Bradley

[crazzzy_grrl]

Sorry Bommer fans for straying here, but could someone please tell me how Keplers going??

I went to school with him, and my dad bumped into his mum a few weeks ago and she said he's loving it in Melbourne, so can anyone tell me how he is going?? Does he looked like he could get a few more games this year?

 

[Sports Capital]

Last year he looked like a very talented player but needed more muscle. Over pre-season he's put on 7kg of muscle and is training magnificently. In my opinion, he'll be a star.

 

[RYZA!]

agreed with that played really well in the intraclub match at CHB against Scott lucas

 

[nonchalance]

A real chance to hold down CHB for us this year, although I don't know if he'll stand up against guys like Tredrea and Brown yet.

 

[Bomaz_Magic]

He is nowehere enar ready. Along way off, and frankly, blokes like Stanton, Dyson and Watson are well ahead of him at this stage. Maybe in 2 or 3 years time Bradley will start to devolop as a KPP.

 

[Longy413]

He is nowehere enar ready. Along way off, and frankly, blokes like Stanton, Dyson and Watson are well ahead of him at this stage. Maybe in 2 or 3 years time Bradley will start to devolop as a KPP.

What makes you say that?

 

[Shads]

Here is a story about KB from the EFC website.


Bulked up Bradley ready for senior football

Kepler Bradley has made a massive improvement over the pre-season, according to assistant coach Dean Wallis and is in great shape as the Bombers approach the pre-season competitions.

Bradley, 19, Essendon’s first round draft pick at the 2003 National Draft has only played five games but has already been compared by some to a young Dustin Fletcher and it is in the back half he might just get his opportunity.

The club sees Bradley as an integral past of their long term plans and as such offered the teenager a new two-year contract at the end of last season. It was a great show of faith.

With the added security of a new contract Bradley took the summer to focus on football. "Kepler went away over the off season and spent his break in Perth and worked everyday in the gym and running and came back seven kilograms heavier." assistant coach Dean Wallis said.

Knowing he had to mature physically to become a regular senior player, the hard work seems to be paying off for Bradley.

"He has made a massive improvement over the pre-season." Wallis said. "All his fitness standards basically say that he has improved. He’s run a 15 beeper (beep test), he has improved his strength in the gym also and his time for the 3.2km trial has come down considerably. So he’s adapted well to the training standards that are required for AFL."

Nowhere was this improvement more evident than in the recent 3.2km time trial when Bradley dropped an incredible 34 seconds off his previous personal best.

"In your first year of AFL you can tend to struggle a little, but Kep has definitely taken the next step and he’s ready to go against Sydney and in the Wizard Cup against Carlton," Wallis said.

Wallis said the options a re numerous in terms of where Bradley slots into the Essendon senior side but the most obvious position appears to that vacated by Sean Wellman across half back.

"He has the height and reads the play well enough to slot in across there. He works really hard and his courage is unquestioned - it certainly is something that we will look at," Wallis said.

"But he could also move forward. He works hard in the air and at ground level which is an excellent sign for someone of his side so he can contest in both areas - that certainly helps keep the ball where you want it to be.

"And as strange as it sounds he could play a role in the midfield - a bit like Anthony Koutoufides. I'm not saying he is in that class at the moment but he moves well enough to do that. He has played a lot of football on the wing in Perth so it isn't something that is totally unfamiliar to him."

 

[Bomaz_Magic]

What makes you say that?

Just from what I've seen of him. DOesn't seem ready, will no doubt play seniors, but I doubt he will ever be the superstar people claim - I believe that Dyson at pick 44 will be the superstar of that draft and no t Kepler.

 

[Longy413]

Just from what I've seen of him. DOesn't seem ready, will no doubt play seniors, but I doubt he will ever be the superstar people claim - I believe that Dyson at pick 44 will be the superstar of that draft and no t Kepler.

But what exactly have you seen of him?

Did you see his VFL form last year?
Did you see his performance against Lucas on Saturday?
Have you seen how much he has bulked up and how big his shoulders are?

 

[RYZA!]

Just from what I've seen of him. DOesn't seem ready, will no doubt play seniors, but I doubt he will ever be the superstar people claim - I believe that Dyson at pick 44 will be the superstar of that draft and no t Kepler.

IT is said he has improved really well over the pre-season and from the match on Sat showed it. just wait to the wizzy cup

 

[lazyhare]

He might have put on 7 kgs of muscle or whatever it is but that doesnt mean he can play football. From what i saw when he played seniors last year he couldnt kick at all on the run, he was a pretty average mark and he always seemed to be out of position or unsure of himself. It seems as though he will be at least a couple of years off playing good footy.

 

[crazzzy_grrl]

Thanks all for the update

 

[Disco Clarky]

But what exactly have you seen of him?

Did you see his VFL form last year?
Did you see his performance against Lucas on Saturday?
Have you seen how much he has bulked up and how big his shoulders are?

