We will see.
At the AFL level, Green has always been decent or below average. There is more benefit long term to play a player like Begley to play a similar role. Green in his whole career as a specialist small forward only averages a goal a game.
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At least the umps were consistent back in Silvagniâs day. He used to go in the opposition rooms before the game, find the FF, grab a handful of jumper, run down the race with the opposition team and never let go all game. It was interpreted as âgood defenceâ.
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Myers may play, but he is anything but a certainty. â â â â me.
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Not sure if this had already been posted.
Tale of the tape for your AFL team in 2018: Essendon
Rohan Connolly
ESSENDON
2017 record: 12 wins, 11 losses (8th)
THE INS
Devon Smith (GWS), Adam Saad (Gold Coast), Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Jordan Houlahan (Sturt), Brandon Zerk-Thatcher (Sturt), Matt Guelfi (Claremont), Trent Mynott (Eastern Ranges), Luke Lavender (South Australia)
THE OUTS
Craig Bird (delisted), Yestin Eades (retired), Heath Hocking (delisted), Ben Howlett (delisted), James Kelly (retred), Alex Morgan (delisted/North Melbourne), Brent Stanton (retired), Jobe Watson (retired)
THE STRENGTHS
Thereâs not much doubt where Essendonâs strong suit is these days, and thatâs up forward, where the Bombers last season finished up the third highest-scoring team of 2017 at an average 97 points per game, Joe Daniher finishing fourth in the Coleman Medal, but Cale Hooker, Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti also all finishing with more than 30 goals. Jake Stringer, All-Australian only two seasons ago, is a huge addition to their ranks, fellow recruit Devon Smith is more than handy up forward, and James Stewart can be expected to keep improving as a key forward. Itâs a potent blend, with a lot of scope for improvement should the Bombersâ midfield step up, as Essendon consistently booted decent scores despite ranking only 11th for inside 50 entries on the differential count in 2017. Pace is another area the Dons are looking a lot better these days, not just via the small forwards mentioned above but Conor McKenna off half-back and now Adam Saad from Gold Coast.
THE WEAKNESSES
Midfield, midfield, midfield. Itâs been a recurring theme at Essendon for a long time, and was underlined once again in its elimination final thrashing at the hands of Sydney, when the better, stronger Swansâ group brushed off the Bomber mids with ease, almost doubling the Dons for forward thrusts by half-time. Essendon finished 14th on the clearance differential count and only 10th for contested ball and had no player in the AFLâs top 20 for either stat. Now long-time midfield anchorman Jobe Watson is retired, thereâs even more responsibility for the likes of skipper Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Brendon Goddard and co., with the input of the strong-bodied Stringer particularly and Smith crucial in the pivot, and perhaps even Saadâs pace as well. Essendonâs defence is also potentially problematic, though that could also be helped by the mids improving their contribution. Should Hooker, as expected, play forward, the Dons will need Michael Hartley playing a lot better than he did in 2017, and even Michael Hurley to do better as a one-on-one key defender as well as a rebounder.
ONE TO WATCH
You wouldnât say Kyle Langford had set the world on fire in three seasons since being taken at No. 17 in the 2014 draft. Indeed, heâs played just 31 games and only six last season. But after being dropped for a final time after Essendonâs round 15 loss to Brisbane, Langford went back to the VFL and played some consistently solid football in the midfield, unlucky not to earn a recall. Now is his big opportunity with the on-ball stocks requiring replenishment, and the 21-year old with three seasons in the system under his belt. Has lacked urgency at times, but has good hands, is a decent kick and has the ability to provide the Bombers with a bigger-bodied midfield presence. Donât be surprised if he makes ground quickly.
UNDER THE PUMP
Langfordâs emergence could indeed be at the expense of another big-bodied midfielder in David Myers, for whom the clock could be ticking. Injuries have been the constant bugbear for the Western Australian, who after the CAS suspensions effectively missed two years of football. It showed in 2017, when despite staying by his standards relatively injury-free, in 15 games never got close to his best. His strong frame and thumping left boot are still potential weapons, but at 28, the clock is ticking, and Myers, despite his tremendous leadership qualities, still doesnât win enough of the football and at times last season lacked accuracy with his kicking. Myers has another two years to run on his contract, but itâs fair to say regardless heâs still on shaky ground as far as a spot in Essendonâs best side is concerned unless he can pull out a career-best season in 2018.
