Retired #18: Michael Hurley 🐻 - Staying on in a coaching and player welfare role! - 3/10

[Lore]

Non-contact for another week but otherwise has a full training load.

“Hurls had a shoulder reconstruction and he’s really at the end of his rehabilitation phase. He’s been training essentially fully with the group except for contact,” Rundle said on Tuesday.

“He’s at the end of his contact progressions now and should be integrating fully with the group within the next week or so.”

Injury update: Stars on track for return

A number of important Bombers are on track to hit the ground running in the 2020 season.

www.essendonfc.com.au

And back in the leadership group too.

 

[The Fact]

He works hard
He's very competitive
He's very talented
But he is not a smart footballer

It's such a rare occasion to see him leading without his opponent breathing down his neck. I reckon four in every five marking attempts are contests. He just doesn't know how to break a shrug and his set kicking lacks follow through.

Sure it's only the first game, but he's not a first gamer and I will be friggin pissed if he hasn't learned how to break a shrug and make a proper lead by the end of the season.

This is incorrect and this is very true, i think i raised it early in a different thread hurley is a good forward and i liked his game tonight it wasn't great but it defiantly wasn't bad he was a great link man around the 50 meter arc and was very physical something which our other key forwards aren't. IMO it is only the underlined area which he needs to work on i don't care good wrist or bad wrist 9/10 times you aren't going to take a mark with a player right on you, Tex wasn't doing it and i can't think of one player in the league that takes more than one of these marks a game. Once he starts getting more separation between himself and his defender he will be fine whether thats through smarter leading, pushing off the player or just other players blocking i don't care but this is his one issue as a forward not any wrist problem.

 

[Sanders]

He's a very good backman, he's a moderate forward.

Why not play to his strengths?

 

[Godzke]

This is incorrect and this is very true, i think i raised it early in a different thread hurley is a good forward and i liked his game tonight it wasn't great but it defiantly wasn't bad he was a great link man around the 50 meter arc and was very physical something which our other key forwards aren't. IMO it is only the underlined area which he needs to work on i don't care good wrist or bad wrist 9/10 times you aren't going to take a mark with a player right on you, Tex wasn't doing it and i can't think of one player in the league that takes more than one of these marks a game. Once he starts getting more separation between himself and his defender he will be fine whether thats through smarter leading, pushing off the player or just other players blocking i don't care but this is his one issue as a forward not any wrist problem.

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The underlined part relates to football smarts. If you read the post properly, you'd see I wasn't questioning his worth ethic or his marking ability.

 

[Donakebab]

I know we need him down forward right now, but dammit he looks mediocre compared to playing as a defender. If Gumby magically stays fit and Joe comes on quick enough we won't be having this discussion next year.

 

[The Fact]

:\

The underlined part relates to football smarts. If you read the post properly, you'd see I wasn't questioning his worth ethic or his marking ability.

Just because he doesn't do one thing right doesn't mean he isn't a smart player. IMO he gets to the right contests, leads to the right spots and choices the right option by foot. He just doesn't lose his defender well enough yet so maybe choose your wording better from the start and maybe read my post properly, never did i call you out for saying he had poor worth ethic or marking ability.

 

[FlyingV]

Deep down I want him to get 16 possies a game and kick 4 goals everyweek as a forward. But the thought of Carlisle, Hurley, Pears, Goddard and Hibberd being our defence going forward is almost unbeatable.

 

[The Fact]

Deep down I want him to get 16 possies a game and kick 4 goals everyweek as a forward. But the thought of Carlisle, Hurley, Pears, Goddard and Hibberd being our defence going forward is almost unbeatable.

ATM pears isn't even best 22 but i know where you are coming from. I'm just happy we finally have a key forward that can smash packs and can offer a real target. Forward for me

 

[nubrik]

What frustrates me with him is that he tries to mark every ball on his chest.
If he stuck his hands out and was able to take grabs like, he would kick 2 extra goals every game. If you want to be a good forward this is crucial.

 

[niceslacks]

To be fair to him, last night was not a night for the big forwards in any way. I'll reserve judgement until we get better conditions.

 

[eaglespremiers]

What makes your win more impressive last night was that Hurley didn't play a significant role in it and Crameri was barely sighted.
As well Bellchambers and Ryder had limited influence forward.
Imagine how much better you'll be if that all starts to sync.

