Where do we need to be improved?

[Don77]

Ok, as a follow up to McPhee33's excellent 'list assessment' post. I too have been doing an assessment of our list. Apologies if I rave a bit but will try not to...

In my opinion (and I stress, it is just my opinion), the following players will be gone at the end of the year (and I know it's early to be doing this, but oh well):

Retire: Rioli
Henneman
*Rama
*Hird
*should be given the choice to play on, I have not included either of them in my plans for next year however.

Trade/Delist (don't expect much in return- none are up to AFL standard imo):
Bolton
Peverill
Welsh

Delist: Cartledge
*Reynolds
*Still has a chance to make it imo, will know by the end of the year given time in the seniors whether he will or not.

That leaves the following players (27) on our list for next year, and I have divided them up into the following groups- midfielders (young and experienced); key forwards; key backs; ruckmen; small backs; small forwards;tall utilities and still developing. I have also put them in order (roughly) of where I rank them at the moment (not based on potential, but rather current ouput/value to the team). I also haven't included any rookies as I don't know enough about them yet, although I have high hopes for Heath Hocking as a midfielder based on what I've heard and read.

Midfielders (young):
Watson
Stanton
Monfries
Winderlich
Dyson
Courtney Dempsey

Midfielders (experienced):
JJ
McVeigh
Heff
Campo

KeyBacks
Fletcher
Bradley
Lee

Key Forwards
Lloyd
Lucas
Johns

Ruckmen
Hille
Laycock
Ryder (with a bullet!!)

Small Forwards
Lovett
MJ (looking to next year, think he will be of most value as a small forward given our good young small back stocks)

Small Backs
Slattery
Cole
Nash

Tall Utilities
McPhee
Solly (hope he can get back to somewhere near his best- love him!)
NLM

Personally, given a year or 2, I see our rucks as being amongst the best in the comp. I'm also happy with our small backs and we are beginning to develop some depth in our midfield stocks with a good blend of inside and outside players coming through (again, imo).

To me, we have the makings of a good squad with the potential to seriously challenge, however there are 3 main areas that I think Sheeds will be looking at to improve and I believe they are:

1. A gun young midfielder to complement our outher emerging midfielders- most likely to be picked up with our early draft pick- hello Brice Gibbs or Joel Selwood, or alternatively, by poaching a 'gun midfielder' from another club (maybe James Kelly??)- unlikely I think.

2. A key position player who could play at either end of the ground to complement our already farely solid kp stocks- Lachlen Hansen is the youngster that seems to be ranked highly in TAC circles at the moment.

3. A specialist crumbing small forward in the mould of Bewick- most likely to be picked up as a latish draft choice or in the rookie draft as they are not traditionally taken early (Sampi from West Coast- out of favour at the moment?). Can Firman play this role?

4. An extra tall utility - (Mundy from Freo would be awesome- a Vic boy who could be tempted to come home??). Reynolds could still yet fill this role if he takes his opportunities between now and the end of the year.

Anyway, that is just my 2 cents worth, all is not lost, despite our bleak circumstances at the moment- not as far away as many might think and with the master in charge, we are in impecabbly good hands!

Go BOMBERS!!!

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Good post, I still however have doubts about our forward line its been atrocious since Lloyd's been out of the picture and wouldnt mind us either playing NLM forward were we played him originally or find another target via trading or drafting. Dont get me wrong Lucas is a very good player but thats not were we are breaking down its getting good inside 50's to a player rather than just bombing it because wew have noone making a good lead. Altthough some will argue our midfielders arent getting it enough for us to get in the 50. We have got it in our 50's enough to get a win for most of the season with exception to the Adeliade game.

The obvious thing we need in our backline is a CHB and at the moment i just dont think Bradley is suited to the role and thats why im in favour of seeing what Andy Lee can do in that role as he has all the attributes that make a good defender as hes quick off the mark, is tall and cant spoil and the further we can fast track is developement the better. But i still think we should recruit another KPP in the draft maybe with our 2nd rd pick presuming we get Gibbs.

The one thing we need is a classy midfielder, yes we have Dyson but its still not a sure thing he'll make it as his defensive skills arent quite up to the mark but say we got a Gibbs which is a pretty sure fire pick from all report i adds another dimension to our midfield. Meaning we have someone who can deliver to our midfielder which in my opinion makes a huge difference to the team and can be the difference between forwards marking it and a defender spoiling it.

 

[Don77]

Once again, good points McPhee (sorry I got your name wrong last time)- agree Bradley is not ready to hold CHB down yet but given another pre-season, he, or Lee, might be. With the two of them coming through (I know neither are certainties to make it in that position or at all yet), I just think that our most pressing need at the moment is a 'gun' and I don't mean 'run of the mill' midfielder.

Therefore, If I had the choice of Essendon's 1st pick in this years draft (definitely going to be somewhere between 1-4), I would go for the best available midfielder ie. Gibbs or Selwood over the best available tall, assuming they are roughly equal in ability (always pick the best available!!)

