Spoon in '08??

[Yagabomb]

I think we'll be in the bottom 4 next year. Our list is nowhere near good enough at the moment to finish anywhere else

 

[windyhill]

the only thing that worrys me is our 2007 record without hird. which was most of the second half of the season. and we won only 3 of 11 games in the second half.

We cover Hird. We do not cover Lloyd,Fletcher,Lucas.

 

[Crave]

I think we'll be in the bottom 4 next year. Our list is nowhere near good enough at the moment to finish anywhere else

Have to agree, we'll show signs of improvement, but being a team of predominantly kids and our veterans another season older...would be delusional to expect them to carry us again with their aging bodies. That aside, we've lost Hird, Heff, Bolts, Campo....despite our opinions on these players, they're all midfielders with approximately 800 games collectively between them. Hard to replace in anyone's opinion.

Putting them against seasoned players at the peak of their powers and we'll get brushed aside like rag dolls.

That loss against Richmond (Sheeds/Hirds' Melbourne farewell) would have to be one of the biggest disappointments Ive ever witnessed in football, let alone an Essendon memory (96 & 99 being the other two) by our team.

Losing a significant milestone game like that shows to me we cant sustain heart throughout the course of the season.

 

[Ants]

I find next year pretty hard to pick.

On the one hand we've lost Hird, JJ and MJ seem just about gone, and the speed with which they went is a bad omen for Fletcher/Michael/Lucas/Lloyd. It should also be remembered Campo had a significant impact in our win vs. Carlton, Bolton in the win vs. Sydney, and JJ in the first 7-9 rounds. I'm not saying Campo/Bolts should be kept, its not good enough to usually play below avg and every now and then really good. But that said, its still players we had last year who we won't have next year.

On the other hand, one of our biggest weaknesses has been the midfield. And we've got a HEAP of young players coming through there. So its reasonable to predict a few might step up, and a few who varied between good/avg in 2007 (Lovett, Monfries, Nash, Slattery) might take the step and become consistently good/excellent. An improvement here would have a big effect on the team.

Also, hopefully Laycock and Hille can learn to work together, in which case they could be a BIG plus for us.

Finally, I thought our gameplan left a lot to be desired last year at times. What Knights does there could also have an effect - both good or bad.

So in summary, I think if everything went right we'd be a chance of finals. Nowhere near a premiership unless the stars align. But we could also easily tread water next year depending on how many youngsters step up and how much, injuries (espescially to key players), and how fast some of the older players decline.

Given I think Melbourne & Carlton (with Judd/Stevens) will improve, at least one other team will be injury struck, and the Bulldogs are in a dicey position and I don't rate Richmond, I'd say our most likely position is bottom 4, but unlikely wooden spoon.

PS, I was pretty close to the mark this year. I thought we'd finish 13th.

PSS. Isn't next year's draft shaping to be a beauty? Given I'll also be overseas and so miss the season, perhaps next year is the year to experiement

 

[Ben the Gooner]

as much i would love to see it essendon wont win the spoon. its probably carlton or richmond judd will not b the mother of all differences in that team as good as he is and they will probably get the collingwood gene of the late 90's of being too one player dependant, it happened at arsenal with henry and look how well they are playing well without him!

Adebayor > Henry

And no, we'll finish high in the bottom eight, then 5th or 6th, then start challenging.

 

[AndyLesPaul]

Whats ur point?

 

[Dan26]

Jesus the way people carry on, youd be sure that we were coming off a 4 win season, or something.

We went 10-12 and nearly made the finals.

Of our experienced players, Lucas is a star and is getting better as he gets older, Fletcher is an AA, LLoyd is a star and Mal Michael wil be solid for at least another year.

The key, as always, lies with that group of players between the ages of 22-27. We have had a bit of a gap, in that "age group" in recent times but we have some very good young players who will be moving into that age group. In fact, two years ago, we had a massive gap, but now that key age group is starting to fill up with players.

Currently, that vital age group consists of:

1.) Welsh - turns 25 in Feb
2.) Watson - turns 23 in Feb
3.) Stanton - turns 22 in May
4.) Monfries - turns 21 in May (I'll include him even though he's younger than 22 because he's a semi-regular who has played more than 40 games)
5.) McVeigh - turns 27 in Jan
6.) McPhee - turns 25 today!
7.) Lovett - turns 25 next month
8.) Laycock - turns 23 next month
9.) Hille - turns 27 in June
10.) Davey - turns 24 in May
11.) Slattery - turns 22 in Jan
12.) Lovett-Murray - turns 25 next month
13.) Ryder - turns 20 in March (I'll include him, because he is a regular now)
14.) Johns - turns 23 next month
15.) Winderlich - turns 23 next week.
16.) Ramanauskas - turns 27 next month
17.) Dyson - turns 23 in Dec
18.) Nash - turns 22 in Dec (big fan he'll be a regular in '08)

Those 18 players are the key. It's a given (barring injuries) that Lloyd, Lucas and Fletcher will play well. The key is those 18 players. They will determine our fate.

