So Close yet So Far...

[mongrelpunt]

Who, out of the below list, are you most upset about not getting to the Essendon football club.

Here's a short list of who I reckon had a chance of being a Bomber:

1) Stephen Milne - kicked 4 goals in an Essendon reserves premiership before being rookied by St. Kilda. Played 3 years with the Saints and was unlucky not to be All Australian in 2002

2) Jason Saddington - back in 99 Justin Blumfield rejected a lucrative offer from the Sydney Swans and in return, I believe the club were extremely keen on a raw Saddington as part of the trade. 3 years on, and Blumfield is traded to Richmond for a #30 draft pick, and Saddington is a key member of the Swans defence

3) Mark Alvey - if the 2002 Trade period went 2 minutes longer, Alvey would have been traded to Essendon. Instead, he is so far starring for the Bulldogs in 2003, averaging 25-odd possessions a game

4) Chris Ladhams - drafted by Essendon in 2000, he failed to play a game for the Bombers before he was de-listed after 1 season. Adelaide then swoop on Ladhams, drafting him in 2001. He now is a quality midfielder in a team of brilliant midfielders.

5) David Johnson - being the younger brother of Mark, David spent the 2001 season on Essendon's rookie list before being delisted before the 2001 draft. Geelong use a rookie selection to draft Johnson, and despite getting injured in the first game against Essendon in Round 1 2002, he is playing solidly in the Geelong team early in 2003.

6) Adam Kingsley - from memory he played in the Essendon reserves team under Mark Williams prior to the Port Power inclusion in the AFL. Williams is made an assistant coach under John Cahill at Port and brings Kingsley along with him. He wins the clubs first B&F and is a key member of the Port defence.
-----------------------------------------
We have had wins in this area (Lloyd, Peverill, Cupido, Watson etc), but it still leaves a bitter taste by not having Milne or Saddington.

That's all I can think of. I'm sure other people have some other players (preferably present players) who were close to being drafted or traded to Essendon.

 

[topdon]

Its a toss up b/w Milne and Alvey IMO. I remember watching Milne play in a number of pre-season matches for Essendon. Was shocked that Essendon, at no stage, looked like drafting him. I guess they were never to know how good he was to become. But would Milne fit into our current setup? Thats that question. Would Milne clogg up Lloyd's space. Remember, Milne is not a true crumber for the St.Kilda side ... he is their key position forward.

Alvey i have always been impressed with. Shocked that we even had an opportunity to snare him. Would have made the Blumfield deal a whole lot sweeter than it is at the moment. Could have been a really solid midfield option for us. Fax machine?? Couldn't they have used a telephone?? But i guess they only had 2 mins to go.

 

[Pornstar]

Easy - Milne. I said from day one that was a mistake not to pick him up.

I was pretty keen on getting Alvey. To me he seemed like a nice cheap midfielder ready to take the next step.

Ladhams wanted to go home. Not much we could do about it.

On Saddington, i don't believe that the Swans ever actually considered trading him. I think it was just hopeful thinking on our part.

In last year's draft i wanted to pick up Paul Johnson at 10 because he had a ready made body to step into the ruck at any time. He went to WC in the end at something like pick 24. So i'll be interested to see how his and Lay****'s careers progress.

Also i'll say right now that we should elevate Ben Haynes from the rookie list. He's shown a bit i reckon.

 

[rednugget]

Michael Gardiner- We lost Wanganeen to Port and got a priority draft choice for him and would have had number 1 selection in the draft but then Port took Dowsborough from West Coast who finished below us the previous season so they got number 1 pick-Gardiner and we got number 2 -Heffernan.

 

[poncho]

Originally posted by Pornstar
On Saddington, i don't believe that the Swans ever actually considered trading him. I think it was just hopeful thinking on our part.

You are right. When the deal was being negotiated we were very keen to get Saddington for Blumfield (and I was too - he was very promising at that stage - as Blumfield was). But Sydney said hands off him and it looked like the trade was gonna be Blumfield for Fitgerald until Sheeds talked Blummers into staying.

Fitzgerald (tall, lanky forward/ruck) got traded to Adelaide about 2-3 years back but constant injuries have ruined his career (shoulders I think).

On the original question - without a doubt, Milne. He is an absolute gun and we would've gone a lot further last year with him roving in our forward line. We haven't had a small forward of his calibre since Bewick and Mercs a few years back. Of the others I'd take Kingsley or Alvey but not overly ****ed off about those ones.

 

[SydneyBomber]

Was super-****ed off that we missed out on Alvey - he would've gone really well I reckon.

Milne was a huge loss, but who knew?

Saddington is a pansy - no thanks.

I agree with Porny - promote Haynes (when he gets fit of course!). He looks like he'll go ok as a midfielder.

 

[Essendon Fan]

Originally posted by mongrelpunt
Who, out of the below list, are you most upset about not getting to the Essendon football club.

Here's a short list of who I reckon had a chance of being a Bomber:

1) Stephen Milne - kicked 4 goals in an Essendon reserves premiership before being rookied by St. Kilda. Played 3 years with the Saints and was unlucky not to be All Australian in 2002

2) Jason Saddington - back in 99 Justin Blumfield rejected a lucrative offer from the Sydney Swans and in return, I believe the club were extremely keen on a raw Saddington as part of the trade. 3 years on, and Blumfield is traded to Richmond for a #30 draft pick, and Saddington is a key member of the Swans defence

3) Mark Alvey - if the 2002 Trade period went 2 minutes longer, Alvey would have been traded to Essendon. Instead, he is so far starring for the Bulldogs in 2003, averaging 25-odd possessions a game

4) Chris Ladhams - drafted by Essendon in 2000, he failed to play a game for the Bombers before he was de-listed after 1 season. Adelaide then swoop on Ladhams, drafting him in 2001. He now is a quality midfielder in a team of brilliant midfielders.

5) David Johnson - being the younger brother of Mark, David spent the 2001 season on Essendon's rookie list before being delisted before the 2001 draft. Geelong use a rookie selection to draft Johnson, and despite getting injured in the first game against Essendon in Round 1 2002, he is playing solidly in the Geelong team early in 2003.

6) Adam Kingsley - from memory he played in the Essendon reserves team under Mark Williams prior to the Port Power inclusion in the AFL. Williams is made an assistant coach under John Cahill at Port and brings Kingsley along with him. He wins the clubs first B&F and is a key member of the Port defence.
-----------------------------------------
We have had wins in this area (Lloyd, Peverill, Cupido, Watson etc), but it still leaves a bitter taste by not having Milne or Saddington.

That's all I can think of. I'm sure other people have some other players (preferably present players) who were close to being drafted or traded to Essendon.

Well said,
nicely done!

Also,
I like your pic LOL
Happy Gilmore!!!