Jade
Smug lives here.
- Jul 8, 2008
- 34,604
- 53,542
- AFL Club
- Essendon
Didn't seem to be a thread dedicated to actually discussing the state of our list, so here it is.
So whilst we still have a couple of small changes to make (delistings/draftees), generally speaking I thought now would be a good time to actually start having a look at the make up of our list, age profile, where we have strengths/deficiencies etc etc.
So I came up with the following list of our players:
So some explanation;
Position - I kept it very simple and allocated a position in one of six areas; Key forward, key defender, midfielder, small forward, half-back and ruck. Also, when I had a choice as to where to put them, I ultimately decided to list them where I thought they would likely spend the bulk of their career (were they to have a long and fruitful one).
Status - This is me trying to describe how I feel about a player in the side. A 'lock' is exactly that. If they are fit and not being rested or anything else, they play seniors. A 'senior' player is someone that I feel is not quite a lock in the side, but in reality is very likely to play seniors. Fringe players are those players where through injury or hole in the list, if they are playing seniors we have a weakness. Outer players are those I really don't think should be on the list.
List Rank - This was just me quickly trying to rank our players from top to bottom, it doesn't really mean much.
So how do we look?
Well the first very pleasing thing is that we have 25 players that I would comfortably have running out on the field for us each week - meaning assuming a completely injury free list (a pipedream I know), players are very unlucky to miss a game. Moreover, those 25 players are made up of no fewer than 3 for each position; that is we have very good players all over the ground.
Our midfield bats very deep. This might surprise some that aren't paying attention, but if you haven't noticed the Bombers midfield has become one of the stronger in the league (not the strongest mind you). Considering that clubs want 8-10 players running through there during a game, the fact that we have a dozen players that are comfortably good players gives us a nice depth.
Believe it or not, what was considered a strength a couple years ago is now a possible weakness. We only have the six key position players that are of quality, and generally you'd want all six on the park. We lose one to injury or suspension and all of a sudden we are having to rejig the side (see Hurley/Carlisle switching, Goddard out of FF etc etc). We've all noticed this. The loss of Ryder hurts our ability to cover this shortfall. The recruitment of Gwilt helps give us some depth, but in reality we need to find another one or two KPPs either through recruitment of a established players or through the draft that can play at a high level here.
Age wise, I know there isn't a hard and fast rule but I'm of the belief that the following two guidelines should be worked towards:
1) No more than 4-6 30+ players on the list
2) Try and aim for anout half of your list at 23 and under.
We've done alright here, we have a nice long list of young players (a good lot of which look like they'll be quality players), and our lack of older players allowed us to comfortably hold a Chapman without compromising our list profile. You can question the quality of players, but in terms of a pure numbers game we have a nice spread of junior to senior players.
So pick 17 + 20?
Personally whilst I'm a believer in taking the best player available, if they difference in quality isn't significant I'd be looking to target a key forward with our first pick. If Tom Lamb is available we have to take him, but barring that I'd be looking Goddard or Marchbank. Hell, both with 17 and 20 if we can manage it. Barring that, I know it would be pulling the trigger slightly early, but Nakia Cockatoo at 20 would suit us perfectly.
We come out with Goddard and Cockatoo - I'll be freakin stoked.
But if players come in......
Yup, some have got to go.
Ryder and Jetta are the only confirmed senior departures, and we've brought in Cooney, Gwilt and Giles - already one too many. We need to make three picks at the draft, one will be Ambrose will be one, meaning we have FOUR senior delistings to make (not including Ryder and Jetta). So who goes?
Hardingham is clearly gone. And I think Van Unen is likely toast as well. Gregory you would think would struggle to hold a senior spot. All three are uncontracted. Which means (assuming Winders re-signs) we have to delist a contracted player. We bat deepest in the middle - I reckon O'Brien may face the chop and be re-rookied.
Del and Thurlow are gone you would think from the rookie list. Steinberg I'd be inclined to keep. Re-draft O'Brien, bring in Long - and we're done....
So what do you think of our list?
So whilst we still have a couple of small changes to make (delistings/draftees), generally speaking I thought now would be a good time to actually start having a look at the make up of our list, age profile, where we have strengths/deficiencies etc etc.
