Essendon draft discussion

[Slattery_20]

We are in desperate need of a quality genuine small forward (i.e. Mark Williams) and an a-grade midfielder (i.e. J. Selwood).

I would like to see McVeigh remain as the small defender and McPhee as the third tall forward once Fletcher and Hurley are back into the side.

Moving on to next season, I'd like to see one or more of Houli, Myers, Prismall, Hocking, Lonergan and Jetta have a breakout year like Dyson has thus far in '09!

Or even Prismall & Lonergan back to the levels they've previously hit.

IMHO we really, really need a better option for the 3rd tall or mid-sized forward. This seems to be the age of the mid-sized forward, quite a lot of teams' best forward is around 185-190cm. Think Motlop, Le Cras, Stevie Johnson, Fev and so on. With Welsh a permanent midfielder now, we've really only got McPhee as anywhere near ready for that spot (I think he can be improved on), and Monfries who apparently hasn't been told how short he is.
Need someone dangerous who works hard and has more agility than Lloyd or Neagle. Would love to believe NLM can keep his output up all year but hasn't happened.

If Laycock is (as rumoured) finished, we'll also need a ruck. But I wouldn't like to see us use the first pick on one: with Hille & Ryder pretty good options there, whoever we drafted would be 3rd string at best next year.

Midfield can be improved on (as always) but I don't think it's as pressing as the forward line.

Of 4 picks, I'd think pick 1: tall/midsized forward, and 1 ruck and 2 mids with the rest. With 5, probably a small defender/HB as well.

 

[Dick johnson]

Would love to believe NLM can keep his output up all year but hasn't happened.

he was going ok til he got suspended. was it against the saints that he nabbed 3 goals?

 

[smoothmovers]

what type of players does essendon need in this years draft

 

[The Donners]

Or even Prismall & Lonergan back to the levels they've previously hit.

IMHO, Lonergan has shown promise but has not yet had a breakout year. He has never had his hands on the cherry nearly enough for a midfielder. Averaging 14.1 possessions per game is below both Cyril Rioli and Alwyn Davey - small forwards.

IMHO we really, really need a better option for the 3rd tall or mid-sized forward. This seems to be the age of the mid-sized forward, quite a lot of teams' best forward is around 185-190cm. Think Motlop, Le Cras, Stevie Johnson, Fev and so on. With Welsh a permanent midfielder now, we've really only got McPhee as anywhere near ready for that spot (I think he can be improved on), and Monfries who apparently hasn't been told how short he is.
Need someone dangerous who works hard and has more agility than Lloyd or Neagle. Would love to believe NLM can keep his output up all year but hasn't happened.

If Gumbleton can get his body right I'd like to see Lloyd at FF with Neagle on the bench when needed to rest both Lloyd and Gumbleton. Jetta and Davey at the FFs feet. Quick movement of the ball and it doesn't matter how quick the FF is if their opponent is caught off guard by the quick movement - our game plan.

Midfield can be improved on (as always) but I don't think it's as pressing as the forward line.

Of 4 picks, I'd think pick 1: tall/midsized forward, and 1 ruck and 2 mids with the rest. With 5, probably a small defender/HB as well.

We need a bit of everything!

 

[Slattery_20]

Donners...
Lonergan was pretty good last year. May not have pulled huge numbers but was very important as a 2nd banana to Jobe in the clearances and won a lot of contested/hard ball. He's a bit below that at the moment but I think it's reasonable to suggest he can get back there.
And I stick with the mid-sized forward bizzo as well. Even if Gumby/Neagle both come good, that still leaves us with a 6'5" guy, a 6'3", then Monfries at 5'11 and Davey at 3'7". If you watch the way we set up, Davey & Monfries normally end up around the centre square, leaving all the timber at home and no crumbers around and a 40-50m gap between the HB/middle & the forward line.
Need someone filling that gap. A quality HFF, which we haven't had for years.

he was going ok til he got suspended. was it against the saints that he nabbed 3 goals?

He's had good games or little patches in each of his 4 or 5 years. Consistency has so far eluded him

 

[George Washington]

Need someone filling that gap. A quality HFF, which we haven't had for years.

How old are Hirdy's kids?

 

[Smyth94]

This coming draft I would like to see Essendon take the following options:

Midfielder x2
Medium forward
Ruckman

 

[eth-dog]

IMO we don't need another Ruckman, we have 5 on the list FFS. we have small forwards, small defenders, tall forwards & tall defenders as well. get an A-Grade mid (Scully, even though he'll go #1, is one of the players I'd look at) and Kane Lucas would be my first two options. We need an A-Grade mid, and then we'll possess a very good structure for our future, with all our areas covered

 

[Slattery_20]

The ruckman is contingent on Laycock not being there next season. Everything I've heard/read points to him gone.

