A growing trend...

[qwertyboy]

We are picking half back flankers like they are going out of fashion! Is there something about the game that we don't know about? Or are they just looking for players with a strong defencsive background?
Just off the top of my head, Ashby, Gleeson, Baguely, Hunter, Hibberd, Hardingham, Heppell, Davis, Browne and Long have all been drafted as half back flankers. Not to fussed about it really its just really amusing that we are investing in so many similar types.

 

[Zach Package]

heppell, browne and davis are all dead set midfielders, so I can't see how they come into the calculations, and Long isn't even on the list anymore.

While i do agree it's a tad vexing, If Browne and Davis move into the midfield full time and Hunter doesn't come on as expected (more than possible) then we might actually need to draft another next year.

This all becomes a massive non issue if we take 2 or more midfielders in next year's draft, or If Kavanagh, Merrett, O'Brien, Browne, Davis and even Kommer come on well in 2013.

 

[qwertyboy]

heppell, browne and davis are all dead set midfielders, so I can't see how they come into the calculations, and Long isn't even on the list anymore.

While i do agree it's a tad vexing, If Browne and Davis move into the midfield full time and Hunter doesn't come on as expected (more than possible) then we might actually need to draft another next year.

This all becomes a massive non issue if we take 2 or more midfielders in next year's draft, or If Kavanagh, Merrett, O'Brien, Browne, Davis and even Kommer come on well in 2013.

I think your missing the main point which was that while they were looking to become midfielders all of Heppell, Davis and Browne were actually half backman before they were drafted. It seems as though Essendon are trying to produce defenders with a good workrate into midfielder, when they could just draft actual midfielders.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I think your missing the main point which was that while they were looking to become midfielders all of Heppell, Davis and Browne were actually half backman before they were drafted. It seems as though Essendon are trying to produce defenders with a good workrate into midfielder, when they could just draft actual midfielders.

Or alternatively you could use actual facts instead of the crap you are typing.

Heppell was a mid who played hbf due to fitness.


Ling was drafted as a full forward. How did that turn out?

 

[qwertyboy]

Or alternatively you could use actual facts instead of the crap you are typing.

Heppell was a mid who played hbf due to fitness.


Ling was drafted as a full forward. How did that turn out?

I don't think I said it was a bad thing did I mate? Geez don't need to get aggressive. All I was saying is that in recent years we have been going down the path of recruiting half back flankers and creating some of them into midfielders. Rather than the traditional method of the pure midfielder.
And about the facts you pretty much just said Heppell played Half Back with stints in the middle so how can that be crap?

 

[Zach Package]

heppell and watson have gone alright.

Also positions at under 18 level are a tad overrated, players get thrown around alot, and there tends to be a lot of 'see ball, chase ball' type of play (although structures and presses and the like are becoming more prominent).

I like Ashby, maybe we went a bit soon, but I like what he brings to the table and could definitely slot in on a half back flank like heppell, and then move into the middle.
You have to look at their attributes as well as just their positions.

in terms of our whole draft, we may have been a bit lateral in who we've picked, but I wanted a half back flanker, an inside midfielder, and outside midfielder, a utility, and a tall (as well as JD) out of this draft, and that's pretty much exactly what we've got.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I don't think I said it was a bad thing did I mate? Geez don't need to get aggressive. All I was saying is that in recent years we have been going down the path of recruiting half back flankers and creating some of them into midfielders. Rather than the traditional method of the pure midfielder.
And about the facts you pretty much just said Heppell played Half Back with stints in the middle so how can that be crap?

So Kav Heppell Merrett Zaka Colyer ...... are not mids?


Apologies for being aggressive. I have just read too many posts written by half wits and you copped it. My bad.

 

[qwertyboy]

So Kav Heppell Merrett Zaka Colyer ...... are not mids?


Apologies for being aggressive. I have just read too many posts written by half wits and you copped it. My bad.

Thats fine mate, I know we have also got some other players that play different roles, but as I said earlier I feel as though we are picking more players that have played the half back role for there junior clubs or senior clubs because it may mean that they are more defensively minded and when called upon to have a run in the midfield will have more accountability than your average midfielder that has played his whole junior career predominantly in the midfield.
This thread was by no means a shot at the recruiting staff but rather something that I though was noteworthy which was the direction the club seems to be going down in terms of looking at prospects for the midfield as well as defence.

