Recruiting Blunders......

[Anton Grbac]

Genenrally we've got our recruiting right over the years. But what do ya's consider our biggest recruiting mistakes?

Was it Phil Carman back in 1980? Maybe the dumping of two great clubmen (Carey,Bradbrury) for a couple of greedy Magpies (Richardson, raines) in early '86. Brenton Phillips, Andrew Rogers, Che Cockatoo Collins....come to think of it...there's been a few. Whatta ya's reckon?

where's wally?

 

[Dave]

Without a doubt dumping Bradbury and Carey for the mercenary duo. Screwed club morale, took two years to recover.

Other memorable blunders, "Doc" Wheildon, Scott Cummings (fat & lazy), Tim Darcy....missing out on Bradley.

On the whole though I'd say we'd be well in front. The daniher trade, getting Lloyd through Freo...not too shabby at all.

 

[walshy1993]

was the recruitment of willy dick based purely on his name and nothing to do with his football ability?

andrew bomford from sydney was pretty ordinary, tim williams, matthew watson (still playing with carlton ressies)

and dave, as much as i hated to see him go, the trade of ricky o to collingwood for the draft pick which gave us rama wasnt a bad effort either, and the denham barnes swap, only to draft barnes back last year

 

[Dave]

Walshy, yeah the Ricky/Rama trade was good, and though he was great in 93 he didn't do too much after that, always bloody hurt. Bet the collingwood boys loved his tatt!

 

[gPhonque]

was the recruitment of willy dick based purely on his name and nothing to do with his football ability?

lol


As for the biggest mistake, I'd definately say getting rid of Carey & Bradbury. As Dave said, it took 2 years to recover as they were such great Essendon clubmen. You feel sorry for them even now.

 

[BigStork]

I know Doc Wheildon didn't play a game but that was more as a result of an altercation with a taxi out front of a Melbourne nightclub rather than the selection committee. I liked 'Doc' and maybe he would have been handy for us, but then again, maybe not.

Tony Antrobus came across in a blaze of glory. The Angry Ant didn't do much, but again serious knee injuries crippled him.

While it wasn't a recruiting blunder, what about the dropping of Ronnie Andrews for the 1983 grandfinal? It might not have made much difference to the disastrous result, but he may have collected a few Hawks along the way.

 

[M29]

Ben Doolan. Possibly the worst player to play 100 games.

 

[Shinboners]

How about the missed opportunity of drafting Martin Pike at the end of 1996? I know that Sheedy was keen, but after what happened with Doc Wheildon, his fellow recruiting staff told him that if he selected Pike, he had to take full responsibility.

Still, your staff have made too many recruiting blunders over the years.

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by Shinboners
How about the missed opportunity of drafting Martin Pike at the end of 1996? I know that Sheedy was keen, but after what happened with Doc Wheildon, his fellow recruiting staff told him that if he selected Pike, he had to take full responsibility.

Sheeds was pretty pissed off about that and it was the cause of quite a bit or turmoil (not the decision itself but the fact that Sheeds didn't get the final say). Still, given Nth delisted him, perhaps they were right?

Still, your staff have made too many recruiting blunders over the years.

Have or haven't?

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by Dave
Sheeds was pretty pissed off about that and it was the cause of quite a bit or turmoil (not the decision itself but the fact that Sheeds didn't get the final say). Still, given Nth delisted him, perhaps they were right?

Pike was very good for North from '97 to '99, but his 2000 season was poor. However, plenty of North fans were shocked when he got sacked.

It was the right decision for North to pick him up when we did, and I think he would have done well at Essendon.

 

[Dave]

Agreed

 

[walshy1993]

didnt we miss out on nick holland as a kid aswell
imagine him in the forward line with hird, lucas and lloyd

also we had craig bradley signed, until he decided he wanted another year in sth australia and carlton then snapped him up


jason saddington was set to come to essendon but we went with mark bolton on draft day

 

[walshy1993]

another one was, we traded che cockatoo collins for a draft pick

with that draft pick we took chris ladhams, who of course is now in adelaide

 

[Dave]

Yeah, but who did we get for him?

 

[Anton Grbac]

Originally posted by walshy1993
another one was, we traded che cockatoo collins for a draft pick

with that draft pick we took chris ladhams, who of course is now in adelaide

Walshy,
The fact that Cockatoo-Collins doesn't wear the red 'n' black anymore is the most important thing IMO. Has Ladhams had any action with the Crows?

where's wally?

 

[walshy1993]

Originally posted by Dave
Yeah, but who did we get for him?

we didnt get anyone for ladhams, he was delisted during last season along with grgic when we bought mcgrath and switala back onto the list

ladhams then went in the draft were adelaide picked him up, and wally he has been impressive
he was never going to make it at essendon but his fitness is at its peak and he is doing pretty well

 

[Dan26]

Two players spring to mind :

Doc Wheildon and John Fidge.

Willie Dick was also a bit of a blunder in 1992. He was already 26 years old, but Sheedy decided to recruit him anyway as a rookie He was dropped off the list after the season.

 

[Anton Grbac]

Originally posted by Dan25
Two players spring to mind :

Doc Wheildon and John Fidge.

Willie Dick was also a bit of a blunder in 1992. He was already 26 years old, but Sheedy decided to recruit him anyway as a rookie He was dropped off the list after the season.

Yep,
Willie Dick...jeez...big Rexy would've had fun with that name..was disappointing. From memory, i think he played the first couple games then spent the year in the magoos.

John Fidge was another, i still remember Sheeds annointing him as our next 100 goal a year full forward after he kicked a sh!tload in the SANFL (Glenelg?). Never played a game, even considering our horrendous injury toll that season ('91).

Doc Wheildon was an interesting one. Despite his mental fragility i believe had Sheeds straightened him out, he would've been a useful player for us. Can't win 'em all i spose. What is it with AFL footballers and King St.?


where's wally?

 

[M29]

Originally posted by Wally

What is it with AFL footballers and King St.?

Alcohol

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by Dave
Have or haven't?

Haven't.

Sorry 'bout the typo.

 

[mantis]

Calthorpe was a recruiting blunder, we let him slip through our fingers & the Roos picked him up

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by mantis
Calthorpe was a recruiting blunder, we let him slip through our fingers & the Roos picked him up

You can have him back in exchange for Mark Mercuri

 

[Anton Grbac]

Originally posted by Shinboners


You can have him back in exchange for Mark Mercuri

Sounds fair Shinners, how 'bout we throw in Rioli as well?

where's wally?

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by Wally


Sounds fair Shinners, how 'bout we throw in Rioli as well?

where's wally?

Oh, no, no, no......you're being waaayyyy too generous. But if you insist....thanks!

As a token of our appreciation, you can have....ummm.....let's see.....Shane Clayton. He's just like Dean Rioli, but without the skills or excitement factor. He's also the son of an umpire so instead of Sheed's sending Hirdy out to get a "please explain" from the martians, he can just ask Clayton for an explanation (bad decision making...it must be genetic).

 

[The Dutchman!]

Carman was a great pick up, as was Rene Kink AND so was Raines for a while. Fabulous was a tad unluckly in that I still don't think he was trying to nut that ump.

Reckon Back door Benny was as poor as anyone...