Couldn't find this anywhere else, so thought I'd do my own research on our history when both Lloyd & Lucas have been out of the team (apologies if there is already a similar thread).
Amazingly this has only ever occurred twice in almost 12 years:
Round 14 1999 - Ess def Freo by 36 (MCG) Goals: Mercuri; Alessio 3
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1999/050819990704.html
Round 15 1999 - Port def Ess by 37 (FP) Goals: Alessio; Heffernan; Misiti 2
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1999/051319990711.html
There were 6 matches in early 1996 that both Lloyd & Lucas missed - but that was when they were both relative newcomers.
Interestingly, Mercuri got 3 Brownlow votes in each of these 1999 matches on his way to runner up to Crawford. Hopefully McVeigh can emulate that this week.
McVeigh & Fletcher are the only current players to have played a match for Essendon without Lloyd & Lucas - Although even Fletcher didn't play the games in '99.
It'll be tough tonight, as it will be a huge adjustment for all players when going forward to look up to see neither of them presenting. But it also presents a great opportunity for someone to step up - so I look forward to tonight with great curiosity. Just a shame Gumby; Neagle, etc... aren't available either, as this would be a perfect opportunity for them. Hopefully tonight Ryder will be given the opportunity to prove that he is as brilliant up forward as he is down back.
Amazingly this has only ever occurred twice in almost 12 years:
Round 14 1999 - Ess def Freo by 36 (MCG) Goals: Mercuri; Alessio 3
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1999/050819990704.html
Round 15 1999 - Port def Ess by 37 (FP) Goals: Alessio; Heffernan; Misiti 2
http://stats.rleague.com/afl/stats/games/1999/051319990711.html
There were 6 matches in early 1996 that both Lloyd & Lucas missed - but that was when they were both relative newcomers.
Interestingly, Mercuri got 3 Brownlow votes in each of these 1999 matches on his way to runner up to Crawford. Hopefully McVeigh can emulate that this week.
McVeigh & Fletcher are the only current players to have played a match for Essendon without Lloyd & Lucas - Although even Fletcher didn't play the games in '99.
It'll be tough tonight, as it will be a huge adjustment for all players when going forward to look up to see neither of them presenting. But it also presents a great opportunity for someone to step up - so I look forward to tonight with great curiosity. Just a shame Gumby; Neagle, etc... aren't available either, as this would be a perfect opportunity for them. Hopefully tonight Ryder will be given the opportunity to prove that he is as brilliant up forward as he is down back.