So I came up with the following list of our players:
Name Games Age DOB Height Position Status List Rank
Heppell, Dyson 84 22 14/05/1992 189 Midfielder 1-Lock 1
Watson, Jobe 188 30 8/02/1985 191 Midfielder 1-Lock 2
Hooker, Cale 111 26 13/10/1988 197 Key Defender 1-Lock 3
Goddard, Brendon 247 29 20/05/1985 189 Midfielder 1-Lock 4
Hibberd, Michael 63 25 3/01/1990 187 Half-Back 1-Lock 5
Hurley, Michael 100 24 1/06/1990 195 Key Defender 1-Lock 6
Carlisle, Jake 68 23 1/10/1991 200 Key Forward 1-Lock 7
Bellchambers, Tom 69 25 9/07/1989 202 Ruck 1-Lock 8
Zaharakis, David 110 25 21/02/1990 185 Midfielder 1-Lock 9
Winderlich, Jason 128 30 10/10/1984 188 Small Forward 1-Lock 10
Fletcher, Dustin 393 39 7/05/1975 198 Key Defender 1-Lock 11
Chapman, Paul 271 33 5/11/1981 179 Small Forward 1-Lock 12
Daniher, Joe 26 21 4/03/1994 201 Key Forward 1-Lock 13
Cooney, Adam 219 29 30/09/1985 185 Midfielder 1-Lock 14
Merrett, Zachary 20 19 3/10/1995 180 Small Forward 1-Lock 15
Myers, David 83 25 30/06/1989 191 Midfielder 2-Senior 16
Baguley, Mark 50 27 21/05/1987 181 Half-Back 2-Senior 17
Dempsey, Courtenay 106 27 28/08/1987 187 Half-Back 2-Senior 18
Hocking, Heath 119 27 27/12/1987 186 Midfielder 2-Senior 19
Colyer, Travis 46 23 24/08/1991 175 Midfielder 2-Senior 20
Giles, Jonathan 51 27 8/01/1988 200 Ruck 2-Senior 21
Howlett, Ben 97 26 21/10/1988 180 Midfielder 2-Senior 22
Stanton, Brent 226 28 1/05/1986 185 Midfielder 2-Senior 23
Ambrose, Patrick (R) 16 23 1/09/1991 191 Key Forward 2-Senior 24
Gleeson, Martin 9 20 25/08/1994 186 Midfielder 2-Senior 25
Merrett, Jackson 28 22 27/02/1993 187 Small Forward 2-Senior 26
Melksham, Jake 96 23 29/08/1991 186 Midfielder 3-Fringe 27
Dalgleish, Lauchlan 3 21 22/06/1993 185 Midfielder 3-Fringe 28
Gwilt, James 126 28 11/08/1986 188 Key Defender 3-Fringe 29
Browne, Alex 8 22 9/08/1992 188 Midfielder 3-Fringe 30
Ashby, Jason 5 20 16/05/1994 187 Half-Back 3-Fringe 31
Fantasia, Orazio 3 19 14/09/1995 178 Small Forward 3-Fringe 32
Pears, Tayte 68 25 24/03/1990 192 Key Defender 3-Fringe 33
Aylett, Kurt 3 23 2/04/1992 188 Midfielder 3-Fringe 34
Steinberg, Ariel (R) 3 22 26/08/1992 191 Key Defender 3-Fringe 35
Kommer, Nicholas 19 24 28/09/1990 184 Small Forward 3-Fringe 36
Kavanagh, Elliott 7 21 19/05/1993 187 Midfielder 3-Fringe 37
Edwards, Shaun 12 21 13/12/1993 189 Midfielder 3-Fringe 38
Hams, Will 2 20 14/07/1994 180 Half-Back 3-Fringe 39
Dell'Olio, Corey (R) 16 25 8/12/1989 177 Small Forward 4-Outer 40
O'Brien, Nicholas 5 21 26/06/1993 188 Midfielder 4-Outer 41
Hardingham, Kyle 65 26 1/09/1988 186 Half-Back 4-Outer 42
Van Unen, Dylan 1 24 22/06/1990 189 Midfielder 4-Outer 43
Rayner, Johnny (R) 0 24 25/03/1991 184 Midfielder 4-Outer 44
Thurlow, Fraser (R) 0 22 6/01/1993 200 Ruck 4-Outer 45
Gregory, Sean 0 21 20/01/1994 196 Key Defender 4-Outer 46
Now before anyone goes and loses their s**t, remember this is HIGHLY subjective, and really only my opinion. More than happy for you to disagree with me (thats why we're here) but no need to go full * - you never go full *.Heppell, Dyson 84 22 14/05/1992 189 Midfielder 1-Lock 1
