One for the Bomber fans here

[The Dutchman!]

Just posted this on Bombertalk and am interested in your views guys/gals...

Some may find this a bit controversial....

B: M. Johnson D. Fletcher D. Solomon
HB: D. Hardwick S.Wellman D.Wallis(2000 only)
C: C. Heffernan M. Long (2000-1)A. Ramanauskas
HF: M. Mercuri S. Lucas J. Hird
FF: D. Rioli (fit)M. Lloyd S. Allesio(if in form)
or Caracella or: Eastaugh (2000 only)
or Moorcroft or: Podsiady(sp?)(2001-)
(resting ruck)
F: J. Barnes(2000-1) J. Misiti J. Johnson

Int from: D. Bewick B. Carracella G. Moorcroft
P.Barnard D. Jacobs J. Blumfield
A. Henneman C. McGrath S. Denham
J. Podsiady M. Prior P. Berbakov
Selection depends on opposition match-ups and injuries.
Emerg: M. Fraser M. McVeigh Pickett

Phew: That's 30 viable senior choices and frankly its pretty hard to drop any of them.

Automatic selections: 16 (!!) players:

J. Hird
M. Long
D. Fletcher
M. Lloyd
M. Mercuri
J. Barnes
S. Lucas
J. Misiti
J. Johnson
D. Hardwick
S. Wellman
M. Johnson
D. Solomon
C. Heffernan
D. Bewick
B. Carracella

Boarderline automatic selections: (3)

D. Rioli (if fit)
S. Allesio (if in form)
P. Barnard

Close to permanent spots:

D. Jacobs
A. Ramanauskas
G. Moorcroft
D. Wallis (2000 only)

That's 23 players.... of the remaining pool:

Risers:

A. Henneman (2001 - Deano's obvious replacement)
J. Podsiady (next ruckman - Should be brought on next yr)
C. McGrath (gun 2001 - nuff said on this guy)
M. McVeigh (2001 - has potential)
M. Prior (still has potential - will slot in with injuries - might be hard to retain though)
P. Berbakov (ditto)
Pickett Jr (Don't know much about... but great pedigree)

Trade bait:

J. Blumfield (Overpaid and not performing hence on way out - should be traded for high draft picks or another ruckman)
S. Denham (should probably be let go to play regular footy if we won't play him every week - the Dogs would love to have him...)
M. Fraser (ditto)
S. Eastaugh (who knows? Depends on what we get for Blumfield)

 

[Dan26]

Dutchman,

Some good points, BUT.

Concerning Blumfield. He is having a very good season. He is only 22 years old and an excellent player. I'd hate to seem him carve the Bombers up for the next ten years if he was with another club.

I was interestd to read a piece by Rohan Connolly in today's Age. Blumfield is in the top five in the LEAGUE for assists. By assists, I mean the posession before a goal. He is right up there with some of the games greats on the list. Check it out at "realfooty.com"

He also one of our leaders in hard-ball gets. I have seen every Essendon game this season and I have been very, very impressed with him. He is (I think) Essendons leader in efficiency. This is a new stat channel 7 is using to confuse it's viewers even more. I think it refers to the percentage of effective disposals a person has.

Don't listen to some of those people at BomberTalk. They bag Blumfield, and I don't know why. I don't know how much money he is getting, but I DO know he'd be getting a hell of a lot more if he was playing for Sydney.

 

[Grendel]

Dutchy fair side, the one thing being pondering away in my twisted little head is how they are all going to be accomadated "money wise" come the years end with a flag against there names? That would increase no doubt barganing table postion, hmm?

Okay allow three retirements Fraser,Denham and Wallis (sorry Dutch but I really cant see anyone going for trades on that lot, fools if they did) some cuts to blokes that wont make it,Eastaugh and say one or two more they deem not good enough and maybe a walkout from a riser ie a Ukovik type to the bottom team as a first round "concession/pre-season" draft. That would mean probably a 7/8 man turnover.

Now with reduced lists next year (38? I think) coming in and a rise in the cap PLUS the excpected increase from the up & comers will you be able to hold onto the "quality"?

