Fletcher to CHB

[danzan22]

with all the hype of the draft i dont think anyone has seen this yet.

Fletcher to CHB
5:21:22 PM Fri 24 November, 2006
Paul Gough
Sportal to afl.com.au

Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy has already forecast a shift further up the field for his brilliant defender Dustin Fletcher, following the Bombers shock decision to coax Brisbane's triple premiership winning defender Mal Michael out of retirement.

The Bombers announced on Friday they would select Michael - who announced his retirement just six weeks ago despite having another year to run on his Brisbane contract - with the second pick at the December 12 NAB AFL pre-season draft.

The move has been bitterly opposed by Brisbane with the Lions filing an official complaint to the AFL with the league announcing an investigation late on Friday.



However Essendon is already anticipating being given the all-clear to
secure Michael and Sheedy is already anticipating having arguably the two best key defenders of the past five years together in the one backline.

But when asked whether his dual premiership winning full-back Fletcher or Michael would be his first choice full-back next year, Sheedy was adamant what set-up would best suit the Bombers.

"Fletcher will play centre-half-back and Mal will play full-back," Sheedy said.

"I have already spoken to Fletcher (who for years has longed for a move away from full-back) and he is really happy, he can’t get in here quick enough."

Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd, a long-time opponent of Michael's, is also thrilled with the Bombers coup in snaring a man he rates extremely highly.

"To be honest he is the best full-back I have played on along with (Carlton's Stephen) Silvagni early in my career," he said.

"If I got four goals on those guys I was happy and I wasn't if I only kicked four when I was on someone else."

"We have probably broke even over the time but I am very excited to have him here."

Sheedy said Michael, a 201 game veteran who is still just 29, would be a huge addition for the Bombers.

"We think he can be a very important player for us for at least the next couple of years," Sheedy said.

"He will provide us with some real strength and experience in defence while we continue to develop some of our younger players for key defensive roles."

"Physically he is in very good condition and the time away has freshened him up mentally."

Essendon chief executive said Michael's age, even when compared to Fletcher who has carried the Bombers defence for more than a decade, made him an exciting recruiting proposition.

"The thing that appealed to us is Mal is two years younger than Dustin Fletcher and Dustin Fletcher has had two of his best years in the last two years," Jackson said.

"Mal seems as though he is older than 29 but he has got a good few years in him yet and what he does for the structure of our backline with Dustin, (Adam) McPhee and (Nathan) Lovett-Murray is we think it changes the whole dymanic of our defence."

"So why wouldn’t we chase this guy if we thought there was any doubt about him wanting to play again."

 

[DaSawx]

Who needs a midfield, Fletcher to Lloyd

 

[silk]

Who needs a midfield, Fletcher to Lloyd

Who needs lloyd Fletcher To Lucas, Lucas Goals!!!

 

[Philzsay]

Who needs lloyd Fletcher To Lucas, Lucas Goals!!!

Who needs Lucas ? Fletcher takes a couple of bounces, Goals!!

 

[Philzsay]

Speaking of which, while he hasnt kicked many in the last year or two, I dare Say Fletch will have more opportunities to increase on his 60 AFL goals...

 

[blumfieldisback]

fletch has hardly plaed full back anyway he is best served as the floating general and makes the backline his own domain. Fletch still has to kick out for us.

geez im so excited by mal michaels signing it just opens up our whole team and provides so much stability. Baby bombers mark 3 2007 this will be like our 1998 season when we set up an assault on 1999-2001.

 

[Big John]

I'm actually a bit excited about next year now. While neither Michael or Fletch are natural CHB's, most CHF's these days seem to play a composite position anyway so it shouldn't be much of a problem. Our spine is starting to look really really good, just need a few of the young ins and midfielders to step up and we can be a good team again.

 

[Boris_Bewick]

fletch has hardly plaed full back anyway he is best served as the floating general and makes the backline his own domain. Fletch still has to kick out for us.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Calthorpe14]

Whilst Fletcher is a Great Defender, im a little concerned that opposition CHF's will try and take him up the ground and through the midfield therefore trying to prevent him floating across and getting free to create 2-on-1 situations in our backline.

 

[DanA]

Seems interesting to play Fletcher at CHB. I know a lot of opposition have tried to drag him up the feild in the past. He is exceptionally strong player 1 on 1 out of the goal square. Also very stong at defending a lead but has been somewhat exploited when drag up the feild. Particularly coming back with the flight of the ball. That seems like something CHB have to do quite a bit.

I think he is best served as a loose man in defence. He is one of the best counter attackers in the game.

Incidently with Big Mal and Lloyd in the lineup I think Essendon could possibly have gone from having one of the weakest spines in 06 (without Lloyd) to having the stongest.

FB:Mal
CHB:Fletcher
R:Hille
CHF:Lucas
FF:Lloyd

You certainly have some good if not slight aged targets. Which brings me to the question. Where do Johns, Gumbleton, Bradley, Laycock and Ryder fit in?

All would be AFL players in other teams IMO. Some talented players are going to have to miss out in the short term.

 

[DaSawx]

You certainly have some good if not slight aged targets. Which brings me to the question. Where do Johns, Gumbleton, Bradley, Laycock and Ryder fit in?

All would be AFL players in other teams IMO. Some talented players are going to have to miss out in the short term.

