
Slattery_20
29 Sep 2008, 19:27
Not enough
There are different brands of toughness
The Mitchell/Slattery style throw yourself on anything courage, can inspire team-mates
The Guerra/NLM style of sneakily kneeing and ankle tapping, can put good opponents off their games and make others think twice.
Gut running, a la Robert Harvey - getting up and going again, can also be considered tough
We are deficient on all three.
Mind you, anyone who says McPhee is not involved in the sneaky stuff needs to watch closer. Pretty boy does not necessarily mean he doesn't get his hands dirty, I have had questions on him in the past but he relentlessly throws himself in now and can be considered tough in anyone's language. The fact that 3 Hawthorn blokes targetted him of all our players in the line in the sand game tells you how they regard him.
I think a lot of our deficiencies may be filled in time - Hocking's no shirker (& I love his build & approach, even if he's not quite there yet), Reimers loves it physical, and Slatts should learn a few sneaky back pocket black arts in time. Hislop too if he gets it together.
Slattery_20
29 Sep 2008, 19:28
What's the point of being able to throw a few punches around? It is outlawed in today's game.
I want players who put their bodies on the line, not players who know how to fight.
Brent Guerra was recruited for his
a) Pace
b) Athleticism
c) Overhead marking
d) Because he's a dirty little unit who does what it takes
aintplayin03
29 Sep 2008, 19:29
McVeigh is the most relentlessly tenacious, obstinate player on our list, and is a great leader who will hopefully be with us for years to come. He embodies all the competitive fierceness that is encouraged in our sport, and would have to be one of the invariably "tougest" players in the competition.
The Donners
29 Sep 2008, 19:32
courageous is tough really isnt it?
There is a distinction.
Courageous is the state of mind to face danger and fear with confidence and resolution whereas toughness is physically or mentally strong and able to cope with hardships or contests. Difficult to define the difference, but there is a difference.
MarkJohnson#1
29 Sep 2008, 19:39
Intimidating might be the word you are looking for Donners, we lack any real presence of intimidation in our side, i.e. someone who could make the opposition think twice before taking him on or going in for the ball etc. In his prime Solly used to offer that to us along with the likes of Mark Johnson, Hardwick, Wallace, Barnard to name a few.
At the moment Longergan stands out as one of the tougher, more courageous players on our list but we lack any real tough/aggressive types. Monfries has plenty of courage no doubt, though lacks the size and perhaps aggression to really hurt the opposition physically. The one player that does generally throw his weight around and use it to his advantage is Lloydy (aka the Velvet Sledgehammer), and despite what many people may think can physically punish an opposition player if they get in his way.
Slattery is a hard unit and can tough at time but also has the tendency to be reckless and not smart about the way he goes about it.
NLM and McPhee are not tough IMO.
Slattery_20
29 Sep 2008, 19:43
http://www.gspimages.com.au/images/thumbs/main/137849.jpg
There is a distinction.
Courageous is the state of mind to face danger and fear with confidence and resolution whereas toughness is physically or mentally strong and able to cope with hardships or contests. Difficult to define the difference, but there is a difference.
So going by that definition and you comment about players a few above you don't think McPhee, Slattery, Welsh, Lloyd, Hille and McVeigh are physically or mentally strong and able to cope with hardships or contests? McPhee may be a little soft in his mentality sometimes, but apart from that I think those players fit your definition.
Time to create a better definition.
EDIT: That Reimers/Thomas photo still makes me laugh, look at daisy's expression. :D
Sam Lonergan.
that took 3 posts too long
The Donners
29 Sep 2008, 19:56
Intimidating might be the word you are looking for Donners, we lack any real presence of intimidation in our side, i.e. someone who could make the opposition think twice before taking him on or going in for the ball etc. In his prime Solly used to offer that to us along with the likes of Mark Johnson, Hardwick, Wallace, Barnard to name a few.
At the moment Longergan stands out as one of the tougher, more courageous players on our list but we lack any real tough/aggressive types. Monfries has plenty of courage no doubt, though lacks the size and perhaps aggression to really hurt the opposition physically. The one player that does generally throw his weight around and use it to his advantage is Lloydy (aka the Velvet Sledgehammer), and despite what many people may think can physically punish an opposition player if they get in his way.
