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Essendon - Supporter Support

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kennas said:
Anyone care to start constructing a starting line up this year for interest sake, or is it too fluid?
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I'll start with something:

B. Lovett Murray, Pears, Atkinson
HB. Slattery, Ryder, Fletcher
C. Winderlich, Dyson, McVeigh
HF. Davey, Hurley, Monfries
F. Welsh, Neagle, Williams
Fol. Hille, Watson, Stanton

Bench. Dempsey, Zaharakis, Skipworth, Hocking, Hooker, Prismell, Lonergan, Laycock, Jetta, Daniher

Thoughts?
 

No idea and don't really care:

Would just like to see Anthony Long get a game or two next year but I doubt he'll be ready. Hope he goes well for you blokes, was hoping Hawthorn would pick him up to play with his cousin - could make a great rebounding half back.

Nice kid too.
 
kennas said:
Anyone care to start constructing a starting line up this year for interest sake, or is it too fluid?
Click to expand...

Great idea Kennas. I'll start the ball rolling:


FF: Davey, Williams, Ryder
HF: Monfries, Gumbleton, Winderlich
C: Reimers, Stanton, Dyson
HB: Dempsey, Hurley, Fletcher
FB: Welsh, Pears, Daniher

Followers: Hille, Watson, McVeigh

Interchange: Lovett-Murray, Atkinson, Prismall, Lonergan

Emergencies: Hocking, Hooker, Neagle, Slattery, Houli

Ones to watch: I'd like to see Melsham get some game time this year. He looks promising.

Just a couple of assumptions: This is probably in an ideal world with the list we have. This line up is half (who I would like to see there) and half (who will actually play there). For players like Gumbleton that have played very little - I am taking on trust that he will be Centre Half Forward. I accept that it is on paper, crazy to slot a 5 game player in the hardest position on the field.

Some honourable mentions to Hooker and Hocking who were regulars last year. They could easily be thrown in Hooker for Daniher perhaps. Hocking for Lonergan. I'm happy to accept those. I've thrown Ryder in the forward line as I think we need some height up there. It depends on where you play Hurley as well. Maybe Hooker can cover CHB and let Hurlley play forward. Or alternatively let Flecther go to CHB, Ryder to HBF and let Hurley play forward.

As for the midfield, I've got McVeigh, Watson, Lonergan, Stanton (and Welsh) rotating as the workhorses and I have Dyson, Prismall, Davey, Winderlich and Reimers rotating as the speedy, flashy ball deliverers.

If all players were fit, healthy and had some pre-season - I'd be fairly happy with this line up. Anyway it is a starting point - feel free to tear it apart. I've only done it quickly (the first time I left out Watson before quickly correctiing)

Duckman
 

We are not too far away from each other Kennas (at least in our best 18). As I said with todays modern game it is a real question mark as to where their best positions are.

Of your starting 18 - I have 14 in my starting line up and 2 of your others on my bench. The two omissions from my team to yours - Neagle and Slattery. If I picked my team on "Who will be the line up" rather than "Who I think our best line up will be" I'd have Neagle in there. As for Slattery - I have no issue with his inclusion - he was a solid contributor last year. I tossed up between Alkinson and Slattery for the last spot on the bench and went with Atkinson due to his speed and improvement over the closing part of last season.

Duckman
 

Hi Nomores

I'll be following his progress closely as well. If he is as good as Rioli he will be more than a handy pickup....let's hope he is!!

Duckman
 

Like your thoughts but Atkinson makes to many mistakes so I'd definately have Dempsey in the team as his run from half back was excellent early last season.

I think Prismall should be in the starting 18 before ricky dyson as well. Prismall has excellent disposal into the forward 50, which is somthing we require.

Plus, i dont think Skipworth will be playing since he retired haha

Overall though I think that will be pretty close to the Bombers' first 18

Hopefully we go further in the finals again this year

Cheers
Bloomy
 
Happy to swap Dempsey for Atkinson somewhere in the back half.
Maybe Skipworth can be runner? lol
Dyson and Prismell is a toss up maybe. Might depend on form going in?

Is Williams a genuine FF Duckman?
Ryder in the pocket changing with Hille I guess. Will we get the most out of him there?
Any other Ruck options to sit on the bench to give Hille a break for 5 minutes each quarter perhaps and keep Ryder in a key position?
Is Daniher being groomed as a forward or a back?
 
Bloody hell, if you blokes don't want Prismall - send him to Hawthorn
 
nomore4s said:
Bloody hell, if you blokes don't want Prismall - send him to Hawthorn
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Get your hands off him Nomores!!

I rate him highly Kennas - almost had him in my starting 18. Considering he was coming off injury last year, he showed us a lot. He dropped off at the end of the year (possibly the effects of the season). I think he will be more improved this year and be possibly one of our players first picked.