We're not too worried short term, we're just gonna pick the best team available and start to bring a winning culture back to the club, no harm in new draft picks starting out at Bendigo

 

[DanA]

We're not too worried short term, we're just gonna pick the best team available and start to bring a winning culture back to the club, no harm in new draft picks starting out at Bendigo

I am expecting you to push for top 8 next year. I think the top midfeilds (WestCoast, Doggies, Sydney) will cause you headaches as I don't think you have the class to run with their mids. Still would be very suprised if you finished bottom 4 again.

 

[DaSawx]

I am expecting you to push for top 8 next year. I think the top midfeilds (WestCoast, Doggies, Sydney) will cause you headaches as I don't think you have the class to run with their mids. Still would be very suprised if you finished bottom 4 again.

Our midfield didn't even perform to badly last year when you really look at it, clearances, inside 50's and accountability were all quite good, we just have to use the ball a bit better, we'll get that done with confidence. We get Lloyd and Michael to stiffen up both ends, and hopefully we get a decent run with the injury gods.

We also have 17 games in Melbourne out of 20 from rounds 2-21, it's not impossible for us to give the 8 a shake.

 

[ant555]

Fletch may well be named at CHB but with Mal Micheal playing i suspect he will play more of a Sean Wellman type role which will be good given he is one of our better players when it comes to disposal and hitting a target.

 

[drew_j]

How about the impact this will have on Adam McPhee? At his best he floats across the face of a pack when playing lose in defence. I think Fletch to CHB he won't have to worry so much about double teaming opp CHF and could play his natural game. IMHO I think McPhee will be the big winner out of this line up next year.

 

[wazzabp]

I reckon Fletcher will play in the back pocket beside Mal Michael and Andrew Lee will be given a go at CHB.

 

[don4eva]

I reckon Fletcher will play in the back pocket beside Mal Michael and Andrew Lee will be given a go at CHB.

Can't see this happening permanently but definitely a possibility to give Lee some game time.

 

[In the Outer]

This is an extremely intriguing move as it will have many effects.

Aside from straightening up the backline I would like to see Fletcher used as a go to man when rebounding from defensive 50. Those massive 60 metre+ kicks straight from defense to our foward half will put opposition backs under enormous pressure and wont allow for them to flood extra players back in time. Lloyd and Lucas would have a field day!

 

[Jack-Packenham]

I reckon Fletcher will play in the back pocket beside Mal Michael and Andrew Lee will be given a go at CHB.

This will happen some weeks as I can't see Fletcher playing against any of the quality CHF like Pavlich, Brown, Riewoldt or Tredrea.

It will also be very interesting when the bombers play the swans. For years Fletcher has hidden from Barry Hall saying that he only plays full back and Barry Hall does not play out of the goal square. Time for Dustbin to stop hiding and put his unearnt reputation on the line.

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

This will happen some weeks as I can't see Fletcher playing against any of the quality CHF like Pavlich, Brown, Riewoldt or Tredrea.

It will also be very interesting when the bombers play the swans. For years Fletcher has hidden from Barry Hall saying that he only plays full back and Barry Hall does not play out of the goal square. Time for Dustbin to stop hiding and put his unearnt reputation on the line.

You tool.

Maybe you're too young to remember Fletch playing on the likes of Lockett, Ablett, Dunstall, Kernahan etc as a teenager.

 

[ant555]

You tool.

Maybe you're too young to remember Fletch playing on the likes of Lockett, Ablett, Dunstall, Kernahan etc as a teenager.

Exactly, add to that the fact that he has played on Hall,Pavlich, Brown and Tredrea. I had knobs who get sucked in by the anti Bomber sections of the media and the crap they pedal. It has really only been the last season and a bit that Fletcher hasnt taken them and that was more to do with Sheedy throwing Bradley to the wolves.

 

[danzan22]

could all of this mean that keps wil be givin a more attacking role next year, hope so.

 

[ant555]

could all of this mean that keps wil be givin a more attacking role next year, hope so.

What it will mean is Kep wont be left to fend for himself as much. I know a lot of people have jumped of Kep after his average year in 2006 but i think he will bounce back. I think what hurt him the most was the fact we coouldnt really drop him back to Bendigo for a few weeks to boost his confidence as we had no other defenders most weeks.

 

[doppleganger]

This will happen some weeks as I can't see Fletcher playing against any of the quality CHF like Pavlich, Brown, Riewoldt or Tredrea.

It will also be very interesting when the bombers play the swans. For years Fletcher has hidden from Barry Hall saying that he only plays full back and Barry Hall does not play out of the goal square. Time for Dustbin to stop hiding and put his unearnt reputation on the line.

fletcher has earnt his reputation as a gun FB but hasn't really as a CHB

dons have two gun FB's but both dont play much away from the goal square.

one needs to step into the CHB role, if they can be good players there it will free up Bradley and McPhee to be much more damaging players

the dons may be the big movers of 07 now

 

[Crave]

This will happen some weeks as I can't see Fletcher playing against any of the quality CHF like Pavlich, Brown, Riewoldt or Tredrea.

It will also be very interesting when the bombers play the swans. For years Fletcher has hidden from Barry Hall saying that he only plays full back and Barry Hall does not play out of the goal square. Time for Dustbin to stop hiding and put his unearnt reputation on the line.

Me thinks you left your brain on the Princes Hwy!