Best future forward line - Melbourne or Essendon?

[Rosstickle]

If Melbourne get Butcher I would say them. Until then I'd say Essendon providing Gumbledon can get out on the park. I know Dee's fans are pretty excited about Jurrah but they need to look no furthur than Wonnameari before blowing their load too early. Watts is the only one that could become a dominant goalkicking forward.

 

[whelan=legend]

they need to look no furthur than Wonnameari before blowing their load too early.

Sorry, what does this mean?

 

[Rosstickle]

Sorry, what does this mean?

Last year after a few good games Melbourne fans were creaming themselves over Wonnamaeri after a kicked a few goals. I think I even saw a Wonnamaeri vs Rioli thread. He then slowed down massively and kicked just 3 goals in 6 games.

 

[whelan=legend]

Last year after a few good games Melbourne fans were creaming themselves over Wonnamaeri after a kicked a few goals. I think I even saw a Wonnamaeri vs Rioli thread. He then slowed down massively and kicked just 3 goals in 6 games.

He kicked 24 goals from 18 games all up in his first season. He slowed down towards the end, as you could expect from a player who had a limited pre season.

Just wait until he gets back from his injury, he is a great small forward.

 

[Karl Pilkington]

But Prismall, Watson, Stanton and Monfries all killed you through the middle, getting those players the goals.

Do you then concede they have a better midfield, with those young players firing?

Edit: Davey, Lonergan and Monfries combined for 6, to those Melbourne players 5.

Essendon are a much better team than their ladder position suggests imo. They are better than Carlton or Collingwood, and much, much more versatile.

I don't really include them in the 'up and coming' teams because they aren't in rebuild mode like we are.

For future forward lines, its hard to say, because Lucas/Lloyd leave a huge hole for Essendon, whereas all of Melbourne's best forwards are now kids. Considering I don't know:

1. Who replaces Lucas and Lloyd
2. Howe Melbourne's kids will turn out

It's a bit hard to take a guess with any accuracy.

 

[Pykie]

Essendon are a much better team than their ladder position suggests imo. They are better than Carlton or Collingwood, and much, much more versatile.

I don't really include them in the 'up and coming' teams because they aren't in rebuild mode like we are.

For future forward lines, its hard to say, because Lucas/Lloyd leave a huge hole for Essendon, whereas all of Melbourne's best forwards are now kids. Considering I don't know:

1. Who replaces Lucas and Lloyd
2. Howe Melbourne's kids will turn out

It's a bit hard to take a guess with any accuracy.

If Gumbleton gets on the park, he has every bit as much potential as Jack Watts.

Neagle has shown some signs, and they have some versatility in talls.

Ryder will have a free reign when Hille gets back, his experience in the ruck may prove the start for good things to come as a KPP.

Michael Hurley was known to switch to the forward line in juniors and turn the game on its head.

He could very well be a Bradshaw, Neitz, Pavlich, Alastair Lynch - start out in the backline, end up in the forward line.

Who replaces Lloyd and Lucas? Bombers have just about the best young talls in the comp, im sure they could find some out of this:


Gumbleton
Ryder
Neagle
Hurley
Pears
Hooker
Danniher

 

[Karl Pilkington]

Well, assuming Melbourne get pick 1 and 2, we'll probably have the following look:

F: Wonna Butcher Jurrah
HF: Sylvia Watts Davey

That's a pretty nice set up. For another tall I'm sure one of our backline players will be used up there eventually (Stef Martin is the likely candidate). Problem is,w e don't know shit about Melbourne's players at this stage. Watts looks like being a good CHF, but he probably won't hit his straps for a while yet (Most big forwards peak around 24-27 years old), you'd assume the same of Butcher.

So yeah, can't say.

 

[Pykie]

Well, assuming Melbourne get pick 1 and 2, we'll probably have the following look:

F: Wonna Butcher Jurrah
HF: Sylvia Watts Davey

That's a pretty nice set up. For another tall I'm sure one of our backline players will be used up there eventually (Stef Martin is the likely candidate). Problem is,w e don't know shit about Melbourne's players at this stage. Watts looks like being a good CHF, but he probably won't hit his straps for a while yet (Most big forwards peak around 24-27 years old), you'd assume the same of Butcher.

So yeah, can't say.

I dont deal in futuristic teams from drafts that havn't been yet.

Whats to say Essendon doesn't take Ben Griffiths and add another hugely talented potential CHF/FF to its list, as well?

And there is no guarentee Butcher will go #2, he hasn't had the greatest of carnivals to date.


At the moment, I think it is more likely that Essendon fills the void left by their ageing talls, than Melbourne is to develop a similar quality all over the park.

 

[Karl Pilkington]

I dont deal in futuristic teams from drafts that havn't been yet.

Whats to say Essendon doesn't take Ben Griffiths and add another hugely talented potential CHF/FF to its list, as well?