Again, just my opinnion though.

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Once again, good points McPhee (sorry I got your name wrong last time)- agree Bradley is not ready to hold CHB down yet but given another pre-season, he, or Lee, might be. With the two of them coming through (I know neither are certainties to make it in that position or at all yet), I just think that our most pressing need at the moment is a 'gun' and I don't mean 'run of the mill' midfielder.

Therefore, If I had the choice of Essendon's 1st pick in this years draft (definitely going to be somewhere between 1-4), I would go for the best available midfielder ie. Gibbs or Selwood over the best available tall, assuming they are roughly equal in ability (always pick the best available!!)

Again, just my opinnion though.

Well im just in preference of taking the best available player with our first draft pick.

 

[marcuz]

Our list as a rule has a poor skill level, we need to draft and play kids who can actually use the footy.

A centre half-back is what we also lack. If we can adress thse issues coupled with the development of some youngsters then we should be well on our way to improving..i hope.

 

[DaSawx]

I'd love to be able to avoid the spoon and take Hansen in the draft to hopefully hold down CHB, as I believe McPhee or Bradley acn't and could be used as very good flankers or wingers, or in McPhee's case ont he ball sometimes.

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

I'd love to be able to avoid the spoon and take Hansen in the draft to hopefully hold down CHB, as I believe McPhee or Bradley acn't and could be used as very good flankers or wingers, or in McPhee's case ont he ball sometimes.

Well if we develop Lee or someone else in that position we can nab Gibbs as well as letting Mcphee loose which would be a much better plan

 

[DaSawx]

Well if we develop Lee or someone else in that position we can nab Gibbs as well as letting Mcphee loose which would be a much better plan

I know, but it's a big if.

I want our 73 year spoon streak extended which also means we'll win a couple of games which will be terrific for our youngsters also.

If we win a couple of games and avoid the spoon I doubt we get Bryce Gibbs, which isn't all that bad as there is a lot of talent in this draft.

 

[Longy413]

If we win a couple of games and avoid the spoon I doubt we get Bryce Gibbs, which isn't all that bad as there is a lot of talent in this draft.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I wouldn't be at all suprised if Hansen went first.

 

[DaSawx]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I wouldn't be at all suprised if Hansen went first.

Even more of a reason to try and keep winning as many games as we can

Wouldn't be unhappy at all with Gibbs, just want Hansen in the black and red to solidify our defence, the next Sean Wellman

Speaking of which, looked good last night, any chance of a comeback?

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I wouldn't be at all suprised if Hansen went first.

Think it'll depend who finishes last and who they think is more suited to there club.

 

[mcphee_is_a_gun]

Even more of a reason to try and keep winning as many games as we can

Wouldn't be unhappy at all with Gibbs, just want Hansen in the black and red to solidify our defence, the next Sean Wellman

Speaking of witch, looked good last night, any chance of a comeback?

I was thinking the same thing

 

[Crave]

I'd love to be able to avoid the spoon and take Hansen in the draft to hopefully hold down CHB, as I believe McPhee or Bradley acn't and could be used as very good flankers or wingers, or in McPhee's case ont he ball sometimes.

I agree in that Id love to see Bradley as a link man on a flank or on the wing much the same way we used Barnsey in 2000 with the hope that Lee could hold down CHB. Ive crapped on the guy for so long for not being up to the task as a CHB, but theres no reason why he could'nt be used in this fashion.
If our midfield suddenly find their feet once again, a key position player could be ideal instead of Gibbs. Have to remember our midfield isnt exactly made of pensioners, so there's still hope and time for them to hit their straps with the kids still yet to come through. Hocking, Jolley, Dempsey, Winders, Dyson...we have some AFL ready players there to select from. Guess we have to wait n see what the outcome is at season's end

 

[Nuts4Bolts]

I agree in that Id love to see Bradley as a link man on a flank or on the wing much the same way we used Barnsey in 2000

Problem is that Kep can't hit a target more than 20m away. Even less when he is on the run.

 

[koc#41]

one word: LEADERSHIP!

 

[drew_j]

Basic Skills. Allot of kicking and handball drills. Many of the players have great football brains and ability. Just need to work on skills. Guys like NLM, Stanton, Bradley, Watson, Reynolds and Ryder all have good footy brains and can find plenty of the ball. This is the sort of thing you can't teach players. But far to often these type of players let them selves down with the right decision making but poor execution. To many turnovers. Just need to practice the basic skills. All it is is practice.

 

[Crave]

Well, apart from the usual skills n decision making...our half back line looks dead in the water everytime the ball comes at them with such injection. It looks like they need more time to asses the situation, before the ball whizzes past their noses at a rate of knots. In saying that, we ARE on the right track as we showed in our fisrt half...its just not a winning team at the moment...no matter how honest the endeavour is.