View Full Version : "Essendon's Latest Recruit" series - Hawthorn
Previous installments:
Adelaide (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=682451), Brisbane (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683153), Carlton (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684041), Collingwood (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684093), Fremantle (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684189), Geelong (http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=684212)As much as I hate the club, they're a breeding ground for top-end quality talent.
There are some that would make a massive difference to our side, but don't even make my shortlist. Which is:
Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Lance Franklin.
I'd rule Hodge out first, as I honestly believe he's severely over-rated. But I've spoken enough about that elsewhere.
A midfield consisting of Jobe and Mitchell dominating the clearances would make us top-4 in my opinion; we would struggle to lose more clearances than we win. However on the other hand you have Buddy, who is.. Buddy. No club would say no to him, as he's a proven match-winner. I actually cannot split the two as I write this, so I've had to decide based purely on age. Therefore:
Buddy
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/05/02/wbSPORTLIFEleftie_narrowweb__300x447,0.jpg
eth-dog
22 Mar 2010, 16:17
Hodge. His ability to change the game from forward, midfield and defence is awesome. plus, we don't really need buddy *hides*
we don't really need buddy *hides*You're right; we already have his upgrade (http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2009/09/25/300_hurley,0.jpg).
Having said that, can you imagine the damage our side could do with the forward options of of Buddy, Hurley, Gumby, Neagle?!
Ludwig van Bertstare
22 Mar 2010, 16:22
Rioli.
Darealrath
22 Mar 2010, 16:37
There will be a lot of Rioli's before there is another Franklin. Buddy without any hesitation.
BOMBERS 4 LIFE!!!!
22 Mar 2010, 16:44
brad sewell
Call Me Cake
22 Mar 2010, 16:55
I'd take the league's arguably best forward line (currently) as my own if I could, because let's be honest, that'd be the place where it'd make the biggest improvement at the moment (note: 'at the moment').
In terms of Hawthorn alone?
Buddy. No question...
Mad Bomber Sean
22 Mar 2010, 17:04
I'd rule Hodge out first, as I honestly believe he's severely over-rated. But I've spoken enough about that elsewhere.
I am shocked that you feel he is over rated.
I think that Mitchell is a very good clearance player, that is actually somewhat over rated. I would have Buddy, Rioli, Hodge & maybe even Sewell Burgoyne, & Roughy before Mitchell.
Buddy's my pick everyday of the week. However Hodge & Sewell would be very good additions to our side.
Hodge is a machine, and he backs up his talk with actions. If he can get his body right he could be one of the best in the league. Hodgies 2008 GF was bloody awesome, as was Rioli's and Sewells. Mitchell was humdrum.
Anyway Buddy for me without doubt.
I am shocked that you feel he is over rated.
I think that Mitchell is a very good clearance player, that is actually somewhat over rated. I would have Buddy, Rioli, Hodge & maybe even Sewell Burgoyne, & Roughy before Mitchell.
Buddy's my pick everyday of the week. However Hodge & Sewell would be very good additions to our side.
Hodge is a machine, and he backs up his talk with actions. If he can get his body right he could be one of the best in the league. Hodgies 2008 GF was bloody awesome, as was Rioli's and Sewells. Mitchell was humdrum.
Anyway Buddy for me without doubt.I may have seen the 'wrong' games, but I've always felt Hodge was a bit of a jack-of-all-trades; master of none.
His GF performance was good, and good on him for doing exactly what was asked of him. However being a loose man in a team focused on defensive zones is hardly inspiring to me.
I think he's really effective in patches of games when played through the middle, but I'm yet to see him dominate an entire game from there.
All of Sewell, Rioli, Burgoyne & Roughead would be welcome additions to our side, but I think the potential of having Watson & Mitchell working together in the clearances would be invaluable. Look at Geelong with Ablett, Corey, Selwood, Bartel & Ling, or Hawthorn with Mitchell, Sewell & Lewis; all contested ball kings able to set up plays on which the entire team feeds off gives them a massive head-start.