I think even the Hawks will be hard pressed to hold some of our talls so how hard will it be down at Bomberland? Maybe a jobber like Alessio could be used as high trade bait as he seems to have media and others bluffed into thinking he is a star? Morecroft is another who while handy in a star stacked attack wouldnt (IMHO) do much at a lesser club. Rioli clearly superior to him when FIT and would more than cover him being traded for a 2nd (?) round pick.

Interesting call on Blumfield, I thought he was going okay (but not outstanding just good and solid) and Dan seems to back me on that so, hmm again.

One bloke not mentioned was Hille, I heard they braintrust down there rated him as very promising any further word?


Otherewise you could be pretty much spot on with the depth you have, looks hard to match. I still think anything happens to either Hird or Long and it could all collapse around you. Those two are just so damn footy smart its scary. Best since (Only talking about Essendon here) Baker was there.

 

[Pessimistic]

Doesn't Barney qualify as a permanent first teamer ? Sheeds is always saying how he (and wellman) were great swaps in the Salmon/Jarman roundabout trade ?

We'll (Hawks) have him back for a gun back pockat player we picked up last year....

 

[Arch]

pretty much the standard side being trotted out by most essendon fans that I ve seen.
My only difference would be maybe have cara instead of Rioli up there (although the "if fit" part kinda covers that). I just think hes a little more consistant, but i think Rioli is a more accurate kick (correct me if Im wrong).
I like the idea of maybe a 3 forward rotation of bewick, cara and Dean. I sent a "fantasy lineup" to Shinboners a while back which I think was pretty similar to that.
As for Blumfeild, I kinda agree with Dan, that the guy is obviously not playing his best footy right NOW, but has alot of potential and isnt worth cutting just yet. Maybe give him another season to break out (or demand more bloody cash), and then turf him. RE Dans comment about the hard ball gets- didnt Gary Lyon say he was afraid to get the ball or something ??? I think someone posted that at BT the other day. And our much esteemed freind skills also pointed out in that article that assists can quite often be bombs into the 50 which get roved and converted. How much that stat is a real measure of "assistance" is kinda questionable. anyway............
another thing- arnt those Prowess Video Stats something special ??? I bet youve been salivating over a few of those numbers Dan. lol. skills told me they cost $20 000 to get access to, so the average punters like ourselves cant really check 'em out. doh !!.

OK cyaz.

PS- Dont spose either of yez intend on posting up your photos ????? Im gonna do it sometime in next couple weeks. Hopefully give yez a laff !!!!!

Arch.

 

[gocatsgo]

You've listed 30 players, all are, could and should be champions.

I do see a problem for Essendon in the future, not this year.

A great percentage of these players have all played football, but I think the problem may lie in players 30 -42. Look at the measly results of their seconds.

Look at a side like Geelong, every single player on their list except first year players have played senior football at some time (Matthew Scarlet, Daniel Lowther, Derek Hall, David Wojcinski, Joel McKay) All but Derk Hall are in their low 20s and their future looks bright, Essendon on the other hand have had barr a few players (McGrath, Pickett jr?) a settled side over the last few years and now are starting to reap the benefits, but lets be honest until this year, Essendon had succeeded very little since 1993, and this group still has to win a premiership, which it will probably do this year.

Players such as Michael Long and John Barnes aren't getting any younger and I don't know if Essendon have the next generation coming through to take their places once they finish up

 

[sainter]

gocatsgo,

I had a feeling this thread would soon have a distint Geelong feel after you were finished.

That said, you might have a good point. After watching the Essendon VFL side a few times, you would not want them to have too many injuries. I realise the bombers do not drop players, merely 'rotate' them, but is there enough depth? Perhaps there is but I am not entirely convinced at this stage.

[This message has been edited by sainter (edited 17 May 2000).]

 

[The Dutchman!]

Reasonable observations all folks but I think there is clear method to the madness so to speak..

