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.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2013-03-08/hurley-i-want-to-play-forward

I may be a bit slow on the uptake but it seems that arguments for Hurley playing in defence are really more about a dislike of Hooker than any belief that Hurley, in isolation, is more suited to being/better as a defender than a forward.

I don't think there's anything particularly contentious about that - it's a question more of where Hurley is most beneficial to the team than where individually he is best.

 

[yaco55]

Happy with Hurley's game - lead up well and marked well - And he run smarter !

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I'm sorry, but did I see Hurley lead flat out at and take a one grab contested mark away from his body? Twice?

applepie.gif

But apparently he's no good as a forward because he can't time his leads, runs under the ball, and can't mark anymore

 

[Charliebrow 16]

I loved that bit of play where he took the difficult overhead grab, crept back off the mark, paused for a brief second to assess his options, and then proceeded to kick a 45m pass with his left straight onto Ryder's chest. One of the plays of the night.

He's been gradually building up and improving this pre-season, continually getting better with every game he plays. Hopefully this trend continues and he can set himself for a big performance in the opening round against Adelaide. Obviously I'd like more goals, but he'll get there.

 

[The Fact]

I'm sorry, but did I see Hurley lead flat out at and take a one grab contested mark away from his body? Twice?

applepie.gif

But apparently he's no good as a forward because he can't time his leads, runs under the ball, and can't mark anymore

It's funny I saw it too but remember in his juniors even though at club level tac level he played as a forward, he also played as a backman thus meaning he only knows how to punch a ball......

 

[DaSawx]

Gotta have the big aggressive Yetti man at CHF.

 

[cAsEy_18]

And that is why you don't measure Hurley on his goal tally. Thought he was superb last night...zero goals. His presenting and marking was as good as ever. Loved his left foot pass to Ryder too, so natural.

 

[Doss]

Someone posted in the VFL thread that he was sighted at the VFL game with a moon boot on. What happened?

I didn't watch the game last night so I'm a little in the dark.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Someone posted in the VFL thread that he was sighted at the VFL game with a moon boot on. What happened?

I didn't watch the game last night so I'm a little in the dark.

Rolled an ankle. Apparently it's just precautionary, keeping the weight off it

 

[fishardansin]

Ok I'm going to put this out there. This year is Hurley's last chance ....... to prove he can be as effective up forward as down back.

Hooker or Pears would make solid trades at the end of the year as we look to continue bolstering our small forward and attacking mid department.

This is 100% gut from me, I've got enough to know about that, but I'm just feeling it from him up forward at the moment. He's just not dominant up there and struggle to make the play. He seems at sixes or sevens where to position himself and for someone as good as he is one on one he seems to second guess whether to attack the ball or try to slip out the back.

Hopefully it is just mental and he can sort it out soon but playing back he just seems very natural/relaxed and positions himself well and from there attacks the ball with confidence.

It is counter intuitive but he's far more attacking when playing in defense and having him there, especially post Fletch, will see us able to be a more attacking side as well as surer down back. Hurley, Carlisle, Pears, Hibberd and Dempsey makes for a lot of very good ball movement out of the back half, especially if Heppell and Goddard are rotating through there. It also means that we can carry Hardingham's shaky disposal.

Another year under Daniher's belt, Crameri and resting ruck might be enough marking up forward.

I would still persist with Hurley up forward this year but I'm starting to think it might be a waste of his talents.

 

[ghostdog]

Is it alwasy the kickers fault or does some of the blame lie with the forwards not iming their leads, not running to the right spots or just having zero ability to judge a ball in flight and not run under it. I think there is a skill to being a fwd more than just marking and kicking goals. it is about knowing how to judge where to be and when to be there so you can at least contest.

I look at our team and see only 2 talls that I think have this trait - Gumby and JD. Why? Because they are the only two real fwds we have. Fwd smarts cannot be taught. This is why Hurley will contine to frustrate.

It is no different to backmen knowing how to zone and be thrid man up and how to postiion your body against your opponent when 1 on 1. Hurley has natural skills for one of the two areas on the ground.

There is a reason Davey is our CHF more often than not. Becuase he actually is a fwd who knows where to lead. If only he were 20cm taller.

I'd be interested to know, from the two games in succession where he kicked 11 goals, how many of those were genuine lead-mark-goal goals. I thought at the time that I'd seen enough to believe a breakthrough season at CHF wasn't far away. Interestingly, from the interview the other day, Hurley doesn't think that's far away either. He's determined, I'm a believer.

 

[ghostdog]

Ok I'm going to put this out there. This year is Hurley's last chance ....... to prove he can be as effective up forward as down back.

Hooker or Pears would make solid trades at the end of the year as we look to continue bolstering our small forward and attacking mid department.

This is 100% gut from me, I've got enough to know about that, but I'm just feeling it from him up forward at the moment. He's just not dominant up there and struggle to make the play. He seems at sixes or sevens where to position himself and for someone as good as he is one on one he seems to second guess whether to attack the ball or try to slip out the back.

Hopefully it is just mental and he can sort it out soon but playing back he just seems very natural/relaxed and positions himself well and from there attacks the ball with confidence.

It is counter intuitive but he's far more attacking when playing in defense and having him there, especially post Fletch, will see us able to be a more attacking side as well as surer down back. Hurley, Carlisle, Pears, Hibberd and Dempsey makes for a lot of very good ball movement out of the back half, especially if Heppell and Goddard are rotating through there. It also means that we can carry Hardingham's shaky disposal.

Another year under Daniher's belt, Crameri and resting ruck might be enough marking up forward.

I would still persist with Hurley up forward this year but I'm starting to think it might be a waste of his talents.

