Draft:Pick 5 - Michael Hurley

[The_Young_Gun]

Nicely put RIG, however Fevola is super fast of the mark and would blitz him. He would go well against Kruezer or Fischer or if they ever get a decent tall forward, then him.

True, but if we chuck Slatts in front of him like we have the last few times, it might actually work.

Maybe chuck Dempsey deep into space instead, he seems to be pretty good going back into the contest... also slatts would probably be too scared to take that job now considering what happened last time.

 

[Sigmund]

Then who do you see playing on the taller athletic types ie. Riewoldt or Franklin? Ryder? Hurley surely won't be able to hold his own in 2010 against Roughead, Brown and Fevola in just his second season. I don't see how our backline will function with the loss of Fletcher.

Don't forget about Pears

 

[yaco55]

True, but if we chuck Slatts in front of him like we have the last few times, it might actually work.

Maybe chuck Dempsey deep into space instead, he seems to be pretty good going back into the contest... also slatts would probably be too scared to take that job now considering what happened last time.

Ryder will play on Fevola.

 

[saladin]

this is getting tiresome, but people need to start thinking a bit.

1) hurleys sprint times at the dc may, or may not, be a true indication of his speed, but either way some targetted training WILL make him quicker. whereas the established full forwards are not likely to - they've already had that benefit

2) if he's reading the play as well as he seems to, he's on the move earlier anyway. once the full forward has to make body contact, they are in hurleys strong point - contested marking.

3) the kid has a desire for physical contact. he crashes packs to get to the ball. he can spoil with either hand - a huge advantage that allows him to come from the wrong side of the contest and still be effective.

4) to me, he still looks like a developing and slightly soft frame. there is a bit of puppy to replace with muscle as he matures. think glen jakovich.

5) even if he is a bit slower than the forwards, how does not drafting him help us? he's the best credentialled key back i've seen in years. and he hasn't had one decent year - he's been at the top for two full seasons. and in that time, no-one has kicked a bag on him afaik. he closed watts down completely. so what do we do? draft rich? is he going to solve our key defensive issues? is there a better full back available next year? not to my knowledge.

6) he already seems to be unique on our list. who else can hit a target 55 meters away with both feet? none.


so stop watching other clubs picks and enjoy what we have. we shouldn't be paranoid about what we've missed. we should be glued to what is hatching at windy hill. the first time hurley outmarks a barry hall rub your hands together in anticipation. when you see zaharakis burst through the middle, ponder for a second on the Vic Metro coach stating that Zaha should be a 1st rounder. forget rich, forget sidebottom - they're good kids and will do their clubs proud, but there's the rub - it's their clubs, not ours. or mine. or yours. i follow essendon. by extrapolation, hurley plays for ME. and i'm damn happy about it.

go dons.

 

[Sigmund]

^^^^

very mature post... other posters should read and learn

 

[Utopian Knights]

Outstanding post Saladin - prompted me to register rather than just read like I have been for a while.

 

[Burzum]

I seriously don't think he's as slow as people believe or that his sprint time suggests. I've seen him go against Naitanui and match him on several leads. He still needs to trim down and get into a professional enviroment which could drastically improve his time.

 

[Spikey]

Outstanding post Saladin - prompted me to register rather than just read like I have been for a while.

You better not just post that and disappear into the shadows.

 

[Merv]

I've seen him go against Hurley and match him on several leads.

Wow, no wonder we picked him, 2 for the price of one

 

[Burzum]

Wow, no wonder we picked him, 2 for the price of one

Oops I meant Naitanui.

 

[stay true]

this is getting tiresome, but people need to start thinking a bit.

1) hurleys sprint times at the dc may, or may not, be a true indication of his speed, but either way some targetted training WILL make him quicker. whereas the established full forwards are not likely to - they've already had that benefit

2) if he's reading the play as well as he seems to, he's on the move earlier anyway. once the full forward has to make body contact, they are in hurleys strong point - contested marking.

3) the kid has a desire for physical contact. he crashes packs to get to the ball. he can spoil with either hand - a huge advantage that allows him to come from the wrong side of the contest and still be effective.