And there is no guarentee Butcher will go #2, he hasn't had the greatest of carnivals to date.


At the moment, I think it is more likely that Essendon fills the void left by their ageing talls, than Melbourne is to develop a similar quality all over the park.

Probably so. But I think there are too many unknown factors for it to be clear.

FWIW I DO deal in future forward lines.

 

[larson]

That forward line doesn't impress me too much.

Gumbleton - Ability is present, but unfortunately so are injury problems which prevent him from displaying that ability and improving upon it.

Monfries - A good, serviceable player. I don't know if he will amount to much more than that though.

Reimers - One who can provide excitement, no doubt. It is hard to tell where he'll end up, so I won't hazard a guess at this point. He certainly has some potential though.

Davey - A very good player on his day, but his days don't appear to be coming as often as they used to.

Neagle - A decent KPF, but I don't think he'll excel at the top level.

Lonergan - Once again, a good player who tries hard, but isn't going to set the world on fire.

To me, Melbourne's forward line has much more potential.

That's actually pretty spot on.

I think a lot of our future depends on Neagle. I rate him very highly, he just doesn't seem to be putting it all together yet.

 

[cannons]

If Gumbleton gets on the park, he has every bit as much potential as Jack Watts.

Neagle has shown some signs, and they have some versatility in talls.

Gumbleton may have had the potential that Jack does, but surely the injury problems would have diminished it to an extent.

Neagle, well, that's a stretch, probably why you have chosen to write next to nothing on him and his associated ability.

I don't recall the rest of your post, but it seemed to be rather reasonable, if somewhat speculative. Then again, when talking about the future, there is always a degree of speculation present.

 

[bomberz08]

I dont deal in futuristic teams from drafts that havn't been yet.

Whats to say Essendon doesn't take Ben Griffiths and add another hugely talented potential CHF/FF to its list, as well?

And there is no guarentee Butcher will go #2, he hasn't had the greatest of carnivals to date.


At the moment, I think it is more likely that Essendon fills the void left by their ageing talls, than Melbourne is to develop a similar quality all over the park.

Butcher WILL go number 2, there is a huge gap between scully and butcher, and the rest

 

[Demonheart]

While there is huge upside in Jurrah, Watts, Wonaeamirri and others the bombers are currently miles in front. Untill that potential is translated into wins it's the bombers for mine.

 

[BABYBOMBERS2007]

Essendon's. Looks very good. Lets hope Gumby can get fit.

 

[Knight Ryders]

We haven't seen enough of Essendon's or Melbourne's youngsters to make an accurate prediction in my view. For instance, Neagle has footy smarts much like a Stevie Johnson, but he's let himself down with attitude and fitness to date, along with a niggling ankle injury. Will he be any good? Who knows.

The one thing that Essendon have to their advantage imho is culture. Melbourne need to build a better culture amongst their players from a pretty poor leadership group. If they don't, they are going to struggle to fulfil their potential. This is one of the many challenges for Bailey atm.

 

[cannons]

We haven't seen enough of Essendon's or Melbourne's youngsters to make an accurate prediction in my view. For instance, Neagle has footy smarts much like a Stevie Johnson, but he's let himself down with attitude and fitness to date, along with a niggling ankle injury. Will he be any good? Who knows.

The one thing that Essendon have to their advantage imho is culture. Melbourne need to build a better culture amongst their players from a pretty poor leadership group. If they don't, they are going to struggle to fulfil their potential. This is one of the many challenges for Bailey atm.

Intriguing post. It's too difficult to make an accurate prediction given the fact we haven't seen enough of them, yet it is possible to make an assessment of culture?

Culture is far more difficult to assess, as outsiders such as us are rarely afforded a true insight into the way in which the club works, aside from what we see on the field.

 

[Knight Ryders]

Intriguing post. It's too difficult to make an accurate prediction given the fact we haven't seen enough of them, yet it is possible to make an assessment of culture?

Culture is far more difficult to assess, as outsiders such as us are rarely afforded a true insight into the way in which the club works, aside from what we see on the field.

To some degree I agree with what your saying, but I believe the culture of some clubs is very evident. No-one would question the culture of the Crows, Swans or the Roos, but equally, would seriously question the culture of teams such as Richmond and atm, Melbourne.

Melbourne have a fantastic tradition, but they have lost their way of late. No real success (premierships), poor leadership group in comparison to other AFL teams and off-field problems with debt, no training base etc all elude to there not being a culture of success and unrelenting pursuit for excellence. It may be a back-handed compliment, but Stynes in some respect is starting to turn that around and the Dees seem to be heading in the right direction off field including establishing a home base for training etc. Melbourne now needs to find an inspirational leader such as Carlton did with Judd (although we know they don't fall off trees) or quickly develop their under 23's in terms of leadership. It can be done, but it may take some time. Geelong should be the prototype for Melbourne, as they turned around their club and their on-field team to be at the point of being one of the most respected teams/clubs going around.

