Draft:Pick 5 - Michael Hurley

[LukeParkerno1]

Why do you assume he will continue to be? It is entirely plausable that Houli, Reimers, Lonergan or even Prismall may replace him in the near future. And in the mean time Stanton will draw the tag freeing them up.

It won't be happening next year. That is why I have said we'll make the finals in 2010 not 2009, even though I wouldn't complain if we did make it next year. I'd be happy to get games into our young players in 2009.

 

[Merv]

So long as Stanton is the no1 midfielder we won't be winning too many games. Stanton is a decent outside mid but for him and the EFC's best situation he should not be the no1 mid!

You have absolutely no idea, none at all.

I think you would be best to follow the worst side every year so you could look forward to all the elite picks you will get each year.

Following a club is not about hoping to have poor years, unless your list is in a total shambles, it's about following the club you love and to be filled with optimism and hope.

It's December tomorrow and you are already hoping for us to get pick 5 and bagging out players already.

I'm sorry to be rude, but you need to have a bloody hard look at yourself.

 

[Kong]

Why do people either think Houli has no or little chance to be an elite Midfielder.

Good pace, elite kicking and handball and can win the ball inside and out.

What more should a young player have to have the chance to become elite?

I agree, and have stated, that I believe that we will get at least one a-grade mid out of Lonergan, Houli, Reimers, Myers.
In two-three years I could see that being a top-notch midfield.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

You have absolutely no idea, none at all.

I think you would be best to follow the worst side every year so you could look forward to all the elite picks you will get each year.

Following a club is not about hoping to have poor years, unless your list is in a total shambles, it's about following the club you love and to be filled with optimism and hope.

It's December tomorrow and you are already hoping for us to get pick 5 and bagging out players already.

I'm sorry to be rude, but you need to have a bloody hard look at yourself.

Great post

After experiencing a period of success at Essendon when I really started to get in footy around 15, I'd experienced the joys of winning, the happiness of dominating sides knowing that we were the best, watching skilled performances executed to perfection.

Now we have gone through a period of bad form/rebuilding, you get a whole new array of emotions some equally as rewarding as when we were a powerhouse, like the hope of our youngsters becoming champions of the game when they pull off a quality play, the feel of win after such a long down, pulling those wins out that noone expects us to get.

IMO supporters often get to involved in competition and bragging rights of winning when they should just be enjoying the success our club has had in business and blossoming of our new generation in the history of EFC.

 

[Burzum]

Why do people either think Houli has no or little chance to be an elite Midfielder.

Good pace, elite kicking and handball and can win the ball inside and out.

What more should a young player have to have the chance to become elite?

I think both Houli and Reimers could become elite.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

So long as Stanton is the no1 midfielder we won't be winning too many games. Stanton is a decent outside mid but for him and the EFC's best situation he should not be the no1 mid!

How do people still not realize Mcveigh is our number one midfielder?

 

[Enki]

How do people still not realize Mcveigh is our number one midfielder?

Because he has never stayed on the park long enough since moving into the midfield, heh he... awww

 

[james_omahoney]

So do the new picks start training with the team this week?

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I think both Houli and Reimers could become elite.

Those two and Lonergan are the three I have the most hope for as midfielders (assuming Myers to be a backman).

Picks 42, 47 and 55.

 

[Beerfish]

I know we're getting off topic here but yeah I agree, especially Reimers and Lonergan.

Lonergan just astounds me with his nuggety, in and under work and his effective disposals considering how many games he's played.

Bloody hell I can't wait for season 09.

 

[Hencho]

How do people still not realize Mcveigh is our number one midfielder?

I Second that.

McVeigh's last two seasons have him just in front of Stanton if you want to play the whole #1 #2 midfielder game. Both very different but IMO if I were an opposition coach and had only one tagger in my team and could shut down only one of the Essendon midfield, it would be McVeigh.

 

[Phat Toni]

I don't see how he's the best key back you've seen since Ryder considering Ryder was never a KPD as a junior.

Was thinking the same thing, in fact a I vaguely recall an interview with Ryder after his first couple of games down back when he was saying it's all new to him(playing in defense) and he was just trying to do what Fletch was instructing.

 

[mustafish]

So do the new picks start training with the team this week?

awesome draft pick in 5 hurley this young guy has been training with his mates at his local club (macleod) it just shows the character of him he is one of the most polite kids i have ever meet loves his family and friends and i have no doubt will be a big asset to you guys top work and all the best to him

 

[Merv]

Hurley interview is now up on Bomber.tv

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Hurley interview is now up on Bomber.tv

He is a big lad. Very broad across the shoulders. Speaks well and seems to absolutely love his footy. Let's hope we seem him play some games next year.

 

[The_Young_Gun]

You have absolutely no idea, none at all.

I think you would be best to follow the worst side every year so you could look forward to all the elite picks you will get each year.

Following a club is not about hoping to have poor years, unless your list is in a total shambles, it's about following the club you love and to be filled with optimism and hope.

It's December tomorrow and you are already hoping for us to get pick 5 and bagging out players already.

I'm sorry to be rude, but you need to have a bloody hard look at yourself.

Why waste your time on him Merv???

You could have way better things to do, like roller skating.

 

[SirJimi05]

I think both Houli and Reimers could become elite.

How do people still not realize Mcveigh is our number one midfielder?

I agree re Houli and Reimers and this is why i had no problem with us using pick 23 on a MID. Zacha may or may not be the man but it gets to me when people think you must aquire high draft picks in order to get a good MID. Houli and Reimers should be proof that this is not the case.

