Delisted #46: Mitchell Hibberd - Not offered a contract for 2021

[Seb78]

Looked a bit cumbersome most of the night. Half a second off the pace of AFL.

Only one way to fix that.......Keep playing him

 

[Colonelmot]

Whats this guy in the side for?

 

[BrunoV]

It's not clear at all.

 

[eth-dog]

So we're choosing to play him in the role that saw him get 4 games in 3 years and get delisted, instead of the role that basically saw him be the dominant player in the VFL last year?

 

[BrunoV]

So we're choosing to play him in the role that saw him get 4 games in 3 years and get delisted, instead of the role that basically saw him be the dominant player in the VFL last year?

It makes no sense. None whatsoever. It's not like he's playing inside after the centre bounce. We've actually been pretty shaky in close. Moreso in the first half. We do need someone in tight to absorb some pressure. If Cunnington had been playing North'd have flayed us in close.

 

[eDPS]

Really good last quarter, worked his ring off

 

[eth-dog]

Play him in the guts please.

 

[BrunoV]

Really good last quarter, worked his ring off

In a weird way, and contrary to the reality that he has not been played in his position for a second of his 2 games so far, it's almost like he's trusted as a safe pair of hands. He was the guy behind the ball in defence.

Can't say I see what it is they really like about him in the role he is being played. Happy for it to continue as long as there is some on-ball time in his future at some point.

 

[JayJ20]

I don't get it. Should be playing the inside role for us. We have other options for the role he played today.

 

[Duckworth]

I don't get it. Should be playing the inside role for us. We have other options for the role he played today.

I thought he did OK in the game and found the ball a bit in general play. Not his strength, but will be good with that other around the ground play added.

 

[JayJ20]

I thought he did OK in the game and found the ball a bit in general play. Not his strength, but will be good with that other around the ground play added.

He played alright (especially the last quarter), but I don't really understand the role they want him to play for us when that isn't the reason why he's on an AFL list.

 

[TheFrenchCut]

It's simple. We dropped Redman and held Hibberd so Hibberd could play a role better suited to Redman

 

[mad_monkey_j]

What's the club's obsession with playing flankers as mids and mids as flankers?

 

[ant555]

I could not really care less where he is playing. He improved from his first game and looked a bit more on the pace of the game. All I want to see is that he is up to AFL level. He looks to be working towards that.

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

I thought a good second half especially last quarter

 

[MattF185]

Will get a game next week if Shiel is missing. Please play him on the inside next week, not on the outside.

 

[quotemokc]

Crispin Glover look a like anyone?

 

[Liberator]

Looks a bit slow.
Having said that, don't mind him in the team getting a look in, and yes do play him in the guts. Might have a smidge more flexibility than Clarke perhaps?

 

[Howard Moon]

Looks a bit slow.
Having said that, don't mind him in the team getting a look in, and yes do play him in the guts. Might have a smidge more flexibility than Clarke perhaps?

Looking at the 2s Clarke's kicking action seems improved

 

[Swerving Irv]

Had 19 disposals, 5 tackles and a poster. Pretty good performance from him I thought.

 

[The Devils Advocate]

Dare I say it.... building?

 

[citizen-erased]

Wondering if he plays wing/HB as a stoppage player for the throw ins so we can ricochet and have the runners ready to receive.

Either way would think he's in there with McGrath, Merrett & Parish this week and we bring Francis and Redman in for Shiel and McKenna.

 

[BrunoV]

I could not really care less where he is playing. He improved from his first game and looked a bit more on the pace of the game. All I want to see is that he is up to AFL level. He looks to be working towards that.

Yeah fair enough. Second half against North was solid. He's still a bit off the pace.

 

[Matty411]

As an objective third party, was pleased to see Hibbo get a 2nd chance. Thought he'd be in your side as that inside mid from day one. Without Heppell or (now) Shiel, its a no brainer. Throw him in the guts and let him show his wares.

That's what you got him for.

 

[owen87]

As an objective third party, was pleased to see Hibbo get a 2nd chance. Thought he'd be in your side as that inside mid from day one. Without Heppell or (now) Shiel, its a no brainer. Throw him in the guts and let him show his wares.

That's what you got him for.

I'm not sure you've seen much of Essendon's team selection policies over the years, but it basically involves recruiting a player because they perform well in one role, playing them at a lower level in that role where they perform well, bringing them in to the AFL side on the back of that performance, playing them in a totally different role, dropping them on the back of performing poorly in that role, then repeating the process over the next 1 - 3 seasons until finally delisting that player.