St.Kilda looked to have finally turned the corner, but there is three months to go before we find our whether or not it is for real. The Saints had the most talented list for many years, but still could not produce a premiership. It takes more than talent to win premierships.

 

[Grandmaster_B]

Bump.

Nice bump.

-Watts kicks 2 in his second game
- Liam Jurrah bursts on to the scene in scintillating fashion.
- Stefan Martin makes the Bomber defence look like fools with the goal of the night





Futures looking good.

 

[Pocket Aces]

Nice bump.

-Watts kicks 2 in his second game
- Liam Jurrah bursts on to the scene in scintillating fashion.
- Stefan Martin makes the Bomber defence look like fools with the goal of the night





Futures looking good.

And yet you lost by 8 goals and looked awful in the 3rd term. Future looks fantastic.

 

[whelan=legend]

And yet you lost by 8 goals and looked awful in the 3rd term. Future looks fantastic.

Round 8 2006:

Melbourne defeats Hawthorn by 75 points.

A mere two years later, 12 of those players who were smacked by Melbourne become premiership players. Funny thing is, they are mostly your better players too.

 

[Grandmaster_B]

And yet you lost by 8 goals and looked awful in the 3rd term. Future looks fantastic.

We had one terrible quarter.

Oh well.

They had their best team on the park.

We were missing a host of good players.

This game means nothing.

 

[Winner]

We had one terrible quarter.

Oh well.

They had their best team on the park.

We were missing a host of good players.

This game means nothing.

No we didn't.

 

[whelan=legend]

No we didn't.

You were only missing Hille, and considering the way he was playing before his injury i'm sure you would much rather Ryder rucking than Hille.

 

[CM Sean]

Melbourne should be smashing this poll.

Remember, the question is "Who has the best FUTURE Forward Line?"

This isn't about the midfielders and anyone else who can come forward and kick goals. This isn't about who's the better team and who's going to be better in the future. This is about who has the BEST forward line going forward, and to look at that list and choose Essendon is an absolute joke.

We have Watts who has only played two games, we have Jurrah who has only played one and we have people like Jetta and Wonaeamirri to add to that. Watts will be a superstar, Jurrah has freakish ability and with crumbers like Jetta and Wonna surrounding them, it's going to be a very dominant forward line. Not only that but if we go in the direction we seem to be this year, you can also most likely add Butcher to that list.

Chuck them all in the forward line now and it might not look dangerous at all, but in terms of the future, when all these guys have reached the prime of their potential, this forward line is going to be a very hard one to match and/or counter. We have the potential going forward and once we get the experience into these players, Essendon will have nothing on us.

And that's not to say Essendon won't have a great forward line, All I'm saying is; in terms of this poll: Melbourne HAS the BETTER future forward line.

 

[rusman]

Melbourne should be smashing this poll.

Remember, the question is "Who has the best FUTURE Forward Line?"

This isn't about the midfielders and anyone else who can come forward and kick goals. This isn't about who's the better team and who's going to be better in the future. This is about who has the BEST forward line going forward, and to look at that list and choose Essendon is an absolute joke.

We have Watts who has only played two games, we have Jurrah who has only played one and we have people like Jetta and Wonaeamirri to add to that. Watts will be a superstar, Jurrah has freakish ability and with crumbers like Jetta and Wonna surrounding them, it's going to be a very dominant forward line. Not only that but if we go in the direction we seem to be this year, you can also most likely add Butcher to that list.

Chuck them all in the forward line now and it might not look dangerous at all, but in terms of the future, when all these guys have reached the prime of their potential, this forward line is going to be a very hard one to match and/or counter. We have the potential going forward and once we get the experience into these players, Essendon will have nothing on us.

And that's not to say Essendon won't have a great forward line, All I'm saying is; in terms of this poll: Melbourne HAS the BETTER future forward line.

"Melbourne HAS the BETTER future forward line" this is your opinion and it seems that half of the voters disagree with you, and for good reason.

Essendon have young tallented kpf depth in: Gumbleton , Hurley, Neagle, Daniher and Michael Still all with the "potential" to be good kpfs. Aswell as a number of young small forwards who have shown tallent at AFL level in Davey, Jetta, Lonergan, Monfries, Reimers.
We also have resting ruckman in Ryder who ticks every box to become a good KPF and also has "x-factor" you were impling with Jurrah. I could go into detail about the tallent and potential of our future forwards but i fear its all opinion. To say that "Essendon will have nothing on us" and that "to choose Essendon is an absolute joke" is an unfair assesment. Both these forwardlines show much promise and are hard to compare as nethier have performed enough at AFL level, as shown in the poll.