Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

[Cupestar]

From Bomberblitz:


Essendon have signalled their intention to lure homesick Port Adelaide midfielder Nick Stevens to Windy Hill for 2004 with Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy meeting with Stevens in the past few days.

The Bombers face competition from Collingwood (Stevens' preferred option) and Carlton for Stevens' services but the Bombers hold the trading key with Port Adelaide more open to a trade with the Bombers rather than the Magpies.

Port Adelaide's initial bid for Stevens involves Essendon utility Danny Jacobs and the Bombers first round draft pick.

West Coast defender/midfielder David Wirrpunda could also be in the mix with the Weagles reluctance to re-sign the former Victorian and speculation that the club would entertain a trade if the price is right.

Wirrpunda has strong links to Essendon and could be a fallback option for the Bombers if their bid for Stevens fails.

Meanwhile, a prospective Essendon trade for disgruntled Carlton ruckman Matthew Allan seems assured unless something out of the ordinary happens in the next fortnight.


Stevens for Jacobs plus our first round pick to the chokers? YES!!! We'll take it!!!

 

[IceTemple]

Wirrpunda sounds great to me as well!

 

[essnickess]

ideally it would be nice to make a 3 way trade so port don't get anymore of our players

 

[IceTemple]

Oh I don't know! With all the ex-Essendon players it means we can cheer for two teams, and if Port actually make & win a GF, boast for two teams!!

 

[jivey]

Bolton or henne and mcgrath for Wirra
jacobs (rather bolton) and SECOND round draft.

i want first!

 

[Mr. Bass]

Yeah second round pick s much fairer. How good do they think Stevens is ???? If Woewodin can be traded for ONLY a second round pick......surely the Bombers wouldn't give them a first round plus Jacobs???

Let's cross our fingers and hope not Bomber fans........

 

[Nandoz]

Im not A DJ fan.

I still question his hardness and effort from time to time, but his skill is fantastic. If Essendon do lure Stevens, i hope he is value for money, because i suspect the Dons will givr him big money...

Wirrapunda sounds even better though. A tough, majestically skilled versatile player who can play in various positions, would aid the Dons fantasically in its drive and speed from the backline...assuming the loss of Bolton and Jacobs.

 

[theorangeapple]

u wont get wirra without a first rounder and a good player. He is a player of the highest quality and in some respects better and rarer than Mr Marshmellow Stevens.

The eagles would almost certainly settle with Jacobs/ Bolton (less likely) and a first round pick. Which will only be possible if Stevens falls through for u guys.

 

[Cupestar]

Honestly, I'd settle for Wirrpunda if Stevens doesn't eventuate. He's a great player, barracked for us when he was a kid, only 24 or so but has 7 years experience playing, and his best footy should be right ahead of him.

Nevertheless, Stevens fits the profile for the outside 'Jet' which we've been after so badly. I get the feeling that we might gain a first round pick for the loss of a good player, so our lost first round draft pick will be balanced out by the pick we gain. Besides, we've got the second youngest list going around with some fantastic kids coming through the ranks.

 

[Darealrath]

Wirrapunda has dodgey feet and is a back pocket - not a midfielder. I don't really want him because he is not what we need.

I'd love to get Stevens. It would mean we lose Joey though.

 

[Stevo]

Originally posted by Cupestar
Honestly, I'd settle for Wirrpunda if Stevens doesn't eventuate. He's a great player, barracked for us when he was a kid, only 24 or so but has 7 years experience playing, and his best footy should be right ahead of him.

Nevertheless, Stevens fits the profile for the outside 'Jet' which we've been after so badly. I get the feeling that we might gain a first round pick for the loss of a good player, so our lost first round draft pick will be balanced out by the pick we gain. Besides, we've got the second youngest list going around with some fantastic kids coming through the ranks.

Our list is fairly balanced as it is, so the loss of a first round pick wouldn't be disastrous. The main thing we need to pick up in the draft is a key backman: Fletcher and Wellman are both 28, and if Jacobs goes we're left with Hunt as our sole genuine backup. Bolton, Henneman, and Richards are pinch hitters, but not genuine key defenders.