If I were to rate the top clearance players in the league, I would have (in no particular order) Black, Judd, Watson, Ablett, Selwood, Mitchell, Hayes, Cross, Cooney. When you have two of those in one side, you're going to be a massive threat.
Having said that, you can't say no to Buddy.
Buddy, Sewell, Hodge, Mitchell and Rioli are the four that come to mind. Replacing Atkinson/Slattery with Hodge down back would be an epic boost for our defence. I think I'll roll with him based on his versatility to play down back or in the middle.
Ludwig van Bertstare
22 Mar 2010, 17:23
Buddy, Sewell, Hodge, Mitchell and Rioli are the four that come to mind. Replacing Atkinson/Slattery with Hodge down back would be an epic boost for our defence. I think I'll roll with him based on his versatility to play down back or in the middle.
That's five you fool :p
Buddy, Sewell, Hodge, Mitchell and Rioli are the four that come to mind.:D I'd sig that if you were an opposition supporter.
Ben the Gooner
22 Mar 2010, 17:31
Hodge or Sewell.
Both exactly what we need.
The Dustbin
22 Mar 2010, 18:14
Sewell - great footballer and a good bloke. :thumbsu:
Slattery_20
22 Mar 2010, 19:09
Buddy. By a mile.
morebeer
22 Mar 2010, 19:38
Have chosen mids for every team including Adelaide where I resisted Tippet but I can't go past Buddy here. He is a once a generation player. After Buddy I would take Roughy who is a fantastic player and still somewhat untapped prospect.
Buddy and Hurley would be an awesome combination up forward.
That's five you fool :p
:D I'd sig that if you were an opposition supporter.
I actually typed "Buddy, Sewell, Hodge and Rioli" but then quickly realised I left out Mitchell and forgot I mentioned 'four' when I edited. :(
bombre-boy
23 Mar 2010, 00:56
Depending on our needs...
Buddy for the forward line
Sewell for the midfield (just ahead of mitchell)
Rioli, because we should have got him anyway...
yodellinhank
23 Mar 2010, 16:08
Cyril. As emphatically as possible.
machina
23 Mar 2010, 18:55
Mark Williams.
AxelFoley
24 Mar 2010, 09:20
Mark Williams.
Clever:D
Hodgey or Sewelly for me...
However Buddy would look damn sexy in a Bomber jumper;)
Jonesy1987
24 Mar 2010, 10:04
Hodge or Rioli.
stay true
24 Mar 2010, 12:00
eBuddy Franklin.
donsman4eva
24 Mar 2010, 14:01
Hodge
jade_00
24 Mar 2010, 14:49
Buddy. By a mile.
This.
I can appreciate that you would generally recruit to a need (in our case midfield) but sometimes the player on offer is too good to pass up.
Buddy. By a mile.
Buddy for me. Followed very closely by Sewell and Rioli.
HyperAgressiveDonk
5 Apr 2010, 09:59
These days kicking 100 goals in a H&A season is nearly impossible to do. Buddy did it from a roaming forward position where he wasn't the only option. Even a bad year like last year yields 67 goals.
As good as Hodge, Mitchell, Rioli and Sewell are you would be out of your mind not to pick a 23 year old key forward like Franklin. I've never seen someone that big and that tall be so quick and move better than most midfielders. He's a freak
TeamHurley
5 Apr 2010, 10:02
These days kicking 100 goals in a H&A season is nearly impossible to do. Buddy did it from a roaming forward position where he wasn't the only option. Even a bad year like last year yields 67 goals.
As good as Hodge, Mitchell, Rioli and Sewell are you would be out of your mind not to pick a 23 year old key forward like Franklin. I've never seen someone that big and that tall be so quick and move better than most midfielders. He's a freak
Agree with HyperAgressiveFlog.
Depite being a massive knob he is actually making some good comments round here lately :p
Buddy in our forward line yesterday and we probably would have won the game.