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For the two KPFs I would start with McKernan and Z.Clarke. (Until Daniher is ready)
Brown plays more mid-sized and is not above Stringer.
Stewart needs to show he is above the others to push them out.
Mitch Brown still serially underrated I see. Stats when playing forward this year:
Brown: 11 games, 18 goals, 7 behinds (72% accuracy), 2.2 I50, 0.5 GA, 0.9 CM, 1.5 MI50, 1 TI50 per game
McKernan: 10 games, 16 goals, 11 behinds (59% accuracy), 2.3 I50, 0.3 GA, 1.5 CM, 2 M150, 1 TI50 pg
Stewart: 11 games, 15 goals, 13 behinds (54% accuracy), 2.4 I50, 0.6 GA, 1.3 CM, 1.6 MI50, 0.7 TI50 pg
Brown is comfortably the most accurate of the three, but the rest of the stats are near identical. Obviously I excluded the first 3 games of the year where Brown was playing in defence.
I was more talking in the "Z Clarke should start forward" who's never averaged 1 goal/game in an AFL season, ever.Agree that Brown is underrated but Mckernan was playing a much more difficult role on the opposition's best defender whilst also holding down back up ruck.
I think all of Daniher, Stewart and Brown or relish playing with a Hooker/Mckernan type as the contested marking deep forward.
I was more talking in the "Z Clarke should start forward" who's never averaged 1 goal/game in an AFL season, ever.
Stewart, Brown and McKernan are VFL standard or slightly above. Clarke pushing past any of them should not take too much imagination.Oh definitely agree . More chance Clarke pushes past Bellchambers as No.1 ruck and TBC becomes an option at FF which is also very unlikely.
Stewart, Brown and McKernan are VFL standard or slightly above. Clarke pushing past any of them should not take too much imagination.
All 3 are AFL standard at their best & will get games if in form.Stewart, Brown and McKernan are VFL standard or slightly above. Clarke pushing past any of them should not take too much imagination.
I reckon Darcy Parish will surprise you this year. And yeah i hope Laverde plays 20 games.Francis Hurley McKenna
Gleeson Hooker Saad
Zakka Heppell Smith
Laverde Brown Fantasia
Stringer McKernan Tippa
Bellcho Shiel Z.Merrett
Bench from: McGrath Myers Langford Guelfi
I've left out Joe for now given it seems he hasn't played or trained properly for 8 months - hope the big fella comes good sooner rather that later from his OP problems.
If he is fit round 1 then he replaces Brown. Laverde someone I really want to have a break out year this year - he's shown glimpses all his career - lets hope he can find some consistency.
Probably one tall too many in the forward line. Drop either stewart or mckernan and then you have a spot for 1 of Baguley/myers/begley/guelfi.oh no! i forgot to squeeze in Baguley and Myers.
... i give up
B: Gleeson - Hooker - Francis
HB: Saad - Hurley - McKenna
C: McGrath - Heppell - Zaharakis
HF: Stringer - Daniher - Laverde
F: Fantasia - McKernan - McDonald-Tipungwuti
R: Bellchambers - Shiel - Heppell
I/C: Smith - Langford - Parish - Redman/Guelfi[/QUO
R.I.P Zerrett
Surely the Heppell double makes up for it?Says a lot about our depth that Merret is being squeezed out
I think we can fit a few talls in the team this year.
Hooker and Hurley down back are a given. And Francis should cement his spot down back with them.
Bellchambers is our clear no 1 ruck.
Joe if fit is our number 1 fwd.
It gets interesting when thinking about the battle for the 2nd tall fwd position.
Brown and Stewart have both shown they are capable without either of them grabbing the spot as their own.
Smack is inconsistent but versatile and started to show that he can grab a spot more consistently.
My ideal situation is that Smack can become a back-up ruck and mobile 3rd fwd behind either Brown or Stewart.
So with that, my best 22 is;
FB: Francis Hooker Gleeson
HB: Saad Hurley McKenna
MID: Zaharakis Heppell Parish
HF: Stringer Stewart Smith
FF: Fantasia Daniher Walla
R: Bellchambers Zerrett Shiel
INT: McGrath Langford Laverde Smack
Fair enough. I just reckon Stewart will surprise plenty of people this year. Its good that we have competition for that spot. What im saying is that i hope someone really grabs it and plays consistently. My money is on Stewart to be that guy but i hope it's Smack as his roof is higherId be very surprised if Stewart is selected ahead of SMACK or Mitch Brown. For me he'd need to be banging the door down in the reserves first.
Yes hes 3 years younger than both SMACK & Brown, and both SMACK and Brown are still only 28 and could play another 3 - 4 years, both are much more versatile than Stewart (Brown can play defence & SMACK ruck), and both kicked more goals than Stewart last year. Stewart had a few decent AFL games early early but then struggled to have an impact in AFL, and he wasn't a stand out in the reserves either
ESSENDON
B: M. Baguley, M. Hurley, A. McGrath
HB: A. Saad, P. Ambrose, A. Francis
C: K. Langford, Z. Merrett, D. Heppell
HF: J. Stringer, C. Hooker, O. Fantasia
F: A. McDonald-Tipungwuti, J. Daniher, D. Smith
FOL: T. Bellchambers, D. Zaharakis, D. Shiel
I/C: D. Parish, C. McKenna, S. McKernan, D. Myers
EMG: M. Guelfi, M. Gleeson, J. Laverde, J. Stewart
We say: The Bombers’ finals chances were given a boost with the critical off-season addition of midfielder Dylan Shiel. Defenders Aaron Francis and Patrick Ambrose should be set to play much greater roles in 2019 and will free up Cale Hooker to spend much of his time in attack, while tall Shaun McKernan gets the nod ahead of James Stewart to help out up forward and in the ruck.