Traded Devon Smith [traded to Essendon]

[The Donners]

One look at the mans draft history as a coach, should immediately cause the listener to turn off.

Riewoldt, Cotchin, Rance and Martin. They built a premiership around them.

 

[Le Archie]

Before his knee injury. Perhaps you could re read your own post


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You said he struggled in a lot of his games this year, I am stating he didn't. Perhaps you should re-read your own post m8.

 

[Ants]

Great get Bombers. If the Saints had that deal for pick 8 I would have been loving it.

Will be interested to see how the team sets up with so many mid/forward options coming through (Begley, Langford, Laverde) as well as the additions of Smith and Stringer to go with best 22 players in Fantasia, Tippa, Merrett, Zaka... Certainly a wealth of options.

Agreed, it will be interesting. Essendon does have a bit of history here though, in 2000 the side had a lot of HF players going through the midfield (Hird, Mercuri, Caracella, Blumfield, Moorcroft, Bewick, Long) and it was pointed out elsewhere that although Worsfold's premiership team had some outstanding midfielders, none of them were pure extractors. All had an inside/outside element. So Worsfold may be trying to replicate that.

Another story goes that Langford was told he had Watson's place in 2018, hence why there were no complaints him spending the year as a pure midfielder in the VFL.

It will be interesting.

 

[Rack Watts]

Kerr was inside af.

 

[Wild Bill]

Still reeling em in. People need to learn how to internet.

You have been doing a lot of fishing recently. Smith for AA for squad got a lot on the hook.

 

[Milanista28]

You have been doing a lot of fishing recently. Smith for AA for squad got a lot on the hook.

That one I'm serious about, Absolutely deserves to be in the conversation.

 

[Wild Bill]

That one I'm serious about, Absolutely deserves to be in the conversation.

A mid averaging 20 touches is not an AA mid - the spots are for players that get it - not for those that chase those that get it.

Andrew Swallow would be a multiple AA if it was based on lots of tackles.

 

[Andronicus]

A mid averaging 20 touches is not an AA mid - the spots are for players that get it - not for those that chase those that get it.

Andrew Swallow would be a multiple AA if it was based on lots of tackles.

Didn't you spend months in a thread arguing that he was a flanker, and not a mid at all?

Which is it Billy Boy?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Smith would need to get up to averaging 25-27 disposals before he comes in AA contention. Outside chance of the squad and no issues there. It’s been a fantastic season for him. Let him build for 2019

 

[Wild Bill]

Didn't you spend months in a thread arguing that he was a flanker, and not a mid at all?

Which is it Billy Boy?

It’s a tough one - he doesn’t find it enough to be considered a mid and he doesn’t kick enough goals to be a flanker.

I will go with a flanker forced to play midfield due to the club he is at. Good move to leave GWS if he wanted midfield minutes. He picked the right club.

 

[Andronicus]

It’s a tough one - he doesn’t find it enough to be considered a mid and he doesn’t kick enough goals to be a flanker.

I will go with a flanker forced to play midfield due to the club he is at. Good move to leave GWS if he wanted midfield minutes. He picked the right club.

Hmm. Seems he has no place in the team at all then based on your very select stats.

We are pretty glad that players are choosing us. Can let you know how it feels if you like.

 

[Teeko]

It’s a tough one - he doesn’t find it enough to be considered a mid and he doesn’t kick enough goals to be a flanker.

I will go with a flanker forced to play midfield due to the club he is at. Good move to leave GWS if he wanted midfield minutes. He picked the right club.

Devon's over all production is more than enough for a midfielder. It's true he doesn't find the ball a lot, but 21.3 disposals per game + 0.8 goals pg + 8.5 tackles pg + 3 clearances pg + high in pressure acts is a nice output for an outside leaning midfielder. No North mid has as many goals or tackles as Devon.
It is clear he can play as a full time mid, and considering this is the first season he has played primarily in the midfield I have found him impressive.
Ben Cunnington has averaged around 20-22 disposals for most of his career. It is only the last two seasons (season 8+9) that he has averaged mid 20's.
Ziebell has never averaged more than 22.4 disposals and before this season his highest goal tally was 20. He has 26 so far so year so at least that is an improvement.
And those two players fail your above criteria (Cunnington for most of his career anyways) after being midfielders for a lot longer than Devon and while being settled in the same team.