Watson, Jobe 188 30 8/02/1985 191 Midfielder 1-Lock 2
Hooker, Cale 111 26 13/10/1988 197 Key Defender 1-Lock 3
Goddard, Brendon 247 29 20/05/1985 189 Midfielder 1-Lock 4
Hibberd, Michael 63 25 3/01/1990 187 Half-Back 1-Lock 5
Hurley, Michael 100 24 1/06/1990 195 Key Defender 1-Lock 6
Carlisle, Jake 68 23 1/10/1991 200 Key Forward 1-Lock 7
Bellchambers, Tom 69 25 9/07/1989 202 Ruck 1-Lock 8
Zaharakis, David 110 25 21/02/1990 185 Midfielder 1-Lock 9
Winderlich, Jason 128 30 10/10/1984 188 Small Forward 1-Lock 10
Fletcher, Dustin 393 39 7/05/1975 198 Key Defender 1-Lock 11
Chapman, Paul 271 33 5/11/1981 179 Small Forward 1-Lock 12
Daniher, Joe 26 21 4/03/1994 201 Key Forward 1-Lock 13
Cooney, Adam 219 29 30/09/1985 185 Midfielder 1-Lock 14
Merrett, Zachary 20 19 3/10/1995 180 Small Forward 1-Lock 15
Myers, David 83 25 30/06/1989 191 Midfielder 2-Senior 16
Baguley, Mark 50 27 21/05/1987 181 Half-Back 2-Senior 17
Dempsey, Courtenay 106 27 28/08/1987 187 Half-Back 2-Senior 18
Hocking, Heath 119 27 27/12/1987 186 Midfielder 2-Senior 19
Colyer, Travis 46 23 24/08/1991 175 Midfielder 2-Senior 20
Giles, Jonathan 51 27 8/01/1988 200 Ruck 2-Senior 21
Howlett, Ben 97 26 21/10/1988 180 Midfielder 2-Senior 22
Stanton, Brent 226 28 1/05/1986 185 Midfielder 2-Senior 23
Ambrose, Patrick (R) 16 23 1/09/1991 191 Key Forward 2-Senior 24
Gleeson, Martin 9 20 25/08/1994 186 Midfielder 2-Senior 25
Merrett, Jackson 28 22 27/02/1993 187 Small Forward 2-Senior 26
Melksham, Jake 96 23 29/08/1991 186 Midfielder 3-Fringe 27
Dalgleish, Lauchlan 3 21 22/06/1993 185 Midfielder 3-Fringe 28
Gwilt, James 126 28 11/08/1986 188 Key Defender 3-Fringe 29
Browne, Alex 8 22 9/08/1992 188 Midfielder 3-Fringe 30
Ashby, Jason 5 20 16/05/1994 187 Half-Back 3-Fringe 31
Fantasia, Orazio 3 19 14/09/1995 178 Small Forward 3-Fringe 32
Pears, Tayte 68 25 24/03/1990 192 Key Defender 3-Fringe 33
Aylett, Kurt 3 23 2/04/1992 188 Midfielder 3-Fringe 34
Steinberg, Ariel (R) 3 22 26/08/1992 191 Key Defender 3-Fringe 35
Kommer, Nicholas 19 24 28/09/1990 184 Small Forward 3-Fringe 36
Kavanagh, Elliott 7 21 19/05/1993 187 Midfielder 3-Fringe 37
Edwards, Shaun 12 21 13/12/1993 189 Midfielder 3-Fringe 38
Hams, Will 2 20 14/07/1994 180 Half-Back 3-Fringe 39
Dell'Olio, Corey (R) 16 25 8/12/1989 177 Small Forward 4-Outer 40
O'Brien, Nicholas 5 21 26/06/1993 188 Midfielder 4-Outer 41
Hardingham, Kyle 65 26 1/09/1988 186 Half-Back 4-Outer 42
Van Unen, Dylan 1 24 22/06/1990 189 Midfielder 4-Outer 43
Rayner, Johnny (R) 0 24 25/03/1991 184 Midfielder 4-Outer 44
Thurlow, Fraser (R) 0 22 6/01/1993 200 Ruck 4-Outer 45
Gregory, Sean 0 21 20/01/1994 196 Key Defender 4-Outer 46
So some explanation;
Position - I kept it very simple and allocated a position in one of six areas; Key forward, key defender, midfielder, small forward, half-back and ruck. Also, when I had a choice as to where to put them, I ultimately decided to list them where I thought they would likely spend the bulk of their career (were they to have a long and fruitful one).