ROHAN CONNOLLYâS BEST 22
B: Martin Gleeson, Cale Hooker, Patrick Ambrose
HB: Adam Saad, Michael Hurley, Conor McKenna
C: Dyson Heppell, Andrew McGrath, David Zaharakis
HF: Devon Smith, James Stewart, Orazio Fantasia
F: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joe Daniher, Jake Stringer
Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Brendon Goddard, Zach Merrett
Inter: Darcy Parish, Kyle Langford, Travis Colyer, Josh Begley
Emerg: David Myers, Aaron Francis, Jayden Laverde
A disclaimer here. John Worsfold has already stated his intent to keep Hooker forward, but I believe the (at times leaky) defence needs him more and that the Bomber forward line can function well enough without him. I think Brendon Goddard still has an important on-ball role to play, Iâve preferred the much-improved Martin Gleeson over veteran Mark Baguley (not sure both can play in that backline) and I thought Josh Begley showed enough late in 2017 to earn the starting not ahead of Jayden Laverde.
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Personally I think Rohan underrates the potential of our midfield
Wasnât Langford taken at pick #20?
Nope. He was picked first at 17 & Lav at 19 IIRC
We went Lang first to trump Blues, who then took Boekhurst who was then delisted this year. LOL
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l remember why and how. The Blooos fell for the trick. They werenât expecting Jacketsâ tactic.
Thatâs actually a pretty good team - not sold on Goddard on ball personally, but pretty good
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One of the better ones I have seen.
Would still have Baguley in my side though.
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Hi Rohan
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Yep,
As posted re the last âmedia specialistâ side without Gleeson, without Bags we have no backline rotations, and itâs therefore a never - happen side.
Thank goodness these professionals get paid for their other skills, not basic coaching & selection knowledge.
Hang on theyâre experts âŚ
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No doubt. Rohco reads blitz.
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B: Saad Hartley Hurley
HB: Mckenna Ambrose Gleeson
C: Zaharakis Stringer McGrath
HF: Tippa Daniher Smith
F: Fantasia Hooker Stewart
R: Bellchambers R: Heppell RR: Merrett
I/C: Parish, Goddard, Langford, Myers
Backline:
Q: Our ideal structure is yet to be found as questions hover over Hurleyâs decline in the one on one contest in favour of being a rebounding defender and Hartleyâs ability not to tug on the opposition gorillaâs jumper. Also, do we even remember how good Ambrose was across that patch, has the legend grown in time like that groper Dad caught in 94?
Reasoning
- Hartley performed admirably in the year of our Adams Family-like team of top-ups and Iâll back him in to improve alongside a more contested and defensively minded midfield. Hooker was scorned and stoned for long before he flourished and I optimistically take lesson from it and back our boy in.
- With reports Ambrose is improving his intercept and foot skills over preseason I like him and Hurley both playing above and below their height, taking note match-ups may dictate otherwise.
- Good-luck telling Ambrose if heâs not playing
Midfield:
- I am simply a ding-dong fan and couldnât bare to sub him even if the great Polly Farmer + 10cm was an option . - end of story.
- Similarly I am a big believer in the Lang and echo the words of @ivan in thinking any notes on a slow disposal is him looking for the best or better option. Remember reading in the West Australian about him wanting to be the next Nat Fyfe, some say you idiot, I say you â â â â â â ripper. How good to have a kid say he wants to be the best, seems Jobe thought similarly if he gave him his number.
- I am a massive believer our midfield isnât underwhelming or poor as per the new 2018 preseason catch-phase of every Best 22 Journo article. Heppell, Merrett, Parish, McGrath, Zaharakis, Smith with the expected growth from Stringer/Langford/BBB and stints or more from BJ, Fanta & Tippa. We drafted/traded in for a young age bracket, the same youth holds them back from having played the games that earns such recognition (at least for another year anyway
)
Forward
- Gee this was hard, I am a big fan of a tall forward, yet also of the manic pressure and speed of our smalls. To drop Stewart is ridiculous yet to play him with Hooker, Daniher and Stringer takes away from what often won us games. I often roll my eyes at people putting Stewart at CHF or relief ruck and believe him a 3rd Tall but if half the aggression I saw in him breaking x3 tackles during preseason translates to his attack at the marking contest then I may be eating humble pie by year or nextâs end.
- I believe Stringer plays for Essendon, not Essendon for Stringer and therefore if he can build a tank to rotate through the midfield as promised then he can learn to chase and apply pressure like the rest of our forwards. If he has the power, speed and agility to burst through a pack and around a defender then he can close down space and pressure a defender. This isnât a dig on Stringer, just a nature not needed/enforced and lost at WBD. They are in our best players and you play them, you make it or them work to fit.
I donât think I clearly answered anything there, perhaps I created more questions. If anything, my long-winded waffle reflects my thoughts that a) Itâs impossibly hard it is to fit a 26-28 players into 22 for the first time in a years b) I shouldnât have opened the second bottle & c) Dusty will need a box to stand on if heâs to hang the 2018 Charlie over TBCâs neck
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Youâve got two Stringers.
If you bring in Myers for one of them, then we share a very similar 22.
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Two Stringers are better than one.
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3rd.
#knowyourteam
I wonder where Richmond finished up.
âŚand McGrathâŚ
#knowyourteam
I will let Rohan know you arenât happy with his work.
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