Brad Ebert - Do We Still Like Him?

[greennick]

I'm not a big fan of the idea of playing a guy to increase his trade value and I don't think the coaches are either, so if he's playing in our side, he needs to be there on merit. Right now he's probably not.

So, why is he getting a gig then? If it isn't merit and it isn't to 'increase his trade value', why is he getting a go?

 

[new breed]

So, why is he getting a gig then? If it isn't merit and it isn't to 'increase his trade value', why is he getting a go?

Because he is so tough at the contests , good tackler and when he played HF these attributes assisted our forward Press game plan . His toughness / tackling allow the Masten / Shuey type players easier access to the ball . Just MO

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

I've always liked him, mainly because he's unfashionable and everyone hates him.

Still, I think he goes alright and is worth persisting with. In fact, if you compare his stats to those of Nicoski, our other HFF, you'll notice Ebert is only a touch behind in every catagory except goals per game.

It works out to be -0.8 disposals per game, -0.4 marks per game, -0.5 tackles per game, -1 goal per game.

Most people would say Nicoski is having a decent year but Ebert who's far younger is trade bait? Furthermore, Nicoski hasn't had any time as a sub.

I dare say in time Ebert will start to hammer goals home too. He gets in position often enough but it just doesn't happen for him.

The Adelaide game was a good example of this - in the 3rd Kerr flicked him a handball to run onto inside 50, directly in front. Ebert had time and space but the ball bounced badly and by the time he gathered it, the time had disappeared so he handballed back to Rosa.

Later in the game Embley set him up for a shot on goal and he hit the post.

Really that should've been 2 goals and at the moment that's the difference between us being happy with Ebert and what most of you are - just that slight amount of luck and ability.

I'm very confident in time it'll come together though.

 

[sTeeL]

I am going to lay this down as SOFTLY as I can for you all.

A second rounder is precisely worth didly squat. End of second rounder which is our likely swap anyway will net bugger all. 2nd rounders from 2006 netted 1 decent player(Tippett) and 2 usable(Mackenzie and Dawes) and maybe a speculative(Pettard). 5 players from 16.

Maybe its anomaly? Sure we will expand the drafting to another year. 2005. Bit more maturity. 3 decents left in round 2, 6 already delisted, and the rest probably on their way out this year.

Ebert is a player who has his flaws but he has his bonus's too. He has decent endurance, decent marking ability, and has the heart. His skills are better than they were but he is meant to be a mid and has been pushed to the flanks for now. Same reason Masten is struggling. Swapping for even a middle of 2nd rounder gives us bugger all hope of getting a decent player in return. Especially in a compromised draft. There will NOT be another Darling lasting to 26 this year.

 

[Jackaaa]

He,s been playing HFF which is a very tricky position unless you are an absolute gun or playing in a super team. your game is out of your controll alot of the times.
I reckon he should stick around.

 

[jesterwester]

After watching the game from Saturday again, something struck me about Ebo which I think is a pretty common theme. He's always hard at it, a pretty good tackler, and a good overhead mark, but every game without fail, he will do something so unbelievably spuddish, that that error is all you remember.

Many times he probably has serviceable games, but will make two royal ****-ups, and ruin the rest of his work.

quote]
I reckon youre spot on. Was watching the game on the AFL site and was watching some of his work. Hes a terrific overhead mark, he contests & tackles well, and plays his role well. Sure, he may not be the best kick in the world, but he is getting a lot better in that regard.

It often seems that his work off the ball is certainly better than with it, and we need players like that in the squad, willing to put the work in for the greater good, even if he doesnt get the plaudits himself.

Such as his brilliant work to keep the ball in play when it bounced on the line from a long Lecras shot on the weekend. He didnt score the goal, Nicoski did, heck- he didnt even touch it, but he kept it from being rushed by the adelaide player trailing behind.
Certainly worth persisting with IMO. He'll come good. I get the feeling if we trade him we will come to regret it.

 

[Off Tap]

We have to keep him for sure.

He has a few faults but the compensation we get for trading him now will more than likely be of lesser value than what he offers in the future.

There have been heaps of posters on these boards bagging out guys like Rosa and now the same people are wetting their pants over him.

I can see the same thing happening with Ebert once he sorts himself out. The guy's 21 FFS.

 

[beatlesmith]

The coaching staff put faith in Rosa and he rectified his deficiencies.
If his kicking improves like Rosa's did, will be a very good player.
It's a silly time in his career to be trading him.

 

[Off Tap]

The coaching staff put faith in Rosa and he rectified his deficiencies.
If his kicking improves like Rosa's did, will be a very good player.
It's a silly time in his career to be trading him.

Totally agree. To trade out a guy that's 5 years away from hitting his peak only because he has a suss kick on him is just plain silly.

I really like Ebert and he will be a fantastic player for us in the future.

 

[September_Glory]

One thing I can't understand is...

If the club rates him as highly as we think they do, why haven't they offered an extension yet? And if they have, why hasn't he signed on?

Masten and Selwood had shown less than Ebert at the time they signed their extensions so it would makes sense that Ebert was offered something similar.

I'm trying to think about it from Brad's perspective. Is he holding out for a better deal or is he himself uncertain of where he wants to be long term?

Theories welcomed

 

[Lion El'Johnson]

I like the lad ...somewhat.

 

[Patron]

I am going to lay this down as SOFTLY as I can for you all.

