Player Watch #44: Shaun McKernan - Out for 6 to 7 weeks with a high grade hamstring tear - 6/4

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Posts
2,394
Likes
3,805
Location
Earth
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Central DIstrict
Mckernan career goals avg - 0.6
Ambrose career goals avg - 0.6
Fair to say McKernan has done more rucking than Ambrose though, hit-outs in 36 of his 40 games, Ambrose had zero hitouts in 2014. A few hit-outs in 9 of 15 games this year, no more than 4 in a match.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Mar 4, 2014
Posts
1,632
Likes
809
AFL Club
Essendon
Other Teams
Liverpool
I think its inevidable that Carlisle will leave, and while Mckernan probably isnt a long term replacement, he could fill a spot at CHF for 2 years while we draft and develop another key forward with one of our first picks such as Curnow or Weideman
 

BrunoV

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
May 5, 2009
Posts
14,829
Likes
18,175
AFL Club
Essendon
Funny how perceptions change once you start tanking.

They must be marking McKernan pretty hard if 21 disposals, 18 hit outs and a goal against the raining premier does not cut it as far as a break out game is concerned.

Shit, he is a ruck who is averaging just short of 18 possessions a game.

Would be really nice to get a look at him forward with Giles in the team even once before the end of the year. His hands, mobility/workrate and ability to find the ball seem to be most of what is required to play as a key forward.
 
Last edited:

duckdog

All Australian
Joined
May 17, 2010
Posts
686
Likes
428
Location
upper hiawatha
AFL Club
Essendon
As always its a little from Column A and a little from Column B.

We are a team that has horrendous depth, as we were still building our list. Now throw in the following and it is absolutely no shock why we are where we are-

-Losing two important key posts - Crameri and Ryder. Has forced to shuffle players and plug holes (not a big deal in isolation)

-TBC having horrible form and fitness due to injury OR just not being good enough (not a great big deal in isolation because our first class mids can compensate)

-Having 2 of our first class mids out all season as well as Jobe, Zaka, Cooney, Chapman all guys who would rotate through there battling injury ( issues are starting to compound on top of each other)

- SAGA (enough said, what effect it has we don't know but its there. Not an excuse but its there)

- Hird missing a year, your main problem appears to be we have stuck with guys who haven't shown form. The issue is (and Im not defending it, just that I understand why its happening) is the last time he coached, these guys had credits in the bank. They were performing. Chappy showed some good form last year in patches and by all reports his training standards were very high this preseason, he earnt the right as best 22 for a team that felt like it was in a position to challenge.


The club is in a poor position (no one would suggest otherwise) but we don't need a full rebuild, and we don't need massive changes, we just need to get back on the path we started 4 years ago, but seem to have stepped off in the last 18 months. Clear out the older guys (but show them a little respect and let them finish their careers properly) blood the new guys (but don't just give them games for the sake of it, they are dropped if not performing) and bring in some new talent for the future through the draft.

The sky isn't falling but things aren't all sunshine and rainbows. There are reasons for the way we are at the moment, they aren't excuses because they certainly aren't shielding our club or individuals from pressure and criticism. My only real point is allow the people there to work through those issues and see if we cant come out stronger.
Go the ressies
 
Top Bottom