Status - This is me trying to describe how I feel about a player in the side. A 'lock' is exactly that. If they are fit and not being rested or anything else, they play seniors. A 'senior' player is someone that I feel is not quite a lock in the side, but in reality is very likely to play seniors. Fringe players are those players where through injury or hole in the list, if they are playing seniors we have a weakness. Outer players are those I really don't think should be on the list.
List Rank - This was just me quickly trying to rank our players from top to bottom, it doesn't really mean much.
So how do we look?
Well the first very pleasing thing is that we have 25 players that I would comfortably have running out on the field for us each week - meaning assuming a completely injury free list (a pipedream I know), players are very unlucky to miss a game. Moreover, those 25 players are made up of no fewer than 3 for each position; that is we have very good players all over the ground.
Our midfield bats very deep. This might surprise some that aren't paying attention, but if you haven't noticed the Bombers midfield has become one of the stronger in the league (not the strongest mind you). Considering that clubs want 8-10 players running through there during a game, the fact that we have a dozen players that are comfortably good players gives us a nice depth.
Believe it or not, what was considered a strength a couple years ago is now a possible weakness. We only have the six key position players that are of quality, and generally you'd want all six on the park. We lose one to injury or suspension and all of a sudden we are having to rejig the side (see Hurley/Carlisle switching, Goddard out of FF etc etc). We've all noticed this. The loss of Ryder hurts our ability to cover this shortfall. The recruitment of Gwilt helps give us some depth, but in reality we need to find another one or two KPPs either through recruitment of a established players or through the draft that can play at a high level here.
Age wise, I know there isn't a hard and fast rule but I'm of the belief that the following two guidelines should be worked towards:
1) No more than 4-6 30+ players on the list
2) Try and aim for anout half of your list at 23 and under.
We've done alright here, we have a nice long list of young players (a good lot of which look like they'll be quality players), and our lack of older players allowed us to comfortably hold a Chapman without compromising our list profile. You can question the quality of players, but in terms of a pure numbers game we have a nice spread of junior to senior players.
So pick 17 + 20?
Personally whilst I'm a believer in taking the best player available, if they difference in quality isn't significant I'd be looking to target a key forward with our first pick. If Tom Lamb is available we have to take him, but barring that I'd be looking Goddard or Marchbank. Hell, both with 17 and 20 if we can manage it. Barring that, I know it would be pulling the trigger slightly early, but Nakia Cockatoo at 20 would suit us perfectly.
We come out with Goddard and Cockatoo - I'll be freakin stoked.
But if players come in......
Yup, some have got to go.
Ryder and Jetta are the only confirmed senior departures, and we've brought in Cooney, Gwilt and Giles - already one too many. We need to make three picks at the draft, one will be Ambrose will be one, meaning we have FOUR senior delistings to make (not including Ryder and Jetta). So who goes?
Hardingham is clearly gone. And I think Van Unen is likely toast as well. Gregory you would think would struggle to hold a senior spot. All three are uncontracted. Which means (assuming Winders re-signs) we have to delist a contracted player. We bat deepest in the middle - I reckon O'Brien may face the chop and be re-rookied.
Del and Thurlow are gone you would think from the rookie list. Steinberg I'd be inclined to keep. Re-draft O'Brien, bring in Long - and we're done....
So what do you think of our list?