Firstly I've got Barnard as one for the bench (of 10) and on the list boarderline automatic selections. I rate him highly and frankly 99/100 of the time he'd be one of the 4 on my bench - but just at the moment I prefer using Wally's height to support Fletch and Wellman in the starting side...
But Pess you can keep Bazza.

The only reason the magoos (Reigning premiers by the way) aren't performing is that we culled the hacks big time (great seconds players)in the off-season.

Slot Benny Doolan, Mickey Symons, Peter Sommerville into that side and then add Rama, Jason Johnston, Danny Jacobs etc etc and you've got a pretty shit-hot 2nds side.

I would much rather have an average 2nds year blooding loads of players that pay dividends in a year or two than paying hacks who are never going to be the goods.

Also there is plenty of depth there:

RUCKS: Hille and Podsiady are both very promising ruckman but I thought Hille got hurt. Eastaugh I believe is captain of the 2s.

MIDFIELDERS (sorry - Onballers - been in England too long): McVeigh and McAliester (spelling) are both very promising mid-fielders (but after Jacobs at present).

BACKS: Pickett and Henneman could be anything. Prior is quality but can't break back into the seniors regularly yet after doing his knee. Berbakov likewise - coming back from serious ankle problems. Don't know much about Robran but what I've heard ain't good in the heart muscle dept.

So all in all I can't go agree with you at all about that point.

However, it DOES remain to be seen what happens if we get a lot serious injuries - particularly to Hird and Long. But it has to be said we played all of last year without Hird and at least 6 rounds without Long (ribs) and we still did pretty bloody well.

I think it was GoCatsGo who said we really have to do it soon as Barnes and Long aren't getting any younger. Fair point and obviously I'd like it to be this year. But really we've not got too many old players that we rely on for wins -

Long 30
Barnes 31
Bewick 31
Alessio 29
Wallis 30

That's about it for old players. Pretty much all of the rest of the team is under 26 and 75% under 24. Lloyd (21), Lucas (21), Rioli (21? less), Caracella - Solomon - Jason Johnson - Mark Johnson - Heffenan - Moorcroft (all early 20's)

Fletcher's still only 23 or 24
Wellman is 25
Hardwick 24-25
Mercuri and Misiti are 25 or 26
Even Hird's only 26 or 27

All in all folks, baring injury and motivational problems - looks like a very strong unit for 2-5 years to me... hopefully I'll be home to catch one or two of those seasons before the slump "we had to have"...

But there is that salary cap issue for sure... we already play with a small list to accomodate Blumfield's demands...

Dutch

 

[Dave]

Dutch,
pretty good analysis, the only thing I'd change is I'd have Denham in the side as we don't have a lot of in & under grunt. I'm not a really big rap for Heff, he seems to go missing when the heat's on (cost us big time in last years prelim), though Sheed's is a big rap for him. I'm also struggling to find a spot for Wally, though leaving him out leaves us a tad vunerable in the tall department, probably slot him on the bench.

I'd probably go with something along the lines of

B: M. Johnson D. Fletcher D. Solomon
HB: D. Hardwick S. Wellman P. Barnard
C: M. Long J. Misiti A. Ramanauskas
HF: M. Mercuri S. Lucas J. Hird
FF: D. Rioli M. Lloyd G. Moorcroft
F: J. Barnes S. Denham. J. Johnson

Int from: D. Bewick B. Carracella D.Wallis J. Blumfield

The only problem being if Barnes gets hurt there's no backup ruck/follower. At the moment Cec's form just isn't good enough to fit in, though in a pinch he'd probably replace Moorcroft - Caracella into the pocket and Cec onto the bench.

 

[Dave]

Pess,
I've heard Barny wanted out of Hawthorn when he heard Judge was coming, apparently they didn't get on back in Perth and he felt his time would be limited. Any truth to that?

 

[The Dutchman!]

Don't know.. then again don't care. Look it was a terrific trade for both parties. You're pretty happy with ol' Fish aren't ya Grendel and Pess?

