Mega Thread The Suspended 12- who stays and who goes- DISCUSSION HERE PLEASE

Who do you expect to be at Essendon in 2017?


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JayDon

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This is working out really well. I think we get everyone back. Motivated...I have no doubt.
Cale Hooker is FANTASTIQUE! Heppo will be in. Hurls comes in and look out! Jobe leading in preparation for Dyson. Wow! I like that. David Myers in! Don't underestimate the likes of Hibberd,, Stanton, Howlett, Pears. Bellchambers is gold too!!! Mindboggling.
 

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freddy mercury

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Some part of me thinks we've re signed a few more. Just announcing it a specific times. After we've played Sydney and buddy kicked 68.32 we will announce we've signed hurley, Watson and heppell.

Right now, i want piggy Hibberd, jobe ( stuff the Brownlow, he'll win another one ) hurley, heppell and Howlett. Stanton will more than likely return, he won't get picked up anywhere else.

The rest I'd package up and trade for picks. Our youth is so bloody good.
 

carnthedons

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Been thinking about this and maybe, just maybe, there's no need for an announcement as half these guys are under contract. Dyson's got 3/4 years left, Hurley's got 1 more etc.

I know nowadays it's big news but "player sees out contract" shouldn't be
 

Doss

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Some part of me thinks we've re signed a few more. Just announcing it a specific times. After we've played Sydney and buddy kicked 68.32 we will announce we've signed hurley, Watson and heppell.

Right now, i want piggy Hibberd, jobe ( stuff the Brownlow, he'll win another one ) hurley, heppell and Howlett. Stanton will more than likely return, he won't get picked up anywhere else.

The rest I'd package up and trade for picks. Our youth is so bloody good.
Keep Howlett over Myers if you had a choice of only one?

Nah. And I say that as someone with the utmost time for Ben.
 

freddy mercury

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Keep Howlett over Myers if you had a choice of only one?

Nah. And I say that as someone with the utmost time for Ben.
Probably Howlett. Kicks goals, really good mid forward option. Myers can only play in the middle and even then he isnt anything special. Id love for him to play a half back role, has an amazing shoe. He is not quick enough to play it. He has only one dimension to his game. Howlett can go forward and kick goals and win his own ball in the middle.

Package them up and offer them to carlton for early pick and dylan buckley or big levi. Give him a preseason with matty lloyd. Every day has 100 shots on goal from everywhere under Lloyd's eye.
 

Doss

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You are so wrong on Myers that I really don't know where to start. There was a reason we struggled around the packs so much last year even with Watson and Heppell and it was because Myers (and Hocking) was not there to provide the extra presence. He's an absolute bull around the ball.

He's been played in the backline in the past and not been that great there.

Ben is a good honest toiler, it's not that I think he's rubbish. But Myers is simply a much better footballer.
 

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Doss

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In all seriousness I reckon the club would want both to stay, but if there is one who may struggle to find a role with us next year, it will be Benny.

Well, other than Pears, who unfortunately was always starting some distance behind the other 11.
 

MattyB3150

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has anyone read the article in the HUN where hooker reveals why he didn't leave? I don't have a digital subscription
Cale Hooker reveals why he couldn’t leave Essendon after signing $4m, five-year deal

CALE Hooker is staying at Essendon because he wants his club to be great again.

The All-Australian defender signed a five-year deal on Wednesday worth about $4 million, passing up an extra $1 million from rival clubs.

Fremantle, North Melbourne, Collingwood, Melbourne and Hawthorn courted Hooker, some with six-year deals at $800,000 a year.

The suspended Hooker told the Herald Sun: “It just felt right to help the club rather than be a person to leave the club.

“The reason I’m going back to Essendon isn’t out of anger or to prove anyone wrong, it’s just to help the club become great again.

“And if I have kids, if they go to the club, they can be proud of the club.

“To see the supporters ... that Round 2 when 10,000 or 15,000 supporters were marching to the MCG, it was pretty powerful.”

A member of the Essendon 34 suspended for 12 months, Hooker said he was still healing from the ordeal, but had moved on emotionally.

