Interesting article on Hurley/Sidebottom

[willie dick]

ANT555, I tend to agree, I think Sidebottom will be a very good player. Despite his lack of genuine leg speed, he plays quick, a very solid decision maker and great kicking skills off both sides. I think he will make the grade.

]I am content with Hurley, although I really haven’t seen enough of him. Looking at his stats over the last couple of seasons at TAC Cup level, they are very impressive. There has been a few instances where he ahs kicked bags of goals and taken plenty of marks. Having said that when he plays down back he also seems to get plenty of the ball. For lack of a better example do you see him as an Adam Hunter who can excel at both ends?
From all reports he ran a 3.11 sec 20 m time and Sidebottom ran a 3.22 sec time. Apparently he picked up aback complaint in the 2nd half of the season as well.

 

[Andre 2000]

I hate to admit it, but I think Sidebottom will go very close to winning the Rising Star award next year. He's so silky with his skills off both sides. Not quick, but he's the player Travis Johnstone should've become if he had balls and decent work ethic.

Knighta was right to consider him ahead of Rich, in my opinion.

Hurley will be so, so important for us in the future though. Happy to have him.

 

[B-Bomber]

Ryder knocks down a big spoil over Fevs head. Houli is at his feat, reads the ball off hands -- Quick handball to Hurley who bangs it onto the left 60m to a running Myers who marks it running back with the flight of the ball but does not break stride --Neagle is storming out of the square and has it delivered lace out onto his chest.


Mmmm. I like it

 

[foj1]

Can't agree more...

I would've been more than devastated if we picked Sidebottom over Hurley... or Rich for that matter. I see Steele as a 1 game wonder. Don't get me wrong, he's done good things through TAC throughout the year I know. But IMO he was overrated to the max in which I believe most teams rated him mainly on his GF performance, which as most people would know playing on GF day is a pretty mixed emotioned experiance in which anything could happen... And on that day, the greatest scenario possible happened to Steele Sidebottom.

This is a stupid post. Steele was an outstanding junior footballer- AIS squad member and will be a very good AFL footballer. He is not a one game wonder and it shows a very low understanding of elite junior footy to make such an ill-informed statement.
He would have been a wonderful addition to our list just like many others in the top 25

 

[saladin]

a lot of the bullshit negatives being dredged up about steele could also have been applied to james hird at underage level. sidebottom wants the ball, and he has the ability to get it. he also has the skills to use it.

jimmy bartel isn't overly quick. but he is a machine.

 

[daics cousin]

Sorry to intrude,but the reason Essendon picked up Hurley is because you had ttherwise you would have missed out pon areplacement for fletcher.
Sidebottom may not be what everybody says he will be but one,thing is for sure he is and will become a BIG game player,that's why we picked him.So in 2 years we will have three game breakers,Didak,thomas and sidebottom.
Believe me if the bombers didn't need a kp backman to sure up your backline,you guys would have snapped up Sidebottom,esp[ecially becuse he was an essendon supporter.
Carlton are the bunnies they should have picked up trengrove,like to see their backline in say 2-3 years,they haven't got one !

 

[Smyth94]

Sorry to intrude,but the reason Essendon picked up Hurley is because you had to.Otherwise you would have missed out pon areplacement for fletcher.
Sidebottom may not be what everybody says he will be but one,thing is for sure he is and will become a BIG game player,that's why we picked him.So in 2 years we will have three game breakers,Didak,thomas and sidebottom.
Believe me if the bombers didn't need a kp backman to sure up your backline,you guys would have snapped up Sidebottom,esp[ecially becuse he was an essendon supporter.
Carlton are the bunnies they should have picked up trengrove,like to see their backline in say 2-3 years,they haven't got one !

We didn't have to...It's more that Essendon felt there wouldn't be another player as good as Hurley in the next draft

 

[7zark7]

ANT555, I tend to agree, I think Sidebottom will be a very good player. Despite his lack of genuine leg speed, he plays quick, a very solid decision maker and great kicking skills off both sides. I think he will make the grade.

]I am content with Hurley, although I really haven’t seen enough of him. Looking at his stats over the last couple of seasons at TAC Cup level, they are very impressive. There has been a few instances where he ahs kicked bags of goals and taken plenty of marks. Having said that when he plays down back he also seems to get plenty of the ball. For lack of a better example do you see him as an Adam Hunter who can excel at both ends?
From all reports he ran a 3.11 sec 20 m time and Sidebottom ran a 3.22 sec time. Apparently he picked up aback complaint in the 2nd half of the season as well.

Adam Hunter is a dud. If Hurley turns out like him I will spew up!!!

 

[Ealesy]

I have a feeling this thread could be getting bumped a lot in the future.



Has already come third in the Pies 2km time trial.

Who ****ing cares...Bolton always used to win our time trails, a good footballer this did not make him.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Sidebottom may not be what everybody says he will be but one,thing is for sure he is and will become a BIG game player,that's why we picked him...

It's one thing to perform at U/18 level, and another to perform at AFL level.

Lets not get too carried away here.

 

[Dave The Man]

I think Sidebottom will turn out to be a lot better than many of you think. I think you are being overly harsh. However, I am not disappointed that we got Hurley.

I agree just because he Plays for Collingwood does not mean you have to think he is a 1 game wonder but I agree Essendon did the right thing going for Hurley over Steele

 

[Colin D'Cops]

I agree just because he Plays for Collingwood does not mean you have to think he is a 1 game wonder but I agree Essendon did the right thing going for Hurley over Steele

I think most true fans would agree that Steele has all the tools to become a successful AFL player.