Dave - its not good enough to name a side without a back up tall for Barnes. Makes it a deadset easy job. Options are:

1. Cess (not great at prez - 3 kicks no marks, BUT draws a tall backman each week which makes life easier for the others)
2. Henneman in for Wally (too much of any ask this early in his career IMHO to back up Barnes) - allowing us to drop Cess if necessary.
3. Eastaugh (apparently a good SANFL ruckman but not quite up to the big league)
4. Hille (hurt? )
5. Podsiady (on the supplementary list - apparently very good)
6. Grgic (Long term injuried and a good Magoo only)

Gotta make those hard calls guys... can't have Moorcroft, Rioli, Bewick, Jacobs and Carracella all doing the same job...

 

[Eagle_Fan]

KJ not getting on with a player and jepardising his career because of it? Surely not!

 

[staggy]

personally , i would have barney as an automatic selection, and a player you haven't mentioned as an up-and comer is forster-knight...this boy can play!

In case you're interested, injuries aside, here would be my best side:

B – Solomon, Fletcher, Hardwick
HB – M.Johnson, Wellman (when in form), Barnard
C – Blumfield (giant steps this year), Misiti, Long
HF – Hird, Lucas, Mercuri (how good is that!)
F – Rioli (get fit), Lloyd, Caracella (better option than alessio)
FOL – Barnes, J.Johnson, Heffernan
INT – Bewick, Wallis, Alessio, Moorcroft (just)
EMERG – Denham, Prior, Berbakov

Incredibly tough to pick but I guess it’s a good problem to have! One thing’s for sure though, if this side makes a grand final there will be a fair few heartbresking decisions to be made. I mean who would you pick: Moorcroft or Wallis? Ramanauskas or Denham? It’ll be a bloody hard ask.

cheers
staggy


------------------
2000: year of the bomber

 

[sainter]

Dutchman,

I went to the same school as James Podsiadly and the thing that is probably so exciting about him is that he only started playing football competitively a few years ago.

I haven't really seen him play because I was a few year levels above him but he was a champion tennis player and probably any other sport that he played.

 

[The Dutchman!]

Is Forester-Knight a ruck or a key position tall? Heard he has foot problems (stress fractures?) or is that Hille. Hard enough following the seniors over here. Can one of you bombers give me the lowdown on him and Hille?

Sainter, which school was it? Someone on BomberTalk said something very similar - said he was "mad" - ie: talented in a unpredictable way (like Lucas).

Thanks
Dutch

Staggy - great team but I can't see how you can leave out Rama - that guy is on fire and is pure silk... scanned your team and its very hard to find someone to drop for him but I think it would have to be one of Carracella, Rioli and Moorcroft who all seem to do the same job in your team - I'd probably drop slash - hard call but....

 

[Dave]

Dutch,
I'd keep Gary in the side. He's got that little bit of mongrel aggression that comes in handy. The other thing is that with Heff, Cara & Rama you've got three very similar players.

 

[RICE80]

Maxy Forster-Knight has got stress fractures in the foot, out for 6 according to the Bogun Bugle, only seen the Willy game this year of VFL so don't know much about form.

There's going to be some bloody unlucky guys if we happen to make the big one this year.
As you probably know Cess has been dropped, sorry "rotated", he needs a run in the ressy's. Wally is lucky Cess has been playing so bad 'cause it could have been him out after his "Prelim final runs" last week. I think Henno will do well, glad to see him get a run.

Happy to hear from Sheeds last night on "The Game" that Rioli has lost 5kg and will be back in 3.

Don't know about you guys but I would like to see more of Slash in at the centre bounces than say bringing back Denham to improve the toughness factor we sometimes lack.

You're right about Rama, if he got more ground time he'd give the Norwich a shove, he's all class. Sheedy is great at wheening the young guys into the big stuff, as he did with J.Johnson as well.

BOMBER BLITZ IN 2000!

 

[sainter]

He went to St Pauls College in Altona

Produced such illustrious champions such as Mark Arceri.

Although one other player who went to our school will be playing his 250 game for the Roos this weekend.

 

[staggy]

hey dutch...
sorry, didn't realise i left out rama...i agree, he is on fire. I was wondering how i managed to fit Slash in!!!!