There are also a few players who are too young at the moment but "might" play an integral role next year. They'll certainly play a role in 2009-10 but hopefully we can get lucky and they'll become regualr next year. Those players are:

1.) Houli - turns 20 in May
2.) Gumbleton - turns 20 in August
3.) Hislop - turns 20 in June (big fan of him I think he'll step up in 2008)
4.) Reimers - turns 19 in Jan
5) Hocking - turns 20 in Dec
6.) Neagle - turns 20 in Jan
7.) Lonergan - turns 21 in march
8.) Jetta - turns 20 in July

Three players fall outside any category - Peverill and the two Johnsons. They all might be considered for trades, but I don't think anyone will bite. Pev turns 29 in July and the two Johnson's turn 30 next year. I think all three are still worth a spot on the list and are capable of producing for at least one more year as "serviceable older players." None of them are at retirement age yet and Pev was 5th in the B&F.

But I think our core age group has filled in quite nicely. If two or three of the players form the "young" age group become regulars next year then look out. I'd be very disappointed if we missed the finals. We took some massive strides this year after 2006, and I would expect further improvement.

It's worth noting that Geelong went 10-12 in 2006.

 

[Bomba Sheldon]

It will depend on how Knights is going to coach.

Whats sort of comment is that? Does that mean:

He is going to coach from the coaches box?
Use a clip board?
Have magnetic players names on his clip board?
Is he going to talk to the players or use sign language?

 

[bomberwelsh]

Whats sort of comment is that? Does that mean:

He is going to coach from the coaches box?
Use a clip board?
Have magnetic players names on his clip board?
Is he going to talk to the players or use sign language?

It means,I hope he doesn't coach the way that rabble of a club you call CARLTON has been coached in the last 5 years.

 

[Couch Potato]

Ridiculous to contemplate bottom 4.
We will finish close to the 8 if not in it.

Has anyone noticed that we have been rebuilding for about 4 years now.
We will have quite a young side next year and our young midfielders will blossom.

Only way to identify ladder position reliably is taking injury into account anyway. If we have an injury free year like Port or Geelong then we could well be a big threat - all about form players stringing games together.

 

[Smyth94]

No chance of spoon you fools!!!!!!!!

Here's why:

Lloyd and Lucas will kick about 120+ goals.

Fletch, Mal and Ryder will have the defence covered.

All the guys that have 20-70 games will improve - Stanton, Watson, Winderlich, Nash, NLM, Davey, Lovett, Laycock, Monfries, Slattery.

We will have impact throughout the year at various times from Gumby, Jetta, Hislop, Houli, Reimers, Neagle, Lonergan.

Rama will prove what a good player he really was and still can be.

And finally the jewell in the crown... Dempsey. He will announce himself next year as a player to watch

Anything less than finals and I'd be seriously disappointed.

The first two points would surely be enough to suggest we won't "win" the spoon.

Stanton and Watson are already established and hopefully will still improve in '08. Despite what others may think I don't think Lovett has established himself yet. He was still too inconsistent in '07 however, his last month was fantastic. Hopefully he can carry that all through 2008 and become the player we all know he can be.

To a lesser extent Winderlich although vastly improved would want to add consistency to his repitoire, as with Lovett we all know how good he is once he puts on the afterburners.

If Lovett and Winderlich are playing well almost every game then all of the sudden our centre square (Watson, Stanton, Lovett, Winderlich) looks pretty good to me.

 

[efcboy]

does anyone think Essendon will get the spoon in 2008?

I mean we've lost Sheedy and Hird, new coach, few retirees.

thoughts??

adelaide have the worst list in the comp right now moving forward - even richmond have better young players. they wouldn't want one of mcleod, edwards, goodwin to go down and they will all retire soon. the crows look like having some lean years.

 

[monty1104]

They have Chris Knights, Nick Gill, Van Berlo, then nothing. And Gill isnt really much to write home about. Theyre gone. But then I said the same about Kangas and Collingwood this year.

 

[BomberGal]

the only thing that worrys me is our 2007 record without hird. which was most of the second half of the season. and we won only 3 of 11 games in the second half.
but then again. if davey was playing. and we didn't lose fletcher and lloyd in some matches due to injury and suspension, we would have gotten somewhere this year.

It wasn't just Hird in the second half of the season. The entire team seemed to stop wanting it.

If we can play like we did in the first half of last season, then I think we can finish maybe 7th or 8th (best case scenario - I don't believe it will happen). Otherwise I think maybe as low as 11-12, but I really don't see us winning the spoon. We've shown this year that we can do better than that. I don't see how we can be worse next year.

