2003 Essendon analysis

[Asgardian]

Time to see if the Bombers are actually depleted as some “experts” are saying

Steven Alessio - Dons must really be desperate to redraft this guy, Hack
Jordon Bannister - Yet to impress, hopefully is putting on some muscle now
Paul Barnard - Club’s Mr Fix-it, gets under the guard of most opponents
Mark Bolton - Came on strong late 2002, he needed to, versatile gap filler
Marc Bullen - Turns ball over too easily, has strength & guts, Doubt he’ll make it
Tristan Cartledge - New kid, yet to see him play
Damian Cupido - Book end to Rioli, talent to burn, question his work ethic
James Davies - Expected more so far, has skills and brain, should have a big 2003
Dustin Fletcher - Games premier Full Back, tough & determined
Robert Forster-Knight - Negating defender, no flash & frills but solid
Shane Harvey - Was hoping for more from him, could be an excellent Rover
Aaron Henneman - Went backwards in 2002, taken away from play too easily
David Hille - MUST control rucks for Dons in 2003, has the talent, but not strength yet
James Hird - Great player, great leader, too much courage for own good
Sam Hunt - Strong player with all the tools, will have a good 2003
Danny Jacobs - Good defender who can take a grab up forward
Jason Johnson - Tough, hard, skilful ballgetter, needs team-mates assistance in 2003
Mark Johnson - Tough, hard, skilful defender (deja vu), future team leader
Jason Lay**** - New kid, yet to see him play
Matthew Lloyd - 100 goal a season player, best Full Forward in game today
Scott Lucas - Proving people wrong lately, does all the team things well at CHF
Cory McGrath - Disappointing player, looks like a wasted talent
Adam McPhee - Freo will regret losing him, handy versatile player
Mark McVeigh - Looks a lair on occasion, casual player with superior skills
Mark Mercuri - Age & injuries are not good, another interrupted year will end it all
Joe Misiti - At his best a ball magnet, is getting injured a lot lately
Simon O’Keefe - Old new kid, yet to see him play
Damien Peverill - Looks like a Monkey’s bum, but fine consistent midfielder
Adam Ramanauskas - Good running versatile small man, long term player
Joel Reynolds - Needs to muscle up, lots of courage & spunk
Ted Richards - Not much opportunity yet, want to see more before judging
Dean Rioli - Enormous talent, & gut, injury prone, needs to be fitter and disciplined
Dean Solomon - Was badly missed, tough talented defender, hopefully will 100% recover
Darren Walsh - New kid, yet to see him play
Jobe Watson - New kid with the right genes, yet to see him play
Sean Wellman - Intelligent skilful defender who doesn’t panic
Andrew Welsh - Versatile defender who looks a natural
Jason Winderlich - New kid, yet to see him play

Overall looks a pretty fair list, though it is susceptible to injury to a few key players (just like most clubs I suppose).

It doesn’t look like a list that could win the flag this season, but one that will trouble most clubs throughout 2003.

My guess at this stage is lower levels of the 8, but predictions to come later.

 

[Dave]

Saw this on *****. Pretty fair, though I think you're overly harsh on one player. The only comment I have is that no-one thought our list could win a flag in '93 either.

 

[mongrelpunt]

Disagree with the Marc Bullen review. He will make the grade - described much like Joe Misiti, so he will take a little while to get going. But watch out when he does.

Another to watch for is Joel Reynolds. When he plays seniors, watch for him in the Bomber midfield. Saw him in the intra-club match on Fox (I know its not a true guide), but looked settled in the middle.

 

[ClintEastwood]

Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by Dave
Saw this on *****. Pretty fair, though I think you're overly harsh on one player. The only comment I have is that no-one thought our list could win a flag in '93 either.

Maybe so, but objectively comparing your '93 list with '03, '93 was far better. Especially the presence of Mr. Magic, aka Gav.

 

[SkARkS_69]

Overall not a very bad review, but not a great one either.
Isnt Scott Lucas a defender these days?
One good thing that i noticed in the paper from the match report of the Sydney versus Essendon game is the return to good form of Champion spearhead Matty Lloyd.
Hopefully he regainst the crown that he rightfully deserves (the best full forward in the comp)
Cheers.
Skarks.

 

[Yianni]

Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by Dave
Saw this on *****. Pretty fair, though I think you're overly harsh on one player. The only comment I have is that no-one thought our list could win a flag in '93 either.

Yeah, but there was no standout team in 1993. As I recall, you guys finished top with 13.5 wins. 8th spot was 12 wins.

I don't think that will happen this year...

 

[SilverBomber]

Im sure that they were saying the same thing at the start of '93 as well, WC looked on the up, geelong was looking good etc. All it takes is a premership letdown from brisbane, 1-2 injuries to port (primus and tredrea for example) and who knows, the whole season might open up between collingwood, crows, dons and the tigers.

One week is a long time in football, 35 is even longer, and anything can happen. Don't u just love the preseason!

BTW i agree, our list isn't as good _now_ as it was in 93, but some of the young kids might suprise us, and we could be seeing the start of a new eara with lay****, watson, harvey, reynolds, welsh all stepping up.

 

[raskolnikov]

"Peverill - looks like a monkey's bum" - roflmao

 

[Asgardian]

Back to make my final tip, "to be or not to be, that is the question", do I end up a goose, or a seer?

Time will tell

I predict the Bombers will finish 6th

 

[mongrelpunt]

Originally posted by Asgardian
I predict the Bombers will finish 6th

Nothing like taking the soft option.

According to everyone's predictions, the Bombers will finish anywhere from 1st (most Essendon supporters would be hoping) to 16th (Robert Walls).

 

[go team]

Originally posted by Asgardian
Peverill - looks like a monkey's bum

you've insulted monkey's bums everywhere

 

[M29]

Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by Pred
Maybe so, but objectively comparing your '93 list with '03, '93 was far better. Especially the presence of Mr. Magic, aka Gav.

What? Michael Symonds?

We also didn't have a coleman medalist...

 

[Stealth bomber]

Maybe so, but objectively comparing your '93 list with '03, '93 was far better. Especially the presence of Mr. Magic, aka Gav.

Hindsight is 20/20 though. Before the '93 season started, what were people's impressions of players like Hird, Fletcher, and Misiti? At that point weren't they all pretty much unknown quantities? It is easy to look back on that list now and take those names for granted.

Imagine if this club somehow won a flag this year and guys like Layc-ck, McGrath, and Bannister become household names in the future. That would tend to make this playing list look a lot better than it does now.

 

[bugman5]

Re: Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by M29
What? Michael Symonds?

We also didn't have a coleman medalist...

So sick of the Micky Symonds critics, the guy was a champion!

 

[dj21]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by bugman5
So sick of the Micky Symonds critics, the guy was a champion!

who is michael symonds?

 

[topdon]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by dj21
who is michael symonds?

You started following footy in 2000 right?

 

[M29]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by bugman5
So sick of the Micky Symonds critics, the guy was a champion!

He could take a good mark and had a big heart. To bad his footy brain wasn't that big.

 

[bugman5]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: 2003 Essendon analysis

Originally posted by topdon


You started following footy in 2000 right?

Round of applause for the call there.