Review My thoughts on our draft picks.

[Kong]

Yeah I also thought of McPhee when reading a few of the points on Heppell.

 

[Skeeta Olly]

Thread of the year.

 

[efcboy]

cheers ant,

with respect to heppell would you agree that if he's so good as a hbf (like goddard and hodge) then why would we even worry whether he will be a midfielder?

IMO Essendon have been crying out for an elite hbf for some time and Heppell is the man.

 

[Tony Delaney]

Thanks ant, your a legend.

 

[loopy_cam]

I like the fact that we've picked defenders/midfielders. We severely lack defensive minded midfielders. Zaharakis, Colyer, Jetta for example all started in the forward line before moving into the midfield so hopefully we can get some starting in defence and moving into the midfield like M. McVeigh, Welsh, M. Johnsonetc. did.

 

[Kong]

Hird's already stated Paul Roos is who he's modelled his coaching style on, and has outlined contested football, defensive pressure and high skills as his key areas as coach.

Now it looks as though he's drafting to his plan.

/obvious statement

 

[Fin ice Smuggler]

Hird's already stated Paul Roos is who he's modelled his coaching style on, and has outlined contested football, defensive pressure and high skills as his key areas as coach.

Now it looks as though he's drafting to his plan.

/obvious statement

Yeah the only argument against this is Luke Parker should have been picked up by us. He is so much in that Sydney mould of player that Sydney could not read his name out fast enough when he was available to them at 40, but oh well can't have them all i guess.

 

[Burzum]

Luke Parker seems like this year's Nic Suban.

 

[Kong]

That's a good thing, right?

 

[Burzum]

Maybe?

 

[Blind Turn]

Spoilt rotten having inside info like this even if we don't hear from him much anymore. Love the fact that the descriptions aren't building each player up to be the next champion. Really wanted to know the deficiencies that these guys might have. Thanx Ant. Hope to hear form you again soon.

 

[yaco55]

Yeah the only argument against this is Luke Parker should have been picked up by us. He is so much in that Sydney mould of player that Sydney could not read his name out fast enough when he was available to them at 40, but oh well can't have them all i guess.

Think it was a matter of balancing up the X Factor that Steinberg offers - combined with the thought that the GC would select Steinberg at 39.

Listening to the SEN coverage it was noticeable that when EFC picked Steinberg at 31 and MFC picked up Howe at 33 - There was an audible sigh from the commentary team. So it seems as though they were surprise selections in the second round.

Still scratching my head how Parker slipped to 40. I was hoping that he would fall to 48.

 

[jsd09]

Is it just me or is James Hird maybe not trying to build the best midfield in the competition but the best defensive rebounding side similair to 2000 I don't believe we ever had the best midfield back then but our rebounding was just first class as was our forward line of course but I just have this funny suspiscion that's what his going for, thoughts?

 

[Slattery_20]

Call me crazy.... I think he thinks we probably needed to replace 2 half back/wingers with halfback/wingers, a mid-sized back with a mid-sized back and a forward with a forward... but I'm a conspiracy theorist

 

[Walesy]

Spoilt rotten having inside info like this even if we don't hear from him much anymore. Love the fact that the descriptions aren't building each player up to be the next champion. Really wanted to know the deficiencies that these guys might have. Thanx Ant. Hope to hear form you again soon.

Agreed. Cheers Ant- feel free to drop by, well, as often as possible!

 

[bombermick]

It was a bit of a surprise, but I think Hirdy might be onto something here. Our midfield does need a lot of work, but what cost us so many games last year were our small defenders and medium defenders. Think Garlett and LeCras. If Heppell gets played in the back half, it means two our of our best kicks (Heppell and Hurley) will be launching the ball towards Gumby and co. A far better situation than Hocking or Prismall sending us forward.

 

[Burzum]

Call me crazy.... I think he thinks we probably needed to replace 2 half back/wingers with halfback/wingers, a mid-sized back with a mid-sized back and a forward with a forward... but I'm a conspiracy theorist

Your ideas are crazy, man.

 

[HurleyLegend]

Firstly, a GREAT read.

Regarding our picks, obviously can't know for a few years, but Heppel is going to be an absolute gun! So excited we picked him up.

Should have been taken pick 4 imo

 

[Rack Watts]

I hope Ant reads this thread and faps, he deserves a good fap

 

[FandangoDingo]

He's no Caro, but still a great read. Thanks Ant.

Get the feeling you're missed much around here?

 

[Super Gusto]

Good read Ant.

I think we have gone for taller athletic type players similar to how Fremantle have recruited over the last few years.

Parker being 183 cm probably didn;t fit the type Hirdy and co were looking at.

 

[HurleyLegend]

I love being excited by every new batch of draftees. Obviously time will tell how good they are. Steinberg could be a great get i reckon

 

[halfback dasher]

Just thought you blokes would like to know......Hird showing strong interest in Bruce.....

 

[Slattery_20]

Just thought you blokes would like to know......Hird showing strong interest in Bruce.....

He just wants to build him up and then knock down his confidence completely as retribution for tagging him.

 

[The Dustbin]

Great write up as always Ant. Thank you.