His problem is he’s trying to play through tackles rather than just trying to cheat.
10 Likes
Calling it now, I recon he’ll be our best player next year and onwards.
He just has so much impact on the game and the stuff he does both inside and outside the contest is just unreal.
I dont think I have ever seen a player who is as clean with the ball as he is, he almost never fumbles, and his ability to hit a contest at full pace and come out with the ball is second to none.
You can even hear it now too, much of the footy media gush over him because of how unique his play style is.
If you take away the game he played injured he is now averaging 24 touches, 4 tackles and 5.8 clearances a game. He would also be 6th in the league for contested possessions per game. Keep in mind this is his first full year playing as a centre square midfielder and he isnt even 24 yet.
He is a seriously seriously good footballer.
16 Likes
probably needs more than 27 disposals to be considered above C grade
5 Likes
No he wont. Merrett absolutely ■■■■■ on everyone on our list. It’s ■■■■■■■ daylight.
Durham is an absolute bull and my favourite player. Congratulations @Marco you truly do find some gems out of the blue. Shame about the early draft picks and shocking trades.
2 Likes
I was a little worried the suspension and subsequent media shitstorm might diminish the way he attacked the ball. There was nothing to worry about on yesterday’s evidence. From what I saw he was smashing in as hard as ever, possibly even more so.
I just marvel at the way he plays, it’s so un-Essendon. I only wish a few of his teammates would follow his lead.
5 Likes
I’m with Ivan, clone him. Keep attacking the ball. The umpires were extremely harsh on him i thought. Perhaps my understanding of protecting the player who is going for the ball needs some clarification. Gun.
1 Like
He is such an anti Essendon player it is remarkable
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Durham completely transforms our midfield. He is the most aggressive ground ball player in the competition, low, hard and clean. Had a few frees against that were poorly umpired. His clearances are worth two of everyone else’s, the way he rolls his shoulders and moves from inside to outside is really special.
17 Likes
Im of the belief that no one in the league hits the ball as hard as him. He is an absolute bull.
The only downside with Duz, is he can’t do it for every stoppage as its not humanly possible to excert that much energy at every stoppage he attends. So we need to use him wisely. Stints in the forward line give him a breather and remember he is still a terrific overhead mark.
9 Likes
2 weeks ago a few communication specialists felt they should hang duz for what they suggested was the worst act of thuggery seen in years, rather than the reality that it was a split second decision gone wrong resulting in a glancing blow.
today one communication specialist suggests he should be our next captain.
the second opinion might come true.
2 Likes
My favourite player, bar none. An absolute treat to watch.
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It’s to his credit that the 1 game ban and media circus that followed the incident hasn’t affected his attack on the ball whatsoever. Love it!
9 Likes
This is true. I’d take 1x of Durham bursting out of the front of the stoppage with momentum over 3x Setterfield/Parish handballing backwards to a player under pressure who kicks it 25m.
Agreed. But why would you want Tsatas who is even less impactful than Parish and Setterfield?
Via Cal Twomey on AFL site
WHY DURHAM CAN BE ESSENDON’S NEXT CAPTAIN
ZACH Merrett and Sam Durham combined for 24 clearances against Gold Coast on Saturday. It was a new record for Essendon between two players in one game. Their tally of 24 of Essendon’s 35 clearances (69 per cent) was the highest ever percentage by two players in a game.
These two are the Bombers’ best players and having Durham back from suspension and Merrett back permanently in the midfield was critical in Essendon’s better showing against the Suns on Saturday.
But Durham should not just be trying to emulate Merrett in being one of the elite midfielders in the game.
Essendon has struggled to find a breadth of leaders underneath Merrett, who is into his third year as Bombers skipper, but in Durham they have a player who can be their next captain.
That time is a fair way off, with Merrett able to hold onto the role for as long as he wants given his consistency and high level of form. But Durham’s aggressive ‘follow me’ playing style has him already pegged as an on-field leader – evidenced in his fantastic 27-disposal and 12-clearance effort against the Suns.
Champion Data makes clear Durham’s emergence among the best. He is rated the 27th best player in the AFL in the 100x rankings, while Essendon wins the centre clearances 41 per cent of the time when he is in there, which is a better rate than its other players used more often at centre bounces.
He is averaging career highs for AFL Player Ratings, disposals, contested possessions, groundball gets, clearances, score assists and score involvements. Champion’s numbers also show that of the top 50 players for contested possessions this year, Durham is equal third for the best disposal efficiency at 75 per cent (behind only Andrew Brayshaw at 77 per cent, George Hewett at 76 per cent and equal with Will Ashcroft).
Durham, who turns 24 this week, is the spiritual heartbeat of the Bombers and plays with an edge, bravery and fearlessness that stands out. Not only that, the mid-season recruit is a genuine high-end player who changes games around the ball, in the air and without fuss. Casual Essendon watchers will see glimpses but those at the Bombers know how important Durham is to their long-term plan.
And building him to be a leader within the team will be his next step. It should be seen as a four-year project for the Bombers. The laidback Durham doesn’t chase the spotlight, hasn’t forgotten his country upbringing and is still developing as a player in only his fifth season. He is as popular as any at the club and will be an actions-rather-than-words leadership candidate, having still getting the confidence to find his voice at the club.
But Essendon has a leadership void underneath Merrett, who turns 30 in October. The champion left-footer and five-time (soon to be six?) best-and-fairest winner wants to play for a long time yet, but the club has to be thinking about the next group and having Durham front and centre to that eventual succession.
8 Likes
I honestly think as soon as he starts finding more of the ball, he will be our best player.
Next year I expect him to start hitting 30 possession games regularly and when that happens watch out.
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I don’t think he needs 30+ to be our best player.
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Interesting take by Rohan post game - essentially saying Durham is operating at 100% of his capability has no more scope for improvement (in his opinion).
I would have thought that would be a minority view…