Retired # 5: Brent Stanton - Essendon VFL Head Coach

[rines]

"Soft **** for a soft ****" sounds like he was referring to both.

Which is ridiculous.

Stanton may not be a tank like Watson or Selwood, or a little ball of muscle like Colyer, but he is far from soft. Anyone who can keep willing themselves to run to the degree he does is not soft.

I hate few things more than players undeservedly being labelled soft, especially by their own supporters.

Sorry.. I had misread it.

I agree totally with your thoughts. Not a huge fan of Stanton, but doesn't deserve that tag, or most of the abuse hurled his way tbh.

 

[eth-dog]

But at what pace are you covering X distance ?

Are you running to the right spots or is it dead running ?

I continually read that Gumbleton had elite endurance for a tall, but I never saw it in a game - Players like Brown and Riewoldt would run their defenders into the ground in the last quarter - Sometimes elite endurance is hidden.

Gumbleton also had chronic hamstring and back injuries which largely affected his mobility. What a stupid comment

 

[RearNaked]

Yeah i can't believe what im reading here, Stanton is the current day Mr Essendon. Wouldn't give him up.

It is so disrespectful, and ignorant to boot, to call Stanton a soft ****.

I agree actually he isn't a soft **** wasn't really thinking at the time I wrote that but he is average and is only going to get worse he cannot win a 1 on 1 he can't keep his feet and he never kicks to advantage he is mr average now used to be mr essendon when we where shit(not saying he was shit) Id thank him for his loyal service through a shit time and try get him to the club of his choice

 

[Beerfish]

Who would you rather be Gerard? Mr Essendon when we were shit or a soft ****?

 

[yaco55]

Gumbleton also had chronic hamstring and back injuries which largely affected his mobility. What a stupid comment

A stupid comment - Really ! Maybe criticise those posters who claim Gumby had elite endurance until this very day - The fact is that Gumbleton didn't show elite endurance on the footy field.

 

[Benno30]

You had to check that? What did your sources tell you?

Been a while since winning a final mate just had to confirm. But fair call

 

[eth-dog]

A stupid comment - Really ! Maybe criticise those posters who claim Gumby had elite endurance until this very day - The fact is that Gumbleton didn't show elite endurance on the footy field.

As a junior he had elite endurance. It didn't translate to AFL level due to chronic back and hamstring problems

 

[citizen-erased]

One of the few who was able to run out games most of the year. He tailed off in the last few weeks, but then he also didn't get a rest.
Heppell, Goddard, Myers, Jobe - all got rests on the back of injury/illness.

Stanton's stats and averages for the year are largely consistent with previous years and his efficiency improved on 2013.

Never really understood the perception of stanton amongst the critical element within our fans.
For a gut runner who can snag a goal or two a game and run from end to end for over 80% of the game, not entirely sure what else you want?

I also struggle to see who takes his spot

 

[rines]

One of the few who was able to run out games most of the year. He tailed off in the last few weeks, but then he also didn't get a rest.
Heppell, Goddard, Myers, Jobe - all got rests on the back of injury/illness.

Stanton's stats and averages for the year are largely consistent with previous years and his efficiency improved on 2013.

Never really understood the perception of stanton amongst the critical element within our fans.
For a gut runner who can snag a goal or two a game and run from end to end for over 80% of the game, not entirely sure what else you want?

I also struggle to see who takes his spot

As I've been asking for.. if you want to talk about his spot.. then go ahead and put forward your list (in order) of our midfielders for next season... where does he rank for you?

 

[citizen-erased]

As I've been asking for.. if you want to talk about his spot.. then go ahead and put forward your list (in order) of our midfielders for next season... where does he rank for you?

I think he should be 6th
1-Jobe
2-Heppell
3-Zaka
4-Goddard
5-Myers
6-Stanton

He isn't a ball winner. He's not a huge playmaker. And he isn't a line breaker.
What he does give us is a similar role that Cotchin, Smith etc play. Will run 80-85% of game time from the middle to defence to forward and back and give us a link up player. His disposal isn't elite, though he is a decent shot on goal.
In essence, should be our leading uncontested possession winner.

But he has had to be our 4th best mid for every game.
Either someone was missing, or others had poor games. Zaka and Myers are only just kicking into gear and still not breaking games apart.
so 6th is essentially eq 4th and that isn't really his role.

And his output for most of the year has been decent
Take him out of the list above, and who comes in to have as good an impact?

 

[84859300]

Take him out of the list above, and who comes in to have as good an impact?

Z Merrett

 

[rines]

I think he should be 6th
1-Jobe
2-Heppell
3-Zaka
4-Goddard
5-Myers
6-Stanton

He isn't a ball winner. He's not a huge playmaker. And he isn't a line breaker.
What he does give us is a similar role that Cotchin, Smith etc play. Will run 80-85% of game time from the middle to defence to forward and back and give us a link up player. His disposal isn't elite, though he is a decent shot on goal.
In essence, should be our leading uncontested possession winner.

But he has had to be our 4th best mid for every game.
Either someone was missing, or others had poor games. Zaka and Myers are only just kicking into gear and still not breaking games apart.
so 6th is essentially eq 4th and that isn't really his role.

And his output for most of the year has been decent
Take him out of the list above, and who comes in to have as good an impact?

Thanks, you are one of the few that will commit a list to writing rather than just doing circle work on the subject.