“What happened at the club shouldn’t have happened, how it transpired in the four years shouldn’t have happened either, but there’s no point feeling sorry for yourself, or wanting people to feel sorry for you, my mindset now is to cop it like a man, it is what it is, and move on.’’

Essendon and Hooker’s management Tom Petroro finalised the deal on Wednesday night.

The Bombers increased their initial offer from a four-year deal to five years at about $750,000 a season.

Hooker, who flies to America next Wednesday for a holiday, said his decision was made after weeks of soul searching.

“After the (CAS) decision happened, I wanted to take time out and make sure my mind was clear and in the end, I knew what wanted to do,” he said.

“I had some very impressive offers from other teams, I wanted to consider them out of respect for them and the opportunity.

“But the best thing for me, my family, the club and the other boys was to come back to Essendon.”

Speaking for the first time since the CAS decision in January, Hooker, 27, described the initial news as devastating.

The reason I’m going back to Essendon isn’t out of anger or to prove anyone wrong, it’s just to help the club become great again.

- Cale Hooker


Surrounded by the 11 teammates still on the Bombers list, Hooker said players shed tears.

“We knew some punishment might be coming, but for it to actually come, it was a pretty unique feeling,” he said.

“It was really tough to see the looks on the other guys’ faces and knowing the impact on so many other people, the players, their families, the club, the supporters.

“The guys faces ... I can still see them now and how much it hurt them and I felt like that, too.

“There were tears ... it was devastating.”

The devastation has lifted.

“I’m at peace in my mind with how the year looks, what I want to get out of it and the next five years after that,’’ he said.

Hooker is the third Bomber to commit to Essendon for 2017 and it’s almost certain Hooker’s defensive mate, Michael Hurley, will soon commit to the club.

Hooker joins midfielders Travis Colyer and Heath Hocking as definite starters, while ruckman Tom Bellchambers and Dyson Heppell, who is tipped to be the next skipper, have indicated they will also return.

Club officials remain confident midfielder David Myers, Michael Hibberd and Brent Stanton will be back.

That leaves last year’s skipper Jobe Watson, who flew out of Melbourne this week, as the remaining high priority signature.

Hooker acknowledged coach John Worsfold played a role in his decision, as did some of the performances from the current playing group.

As for his teammate yet to commit, he said they had to make their own decision.

“There’s a business side to football and I don’t think anyone would’ve begrudged me if I had left, but it has to be the best thing for the each person,” he said.

Hooker will continue to seek compensation from the club for events which took place in 2012.

“That is separate,” he said of the compo claim.

“My view on the club at the time and the people involved ... it’s completely different to what the club is now. I believe in the people at the club now.’’

He admits his love and loyalty had been tested.

“I guess I do love the club,” he said. “More so ... I love playing with the blokes at the club.”
 

freddy mercury

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In all seriousness I reckon the club would want both to stay, but if there is one who may struggle to find a role with us next year, it will be Benny.

Well, other than Pears, who unfortunately was always starting some distance behind the other 11.
I reckon jackson merret too.
 

_Swoon

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Don't agree entirely with Sam

I'd go:

B: Baguley, Hurley, Hibberd
HB: Goddard, Hooker, Tippa
C: Zaharakis, Myers, Stanton
HF: Langford, Daniher, Cooney
F: Bellchambers, Brown, Fantasia
R: Leuenberger, Heppell, Zach Merrett
I/C: Watson, Hocking, Hartley, Colyer

I'd like to see Hooker back at AA CHB, but the team may be better if we play Hooker forward, Hartley at CHB and drop Brown for Laverde or Francis

Laverde, Francis, Gwilt (yes, Gwilt), Gleeson Bird and Howlett would all be very stiff to miss out. Tippa and Bellchambers are probably two of the luckiest to be included but Bellchambers is quite solid no matter how maligned he is and the team just looks better with Walla having a run. Cooney is in based on his recent form only, can't ignore it as much as it galls me to still expect to see him on the field.

Going to be a pretty good looking team next year!
 
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