4) to me, he still looks like a developing and slightly soft frame. there is a bit of puppy to replace with muscle as he matures. think glen jakovich.

5) even if he is a bit slower than the forwards, how does not drafting him help us? he's the best credentialled key back i've seen in years. and he hasn't had one decent year - he's been at the top for two full seasons. and in that time, no-one has kicked a bag on him afaik. he closed watts down completely. so what do we do? draft rich? is he going to solve our key defensive issues? is there a better full back available next year? not to my knowledge.

6) he already seems to be unique on our list. who else can hit a target 55 meters away with both feet? none.


so stop watching other clubs picks and enjoy what we have. we shouldn't be paranoid about what we've missed. we should be glued to what is hatching at windy hill. the first time hurley outmarks a barry hall rub your hands together in anticipation. when you see zaharakis burst through the middle, ponder for a second on the Vic Metro coach stating that Zaha should be a 1st rounder. forget rich, forget sidebottom - they're good kids and will do their clubs proud, but there's the rub - it's their clubs, not ours. or mine. or yours. i follow essendon. by extrapolation, hurley plays for ME. and i'm damn happy about it.

go dons.

Brilliantly said mate.

 

[Kong]

Don't forget about Pears

you tell em mate!

 

[Beerfish]

*applauding saladin*

Well said mate. Very well said indeed.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Nicely put RIG, however Fevola is super fast of the mark and would blitz him. He would go well against Kruezer or Fischer or if they ever get a decent tall forward, then him.

I seriously don't think he's as slow as people believe or that his sprint time suggests. I've seen him go against Naitanui and match him on several leads. He still needs to trim down and get into a professional enviroment which could drastically improve his time.

the other thing people forget is that smart backmen often play in front of their man, thus mitigating somewhat the explosive pace off the mark. Hurley will have the capacity to do that, make the spoil, then zone off and run his opponent into the ground.

The sprint time thing is ridiculous. Footballer, first and foremost

 

[Canyouhearthedrums]

I think you have a good one on your hands here. Apparently we were very keen on him and most of the Blues posters who know about the kids had him rated as our best option. Interestingly, there was ALOT of support for drafting him as a key forward.

 

[yaco55]

Because Hurley has a mature body and footy smarts we will know within two years how successful he will be down back.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

You better not just post that and disappear into the shadows.

it seems so. lol

 

[MattDEEmon]

dont know if anyone has metioned this but Demetrious brother works down at Viewbank College where Hurley studied and was a big influence in Brent Stantons school days. Just thought id let everyone know. Kid will be a gun. good luck next year

 

[bomba4eva]

I think you have a good one on your hands here. Apparently we were very keen on him and most of the Blues posters who know about the kids had him rated as our best option. Interestingly, there was ALOT of support for drafting him as a key forward.

He is quite versatile and with Carlton's gaps in the forward line it is understandable that he may have been required up forward. It is another advantage of recruiting Hurley that we have the option to throw him up forward where he seems competent enough. His skill of reading the play will go a long way to negating any lack of pace. Most people don't dislike the choice of Hurley because they think he is a bad footballer but rather that we wanted a potential blue chip midfielder.

 

[Utopian Knights]

it seems so. lol

Still here . Can't wait to see Hurley playing for Essendon. Perhaps he will wear number 22 like Mal and Duckworth - maybe even make a surprise move up forward late in a Grand Final....

 

[Boris_Bewick]

He's got Sean Wellman written all over him.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

He's got Sean Wellman written all over him.

Jeez, I wouldn't say no to that.

Nodda was the first CHB Essendon had when I started going to games, and is still the best CHB I have seen us have. He used to be one of my absolute favourites.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

our defence was never really the same after Wellman. He was so under-rated. I'd be rapt with that too

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Agreed. Wellman was 'the rock'. Stood up for us numerous times, super courageous player. Squeezed most / if not all of his ability out of himself.

 

[GoDons]

Personally, I think Tayte Pears will be our Wellman.