Twenty Questions for...

[el jefe]

Lach please don't ask him some of those cringe-worthy questions that make it look as though we need some kind of pat on the head.

Mine is simple:

Best player you ever played with and why?


Also, I don't see it as an issue if he is asked a few essendon-centric questions. The hawk supporters seemed to enjoy the interview will Allan and Solly did play most of his football with them. No need for us to be all insular and tribal about this.

 

[GeorgeGrljusich]

Now George, Solly has been involved with two greats of the game not to mention that dominant premiership the bombers had in 2000. I was a fan of Hird all through his playing days. I still remember him pulling Essendon together in that elimination final in 03 and leading his team. Was painful but awesome to watch at the same time.

Beleive me, I would love to ask about a Fremantle premiership.

Yair mate, I was having more of a go at this...

Chicks - Are they better in Melbourne or Perth ??
Most ladies I speak too are quite keen on Deano, so he's a reasonable one to ask this age old question IMO.

And then you have mod endorse it.

Like both of these!

I'd rather hear about his footy as well.

 

[estibador]

I think we all know the chicks in Perth are better anyway.

 

[el jefe]

I think we all know the chicks in Perth are better anyway.

Better looking, but less approachable and less stylish. Melbourne chicks carry a few more kgs though.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Better looking, but less approachable and less stylish. Melbourne chicks carry a few more kgs though.

they have to, all to do with the weather, kinda like how the whales hanging around the north pole have more blubber than the whales you see along our cost

 

[el jefe]

True dat. Foods better in Melb also.

 

[Jamodu]

As a player, having come from a established club with a long history and tradition to a young club establishing both, did you notice a difference in the 'feel' between the two?

 

[dominguez]

the incident with chris tarrant and the politician in darwin. i think 99% of people think that it was bullshit the way both the politician handled it (an obvious ploy to get some media attention and possible votes in the upcoming election) and i think some would agree with me, the way the club handled it (suspending chris for a week was way over the top). you were with chris at the time, what were your thoughts on the situation, was it a big media beat up? did you think the club acted appropriately? and how disappointed was chris with being suspended? especially since the lady involved didnt even complain.

I had forgotten about that.

 

[ballanFYNE]

How far does he think freo are from becoming a power house club.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

I had forgotten about that.

was a while ago now, but i still think chris was treated pretty ordinarily by the media, the politician and also the club

 

[GeorgeGrljusich]

was a while ago now, but i still think chris was treated pretty ordinarily by the media, the politician and also the club

Yes. It was atrocious by the club and the media.
The pollie was a "look at me" shitbag who deserved a good hiding.

 

[Sman-21]

edit ummm too much "gardening"
an that question was for someone else mentioned in this thread somehow got confused





no more posting after gardening

 

[GeorgeGrljusich]

yes we have succumed in the past, having said that, there would be no football team, no make that sporting team, in australia more heavily scrutinized/criticised IMO. i dont think im being paranoid in saying that

Umm..KPR...mate.
I think sman 21's question might have been directed toward Dean Soloman.

 

[Kickett Punches Read]

Umm..KPR...mate.
I think sman 21's question might have been directed toward Dean Soloman.

but didnt you know? i AM dean solomon

 

[freodog]

Question to Solomon:
You have been known throughout your career as a hard man. What do you think about the rule changes the AFL have made to clean up the game? Do you think the game is heading in the right direction?

 

[purple_heaven]

Does he have a girlfriend? Does he like blondes or brunettes? where does he go out in Freo? ( All these on behalf of my daughter of course)

haha exactly what i was going to say!! these questions are a must

 

[Beerfish]

By your own admission you were never the most skilled or athletic or even intelligent player (doing my best to get lach72 smacked out here ) going around. Do you think there's still a place for players of your ilk in today's game or do you feel they're slowly but surely disappearing in favour of the pure athletes?

If he says yes, follow up with "does this make you sad?".

If he says no, follow up with "don't you think they should be, ya boofhead?".

Last bit is just a suggestion...

Cheers.

 

[Catch 22]

Did Michael Long walk to training? If not, why not?

 

[kBuck]

Hows has training/game preparation changed over the years?
What was it like playing in your first western derby? How does the derby compare to rivalry rounds in melbourne?

 

[BeinPurplenGreen]

This may have been covered by several other questions, but I am interested to know Dean's thoughts on the differences between Essendon and Freo - in particularly around the late 90s early 2000s (and especially 2003) where they were a powerhouse club and we struggled.

We were comprehensively thrashed by the Bombres in that 2003 final at Subi and I want to know how Essendon approached that game:

• Were they happy they had to play Freo instead of anyone else?
• Did they know in the back of their minds that we would crumble under pressure?
• Did the other clubs think Freo were "flaky" or is that just a media/supporter perception?
• And how has this perception of Freo changed since then (if at all)?

All this might be seen as going over past ground, but I am keen to see if Freo's image (brand) has improved since then. And how it has improved, and by how much.

Great question Nodgey.

My ten cents worth:

Dean, when you started with Essendon's senior side, there were still a number of senior players through the various Victorian teams who were the product of the traditional zone system, and the draft was still just finding its legs.

Through the course of your career, the draft has emerged and developed to become a major focus of clubs, media and fans. The AFL now has official mock drafts, State tests and Draft Camps - and kids tagged as "emerging stars" at national champs are under pressure about being drafted for up to two years before they are even eligible to be drafted.

What are your views on how this has changed the experience of becoming an AFL footballer for today's gunyounguns? Does the drafting process make it harder for senior players to help younger players transition into a new club (as opposed to the older system, where kids tended to come up through the ranks at the one club, from under 14s to colts all at the same club)?

From a fan's perspective, statistical analysis has assumed an ever growing role in the game, with all kinds of new indicators (like "hard ball gets", "clangers", and "contested possessions") being developed to assess different aspects of the game, and concepts like DreamTeam and SuperCoach taking off like wildfire. Has this change been as obvious to senior players like yourself, and has the focus on stats led to many changes for players in terms of how you are coached, how you approach games, and the goals you set for yourself during the season?

When you first started, things that were a real key to your game like "contested possessions" and "hard ball gets" weren't measured or statistically tracked to the same detail that they are now. How do you think this statistical focus has changed the value of players with your type of game - is it easier to get credit for some of the hard work when your efforts have a specific KPI or "stat measure", or is word of mouth assessment by coaches and talent scouts still the most important focus for players and clubs?

Also, with the emergence of GWS and GC17, and the "sudden" recognition of the benefits of recruiting mature age rookies (led by Freo with Broughton, Balla, Silv and Barlow), do you see more of a role for journeyman players who don't necessarily get drafted as soon as they turn 18 or 19?

Thanks very much for agreeing to do the interview Dean, and great work Lachy on setting it up. Well done to the club for helping out, and thanks to the Bombers supporters for their questions too!!

 

[Lach72]

BPG's had his quota for the year

 

[estibador]

Great question Nodgey.

I agree. I definitely vote for Nodgey's question(s) to be included and I hope Solly will be brutally honest in answering them.

Would be a very interesting perspective we rarely get to hear considering AFL identities always play it safe with their comments to avoid giving any motivation to their opponents.

 

[Lach72]

I've been very slack with this.
My apologies.
Also, there are some whispers that the media department may be a little busy at the moment , so I'll probably wait to send it until next week.

 

[el jefe]

Michael Johnson!

 

[nesski47]

excuse my ignorance, just wondering where this interview is going to appear....