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Devon's over all production is more than enough for a midfielder. It's true he doesn't find the ball a lot, but 21.3 disposals per game + 0.8 goals pg + 8.5 tackles pg + 3 clearances pg + high in pressure acts is a nice output for an outside leaning midfielder. No North mid has as many goals or tackles as Devon.
It is clear he can play as a full time mid, and considering this is the first season he has played primarily in the midfield I have found him impressive.
Ben Cunnington has averaged around 20-22 disposals for most of his career. It is only the last two seasons (season 8+9) that he has averaged mid 20's.
Ziebell has never averaged more than 22.4 disposals and before this season his highest goal tally was 20. He has 26 so far so year so at least that is an improvement.
And those two players fail your above criteria (Cunnington for most of his career anyways) after being midfielders for a lot longer than Devon and while being settled in the same team.

Not sure it's his first season as a mid. He played outside mid primarily for us in 2015, we never used him inside by choice though.

 

[Yoda_]

You have been doing a lot of fishing recently. Smith for AA for squad got a lot on the hook.

Much more learnt people than you and I agree that he should be in the conversation for an All Australian squad position. The final 22? probably not but is fast being recognised as not just the recruit of the year but a genuine possibility of being named in that AA squad.

 

[Tulip]

It seems to be a rather Essendon thing to have to win the trade and draft period. Smith has been great, but so have Hodge and Saad. Cameron was probably the best before his injury.

 

[Jesslc]

Riewoldt, Cotchin, Rance and Martin. They built a premiership around them.

Yeah they also didnt win a final for 10 years... around them. Wouldn't give those four all the credit.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Recruit of the year.

Anyone who doesn't think he's a great player has terrible football knowledge.

 

[DapperDon]

It’s a tough one - he doesn’t find it enough to be considered a mid and he doesn’t kick enough goals to be a flanker.

I will go with a flanker forced to play midfield due to the club he is at. Good move to leave GWS if he wanted midfield minutes. He picked the right club.

That awkward moment the players you have shit canned all season go above you on the ladder

 

[Wild Bill]

Hmm. Seems he has no place in the team at all then based on your very select stats.

We are pretty glad that players are choosing us. Can let you know how it feels if you like.

Would you also like to know how it feels when a player becomes an AA midfielder after choosing us? Make sure you’re around in September.

 

[Wild Bill]

Much more learnt people than you and I agree that he should be in the conversation for an All Australian squad position. The final 22? probably not but is fast being recognised as not just the recruit of the year but a genuine possibility of being named in that AA squad.

All Australian Midfielder averaging 20 touches?

Name the learnt people.

 

[JayJ20]

All Australian Midfielder averaging 20 touches?

Name the learnt people.

Certainly in the conversation to make the AA squad. Don't think he'll make the final team.

What a pick up though!

 

[Wild Bill]

Certainly in the conversation to make the AA squad. Don't think he'll make the final team.

What a pick up though!

Been good. Having a laugh putting him in the top 10 mids this year. The best mids are in the 60’s with coaches votes - not the 20’s.

 

[JayJ20]

Been good. Having a laugh putting him in the top 10 mids this year. The best mids are in the 60’s with coaches votes - not the 20’s.

How he's rated externally really doesn't matter if our midfield is performing the way it is. A big part of that is due to Smith's tackling pressure and defensive running. Very good pick up for us and exactly what we needed.

 

[Mahlepi]

How he's rated externally really doesn't matter if our midfield is performing the way it is. A big part of that is due to Smith's tackling pressure and defensive running. Very good pick up for us and exactly what we needed.

Good pickup, pretty cheap

 

[Yoda_]

Please show me where I have mentioned AA in regards to Smith.

Go on. You won't find it.

I mentioned a page earlier that Devon should be in the conversation for an AA squad berth. Even said he won't make the final team