 

[LEIGHHARDING]

Knights is not liked by many at the club. Thats why Wallis and
Ayres have left. Was not liked by many at Port when he was there and hasn't gotten along well with some at Essendon. The next 3 years are going to be long ones I think if he remains there...

 

[BomberGal]

Knights is not liked by many at the club. Thats why Wallis and
Ayres have left. Was not liked by many at Port when he was there and hasn't gotten along well with some at Essendon. The next 3 years are going to be long ones I think if he remains there...

Evidently there were enough people at the club who liked him, to give him a go at being coach for three years...!

If there were people unhappy with the decision, then it's better that they left.

 

[Merv]

Evidently there were enough people at the club who liked him, to give him a go at being coach for three years...!

If there were people unhappy with the decision, then it's better that they left.

I wonder if those people/person who did leave may have been a bit more concerned at the new level of accountability that might be around the club now.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Not saying they cant, im saying they shouldnt. Where would you rather see them play Lance?

I like them forwards, but that's only because they've been sold as forwards. Ideally, you want the flexibility to send them to whatever end you need them at.

No chance of spoon you fools!!!!!!!!

Here's why:

Lloyd and Lucas will kick about 120+ goals.

Fletch, Mal and Ryder will have the defence covered.

All the guys that have 20-70 games will improve - Stanton, Watson, Winderlich, Nash, NLM, Davey, Lovett, Laycock, Monfries, Slattery.

We will have impact throughout the year at various times from Gumby, Jetta, Hislop, Houli, Reimers, Neagle, Lonergan.

Rama will prove what a good player he really was and still can be.

And finally the jewell in the crown... Dempsey. He will announce himself next year as a player to watch.

Anything less than finals and I'd be seriously disappointed.

ripper of a post

That's an opinio shared by the wider football world. When you lose your Club's Best and Fairest, it's hard to think you're heading in the right direction.

not when that club champion is Hird in his final year. Hird is a special player we'll never replace. But it simply doesn't follow that because he won it - the mighty J Hird - that we have no-one else

Knights is not liked by many at the club. Thats why Wallis and
Ayres have left. Was not liked by many at Port when he was there and hasn't gotten along well with some at Essendon. The next 3 years are going to be long ones I think if he remains there...

either put up or shut up. Don't spout crap when you have no idea or no source. You're talking out your arse.

 

[LEIGHHARDING]

either put up or shut up. Don't spout crap when you have no idea or no source. You're talking out your arse.

I know a bloke from Port who has played there for some years now and said that no1 at the club liked him, he wasnt successful and he got the arse. Bomber Thompson was supposed to be getting the job, than Peter Jackson stepped in, over ruled the decision and now we have Knights as coach, therefore we will be shit.....

 

[LEIGHHARDING]

ripper of a post .

Your just like them, wanting to hear what you want to hear. Hardwick had said it will be 4 or 5 years b4 they are a god side - much like clarkson and hawthorn. Knights said we can play finals next year, have the job than...

 

[Merv]

I know a bloke from Port who has played there for some years now and said that no1 at the club liked him, he wasnt successful and he got the arse. Bomber Thompson was supposed to be getting the job, than Peter Jackson stepped in, over ruled the decision and now we have Knights as coach, therefore we will be shit.....

Why does your club state Nth and you have a Nth username yet you proclaim to be Essendon?

 

[bomberwelsh]

Knights is not liked by many at the club. Thats why Wallis and
Ayres have left. Was not liked by many at Port when he was there and hasn't gotten along well with some at Essendon. The next 3 years are going to be long ones I think if he remains there...

What about your coach? I dont think he is liked at North. ( just ask Wayne Carey)

 

[SOT4]

Knights is not liked by many at the club. Thats why Wallis and
Ayres have left. Was not liked by many at Port when he was there and hasn't gotten along well with some at Essendon. The next 3 years are going to be long ones I think if he remains there...

What a poor troll. Surely it deserves a card? Yellow? Incentive for this joker to never return?

Ayres- left because he has too big a wraps on himself and said that he wouldonyl ever be an assitant under Sheedy or Matthews.
Wallis- was leaving before Knights was appointed.

Knights is well liked at the club champ.

 

[DaSawx]

Your just like them, wanting to hear what you want to hear. Hardwick had said it will be 4 or 5 years b4 they are a god side - much like clarkson and hawthorn. Knights said we can play finals next year, have the job than...

and yet they are playing finals in his third year, I'd much rather my coach be positive about winning games.

There is absolutely no quote stating Knights said we can or will play finals next year, it is only hear say that he doesn't believe in Hardwicks approach about bottoming out for 4-5 years

 

[TheDon35]

does anyone think Essendon will get the spoon in 2008?

I mean we've lost Sheedy and Hird, new coach, few retirees.

thoughts??

A couple of injuries and we'd be spoon favourites. Probably right up there at the moment actually.