It looks as though the best players in the draft are all midfielder types, so even if we don't get into the draft until the second round we may still be able to pick one of the best/most promising tall backmen available.

 

[Stevo]

Originally posted by Darealrath
Wirrapunda has dodgey feet and is a back pocket - not a midfielder. I don't really want him because he is not what we need.

I'd love to get Stevens. It would mean we lose Joey though.

Agreed, for all his brilliance, Wirrapunda is injury prone.

We may end up losing Joey regardless.

 

[Cupestar]

As sad as it is, Joey is lost to us unless he's willing to take a big pay cut.

Wirrpunda is one of those types who can play anywhere, and this season was pretty damn quick for someone with dodgy feet. His only shortcoming (to us) is that he's not one of those types with a run-all-game engine who can kick goals.

 

[Streaker]

Originally posted by Darealrath
Wirrapunda has dodgey feet and is a back pocket - not a midfielder. I don't really want him because he is not what we need.

I'd love to get Stevens. It would mean we lose Joey though.

Year Games Kicks Marks H.Balls Disp Goals Pts Tack FrF FrA
2001 21 245 66 57 302 5 7 30 17 16
2002 21 254 70 72 326 26 22 49 16 13
2003 19 251 62 57 308 10 10 26 9 5


Injury prone isn't a word I would use for someone who played 61 games out of a possible 68 in the last 3 years so his injuries haven't kept him out of football much.

2003 Statistics for West Coast
8th in Disposals (316) Same as Jacobs
4th in Kicks (254) with 43% being long Same as Solomon
9th in Ball Gets (110) 15 contested 95 uncontested same as Wellman
7th in contested marks same as Welsh
1st Rebound 50 (169) 49 more than Jacobs your Number 1
5th Defensive spoils same as Bolton
5th in 1%ers same as Mark Johnson

All from a back pocket and is capable of playing forward or in the midfield.

Do you guys even watch West Coast other than when they play Essendon?

 

[WABomber]

I gotta agree Wirrpunda is an outstanding player.. and im suprised to hear that he would be leaving the eagles as i used to watch him play in the WAFL years ago and thought he was content in WA...
Anyhow as good as he is I dont see how we would need him ?? in the backline which position is he going to take or fill ?? Im hoping somehow that he would fit into the essendon side.. id love to see him kicking those 60-70 mtr torps out of the goal square in black and red..

 

[thewhippersnapper]

I would rather Stevens then Wirrupunda.

I dont think we need him. A good midfielder like Stevens is much needed in my opinion and in my view he would be welcomed very much into the team. If we lost a player like Solomon then yes we would need Wirrupunda.

 

[TheJet]

Stevens for Jacobs plus our first round pick to the chokers? YES!!! We'll take it!!! [/B]

Thank God you're not in charge of trading for the Bombers. Jacobs is a handy tall defender and pick #13 could net a potential gun.

Play hardball with Port, as they gave us bugger all (2nd/3rd round picks) when we had to offload Hardwick. Stevens is certain to leave so Port will take the best they can get and they are after tall defenders. Offer them only Jacobs, take it or leave it. I doubt Collingwood, Carlton, etc would offer anything better.

 

[TD]

Re: Re: Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

Originally posted by TheJet
Thank God you're not in charge of trading for the Bombers. Jacobs is a handy tall defender and pick #13 could net a potential gun.

Play hardball with Port, as they gave us bugger all (2nd/3rd round picks) when we had to offload Hardwick. Stevens is certain to leave so Port will take the best they can get and they are after tall defenders. Offer them only Jacobs, take it or leave it. I doubt Collingwood, Carlton, etc would offer anything better.

Collingwood have got nothing to offer....using both 2nd and 3rd round picks under F/S, very late 1st round pick and the only players they are willing to let go are Ben Kinnear and McGough.

 

[Stevo]

Originally posted by West Coast Stre
Year Games Kicks Marks H.Balls Disp Goals Pts Tack FrF FrA
2001 21 245 66 57 302 5 7 30 17 16
2002 21 254 70 72 326 26 22 49 16 13
2003 19 251 62 57 308 10 10 26 9 5


Injury prone isn't a word I would use for someone who played 61 games out of a possible 68 in the last 3 years so his injuries haven't kept him out of football much.