 

[Duckworth]

I think they'll persist with Laycock... He has shown signs and they have invested a lot of time into him. Doubt they will get rid of him now.

I don't think they want to use a pick to develop another ruckman (5 year wait)

Best available each time. Would like to see a classy mid come to us as the first pick.

 

[Smyth94]

IMO we don't need another Ruckman, we have 5 on the list FFS. we have small forwards, small defenders, tall forwards & tall defenders as well. get an A-Grade mid (Scully, even though he'll go #1, is one of the players I'd look at) and Kane Lucas would be my first two options. We need an A-Grade mid, and then we'll possess a very good structure for our future, with all our areas covered

Laycock's future has some doubt over it - he doesn't look like getting over this problem, I hope he does but it doesn't look good.

Essendon will be looking at a ruckman this year.

 

[Smyth94]

I think they'll persist with Laycock... He has shown signs and they have invested a lot of time into him. Doubt they will get rid of him now.

I don't think they want to use a pick to develop another ruckman (5 year wait)

Best available each time. Would like to see a classy mid come to us as the first pick.

Best available hasn't done Carlton any favours over the years.

I'm not sure that following the "best available" paradigm blindy is the way to go.

 

[eth-dog]

Laycock's future has some doubt over it - he doesn't look like getting over this problem, I hope he does but it doesn't look good.

Essendon will be looking at a ruckman this year.

as others have said before, why draft a new ruckman who'll take 5 years to develop, and be no use to us if Hille or Ryder go down? because T-Bell and Bock won't be up to it. we keep Laycock until T-Bell is ready

 

[AndyLesPaul]

as others have said before, why draft a new ruckman who'll take 5 years to develop, and be no use to us if Hille or Ryder go down? because T-Bell and Bock won't be up to it. we keep Laycock until T-Bell is ready

Thats the thing, Laycock may never be ready.

 

[eth-dog]

Thats the thing, Laycock may never be ready.

Laycock is a good depth player, that's why we should keep him

 

[AndyLesPaul]

Depends on his injury.
If it doesnt heal, then you're thinking like Geelong are with Matthew Egan,

 

[eth-dog]

Depends on his injury.
If it doesnt heal, then you're thinking like Geelong are with Matthew Egan,

I forgot about Egan. how long is he out for?

 

[daffo]

Egan isn't coming back this year. I would personally go for another midfielder.

 

[Walesy]

Drafting Ruckmen is so hit an miss though! Here's a choice selection of round 1 drafted Ruckmen over the past 10 years.

Fraser - Priority Pick #1 1999 National Draft
Kreuzer - Priority Pick #1 2007 National Draft
Ottens - Round 1, Pick #2 1997 National Draft
Leuenberger - Round 1, Pick #4 2006 National Draft
HMac - Round 1, Pick #9 2002 National Draft
Clark - Round 1, Pick #9 2005 National Draft
Laycock - Round 1, Pick #10 2002 National Draft
Pattison - Round 1, Pick #16 2004 National Draft
Wood - Round 1, Pick #18 2004 National Draft
Bailey - Round 1, Pick #18 2005 National Draft

(Surely I'm missing someone here right?)

Who out of that list is a bonafide game winner?

Fraser? Too Short.
Ottens, maybe.
HMac, Getting there.

Perhaps it's just a matter of getting more games in the legs. But when you have a look at some of the premier rucks in our comp that didn't make that list. (Your Cox, Sandilands, Hille, Petrie, Jolly), it make you wonder the value of picking up that Ruck.

Where perhaps the Sydney model of trading for Everitt/Jolly might be a more beneficial route to take?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Kane Lucas. My first pick would be Scully but we won't come last, which is good and bad. Good that it gives confidence, bad that we miss out on Scully!

 

[Yoda_]

Has anyone thought about Koby Stevens. seems like a player that the EFC could really use, a classy onballer, who uses the ball really well.

What about Jack Trengove, the SA captain, we have the KP held down, and the ruck is solid, only by injuries are we crippled, so the midfield needs to be addressed you would imagine..

 

[Ben the Gooner]

but we won't come last, which is good and bad.

Seriously, **** off and support Carlton.

 

[eth-dog]

Can I be a mod for 5 minutes to ban him???????????

 

[Kong]

Kane Lucas. My first pick would be Scully but we won't come last, which is good and bad. Good that it gives confidence, bad that we miss out on Scully!

It's never bad to avoid finishing last. Any genuine supporter of a football club (bar Carlton, perhaps) would believe this. Shut up.

 

[Burzum]

kane lucas. My first pick would be scully but we won't come last, which is good and bad. Good that it gives confidence, bad that we miss out on scully!

gtfo