Crunch Player

[GoDons]

I think the closest thing we have is Jobe Watson.

When Jobe's up and running, our game goes up phenomenally. He reads the play very well, gets it in the tough situations and is developing a very balanced football brain.

He's turned games before, and I think we'll see him do it a bit more consistently now.

Guys like Davey, Jetta, Dempsey and Lovett will turn games in the future, I just don't think they can be relied upon like Jobe could be.

 

[eb075]

I think the closest thing we have is Jobe Watson.

When Jobe's up and running, our game goes up phenomenally. He reads the play very well, gets it in the tough situations and is developing a very balanced football brain.

He's turned games before, and I think we'll see him do it a bit more consistently now.

You beat me to it. Whilst not in ANY way saying he is of the class of Hird, he's the one that most reminds me of Jim. The way he can get into the middle of a pack and never appears to be flustered and will whip a handball out 10 or 20 meters to someone in the clear just smacks of Jimmy. If he just improves his kicking, which I'm sure they'll be aware of over summer - he's my pick.

 

[Boris_Bewick]

Courtenay Dempsey + Confidence in his hamstrings + a string of AFL games = One of our most important players. Very capable of being this type of player, frequently. In my opinion of course.

 

[Santoz]

Gumbleton. Will have presence a plenty in a few years time. If he turns out better than Scotty Lucas, which some think he will, he'll be a champion ...

 

[ant555]

Davey...

Yep Davey is the man. Missed him a hell of a lot when he went down and with another pre season under his belt he will have improved fitness.

 

[The Donners]

Yep Davey is the man. Missed him a hell of a lot when he went down and with another pre season under his belt he will have improved fitness.

I'm assuming you've met Jetta, I hear he's a confident young man... that's fantastic! We need confident people/players. I get the feeling that Lovett is confident, not so much Stanton and Ryder... is that accurate?

 

[ant555]

I'm assuming you've met Jetta, I hear he's a confident young man... that's fantastic! We need confident people/players. I get the feeling that Lovett is confident, not so much Stanton and Ryder... is that accurate?

Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.

Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.

 

[The Donners]

Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.

Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.

Essendon were reknowned for being chirpy on the field... arrogant if you will, wouldn't mind a bit of that arrogance back! It's a sign that there's success around the corner!!!

 

[adamcf]

McVeigh.. by a street. Next 'Dons captain IMO.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

Davey or McVeigh don't have the ability to influence games as much as a "Hird" type player.

McVeigh has the heart and courage but lacks the class while Davey will have moments but will struggle to grab games by the scruff of the neck.

The only people on our list with potential to do that are Gumbleton and Dempsey and possibly Jetta.

 

[rines]

davey, so many times in 07 before the injury he would in "hird style" just make something happen, a chase down, goal, smother or whatever... we we lost both him and hird in the same game we lost our season,

i fully expect with another preseason and some speed around him davey will be the crunch player of 08!!

 

[tristo]

Thats pertty true. Stanton is very quiet. Not a big talker on the field or anywhere for that matter. Jetta and Lovett have the confidence. Ryder is confidnet in his ability but he isnt as flashy or as talkative about it.

Actually it raise a really good point. In general we lack guys who talk out on the field. It is something that is missing and has been for a while. Hirdy was never a big talker out on the ground. Lucas and Fletcher are not. We need a few of these young blokes to step up and take a new direction in that area.

The last "big" talkers on the field would of been Barnes (who still gets the job done), Wallis, Hardwick, Barnard, M.Johnson

 

[GoDons]

Another name I'd like to throw out there is Adam Ramanauskas.

I think we'll see a bit more than we expect next season...

 

[WindyHillWatcher]

there were a few games in 2007 when the game when is in the balance and mcveigh stood tall. I think him, davey, lucas and mcphee will be the ones to lead the club in 2008 and hopefully we'll see old mate lloyd back down in the goalscore doing what we like most: kicking tons of goals.
andrew lovett is taking a little longer than I expected to be a constant force, perhaps this is his year and if that happens we should be on fire!

 

[SM10]

there were a few games in 2007 when the game when is in the balance and mcveigh stood tall. I think him, davey, lucas and mcphee will be the ones to lead the club in 2008 and hopefully we'll see old mate lloyd back down in the goalscore doing what we like most: kicking tons of goals.
andrew lovett is taking a little longer than I expected to be a constant force, perhaps this is his year and if that happens we should be on fire!

Next year he will definately get going I think, had a couple of great games in the last few rounds this year and I think he should carry that on next year..

 

[carmi99]

With the retirement of Hird who will become the player that will lift the dons when the chips are down and everything is going against us. For years it was James, going into the middle and getting that all-important clearance, going back and becoming that loose player in defense, or going forward and kicking that crucial goal.

Who will be Hird's immediate successor, and who from the kids will be the one to step in the future?

For the immediate successor i think McVeigh has the goods to play this role, Lovett to i think can do it as well. If McPhee can recapture his early Essendon form he could also easily fit this role, the potential is there.

In the future I think the likes of Hislop, Monfries, Ryder, Winderlich could all play this role.

Lucas already is a crunch player for us and will continue to do so...

 

[Kong]

Monfries - he's always had that 'Hird'ness about him, obviously not on the same level; but the ability to play forward and midfield, is extremely courageous, leads from the front, and loves a goal (and a snap).

 

[GoDons]

Monfries - he's always had that 'Hird'ness about him, obviously not on the same level; but the ability to play forward and back, courageous, leads from the front, and loves a goal (and a snap).

I don't think Angus will ever dominate like Hird did, but that's no fault of his, few will.

The main reason though is that Angus doesn't have the attributes. Hird could out mark a ruckman and beat a small for agility and at the same time. Hird could move from CHF to the centre. Angus is no where near as multi-dimensional.

What Monfries could become is Mark Mercuri like player; good in the packs, good as a receiver, good foot skills, good above the shoulders and an effective goalkicker. A long way to go yet though and it'd be a mighty achievement if he got that far.

 

[azza_24]

IMO, I think Welsh could be a player to step up.

He can play that defensive role, go forward or even play in the midfield.

He has everything to be a star IMO.


Also Monfries and Davey could be this crunch player.
Both are very hard at the ball and very courageous.

 

[tristo]

What allowed Hird to be that "Crunch Player" was his football brain, he just knew where to be, he seemed to always have a headstart on the opposition based simply on reading the play better..... who has the best football brain now that Jimmy has hung the boots up?

 

[Schmick]

McVeigh is probably the most likely to fill the void next year in Hirds absence as he can influence a game when thrown forward or put in the middle as we've seen this year.

Another possibility would be McPhee. I have a feeling he may get back to his best with all this talk about Knights focusing on disposal and decision making which are his 2 major weaknesses, if he works hard on it with Knights over the summer we could see him get back to his best in o8 playing off half back and also being chucked into the middle or up forward if need be.

 

[Longy413]

What allowed Hird to be that "Crunch Player" was his football brain, he just knew where to be, he seemed to always have a headstart on the opposition based simply on reading the play better..... who has the best football brain now that Jimmy has hung the boots up?

Watson...