Retired #26: Cale Hooker - Has announced his retirement at season's end šŸ·

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Contract Status: Retiring at the end of Season 2021
Last Game Played: Round 19, 2021 (omit)
Injury Status: n/a
 
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owen87 said:
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised to see Goddard as captain in 2017.

It takes the pressure off the returning guys, gives continuity from the old and new (BJ has played with both), and is a positive reward for Goddard's efforts this year.

He had his moments, but I think as the year wore on BJ tried his heart out for the team.

Leave Heppell to take over in 2018 when it's less uncertain and give the returning players a year to integrate and play; it's not as though they won't be effective leaders on field regardless, see James Kelly 2016 for reference.

I can imagine Hooker being a very strong presence in the forward half of the ground; he's a big strong unit who isn't afraid to throw himself in to a pack and he'll give 100% every week. Look at the effect Jamar had on our forward line in the games he played.
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Solid logic, but I don't think Goddard wins the popular vote. If that happened I would have to assume Worsfold appointed him without regard to whether the players feel he has the appropriate qualities to lead them. There are too many better candidates, experience with both groups aside.

I don't think it's very likely to be Jobe anymore, although he still seems like the strongest leader that we have within the playing group. I'd have money on Heppell. Seems to be building a rapport with the draftees, already has a solid relationship with the younger players who took the reins in 2016, as well as the shared experience of suspension with the others, and he's been at the front of a lot of club-directed media stuff and handles interviews fairly easily (as well as being a hard worker, a smart footballer and having the leadership experience from the end of 2015 which I think also factors in). Seems to be the obvious choice.

I reckon they'll be working on integrating them into 'one team' fairly heavily over the pre-season. There'll be a bit of tinkering early on to find a balanced team and we'll go from there, hopefully without the injuries that plagued our 2016 recruits, and obviously they're trying to get the returning guys conditioned for footy again to prevent that. I don't think they'll treat it much differently from a normal footy season other than that though; certainly I don't think we'll choose leadership group and captaincy as though 2017 was a write off.

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the original 2016 leadership group is pretty much reinstated (as far as your comments about Hooker, I definitely think he'd be in it). I think Zach Merrett will have a proper spot too, though, and I'm not sure who of that original group misses out or if someone steps down to make way for him.
 
Paul_Barnard said:
The leap of faith he made to stay was during the club's lowest point, it was totally against a tidal wave of negative press and a general feel of helplessness at EFC.
The snowball affect of his signature essentially paved the way for the remaining players to sign, it was an incredible act.
He is the fabric of the club, something in me just thinks he should be leading us out against the Hawks..
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In his recent HS profile, he actually said he signed as early as he did to send a message to his suspended team mates - the bloke is just totally selfless.

That said, I think Heppell is cut from the same cloth and would be a great choice. It's more that I just wonder why Hooksy never seems to be part of the captaincy equation.
 
I don't think any of us are in a position to guess what the internal leadership is like around the club. This is something even the coaches probably struggle to fully understand the dynamic within the playing group between silent minorities and vocal majorities (potentially).

Hence go with a leadership team to cover all bases. To me it doesn't really matter who the captain is as long as the leadership group is both representative and has the approval of the playing group.
 

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Saint said:
I don't think any of us are in a position to guess what the internal leadership is like around the club. This is something even the coaches probably struggle to fully understand the dynamic within the playing group between silent minorities and vocal majorities (potentially).

Hence go with a leadership team to cover all bases. To me it doesn't really matter who the captain is as long as the leadership group is both representative and has the approval of the playing group.
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Too new age touchy feely for mine. We need a dictatorial leader capable of roughing guys up in the locker rooms, someone the guys fear just as much as they respect. So Hooker is out for mine... maybe Francis?
 
Vander18 said:
In his recent HS profile, he actually said he signed as early as he did to send a message to his suspended team mates - the bloke is just totally selfless.

That said, I think Heppell is cut from the same cloth and would be a great choice. It's more that I just wonder why Hooksy never seems to be part of the captaincy equation.
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Heppell was already expected to be taking over the captaincy from Watson before the suspensions.

It's time for Heppell to take over. He's our most important player moving forward.

Plus he put Goddard in his place (who i also love) which shows real leadership.
 
2017 Coleman look out.
 

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This pretty much confirms Hooker up forward this year.

http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2017-01-11/dons-challenge-to-forward-duo

ESSENDON is challenging Joe Daniher and Cale Hooker to become one of the AFL's most damaging forward-line duos, while explosive defender Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti is also set for stints in attack this year.

Daniher was forced to shoulder a heavy load in the Dons' forward 50 last season when Hooker was one of 12 Dons sidelined by WADA suspensions.

The forward performed admirably under the circumstances, finishing fourth in the AFL for contested marks (52) and topping Essendon's goalkicking with a career-high 43 majors.

So Essendon is understandably excited to see what the 22-year-old can achieve with Hooker alongside him in attack in 2017.

Hooker, an All Australian key defender in 2014, has been training with the Bombers' forwards group this pre-season, having kicked 20 goals when thrown forward in 2015's final 10 rounds.

Essendon forwards coach Hayden Skipworth told AFL.com.au the Daniher-Hooker partnership could become one of the Dons' biggest weapons.

"I have sort of put the challenge to those guys to be two of the best contested marks in the comp," Skipworth said.

"Joey finished fourth last year (playing) by himself with not a lot of (forward 50) entries, not a lot of quality entries either, so if we can get a higher volume of entries and better entries we see him and Cale together becoming a real weapon for the side.

"They should be able to take a lot of contested marks this year."

Skipworth said Hooker still had work to do on his leading patterns and goalkicking to make the transition to a permanent forward, but the assistant coach was extremely encouraged by the 28-year-old's progress this summer.

"He's going really well. He competes really well. The smaller guys love crumbing to him, he brings the ball down centrally and he's probably our best contested mark," Skipworth said.

"He's got a lot of good attributes to play forward and with (Michael) Hurley back we're spoilt to have two All Australian key defenders, so Cale was the one we decided to have a look at pushing forward."

McDonald-Tipungwuti was a revelation for Essendon in 2016, coming off the rookie list to play 21 games and finish seventh in the club's best and fairest award.

But as damaging as the former Essendon VFL player was rebounding from half-back last season ā€“ he had 10 more running bounces than any other Bomber ā€“ he has been training with the Dons' forward group this pre-season to give him another facet to his game.

"I've coached him for the last five or six years and he's really comfortable down back. It comes very naturally to him," Skipworth said.

"I spoke to 'Woosha' (coach John Worsfold) about helping him with his leading patterns with other forwards and working together with them.

"We felt that if we could give 'Walla' (McDonald-Tipungwuti) the pre-season, especially pre-Christmas, with the forward group it just adds flexibility to the team. One, because he can help us score and, two, to really put that pressure on in the forward line."

Skipworth is also buoyed by what recycled recruits James Stewart (Greater Western Sydney) and Josh Green (Brisbane Lions) can add to Essendon's attack in 2017, saying both were ready to come into their primes.

Daniher trained away from Essendon's main group on Wednesday because of knee soreness.

Skipworth said the spearhead was expected to return to full training in three or four weeks and was hopeful he would play some part in the Bombers' JLT Community Series campaign.
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http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/2017-01-11/dons-challenge-to-forward-duo
 
Thank you Mr Hooker.
 
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