Player Watch #40: Eddie Ford

[DesertRoo]

So much talent. Would suck to see him flounder and drop his value with us only to light it up somewhere else.

He just screams Zurhaar like matchwinner.

Less Zurhaar and more Higgins for me. Waiting for a fair crac at it because he just looks class.

 

[berniemccarthy]

studying/exams?

Precisely . He is at melbourne Uni. Exams imminent.

 

[northbergs]

I was going through some VFL stats earlier and was reminded of his round one BOG performance against Williamstown.

19 disposals, 10 marks, 5 goals, and one behind. In a 102 to 78 win. You can watch the highlights here.

He then gets brought into the senior side and struggles to do much in his two games which we lost by a combined 176 points. His games were poor, but he spent a lot of time on the bench and his numbers aren't that far off our other forwards who were struggling to get involved in those games.

He then gets a foot injury at training and comes back into the VFL 5-6 weeks later, where he flounders and has VFL form that's not only worse than his game against Williamstown, but is worse than his 2021 numbers. In his last four VFL games last year and his first this year, he kicked 11 goals and had 16+ disposals every game. After his return, he had 16 disposals once (averaged 11.5) and kicked 10 goals in 8 games.

If you're looking for a player who could surprise everyone under Clarko's new regime, then I think Ford could be the one. He clearly has the talent and his development curve up to that game against Williamstown had him on track to be a really good player.

There are definitely some spots for grabs up forward in our best-22 and I wouldn't be shocked at all if Ford puts his hand up for one of them. I think you need as many dangerous forwards as you can and if by the end of next year our forward line is Larkey, Zurhaar, Curtis, Ford, Sheezel, and Comben, then I think we'd be in really good hands.

Reckon his ceiling is higher than Curtis Taylor’s (and I’ve been a fan of his). Just needs a clean run with injury, a string of senior games and the opportunity to play in a more attacking line-up.


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[Kanga Glory]

Doesn’t get mentioned a lot, but could be ok if he can find a spot. I like his attitude when playing.

 

[hellas_johnny]

Still got a couple years contract so time in his side

 

[The acurate one]

Yeah is very skilled just needs to find his place, a 6ft 2 KPF isn’t an option at this level of footy.

Who’s he kicking out of our fwd line ?

 

[Themanbun]

Yeah is very skilled just needs to find his place, a 6ft 2 KPF isn’t an option at this level of footy.

Who’s he kicking out of our fwd line ?

Ziebell.

 

[DunderHead]

He needs to build endurance and be prepared to play multiple positions. I love him. Could be a really great player.

 

[The acurate one]

Ziebell.

Yeah suppose, we have Larkey, Curtis, Zurhaar and a CHF that are locks. I assume we still want or desire a small fwd. so it does leave a spot although there is also TT.

 

[shinboner magic]

Going to be interesting where Eddie ends up wing, hff, hbf?
Kid can seriously play but there’s going to be a lot of competition for spots.

Needs to extract the digit
Has talent but the club is bringing more of this type in

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Bit of a forgotten one out of all our younger guys. Still has oodles of talent

I’m hoping that we’ll see him attend a Nfew centre bounces at VFL level this year, as a junior he was pretty solid as a clearance player and he attacked the contest with a bit of flair.

Really hoping he puts pressure on Ziebell/Zurhaar for those 3rd tall forward line role.

 

[Ligma]

Packing on the weight???


Hopefully it’s not just the gym lighting

 

[Kangaroos techno]

I think that's just your typical workout pump.

Looks to be a lot leaner on the track. Worringly we tried the same thing with ziebell and cunnington early on in an effort to improve their aerobic capacity. But it ended up making them less impactful in the contest.

Mazda has been ragdolled a couple of times already in pre-season. May be between a rock and a hard place given our plethora of mid-sized forwards now. Going to interesting to see if he can reinvent himself. Has time on his side.

 

[Ligma]

I think that's just your typical workout pump.

vs my pump after my session

 

[Nugget 83]

 

[swaeney]

I keep forgetting about this bloke. Anyone have any news on how he's travelling?

 

[DunderHead]

There’s something about Ford - reckon if the dices roll the right way he could end up a superstar. Hope Clarko can work out what his best position is and have him demand that spot.

 

[northbergs]

There’s something about Ford - reckon if the dices roll the right way he could end up a superstar. Hope Clarko can work out what his best position is and have him demand that spot.

I agree, there’s something about him. Unfortunately, he had a bad run with injuries so let’s see if he can get a good run at it and break back in. I reckon if Curtis Taylor is in the best 22 and Eddie’s obviously currently not, then his is the spot to take.


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[Nugget 83]

 

[FlyHigh18]

Did he play in the intra?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Did he play in the intra?

Yep. Had some really good moments but didn’t get a stack of it, pretty sure he kicked one and missed another opportunity. Looks significantly fitter than last year.

 

[Ashley B]

Has talent Eddie , we are starting to get some good depth all over the ground .

 

[marklovesbeer]

Yep. Had some really good moments but didn’t get a stack of it, pretty sure he kicked one and missed another opportunity. Looks significantly fitter than last year.

Like Powelly & Zurhaar I feel he’s pretty happy with Nobes being turfed.
Will be an interesting watch this year.
Here’s hoping he kicks a few bags early in the reserves & demands some more AFL time.

 

[amaz199]

I liked him earlier in the year and he had immediate impact in our mini-comeback against the Dogs on GF.

He will push for a spot in the 22 that's for sure.

 

[Phillyroo]

Yep. Had some really good moments but didn’t get a stack of it, pretty sure he kicked one and missed another opportunity. Looks significantly fitter than last year.

I’ve only watched the first half, but he was really really good from what I saw. Got plenty of it, and had a hand in 5 goals, and kicked one himself. Had he been more selfish could have had a few more shots.
That spilled mark at the top of the goal square hurt him… but thought he was one of the better players in the blue team to the break, and the commentators agreed.