No - I'm not sure about Williams as full forward. But he is the closest thing we have to one (at least starting off the season). Nomores might be able to tell us about his time at Hawthorn, but I thought he was a leading type full forward before Buddy and Roughead developed into KPP. We have to remember that Neagle won't be playing first up due to his recovery from groin surgery (at least that is what I've been told).

With Williams as the leading forward, that's why I threw Ryder deep in the pocket (and as resting ruck). With William, Davey and Monfires we have a small forward line. I thought Ryder would act as a target, to at least bring the ball to ground. Williams and Ryder won't be competing - Williams is a leading forward, not a stand and wrestle player. Maybe you put Hurley up there. As for Daniher - I've seen him play both parts of the ground and thought he looked a more natural backman, however he's only young and a forward spot might suit him.

No I don't have any other ruck - if we threw Hooker into the 22 then he could backup as well as play a role in defence.

As you can see Kennas - my team reflects my thoughts about the weakness in our Forward Line. I think it might take some moving and shaking to get it to gel. For the first game in 2010, take out Lucas, Lloyd, McPhee and Neagle from last years side and you are losing a lot of game time. It will be trial and error and there will be some successes and failures - but it won't be boring.

Duckman
 
Pivotonian said:
Very, very good player.
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lol, not according to the Essendon mob here, lucky to make the team by the looks of it?????:

Duckman,

Williams is probably past his best but could still be handy for your mob considering the lack of depth in the forward line Essendon currently have.

Only problem could be, none of your blokes will be able to hit him when he leads, lol:
 
Prismall would be in Geelong's starting lineup today if he hadn't been injured in the 2008 finals.

Very inteliigent player with excellent disposal skills.

Was sorry to see him leave the Cats.
 
nomore4s said:
Williams is probably past his best but could still be handy for your mob considering the lack of depth in the forward line Essendon currently have.

Only problem could be, none of your blokes will be able to hit him when he leads, lol:
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I disagree slightly. I think he is still capable of being the player he once was - he's not old. I just think that Hawthorn outgrew him. You shouldn't compare a lack of form for Williams with a change in Hawthorns game plan and how they used him.

As for no one hitting him.....what about Prismall? According to you, Yelnats and Pivotianian I should be putting some $$$$ on him for the Brownlow!!!

When you look at my side, who would you replace him for - Watson, Stanton or McVeigh?

Duckman
 

Williams is lazy at times looks disinterested, new club might do him good. Still capable of kicking 40-60 goals a year - if your midfield can deliver it to him :.

Prismall might hit him but according to all you guys he won't be on the field to do it, lol :

When you look at my side, who would you replace him for - Watson, Stanton or McVeigh?
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Dyson
 
nomore4s said:
Dyson
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So you would play him on the wing? That's another possibility that Knights hasn't tried yet.

For mine, Prismall beats Dyson hands down as an on-baller, but the speed, run and carry of Dyson is superior to Prismall as a loose wingman.

I agree that Dyson is one of the weak links. If you don't play him on the wing - don't play him.

Duckman

PS As far as Williams looking disinterested.....if I was a naturally leading forward playing in a forward line next to Roughead and Buddy I'd probably look a little disinterested as well!!! Given the Hawks gameplan of looking for the tall timbers on every entry I can see why he wanted out.

Bad luck for Croad - he was a really solid player for you guys over the years - particularly his last few.
 

Wingman are essentially onballers nowadays anyway
 
nomore4s said:
Wingman are essentially onballers nowadays anyway
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True - but they are onballers with a special skill set. A good winger is still valuable on the switch of play, fast break opportunities and breaking through the lines. Speed and penetrating foot skills are all important. Stanton, Hocking and Watson are onballers - but I wouldn't put them on the wing.

Now I've said all that - watch for Prismall to start on the Wing in Round 1!!!!
 
nomore4s said:
Bloody hell, if you blokes don't want Prismall - send him to Hawthorn
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Rate Prismall very highly and definately in Essondon's best 18. Classy and excellent disposal, which we often lack.

Knights has also said that Ryder won't be playing in the ruck as much this year and it will primarily be Hille and Laycock. Personally, I think Laycock is a dinosaur but hopefully he fires up....
 

Don't think it really matters as there is no doubt he will be part of the midfield rotation. They way they rotate players through the midfield now it is pretty meaningless where they are actually named.

Also rate Houli & Zaharakis and would think they would get a fair bit of game time this year.

Laycock, Neagle & Jetta are yet to convince me they came make an impact at this level, so will be interesting to see how they go this year.

Laycock in particular has been given plenty of chances and probably really needs to step it up. Neagle also probably needs to at least start showing signs of improvement this year, but I think he'll get at least a couple more years regardless.
 
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