I would rate Watson as our best MID but that is just me. I reckon Watson is underated in the football world and even by Essendon supporters which is a surprise. It was interesting to see that Cotchin rated playing on Watson as the biggest challenge he has had to face thus far in his short career. He said that he learnt a lot from that experience. Once McVeigh plays a bit more in the Midfield he will be rated higher.

 

[Beerfish]

I would rate Watson as our best MID but that is just me. I reckon Watson is underated in the football world and even by Essendon supporters which is a surprise. It was interesting to see that Cotchin rated playing on Watson as the biggest challenge he has had to face thus far in his short career. He said that he learnt a lot from that experience.

He even started kicking it a bit this season.

Not only that but he was hitting targets by foot as well. He's only going to get better.

 

[Burzum]

I think Watson's inside skills could be elite but what hurts us most is his defensive side. He's gets killed on the rebound because of his lack of pace and opposition coaches are now match up their speedsters with him to run off and hurt him.

 

[Pevers-Legend]

I think Watson's inside skills could be elite but what hurts us most is his defensive side. He's gets killed on the rebound because of his lack of pace and opposition coaches are now match up their speedsters with him to run off and hurt him.

He just has to learn how to cut corners - and let coaches play quick guys on him - who gives a fire truck how quick you are if you can't win the footy.

Not having a crack - but whenver there is a positive about one of our more maligned players we always must have a negative to counter it.

why?

Oh and as for Hurley - I wanted Rich, but if the recruiting staff reckon Hurley is the man - then he is the man. And if we do actually get a quality big backman - well Knights will have done what Sheedy could not in 25 odd years. Draft a tall strong classy backman.

 

[essendon2008]

Oh and as for Hurley - I wanted Rich, but if the recruiting staff reckon Hurley is the man - then he is the man. And if we do actually get a quality big backman - well Knights will have done what Sheedy could not in 25 odd years. Draft a tall strong classy backman.

What's wrong with Fletcher?

 

[Pevers-Legend]

What's wrong with Fletcher?

Nothing - but have you ever seen him consistently hold big strong fowards?

Have you ever noticed a trend when big strong forwards play against us?

Hall, Tredrea, Carey, Brown, Franklin, .........

And in no way am I rubbishing Fletcher who is the best Essendon backman I have seen.

 

[essendon2008]

Nothing - but have you ever seen him consistently hold big strong fowards?

Have you ever noticed a trend when big strong forwards play against us?

Hall, Tredrea, Carey, Brown, Franklin, .........

And in no way am I rubbishing Fletcher who is the best Essendon backman I have seen.

Maybe not in the last few years but in his prime i feel he was our most valuable player. He has saved us many goals over the years with his lanky spoils. He isn't overly strong but he did hold his own in his prime. Bit harsh on Sheedy saying he couldnt draft a tall, strong, classy backman when he drafted the best Essendon backman you have seen.

 

[anf06]

McVeigh is CLEARLY our number 1 midfielder, followed by Watson and then Stanton in my opinion.

Last night i was running through our new list and tried to compile what i would think would be our best 22 if everyone was fit and ready.
It wasn't an easy thing to do. I realised that we have a lot more promise and depth than most would think, resulting me in leaving out some up and coming 'possible elites' in the process.

This is what i came up with.

B: H.Slattery, D.Fletcher, T.Pears
HB: J.Nash, P.Ryder, A.Lovett
C: B.Stanton, J.Watson, K.Riemers
HF: A.Monfries, S.Lucas, A.McPhee
F: A.Davey, M.Lloyd, L.Jetta
R: D.Hille, M.McVeigh, B.Prismall
INT: J.Laycock, A.Welsh, S.Lonergan, B.Houli


S. Gumbleton, D.Myers, C.Dempsey, N.LovettMurray, C.Hooker, J.Atkinson, J.Winderlich, J.Neagle, R.Dyson, J.Williams, D.Daniher, T.Bellchambers and the 4 new recruits in M.Hurley, D.Zaharakis, M.Still and T.Slattery (+PSD pick)

there is alot of talent in the pool that i excluded which i think could easily make our best 22, or should make our best 22, but i just couldnt fit them; namely S.Gumbleton, D.Myers, C.Dempsey, N.LovettMurray, J.Atkinson, J.Neagle and J.Winderlich. Others have less claims.

What do you guys reckon?

 

[Pevers-Legend]

Maybe not in the last few years but in his prime i feel he was our most valuable player. He has saved us many goals over the years with his lanky spoils. He isn't overly strong but he did hold his own in his prime. Bit harsh on Sheedy saying he couldnt draft a tall, strong, classy forward when he drafted the best Essendon backman you have seen.

I assume you mean classy backman.

And do we want to go through his efforts for devleloping a strong CHB, but to name a few:

Kev Walsh, Wallis, Henneman, Bradley - I could back through the lists over the years and find plenty more. He tried and fialed to devleop a big strong backman for us.

Instead he used make shift CHBs such as Harvey and Wellman which is why we always got killed by the big guys. Why do you think North had the wood on us during the 90s and Port in 00s?

Sheedy never drafted Fletcher - he fell into our lap as a Father-son pick and he would have been a lunatic if he didn't take him which he wasn't. It's ok to accept that sheedy wasn't as good as he was made out to be. He did have plenty of failings - this was one of his worst (which isn't that bad).