 

[yaco55]

We didn't bring any midfielders - Goddard !

Think we have enough midfielders Goddard,Watson,Stanton,Zaharakis,Howlett, Melksham,Colyer,Browne,Kommer,Merrett,Kavanagh,Heppell and Davis.

 

[MAAAATTDAAAAMON]

We are picking half back flankers like they are going out of fashion! Is there something about the game that we don't know about? Or are they just looking for players with a strong defencsive background?
Just off the top of my head, Ashby, Gleeson, Baguely, Hunter, Hibberd, Hardingham, Heppell, Davis, Browne and Long have all been drafted as half back flankers. Not to fussed about it really its just really amusing that we are investing in so many similar types.

Agree completely. Odd. Pevers get off your high horse/period. Everything he is saying is right. You're being far too precious

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Agree completely. Odd. Pevers get off your high horse/period. Everything he is saying is right. You're being far too precious

Had qwerty response to me been his first post my response would have been different. Choice of words like amusing made it misleading. Once he made his opinion more clear I agreed with him. Satisfied?

 

[The Prosecutor]

What this drafting shows me is TRB have a hell of a lot of faith in Kav/Browne/N'OB.

 

[VelvetSledge]

What this drafting shows me is TRB have a hell of a lot of faith in Kav/Browne/N'OB.

ESPECIALLY MOOSE.

 

[Zach Package]

#theunloosening

 

[stugots]

stocking up on defenders so got plenty of trade bargaining chips

 

[mike14]

I would have thought that at least part of the reason is that
1. they have a defensive side to their game already
2. a lot of the play in modern football is driven off the half-back line, meaning that those playing there (especially in the running roles) need to have good decision making and ball use skills in order to setup the play. They are the 'quaterbacks' (ugh) if you will and hopefully have more developed 'footy smarts'

 

[BrunoV]

It confirms that the position is considered a weakness but tends to reflect an uncertainty about the players we have selected. Can we maybe even draw this out to say that, in terms of the overall balance of the list, we are satisfied enough to punt on 4 of these types with the expectation that only one or two make it?

 

[Nifft]

We didn't bring any midfielders - Goddard !

Think we have enough midfielders Goddard,Watson,Stanton,Zaharakis,Howlett, Melksham,Colyer,Browne,Kommer,Merrett,Kavanagh,Heppell and Davis.

Bombers No1 might disagree with you.

 

[Squeaky]

I would have thought that at least part of the reason is that
1. they have a defensive side to their game already
2. a lot of the play in modern football is driven off the half-back line, meaning that those playing there (especially in the running roles) need to have good decision making and ball use skills in order to setup the play. They are the 'quaterbacks' (ugh) if you will and hopefully have more developed 'footy smarts'

Spot on - agree entirely with this.

 

[Essendonia]

See OP's angle, and there could be some merit in it. Not sure if there is a deliberate overarching strategy to convert HB-types into mids though.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

It confirms that the position is considered a weakness but tends to reflect an uncertainty about the players we have selected. Can we maybe even draw this out to say that, in terms of the overall balance of the list, we are satisfied enough to punt on 4 of these types with the expectation that only one or two make it?

No doubt. You don;t expect taking 6 picks that all 6 will make it, although it woudl be a welcome surprise. I also think that the position you play in as a junior does not have as much to do with where you may end up as people think. So qwerty's premise we want guys already defensively minded is probably along the lines of what they are after. Let's face it, our defensive record is appalling.

 

[keepzitreal]

maybe we are just hoping that one HBF'er actually turns into a small defender so we don't have Milne and co kicking bags on us...

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Wouldn't be surprised if the intent was to release Dempsey and Hibberd to more midfield minutes.

 

[bombermick]

Who are the gun mods we've overlooked in the last 2 years? Graham has hype, but Browne and Davis look wise choices.

 

[ant555]

I think your missing the main point which was that while they were looking to become midfielders all of Heppell, Davis and Browne were actually half backman before they were drafted. It seems as though Essendon are trying to produce defenders with a good workrate into midfielder, when they could just draft actual midfielders.

Heppell actually played as a midfielder and dominated in the second half of his last TAC season. Was always going to step into the midfield at some stage.

As the OP we have been picking blokes who have an idea of defense and are strong characters who train hard and are willing to learn.