I think most on here are in agreement that Stanton is around the 6th-8th midfielder.. in the way your mentioned. As I've mentioned, teams carry around 7 true midfielders into most games. Sometimes 8 depending on match ups.

So, at best, Stanton is now clinging on to one of the last midfield roles in the team.

If Z Merrett continue to improve, or Colyer, or Edwards or Aylett or Melksham or NOB or Ashby or Gleeson or J Merrett or Fantasia or Dalgleish or Hams then where does that leave Stanton??

Some would suggest that you can almost say that Z Merrett is a certaintity to pass Stanton for the 'dash and zip' we desperately need in the middle.

So again.. you can't look at a guy that is your 6th best midfielder and say he is untradeable or 'lock for 22' or whatever. In fact it makes his position very very perilous.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I think most on here are in agreement that Stanton is around the 6th-8th midfielder.. in the way your mentioned. As I've mentioned, teams carry around 7 true midfielders into most games. Sometimes 8 depending on match ups.

Well that's just not true. Most teams have 6 defenders. Some have 5. Most have 4-5 forwards including a second ruck. Add the ruck and the sub and we're talking 12-13 non-midfielders. 9-10 mids.

 

[rines]

Well that's just not true. Most teams have 6 defenders. Some have 5. Most have 4-5 forwards including a second ruck. Add the ruck and the sub and we're talking 12-13 non-midfielders. 9-10 mids.

OK for our team:
(Assuming Hurley stays back, Carlisle forward and Ryder and Dempsey stay)
Backs (6): Hooker, Hurley, Hibberd, Baguley are locked. Then it will either be Fletcher OR another 'tall/medium' defender. Dempsey OR Gleeson.
Forwards (5): Carlisle, Daniher, Ambrose (3rd tall), Chappy and Coyler are locked.
Rucks (2): Ryder and Tbell
Specialist Roles (2): Tagger - Hocking, Lock Down Defensive Forward - Howlett (could be Kommer)

So that is 15 roles taken. Leaving 7 positions for pure midfielders, 8 for best case scenario if you say that Stanton could play the defensive forward position...

I am really really sorry.. but you are 100% correct that as of right now.. he is in our best 22, no doubt. The question is whether he can hold that position next year.

1. Heppell
2. Watson
3. Goddard
4. Zaka
5. Myers

Are all ahead of Stanton for various reasons.

So now (as we keep discussing) there are 2/3 spots left (including that 1 will play as sub) and you have to choose:
Stanton, Z Merrett, Dempsey/Gleeson (depending on who plays HB), J Merrett, Ekav etc etc..

Stanton will be 21st or 22nd picked player next year.. unless we get a heap of injuries or poor form.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

4 tall forwards, a forward tagger and 2 small forwards. Seems legit.

 

[Knight Ryders]

My opinion of Stanton is that he is predominantly an outside midfielder who has never had fantastic pace, but was good at finding space. Now his pace is leaving him, he looks like the game could go past him quite quickly unless he can develop another part to his game. Could Stanton be developed as an inside tagger given his elite endurance? Not sure it is his natural game, might struggle.

 

[rines]

4 tall forwards, a forward tagger and 2 small forwards. Seems legit.

Alright, fine. I guess we'll just see.

You want to go with 10 mids including forwards:
Watson, Heppell, Zaka, Goddard, Myers, Coyler, Chappy, Gleeson, Z Merrett, J Merrett

You are assuming that not a single one of our young mid's improves in the off season.. which I just can't see happening. And no it isn't "BF logic, young is better".. it is the reality that IF we are improving as a club.. then yeah we need young guys to demands spots in our best 22.

 

[rines]

My opinion of Stanton is that he is predominantly an outside midfielder who has never had fantastic pace, but was good at finding space. Now his pace is leaving him, he looks like the game could go past him quite quickly unless he can develop another part to his game. Could Stanton be developed as an inside tagger given his elite endurance? Not sure it is his natural game, might struggle.

No. Not a chance.

 

[Ambrosia]

This is ridiculous Stanton there is no way he will find himself outside the best 22 in the near future. In today's game endurance is more important than ever. Can seriously see the club looking to move on our best runner.

 

[emblurr]

Stanton is the kinda guy you want at your club. His skills are above average, tries his guts out, handy for a goal or two, will do anything for the coach and club. Has some deficiencies, but who doesn't. Coaches love players like that. Which is always why he has been highly rated by the coaching staff.

 

[Knight Ryders]

You could also argue that it is a game of grunt and speed, particularly for midfielders.

Stanton still has the endurance but not the speed he used to, meaning he is finding it harder to find space.

 

[Beerfish]

Stanton is the kinda guy you want at your club. His skills are above average, tries his guts out, handy for a goal or two, will do anything for the coach and club. Has some deficiencies, but who doesn't. Coaches love players like that. Which is always why he has been highly rated by the coaching staff.

I don't think his decision making skills under pressure are. I think they're average to below. Either that or he just doesn't have the physical skills to do what he's trying to do.

I do love the guy though and I still want him on the team but I get the feeling he has to change something up or I think he may get left behind.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

According to BB, Stanton went in for hip surgery today.

Guess it was a poor call to play him through his injury in the last month, although if he had younger blokes like Melksham, Kav and NOB banging down the door. it may not have forced our hand in playing a hampered player.

 

[Zach Package]

Hip arthroscope

 

[RearNaked]

Well I feel like a ********