 

[Coldacre]

when is Matty Lloyd gonna pull him aside and teach him the basic fundamentals of goal kicking. these little chips at goal from 25 out are embarrassing

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Did a good job last night.

Hurley and Crameri where strong in the contest and it brought other players in at ground level. The game doesn't require superstar stats in the forward line for the team to be effective.

 

[FlyingV]

Also have to remember he was up against Rutten and Talia in wet conditions. Not easy for an inexperienced forward. Shuld get a better opp against teams without a gorilla defender.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Problem is his leading. Fix this and he can play fwd. but to me it is something you need to come naturally.

Loved his attack though. He competes so well.

 

[loopy_cam]

There was more than one instance last night where the ball was kicked in to a 2 on 1 situation (Hurley being the one) and he managed to compete well enough to still bring the ball to ground. That's a very good trait to have.

 

[Ambrosia]

He's a very good backman, he's a moderate forward.

Why not play to his strengths?

Who else do we have who is capable of being the number 1 key forward.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

There was more than one instance last night where the ball was kicked in to a 2 on 1 situation (Hurley being the one) and he managed to compete well enough to still bring the ball to ground. That's a very good trait to have.

I'd rather he possess the trait of being able to mark and kick the football. The primary object of a key forward is to kick goals, if they aren't doing that then I really couldn't give a stuff about the rest of their game.

 

[Phone]

and hence why last night's game was a neutral game in the hurley debate

 

[The Speaker]

He's a very good backman, he's a moderate forward.

Why not play to his strengths?

He is only up forward because we aren't playing Gumby or Daniher yet.

 

[BrunoV]

I seriously hope that no posters are using last night to continue with the ridiculous argument that Hurley does not time his leads. I don't know that you'd retain any credibility.

I'm not sure what we really expect from him 9/10 when the ball is kicked to the wrong side of a three man pack with two opposition players marking him. He did double grab a few marks last night but he, like Crameri, Ryder, and like Daniher will, is a victim of the fact that TRB has set up a style of forward play that basically uses key forwards to create spillages for crumbing players.

I just cannot explain any other reason we continually bomb the ball to situations where we could not realistically expect John Coleman to take a mark.

 

[Shane Hird]

I seriously hope that no posters are using last night to continue with the ridiculous argument that Hurley does not time his leads. I don't know that you'd retain any credibility.

I'm not sure what we really expect from him 9/10 when the ball is kicked to the wrong side of a three man pack with two opposition players marking him. He did double grab a few marks last night but he, like Crameri, Ryder, and like Daniher will, is a victim of the fact that TRB has set up a style of forward play that basically uses key forwards to create spillages for crumbing players.

I just cannot explain any other reason we continually bomb the ball to situations where we could not realistically expect John Coleman to take a mark.

But isn't that the basics of footy? Kick to tall forward, other forwards rove pack?

 

[Yoda_]

I seriously hope that no posters are using last night to continue with the ridiculous argument that Hurley does not time his leads. I don't know that you'd retain any credibility.

I'm not sure what we really expect from him 9/10 when the ball is kicked to the wrong side of a three man pack with two opposition players marking him. He did double grab a few marks last night but he, like Crameri, Ryder, and like Daniher will, is a victim of the fact that TRB has set up a style of forward play that basically uses key forwards to create spillages for crumbing players.

I just cannot explain any other reason we continually bomb the ball to situations where we could not realistically expect John Coleman to take a mark.

Wouldn't mind Hurey going for the mark with his f#%#*$! Hands outstretched the BrunoV !

The sooner he is moved back, the better the football side will be thrugh having a better FF/CHF Orion available (come on down Joe or Gumbleton).

 

[Rack Watts]

UNLEASH GUMIHER.
Oldladynoteeth.jpg


Get down back Hurley, slam the door on Hooker.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I'd rather he possess the trait of being able to mark and kick the football. The primary object of a key forward is to kick goals, if they aren't doing that then I really couldn't give a stuff about the rest of their game.

wow.

Not often people blatantly admit they know **** all about footy, but there you go

 

[Shane Hird]

He's a forward peoples.

Just accept it ffs.