Gumby pick 55

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lamaros

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The problem with Gumby is that he isn't very good. He's actually been fit enough to play for the last two years for the most part - albeit coming off a lot of stuff - and he had some clear deficiencies.

When he is on he is a good mark, and surprisingly ok kick (awkward style), but he doesn't have enough core strength, can't bend below his knees, isn't agile, and doesn't provide any pressure the other way.

However I hope he gets it all together for you guys and plays well, he has put in a lot of effort to get this far.
 

BrunoV

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I'm confident that hindsight will show you guys as having totally screwed us with this trade.

Gumby has hardly had an issue since the surgery at the start of 2012. The injuries he's had have been minor contact related things (such as a knock on the ankle against Sydney mid year). The important thing to remember about his back is that it is not the standard degenerative back complaint. His troubles were a result of the inability to identify an issue with a disc that was finally discovered during the last, and successful, surgery. I was told at the time that he considered the surgery more like a cure (he was struggling with the back even in 2010 when he strung the best part of a season together) and the way his recovery has played out since suggests that this description in not that far from the mark even if it is not strictly accurate.

As a player he a pretty darn good fit for a side that is as disciplined and well structured as Freo is. There were some stats floating around confirming that Gumby had the worst success rate in one on one contests for any of the key forwards. I wouldn't read into it too much. Our forward structure is appalling and there is almost nothing scientific about the way we ask our forwards to lead and the way we use them to move the ball forward (which tends to be stupid long bombs to which ever player is unfortunate enough to be in position). A lot of this is reflected by the fact that Crameri and Bellchambers have been the most "prolific" goal kickers in recent times. Crameri kicks most of his goals running back with the ball and Bellchambers is best suited to bossing pack marks. There is very little hitting up leading targets which is really what Gumby's strength is, though he can take a pack mark when he is confident.

On a few occasions he simply had butter fingers (such as against Collingwood and West Coast the second time we played each in 2013) and failed to capitalize on repeatedly being in good positions. Once he got into the side for a second time he played like a guy who knew he time was up. Had that game against West Coast been played 8 weeks earlier he would have dominated. He still got about a dozen possessions and kicked a goal but would have had another 5 to 8 marks which he uncharacteristically dropped.

I can't see why Kepler Bradley is being mentioned here. He probably shares three similarities with Gumby; he is about the same height, he was a first round pick that played for us first and he is from WA. Unlike Bradley who was really an oversized flanker/winger Gumby is a true KPF (in the mold of an old fashioned CHF). If Riewoldt was able to thrive under Lyon I see no reason why Gumby won't also thrive (though I'm not suggesting that Gumby can be as good as Riewoldt which he probably once could have been) because he has huge endurance and will be able to repeatedly present up to the wings to be a conduit into the forwardline (when it isn't his turn to be the deeper forward).

If he finds form and confidence early and gets the luck required to play out the season 40 to 50 goals is hardly a stretch (given that when he has played for us in the last two years he's basically averaged 2 goals a game in a side that does absolutely nothing to help him).
 

scon

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I agree with you BrunoV that if Gumby is fit and firing he will provide us with structure and goals, will be starting 22 and therefore will improve us as a team.If he does this consistently for several seasons which I fully expect him to then we will be seen to have got the best of the trade.
I'm still a bit ambivalent about whether or not we got an instant,raging bargain or trade steal because it all depends on him being out on the park.Also of course him naming us as his preferred club made it harder for you to demand much more.Overall I'm very pleased with how it has gone so far and look forward to yelling myself hoarse celebrating shitloads of screamers and goals from the big fella.
Can you tell me if his nickname is Spud and do you know how come?I just heard Cometti call him that on a highlights package.
 

BrunoV

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Never heard anyone refer to him as anything other than Gumby and, honestly, **** what Committi says anyway.

There is no doubting Gumby has not played at the required level but what most do is make the observation and write him off out of frustration. Like I said above, he would have been nothing short of dominant against West Coast at the Dome in August had he not brought his butter fingers. These sorts of errors, though, are psychological which I'd bet are related to the knowledge that he was playing for his career at Essendon. He's routinely been able to take these sorts of marks.

He still got the ball 11 times and had two shots on goal. Say that he doesn't drop the marks, or his leads are honoured because you guys have a functioning forward system, that is almost 20 time he will have the ball as part of a chain of possession that results in a forward 50 entry (based on the nature of where he get his footy). When you break it down there isn't really that much more that he has to do to be a good contributor.

It will be interesting to see how much more he can be developed physically.
 

scon

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Cheers BrunoV I just asked the same question on your board and it seems no-one including Dennis knows what he was talking about.Maybe it's my hearing hallucinating or something.I think the facts are that you have an embarrassment of riches in the big man department and in all likelihood Gumby would still be an Essendon player if this were not the case.Before Daniher's arrival Gumby was mostly injured and now that he is over the injuries he is down the pecking order for a spot in your 22;at Freo however he is EXACTLY what we require.
In terms of his physical development Webber and his team appear to be at the top of the game in my opinion with absolutely everything tailored specifically to the individual.Our game plan is so demanding physically and aerobically that the sports science mob really have their work cut out for them.Part of our due diligence or whatever in making the decision to recruit him is a big vote of confidence for our fitness team to look after him and get him out on the park.
 

mike91

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The problem with Gumby is that he isn't very good. He's actually been fit enough to play for the last two years for the most part - albeit coming off a lot of stuff - and he had some clear deficiencies.

When he is on he is a good mark, and surprisingly ok kick (awkward style), but he doesn't have enough core strength, can't bend below his knees, isn't agile, and doesn't provide any pressure the other way.