I see your point re: a surer backline that includes Hurley, but to say this year is his last chance is being a bit premature. The guy's only 22. Post-Fletch, Hurley, Carlisle, Pears, Hibberd and Dempsey looks awesome.

 

[fishardansin]

I see your point re: a surer backline that includes Hurley, but to say this year is his last chance is being a bit premature. The guy's only 22. Post-Fletch, Hurley, Carlisle, Pears, Hibberd and Dempsey looks awesome.

My main point is actually that I'm not sure that Hurley is going to be consistent quality up forward, yet he'll be a star of the game down back.

Right now we need him to do his best up forward. In a years time Daniher, Gumby, Crameri and two rucks capable of spending lots of game time up forward and Fletch retired might mean we'll need him back.

If he does end up a backman playing forward for a few seasons wont necessarily be a bad thing for his long term development as a back though. Playing on the best in the business will help him learn off them and also having played forward he'll have a better understanding of what positioning by a backman is worst to play on.

 

[lemon chicken]

Someone posted in the VFL thread that he was sighted at the VFL game with a moon boot on. What happened?

I didn't watch the game last night so I'm a little in the dark.

I walked past him on his way to his car after the game today and there was a definite limp going on. Was his right leg.

 

[brendan84]

He came back on after the injury so I doubt it is too serious.

 

[ghostdog]

My main point is actually that I'm not sure that Hurley is going to be consistent quality up forward, yet he'll be a star of the game down back.

Right now we need him to do his best up forward. In a years time Daniher, Gumby, Crameri and two rucks capable of spending lots of game time up forward and Fletch retired might mean we'll need him back.

If he does end up a backman playing forward for a few seasons wont necessarily be a bad thing for his long term development as a back though. Playing on the best in the business will help him learn off them and also having played forward he'll have a better understanding of what positioning by a backman is worst to play on.

I'd be applying Murphy's law to Gumby tbh. He's only been given a one year contract - I'd say he's considered a gap filler. Hurley will probably be forward for at least a couple of seasons. Perhaps we'll trade or free-agency purchase our way to a more solid forward line.

I think Hurley only just started to show he understands the role last season.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Gumby only got the one year contract because no one was sure how he would go injury-wise. If he stays on the park this year I'm sure they'll offer him an extension.

 

[monty1104]

Gumby only got the one year contract because no one was sure how he would go injury-wise. If he stays on the park this year I'm sure they'll offer him an extension.

Depends which park he stays on. With his age and history, form must enter the mix.

 

[Old Campaigner]

He seemed pretty good at the end of last season despite a midfield barely capable of getting the ball down his end.

 

[gPhonque]

This argument is getting old, but no less important at the same time... so my 2c:

I just don't get why we are persevering with Hurley up forward when he could be, IMO, the best backman in the land if left down there. (and before you start screaming stuff about "team balance", read the rest of my post first)

Even IF Hurley gets it together down forward, I still doubt that he'd be in the top 10 forwards in the competition... and in fact, he won't even be OUR best forward if JD is half as good as we hope he'll be.

The thing I find funny is that this whole "Hurley forward" thing is based on one quarter of football against Hawthorn.

Actually, no... it's based on 2 kicks. He kicks a couple of great goals and people start jumping up and down talking about "the next Carey" and all sorts of rubbish.

But really, apart from a couple of decent weeks last year, what else has Hurley done down forward? Yes, he attacks the contest... but he does that even better down back. I really feel that we're wasting his career up forward. Imagine the backman he'd be now if he'd played the last 3 years down there? Scary. And in a side that has leaked goals like no other during that time... well...

Hell, even Reimers kicked as many goals in the same amount of games as Hurley. And if people don't believe that goals are important when it comes to judging power forwards who are the F50 target more often than not, then they're kidding themselves.

With Fletch on his way out one day (maybe!) and JD on his way in (with Gumby also a possibility... along with Ryder and Bellchambers pinch hitting down forward) it's a no-brainer that Hurley plays down back where he is infinitely more relaxed, comfortable, and confident... and, dare I say, where the team need him most considering that the jury is still well and truly out on Hooker, Pears, and Carlisle.

All this is not to say that I don't think he should EVER play forward. I'm not saying that at all. But I think he should be primarily our key back who can pinch hit down forward when needed... rather the the other way around as it is now.

 

[Zach Package]

Id be much more happy to play him back if gumbleton could consistently get on the park.
If Hurley was to play back, we'd need someone to straighten us up and give us a target like Hurley does.

 

[fishardansin]

I've slowly come to agree with the position of gPhonque on this. My reasoning for him being a gun CHF was not about all about that half against Hawthorn. It was more about the fact that he's a big powerful competitive beast. This attributes added with his skill make for an exciting big forward. However, I'm letting that go as I'm not impressed by his positioning or his decisions regards working a player under the ball or going straight for it. I think he often choses the wrong option one out up forward, but these options are the right one for a backman, i.e. he's more about killing the contest and if he doesn't win the ball it goes to a spot that's not dangerous. This is exactly what you want from a backman.

There is still time for him to change his instincts on this up forward though.

 

[ghostdog]

Gumby only got the one year contract because no one was sure how he would go injury-wise. If he stays on the park this year I'm sure they'll offer him an extension.

Agree. Until we find a quality key forward whose body is reliable, Hurley will play forward.

 

[ghostdog]

Id be much more happy to play him back if gumbleton could consistently get on the park.
If Hurley was to play back, we'd need someone to straighten us up and give us a target like Hurley does.

...or until JD is ready to play fulltime seniors alongside Ryder and Crameri, hence at least a couple of years.

 

[The Bomb]

If Hurley back stood a Hurley forward, Hurley back would easily come away with the honours.

We have Adelaide in 2 weeks, they have Walker, I believe we would be much better off with Hurley on Walker, and playing Gumby / Daniher, Ryder, Crameri forward.