Slattery is a hard unit and can tough at time but also has the tendency to be reckless and not smart about the way he goes about it.
NLM and McPhee are not tough IMO.
Thanks MJ, "presence of intimidation". Beautiful! :thumbsu:
windyhill
29 Sep 2008, 20:01
Welsh. Lonegran. Reimers. These boys have **** in them. We are way down on this type unfortunately. Maybe throw in Buddah Hocking as well.
AndyLesPaul
29 Sep 2008, 20:59
There is a distinction.
Courageous is the state of mind to face danger and fear with confidence and resolution whereas toughness is physically or mentally strong and able to cope with hardships or contests. Difficult to define the difference, but there is a difference.
Kk,
but there similar.
McVeigh no doubt is our no.1 hard man. Followed closely by Lonergan and Welsh.
danzan22
29 Sep 2008, 23:47
Courageous, not tough.
I would definately class McPhee as tough, anyone remember earlier in the year when he tackled a bloke with one hand while holding the ball in the other.
Sir James
30 Sep 2008, 00:10
I would put Lloyd first with McVeigh a close second.
when Lloyd cleaned up cornes a few years back it lifted us..
Also the Judd hit this year...... Bloody made me proud of our great club:D
retroparty
30 Sep 2008, 03:55
I've been thinking about this one. I don't know if we lack tough players or lack players who can and have shown that they are tough players but won't do it all the time. We do have a coupla genuinely tough players (Welsh, Lonergan) then we have players who have shown potential but won't commit to the cause 100% of the time (NLM, McPhee).
Its probably not worth persisting with guys like NLM and McPhee and waiting for them to add consistency in to their game, so we would be better off trying to find younger, harder and tougher players. I'm not saying that we should get rid of NLM and McPhee because they can play different roles in the team. Luckily we do have young players coming through the ranks who are willing to put their bodies on the line and we need to hold onto these blokes and really try our best to develop them into tough, hard running players with plenty of bulldog.
These are the sorts of players which you need if you want to go all the way. Hawthorn and Geelong have bothed showed it in the last 2 years. We have lots of development to do and I hope we can do it properly.
Slattery_20
30 Sep 2008, 21:20
Intimidating might be the word you are looking for Donners
That's what I've taken it as as well
one eyed pirate
30 Sep 2008, 21:21
where's Billy Duckworth when you need him ?
Bomber57
1 Oct 2008, 10:13
atm we have quite a few courageous players, but not one tough player, not like the good old days, Llyod maybe! :D anyway football today is not that way inclined, is it? :rolleyes:
Sam Lonergan.
Agree.
You could add Mark McVeigh and Henry Slattery as well.
Bomberlicious
1 Oct 2008, 10:39
Brent Guerra was recruited for his
a) Pace
b) Athleticism
c) Overhead marking
d) Because he's a dirty little unit who does what it takes
Can I have a lifeline please Ed...? I would have said e) hair product knowledge:thumbsu:
I think McVeigh, Reimers, Lloyd at times, as well as Welsh and McPhee all possess a little "unsociabilty", but with the way the game is played and reviewed (think MRP), we would be kidding ourselves to try to get back to the Glory Days of 2000, when the likes of Wally, Solly, MJ, JJ, Hardwick, Morecroft, Barney & Longy (how did Simmonds survive that??!!) rode roughshod over all & sundry.
It's just a glorious memory now (I'm getting all teary just thinking about it...)
bomberz08
1 Oct 2008, 16:29
mcveigh, hislop, hocking and lonergan and all pretty tough
Stanton!!!!
Wait donners i was only joking please dont kill me with stanton hate :p
BigBomber09
3 Oct 2008, 17:13
McVeigh and Welsh are tough as nails. Slattery, Reimers and Hille are all courageous and and go hard for the ball. id classify them in the tough group aswell. NLM can be at times. mongrel at others. but he has courage. Which Lloyd sometimes shows aswell.
Ludwig van Bertstare
3 Oct 2008, 17:35
NLM may be 'tough' because he hits players but he still squibs contests occasionally.
SydneyBomber
3 Oct 2008, 20:20
where's Billy Duckworth when you need him ?
I raise you a rotten ronnie?