Those that dismiss that fact before his debut are being delusional and those that think he is that proven big game player are being overly hopeful, which can lead to sadness & madness if he does indeed turn out to be an average AFL footballer.

So by all means, be happy with your selection and take him under your wing but making unrealistic expectations at such a young age can lead to you feeling overly negative towards that player/team.

 

[Dave The Man]

I think most true fans would agree that Steele has all the tools to become a successful AFL player.

Those that dismiss that fact before his debut are being delusional and those that think he is that proven big game player are being overly hopeful, which can lead to sadness & madness if he does indeed turn out to be an average AFL footballer.

So by all means, be happy with your selection and take him under your wing but making unrealistic expectations at such a young age can lead to you feeling overly negative towards that player/team.

All teams do it with there 1st round pick, Saying there going to be Guns.

I agree that is a bit over the top but I think steele was 1 of the Safest Bets in the Draft because you would be pretty sure he will make it in the AFL how good will he be - Well that is the Part we have to see

 

[Colin D'Cops]

All teams do it with there 1st round pick, Saying there going to be Guns.

Agree with that. It's not one of the best parts in football though, placing unrealistic expectations on kids can be have a negative effect on their playing careers (through newspaper columns, etc) and that particular clubs supporter base in some cases (expects more, etc).

It's one thing that'll never fail to stop though. Imaginations run wild.

 

[Dave The Man]

Agree with that. It's not one of the best parts in football though, placing unrealistic expectations on kids can be have a negative effect on their playing careers (through newspaper columns, etc) and that particular clubs supporter base in some cases (expects more, etc).

It's one thing that'll never fail to stop though. Imaginations run wild.

Very True you shouldn't do it but you still imagine the new Players to be Superstars and When it does not happen Supporters start to get on them and look down on them. Wrong but it always happens. I been guilty of it before a few times

 

[thorax]

Havent posted here for awhile as wanted to wait for the hu-hah after the draft was over. Knighta was convinced (and probably still is) that Sidebottom was the best bet. He was keen on him for 18 months and had personally watched him numerous times. Originally of all midfielders they (coaching staff, not recruitment) rated him behind only Rich, however that changed the Monday before the draft, where Knights was convinced that Sidebottom was the one due to limited development they saw in him (similar to decision to take Myers over Palmer). The Wednesday meeting was quite heated, and the way the recruiting is structured now Dodoro has final say, unlike previously when Sheedy had the final decision. For list management purposes listed in original article Dodoro decided upon Hurley. Time will tell if the right decision or not I suppose.

On another note, pre season I think an ex-Adelaide player currently playing with Bendigo may well be on the primary list!

 

[Dave The Man]

On another note, pre season I think an ex-Adelaide player currently playing with Bendigo may well be on the primary list!

Hope So

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Interesting post thorax.

Just looking at your profile on the left, it says something about the Big V Association. What grade do you play or watch? I commentate mainly the Division 2 Mens, be interesting to hear if you have actually played or watched one of them.

Or are you just talking about the Big V in general, like Victoria playing the All Stars? May have completely gone down the wrong track here.

 

[smiddaz123]

Kind of ironic.....isn't pace a concern for Hurley as well as Sidebottom?

Pace = over rated. I can't believe people pay so much attention to it still.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

Pace off the mark, precisely, they both aren't the quickest of blokes.

But endurance wise, Sidebottom is a very, very fit young player. Should run all day when he gets them NAB Cup matches under his belt.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Havent posted here for awhile as wanted to wait for the hu-hah after the draft was over. Knighta was convinced (and probably still is) that Sidebottom was the best bet. He was keen on him for 18 months and had personally watched him numerous times. Originally of all midfielders they (coaching staff, not recruitment) rated him behind only Rich, however that changed the Monday before the draft, where Knights was convinced that Sidebottom was the one due to limited development they saw in him (similar to decision to take Myers over Palmer). The Wednesday meeting was quite heated, and the way the recruiting is structured now Dodoro has final say, unlike previously when Sheedy had the final decision. For list management purposes listed in original article Dodoro decided upon Hurley. Time will tell if the right decision or not I suppose.

On another note, pre season I think an ex-Adelaide player currently playing with Bendigo may well be on the primary list!

if they rated Rich higher, why wouldn't they have taken him over Sidebottom - assuming they didn't make the Hurley move?

 

[Burzum]

I assume he meant that they rated Rich the highest of the midfielders and Sidebottom second but during the week leading up to the draft Sidebottom took the lead as "Rich had limited improvement"

 

[Merv]

if they rated Rich higher, why wouldn't they have taken him over Sidebottom - assuming they didn't make the Hurley move?

According to thorax they feel Rich has limited potential to improve.

I don't believe he is Knighters sort of player and i've seen a reasonable amount of him, he is lazy and i reckon he has doubts on making it, time will tell.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

According to thorax they feel Rich has limited potential to improve.

I don't believe he is Knighters sort of player and i've seen a reasonable amount of him, he is lazy and i reckon he has doubts on making it, time will tell.

yeah well, I reckon you're right. There was just zero interest in Rich from the Bombers the whole time.

I'm definitely happier with Hurley than I would have been with Sidebottom, and Rich is pretty much a tholidomide baby, so happy days

 

[AndyLesPaul]

i know its totally irrelevant but who would have SHEEDS most likely taken?

im guessing hurley, he always took a good big man over a good small, no?

& cuz would have got a gig with the last pick, just to piss the board off once again

Ben Cousins. no question
that or James Hird