2003 Statistics for West Coast
8th in Disposals (316) Same as Jacobs
4th in Kicks (254) with 43% being long Same as Solomon
9th in Ball Gets (110) 15 contested 95 uncontested same as Wellman
7th in contested marks same as Welsh
1st Rebound 50 (169) 49 more than Jacobs your Number 1
5th Defensive spoils same as Bolton
5th in 1%ers same as Mark Johnson

All from a back pocket and is capable of playing forward or in the midfield.

Do you guys even watch West Coast other than when they play Essendon?

I stand corrected. Thank you.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Re: Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

Originally posted by TheJet
Thank God you're not in charge of trading for the Bombers. Jacobs is a handy tall defender and pick #13 could net a potential gun.

Play hardball with Port, as they gave us bugger all (2nd/3rd round picks) when we had to offload Hardwick. Stevens is certain to leave so Port will take the best they can get and they are after tall defenders. Offer them only Jacobs, take it or leave it. I doubt Collingwood, Carlton, etc would offer anything better.

Sure, Jacobs is a good tall defender, but with Fletcher, Wellman, and Lucas back there, Jacobs is a bit lost for a position.

On the Port forums it has been mentioned that they would rather have Stevens end up at Carlton than strengthen one of their closer rivals. That's nonsensical of course, but with Port, you never know!

 

[Cupido13]

Originally posted by Mr. Bass
Yeah second round pick s much fairer. How good do they think Stevens is ???? If Woewodin can be traded for ONLY a second round pick......surely the Bombers wouldn't give them a first round plus Jacobs???

Let's cross our fingers and hope not Bomber fans........

The Woey trade was a salary cap issue, they didn't want anything in return cos they had no cap room, they just wanted a draft pick to get a player who wouldn't cost them much.

Stevens is a walkout, so, they are going to try and get the best deal possible for him, which is fair enough and unless you have early draft pick you have to bid high to have a chance of getting him.

 

[Cupido13]

Originally posted by WABomber
I gotta agree Wirrpunda is an outstanding player.. and im suprised to hear that he would be leaving the eagles as i used to watch him play in the WAFL years ago and thought he was content in WA...
Anyhow as good as he is I dont see how we would need him ?? in the backline which position is he going to take or fill ?? Im hoping somehow that he would fit into the essendon side.. id love to see him kicking those 60-70 mtr torps out of the goal square in black and red..

Could easily take Misiti's spot on the ball. Or, McVeigh and he could play on the ball changing out of a back pocket/half back flank.

 

[Cupido13]

Re: Re: Re: Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

Originally posted by Stevo
Sure, Jacobs is a good tall defender, but with Fletcher, Wellman, and Lucas back there, Jacobs is a bit lost for a position.

On the Port forums it has been mentioned that they would rather have Stevens end up at Carlton than strengthen one of their closer rivals. That's nonsensical of course, but with Port, you never know!

You will find that the people who are posting on these boards don't actually make the trades, so these are as you state nonsensical.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

Originally posted by Cupido13
You will find that the people who are posting on these boards don't actually make the trades, so these are as you state nonsensical.

The trades are always mere speculation. I still think we won't get Stevens, we are just trying to shaft Carlton into trading away their #2 pick.

I just meant that the argument put forward by those Port forumites is nonsensical. After all, they'll have to play without a key defender every game, and only two (possibly one or two more in finals) against us.

 

[Cupido13]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Stevens to Essendon. Rumors Intensify.

Originally posted by Stevo
The trades are always mere speculation. I still think we won't get Stevens, we are just trying to shaft Carlton into trading away their #2 pick.

I just meant that the argument put forward by those Port forumites is nonsensical. After all, they'll have to play without a key defender every game, and only two (possibly one or two more in finals) against us.

The whole thing boils down to what is the absolute best we can get for this guy. Not, what is the best we can get that will send him to a club that are not a threat to us in the next 5 - 10 years. Would you rather get pick no. 2 and some ****** from Carlton or pick no. 13 and Danny Jacobs?