This year V last year

[TheDon35]

Just wanted to get a few peoples thoughts on this year versus last year.

Last year we obviously challenged for the finals and one a good chunk of games against some quality opposition. The facts were though that we:

a) relied almost solely on Hird, Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher, Michael, McVeigh to win these games
b) we one quite a few games by under a kick
c) we rarely had players under 21 in our best 10.

This year we find ourselves fighting off the spoon but the facts are:

a) Hird, Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher, Michael have had very little impact (may be a little harsh on fletch)
b) we have consistently had young players including Neagle, Reimers, Myers, Houli, Dempsey, Hislop, Stanton, Lonergan, Ryder in our better players. Obviously most have been up and down or injured for periods but with more reliance on them this is always the case.

All in all, despite our position on the ladder, I am much happier with the clubs position this year. Our committment to rebuilding the side has been overdue for at least 5 years. It looks like many of these kids have the goods. We still have Gumby to come in.

Not that i'm advocating tanking, but we couldn't have chosen a better year to rebuild. Will be a strong draft this year and the last year that we get to have a crack at a few top 20 players with the Gold Coast coming in next year. (Note, our list would probably be in the same position if we were playing Johnson and Peverill anyway so we certainly haven't and won't be tanking.)

 

[Jesse Custer]

No tanking for me, but i am happier this year because at least we are playing kids and we are heading in the right direction. We just seemed to be stagnating the last couple of years i feel.

 

[WN123]

Hird winning our B & F last year was always cause for concern. Friday night was our most positive game since North with a lot of the youngster playing well albeit in patches. Lonergan was great in the first half, Myers showed plenty. Winderlich and Monfries both had their best games for the year. (Poor disposal aside Monfries has been good 3 weeks in a row now. Just when I had given up on him)

 

[bomba4eva]

Rebuild started 3 years too late. Got some great kids in the team now. 05-06 drafts look very strong for the Bombers. Still have Dempsey, Gumbleton and Hocking to potentially prove themselves to be in our top 22. Most of us are already convinced on Dempsey. With Gumbleton being such a high pick in a strong draft you would expect him to at LEAST be a serviceable player. Hocking showed promising signs in the pre season.

Laycock has been the biggest disappointment this year. Many of us thought he would establish himself as the no. 1 ruckman at Essendon He has half a season to prove his worth or he is trade bait. Actually he could possibly net us a very valuable pick considering Wood was worth pick 14 last year!

 

[Rack Watts]

Yeah! Hocking! I was watching the NAB cup thingy today on Bigpond TV.. He is aggressive and not afraid to put his head over the ball! I like his attitude! He is a big reimers hehe! XD

 

[retroparty]

Last year was better because we won more but our kids never got enough time and that was going to kill us.

Hirdy made last year better. He makes everything better.

But this year there is more to look forward to because the kids are getting a lot more time and this is crucial for the years to come. We just haveto sit through some pain and the joy will come before we know it.

 

[MilhouseVanJohn]

Definately this year...the last few years have been so frustrating watching Sheedy desperately play players that were never gonna play in our next flag, just so he could scrape another contract out of the club.
Even though we're losing short term, at least our current coach is doing the right thing by the club over himself. And i am really enjoying the young guys finally get a decent run (as i'm sure they are!).

 

[Lance Uppercut]

Just wanted to get a few peoples thoughts on this year versus last year.

Last year we obviously challenged for the finals and one a good chunk of games against some quality opposition. The facts were though that we:

a) relied almost solely on Hird, Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher, Michael, McVeigh to win these games
b) we one quite a few games by under a kick
c) we rarely had players under 21 in our best 10.

This year we find ourselves fighting off the spoon but the facts are:

a) Hird, Lucas, Lloyd, Fletcher, Michael have had very little impact (may be a little harsh on fletch)
b) we have consistently had young players including Neagle, Reimers, Myers, Houli, Dempsey, Hislop, Stanton, Lonergan, Ryder in our better players. Obviously most have been up and down or injured for periods but with more reliance on them this is always the case.

All in all, despite our position on the ladder, I am much happier with the clubs position this year. Our committment to rebuilding the side has been overdue for at least 5 years. It looks like many of these kids have the goods. We still have Gumby to come in.

Not that i'm advocating tanking, but we couldn't have chosen a better year to rebuild. Will be a strong draft this year and the last year that we get to have a crack at a few top 20 players with the Gold Coast coming in next year. (Note, our list would probably be in the same position if we were playing Johnson and Peverill anyway so we certainly haven't and won't be tanking.)

good post mate I seem to have a perception of you as a pretty negative poster; if I'm wrong, I'm happy to be so.

I agree 100%. I can't imagine how people can't see the direction we're moving, under Knights with some great young kids.

Call me a fool (and many do) but I could see a midfield in 3 years time with rotations like Houli, Reimers, Myers, Dempsey, Lonergan, Hislop, Stanton and McVeigh as being pretty ____ing decent.

That's not even taking into account the KPP riches including Ryder, Gumbleton, Neagle, Pears etc.

The future is bright. What's required now is patience, continued smart development and drafting, and adherence to and amelioration of the current game.

I'm so against tanking. Sure, I agree Rich would top our midfield prospects off nicely, but it's players like Houli, Pears, Reimers etc that show you don't need high draft picks to get good players.

Let's keep the Essendon winning culture please

 

[Rack Watts]

I stopped watching AFL for two years because I was overseas. When I came back (this year) its a completely different team! I absolutley love this team though! Even though I give Nash, Courtney J and Slattery infini amounts of crap I still love them. I know they can all be good one day!

 

[MilhouseVanJohn]

good post mate I seem to have a perception of you as a pretty negative poster; if I'm wrong, I'm happy to be so.

I agree 100%. I can't imagine how people can't see the direction we're moving, under Knights with some great young kids.

Call me a fool (and many do) but I could see a midfield in 3 years time with rotations like Houli, Reimers, Myers, Dempsey, Lonergan, Hislop, Stanton and McVeigh as being pretty ____ing decent.

That's not even taking into account the KPP riches including Ryder, Gumbleton, Neagle, Pears etc.

The future is bright. What's required now is patience, continued smart development and drafting, and adherence to and amelioration of the current game.

I'm so against tanking. Sure, I agree Rich would top our midfield prospects off nicely, but it's players like Houli, Pears, Reimers etc that show you don't need high draft picks to get good players.

Let's keep the Essendon winning culture please

Def agree no tanking! (and good to see most ess fans and Knights do too). Was getting very excited in the last few mins on friday at the prospect of a very good win.

Win as many as we can, and maybe even trade for a couple of picks this year as well. Weather we start with pick 2 or pick 5, i think one more good draft for us and we'll be well on our way to future success.

 

[DaSawx]

Agree too, would like to see some team building wins as the season progresses.