VFL form counts for ******** and an intra club match?? Seriously do you think these guys like Lucas give their all. Kepler will no doubt be a good player for us in a couple of years but superstar I think not. For a guy his age he should at least have better foot skills

 

[whirl]

VFL form counts for ******** and an intra club match?? Seriously do you think these guys like Lucas give their all. Kepler will no doubt be a good player for us in a couple of years but superstar I think not. For a guy his age he should at least have better foot skills

A good player is fine.

VFL form counts for some, otherwise it wouldn't be used as a basis for helping to select the team. And for a first year player he put in some exceptional performances, his first game in particular comes to mind. 30 touches, 13 marks and 3 goals... what's not to like about that from a kid playing his first game?

for what it's worth though Lucas seemed to be getting mighty annoyed about being beaten. Ended up burying Bain in the turf a couple of times by reports, and had a brief to-doo with Slattery.

 

[Longy413]

VFL form counts for ******** and an intra club match?? Seriously do you think these guys like Lucas give their all. Kepler will no doubt be a good player for us in a couple of years but superstar I think not. For a guy his age he should at least have better foot skills

VFL form does count, because it's all we have to judge our youngsters on. Kepler's form was impressive in the VFL last season, the thing that hurt him the most was that he wasn't settled in one position, but he did shine in defence, up forward and on a wing at times throughout the season.

If you don't think Lucas or any player would give there all in an intraclub match then you know nothing of the fibres that make this club so good. Every position is up for grabs and the intensity of the match proved that. Ask Ryan Bain if Scott Lucas took the practice match serious. Several times Scott Lucas doubled back, and made third, fourth and fifth leads as Kepler wore him like a glove. A player who wasn't trying wouldn't do this.

And how many 198cm footballers do you know with foot skills better than Keplers. I think for someone his size his foot skills are more than adequate and improving.

 

[Disco Clarky]

VFL form does count, because it's all we have to judge our youngsters on. Kepler's form was impressive in the VFL last season, the thing that hurt him the most was that he wasn't settled in one position, but he did shine in defence, up forward and on a wing at times throughout the season.

If you don't think Lucas or any player would give there all in an intraclub match then you know nothing of the fibres that make this club so good. Every position is up for grabs and the intensity of the match proved that. Ask Ryan Bain if Scott Lucas took the practice match serious. Several times Scott Lucas doubled back, and made third, fourth and fifth leads as Kepler wore him like a glove. A player who wasn't trying wouldn't do this.

And how many 198cm footballers do you know with foot skills better than Keplers. I think for someone his size his foot skills are more than adequate and improving.

If you truly believe players give their all from any club in a intra club match then your kidding yourself. Even Wizard cup games are not played with the intensity or desire that regualar season matches are. I highly doubt any player would play an intra club game with the intensity in which they tackle a home and away game. Yeah Ive got no doubt lucas had a dip but Its not the same! Lets see Kepler hold down CHB against a quality CHF during the home and away season then get back to me. His skills are ordinary when compared to guys like Dustin Fletcher, Everitt, Jeff White, Leppitch, Ottens etc etc and other guys of similar size. he certainly needs to work on that aspect of his game. In not denying he may be a good player, great player lets just wait and see. Champion I think NOT! As for not knowing what makes this club great well you wouldnt want to say that to my face thats for sure.

 

[Longy413]

If you truly believe players give their all from any club in a intra club match then your kidding yourself. Even Wizard cup games are not played with the intensity or desire that regualar season matches are. I highly doubt any player would play an intra club game with the intensity in which they tackle a home and away game. Yeah Ive got no doubt lucas had a dip but Its not the same! Lets see Kepler hold down CHB against a quality CHF during the home and away season then get back to me. His skills are ordinary when compared to guys like Dustin Fletcher, Everitt, Jeff White, Leppitch, Ottens etc etc and other guys of similar size. he certainly needs to work on that aspect of his game. In not denying he may be a good player, great player lets just wait and see. Champion I think NOT! As for not knowing what makes this club great well you wouldnt want to say that to my face thats for sure.

A threat, very mature.

The fact is the players had an absolute dip, and the fact is Kep stood up very well. I never said it was anything like a home and away game so I don't know where you are drawing the comparison from. All we have at the moment to judge Kep is VFL and pre-season form....do we not assess him at all because he has yet to play CHB in the AFL, or do we comment on what we know?

I don't know of too many 19 year old champion's, but the fact that so many are ready to write him off as an good ordinary player already astounds me.

His upside far outways any negatives, and for what it's worth I think his skills are pretty good. Good mark, very very good below his knees. Good by hand, his engine for someone his size is right up there with the best and his kicking skills are pretty good. To compare him to Fletcher and Ottens is a bit unfair, they are two of the best going around. His foot skills stack up with White and Leppitch pretty well.