:eek:
we need more complete lunatic mongrels playing for us, pure and simple.
The Dustbin
3 Oct 2008, 21:06
http://www.gspimages.com.au/images/thumbs/main/137849.jpg
Love that pic. :thumbsu::D
Don't forget Slatts. ;)
BigBomber09
4 Oct 2008, 08:37
lonergan and reimers are our only really tough guys at the moment - maybe will become as tough as solomon
to a lesser extend mcveigh, lovett-murray
Are You Kidding? Sure Reimers is tough. Rustles guys around ex. Richo, Thomas, Judd etc. And Lonergan, not so much tough just courageous. Same with Slats. McVeigh and Welsh are the two toughest, always head down going hard for the ball. and can take it well too.
hateitorlovett13
4 Oct 2008, 12:57
lonergan and reimers are our only really tough guys at the moment - maybe will become as tough as solomon
to a lesser extend mcveigh, lovett-murray
You can't be serious. McVeigh is clearly the toughest at Essendon, he might not be the antagonistic little prick (I love him being an antagonistic little prick) that Reimers is but he puts in absolutely everything on the field, is invariably aggressive, and uses his strength and power every time he plays. Although those guys are indubitably tough, McVeigh just seems a step above them in all round "toughness" (power, strength, aggression, competitiveness, mental strength and never say die attitude).
howiehowie
4 Oct 2008, 18:41
You can't be serious. McVeigh is clearly the toughest at Essendon, he might not be the antagonistic little prick (I love him being an antagonistic little prick) that Reimers is but he puts in absolutely everything on the field, is invariably aggressive, and uses his strength and power every time he plays. Although those guys are indubitably tough, McVeigh just seems a step above them in all round "toughness" (power, strength, aggression, competitiveness, mental strength and never say die attitude).
McVeigh would definitely top the list in the toughness stakes at EFC. Never takes a backwards step. Easily my favourite player.
lonergan and reimers are our only really tough guys at the moment - maybe will become as tough as solomon
to a lesser extend mcveigh, lovett-murray
yeh and we might as well pick up Solly with last pick to add to that
loopy_cam
4 Oct 2008, 20:40
McVeigh
Welsh
Hille
Lonergan
Reimers
BigBomber09
4 Oct 2008, 21:43
2000. Glory Days.
So many tough players. that team was complete. It was brilliant.
Just wait a sec and remember.
Justin Blumfield, Adam Ramanauskas, Dean Solomon, Matthew Lloyd, Sean Wellman, Scott Lucas, Steve Alessio, Dustin Fletcher, John Barnes, Dean Wallis, Blake Caracella, Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Gary Moorcroft, Darren Bewick, Damien Hardwick, Mark Johnson, James Hird, Michael Long, Chris Heffernan, Jason Johnson, Paul Barnard.
bomba4eva
5 Oct 2008, 00:36
Personally I think it's ignorant enough to not have listed McVeigh and Lonergan. Despite all the bullsh*t also Lloyd is a tough player also. Hille throws his weight around when needed. Monfries goes in hard and is willing to have a fight. Slattery is a tough footballer though not the most supremely talented.
Those are a few I can think of off the top of my head. Riemers also naturally.
bomba4eva
5 Oct 2008, 00:39
At the moment Longergan stands out as one of the tougher, more courageous players on our list but we lack any real tough/aggressive types. Monfries has plenty of courage no doubt, though lacks the size and perhaps aggression to really hurt the opposition physically. The one player that does generally throw his weight around and use it to his advantage is Lloydy (aka the Velvet Sledgehammer), and despite what many people may think can physically punish an opposition player if they get in his way.
Yep, spot on mate:thumbsu:
bomba4eva
5 Oct 2008, 00:43
You can't be serious. McVeigh is clearly the toughest at Essendon, he might not be the antagonistic little prick (I love him being an antagonistic little prick) that Reimers is but he puts in absolutely everything on the field, is invariably aggressive, and uses his strength and power every time he plays. Although those guys are indubitably tough, McVeigh just seems a step above them in all round "toughness" (power, strength, aggression, competitiveness, mental strength and never say die attitude).
Yep. Brilliant Post:thumbsu:
Agree with all of that. Pathetic that The Donners didn't name McVeigh in his initial post.