A second rounder is precisely worth didly squat. End of second rounder which is our likely swap anyway will net bugger all. 2nd rounders from 2006 netted 1 decent player(Tippett) and 2 usable(Mackenzie and Dawes) and maybe a speculative(Pettard). 5 players from 16.

Maybe its anomaly? Sure we will expand the drafting to another year. 2005. Bit more maturity. 3 decents left in round 2, 6 already delisted, and the rest probably on their way out this year.

Ebert is a player who has his flaws but he has his bonus's too. He has decent endurance, decent marking ability, and has the heart. His skills are better than they were but he is meant to be a mid and has been pushed to the flanks for now. Same reason Masten is struggling. Swapping for even a middle of 2nd rounder gives us bugger all hope of getting a decent player in return. Especially in a compromised draft. There will NOT be another Darling lasting to 26 this year.

Our last second rounders have been
2010 Darling, Lycett
2009 Stevens, Weedon
2008 Shuey, Swift

Priorities are second round picks as they come after the first round. Only swift would probably hold less value than ebert and yet even he still has way more potential and ability.
So many of you say what if we trade him and he turns good. What if we don't trade him and he stays bad? its a loss either way.
The way i see it is he's more likely to drop in value than he is to increase. We also have enough slow mids with poor footskills but "give it their all". Time to trade for mine.

 

[September_Glory]

I thought Ebert was better last year, if I remember correctly he generally had a lot more possies which can be expected seeing as he plays HFF now, it was just his disposal efficiency.

To build on this point, I think this is the reason the coaching staff rate his character so highly.

I forced myself to watch almost all those unwatchable games in 2010 - games that were over by quarter time. Ebert was placed smack bang in the center and competed about as well as someone in his position could compete. We were getting smashed, our experienced players were laying down but Brad still gave maximum effort. That's character. That's the kind of mentality that premiership sides are built on.

The talent might not be there but I'm certain Ebert is going to get 110% out of what talent he has. When he got dropped a couple of weeks ago, I had no doubt that he would come back strongly. None.

The second half of the season is crucial for his future at WC, I feel. He needs to solidify that HFF spot ahead of Strijk and Weedon or he might see greener pastures back in SA.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

One thing I can't understand is...

If the club rates him as highly as we think they do, why haven't they offered an extension yet?

It's not rare for players to sign extensions without the media mentioning it.

I don't know if it's because the media don't think it's news worthy of because West Coast don't like it coming out. Maybe it's a combination of the 2.

 

[pantskyle]

All for trading him is a decent and fair offer emerges.

 

[Galileo9]

problem is we have way too many inside players and we try to make some of them outside or HFF players and none of them seem to have the ability to play in more than one position. all these players want to play in Priddis' position but noone does what he does nowhere near as well. so whose problem is it? well those players who cant play in more than one position.

i am not worried if players leave due to lack of opportunity. good problem to have.

 

[sTeeL]

Our last second rounders have been
2010 Darling, Lycett
2009 Stevens, Weedon
2008 Shuey, Swift

Okay. I can see where you coming from. But think again, your basing this on the percieved value. Your guessing these guys are great pickups for second rounders. Guess what. None bar Shuey and Darling are even playing AFL at the moment. What does that tell you? Just because you think these were the fantastic second rounders doesn't mean squat because only 2 have shown it. Its fair to say Stevens and Weedon showed bugger all at AFL level so far, and Swift seems to have lost all confidence to play a high level game. They haven't been in the system long enough for anyone to lose full confidence in their abilities to AFL players but it can easily go both ways for Stevens, Weedon, Swift and Lycett at this stage.

These are also all but Lycett, EARLY second rounders which we will be lucky to recieve for Ebert at this stage.

 

[bodazoka]

I still like him...

 

[kane249]

It's a pity Strijk is failing to put in 4 quarter efforts as I would have him in the team over Ebert in a heart beat.

Ebert is this year playing the HFF role that Masten and Shuey were playing in previous years so it's no wonder his possesions have dropped whilst the others have gone up.

Wouldn't be opposed putting him up for trade at the end of this year either for a draft pick to a South Australian team or as a player + pick deal to land Rich or someone similar from another club.

 

[September_Glory]

It's not rare for players to sign extensions without the media mentioning it.

I don't know if it's because the media don't think it's news worthy of because West Coast don't like it coming out. Maybe it's a combination of the 2.

Perth media actually doing their job. What was I thinking...

Logically, I see no reason to hold back if he has indeed signed. Maybe they are going to announce the players re-signing as a group like they sometimes do. I imagine this is a key negotiation period with so many players out of contract in 3 months.

Great job on the contracts thread btw, Jimmy. First class work

 

[placebo]

Will be a 150+ game player with us.

 

[KaaL]

Will be a 150+ game player with us.

I hope not. There is nothing special about this guy.

 

[bali-dog]

the question is does brad ebert still like us?

 

[Marlin01]

Do you mean like or like like?

I'm not sure his team mates like Ebert too much, to be honest. They continually see him available for a give and ignore him, choosing other options.

 

[One PAFC]

I personally would love for both Brad Ebert and Scott Lycett to return home to Port Adelaide.

I'd love for us to get current Kangaroo Levi Greenwood back home to Alberton as well. Same with Derrick Wanganeen who is currently on Hawthorn's rookie list.