However I hope he gets it all together for you guys and plays well, he has put in a lot of effort to get this far.
He plays for freo now, this will change very quickly.
 

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Purple Suit

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I'm confident that hindsight will show you guys as having totally screwed us with this trade.

Gumby has hardly had an issue since the surgery at the start of 2012. The injuries he's had have been minor contact related things (such as a knock on the ankle against Sydney mid year). The important thing to remember about his back is that it is not the standard degenerative back complaint. His troubles were a result of the inability to identify an issue with a disc that was finally discovered during the last, and successful, surgery. I was told at the time that he considered the surgery more like a cure (he was struggling with the back even in 2010 when he strung the best part of a season together) and the way his recovery has played out since suggests that this description in not that far from the mark even if it is not strictly accurate.

As a player he a pretty darn good fit for a side that is as disciplined and well structured as Freo is. There were some stats floating around confirming that Gumby had the worst success rate in one on one contests for any of the key forwards. I wouldn't read into it too much. Our forward structure is appalling and there is almost nothing scientific about the way we ask our forwards to lead and the way we use them to move the ball forward (which tends to be stupid long bombs to which ever player is unfortunate enough to be in position). A lot of this is reflected by the fact that Crameri and Bellchambers have been the most "prolific" goal kickers in recent times. Crameri kicks most of his goals running back with the ball and Bellchambers is best suited to bossing pack marks. There is very little hitting up leading targets which is really what Gumby's strength is, though he can take a pack mark when he is confident.

On a few occasions he simply had butter fingers (such as against Collingwood and West Coast the second time we played each in 2013) and failed to capitalize on repeatedly being in good positions. Once he got into the side for a second time he played like a guy who knew he time was up. Had that game against West Coast been played 8 weeks earlier he would have dominated. He still got about a dozen possessions and kicked a goal but would have had another 5 to 8 marks which he uncharacteristically dropped.

I can't see why Kepler Bradley is being mentioned here. He probably shares three similarities with Gumby; he is about the same height, he was a first round pick that played for us first and he is from WA. Unlike Bradley who was really an oversized flanker/winger Gumby is a true KPF (in the mold of an old fashioned CHF). If Riewoldt was able to thrive under Lyon I see no reason why Gumby won't also thrive (though I'm not suggesting that Gumby can be as good as Riewoldt which he probably once could have been) because he has huge endurance and will be able to repeatedly present up to the wings to be a conduit into the forwardline (when it isn't his turn to be the deeper forward).

If he finds form and confidence early and gets the luck required to play out the season 40 to 50 goals is hardly a stretch (given that when he has played for us in the last two years he's basically averaged 2 goals a game in a side that does absolutely nothing to help him).
Nice write up. If it makes you feel any better, watch Michie tear it up for Melbourne next year. Sometimes you don't get value but the player won't get a game if he stays.
 
Joined
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I'm confident that hindsight will show you guys as having totally screwed us with this trade.

Gumby has hardly had an issue since the surgery at the start of 2012. The injuries he's had have been minor contact related things (such as a knock on the ankle against Sydney mid year). The important thing to remember about his back is that it is not the standard degenerative back complaint. His troubles were a result of the inability to identify an issue with a disc that was finally discovered during the last, and successful, surgery. I was told at the time that he considered the surgery more like a cure (he was struggling with the back even in 2010 when he strung the best part of a season together) and the way his recovery has played out since suggests that this description in not that far from the mark even if it is not strictly accurate.

As a player he a pretty darn good fit for a side that is as disciplined and well structured as Freo is. There were some stats floating around confirming that Gumby had the worst success rate in one on one contests for any of the key forwards. I wouldn't read into it too much. Our forward structure is appalling and there is almost nothing scientific about the way we ask our forwards to lead and the way we use them to move the ball forward (which tends to be stupid long bombs to which ever player is unfortunate enough to be in position). A lot of this is reflected by the fact that Crameri and Bellchambers have been the most "prolific" goal kickers in recent times. Crameri kicks most of his goals running back with the ball and Bellchambers is best suited to bossing pack marks. There is very little hitting up leading targets which is really what Gumby's strength is, though he can take a pack mark when he is confident.

On a few occasions he simply had butter fingers (such as against Collingwood and West Coast the second time we played each in 2013) and failed to capitalize on repeatedly being in good positions. Once he got into the side for a second time he played like a guy who knew he time was up. Had that game against West Coast been played 8 weeks earlier he would have dominated. He still got about a dozen possessions and kicked a goal but would have had another 5 to 8 marks which he uncharacteristically dropped.

I can't see why Kepler Bradley is being mentioned here. He probably shares three similarities with Gumby; he is about the same height, he was a first round pick that played for us first and he is from WA. Unlike Bradley who was really an oversized flanker/winger Gumby is a true KPF (in the mold of an old fashioned CHF). If Riewoldt was able to thrive under Lyon I see no reason why Gumby won't also thrive (though I'm not suggesting that Gumby can be as good as Riewoldt which he probably once could have been) because he has huge endurance and will be able to repeatedly present up to the wings to be a conduit into the forwardline (when it isn't his turn to be the deeper forward).

If he finds form and confidence early and gets the luck required to play out the season 40 to 50 goals is hardly a stretch (given that when he has played for us in the last two years he's basically averaged 2 goals a game in a side that does absolutely nothing to help him).
Very rare to come across this type of quality posts in off season thanks BrunoV. I tend to agree with Essendon and their forward structure. Really believe it played a part in Crameri wanting to move. Leading goalkicker and best 22 in a side rarely would be keen to move unless he wasn't comfortable with the structure/systems and/or the line coach. Some big pressure on young Daniher next year.
 
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