Might as well get an official thread for this off-season and next season started up...who else is as optimistic as I am? Reckon we're a very good chance at matching 2013 (were 2nd in round 18 before being kicked out of finals) and 2014 (finals footy) output, probably in that 6-10 range (of course injuries, form, and trades/FA/draftees will have an impact to come). 2015 can't be trusted as a fair representation because of all the injuries, having no preseason, and WADA announcing they would appeal really screwing with things. Add to that Woosha being a better coach than Hird and a much improved list...just have forward line issues to deal with. Players coming back should be as good as ever - people saying they won't as if an injured player has never come back after a year out and played good footy.
Lot of talent on the list at the moment. I rate Hooker, Hurley, Heppell, Merrett, Watson, and Goddard are all A-grade talents. Daniher, Zacka, Leuey, Kelly, Stants, and Baguley are B+. Colyer, Hartley, Walla, Bellcho, Dea, Brown, Howlett, Bird, Myers, and Ambrose are Bs. Lot of young developing guys like Francis, Langford, Laverde, McKenna, Redman, Parish, Fantastia, etc - the latter two probably in the B to B+ category atm.
Best 22 I see as being:
FB: Dea, Hartley, Baguley
HB: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hurley, Kelly
C: Goddard, Heppell, Zaharakis
HF: Stanton, Daniher, Colyer
FF: Bellchambers, Hooker, Fantasia
R: Leuenberger, Merrett, Watson
INT: Parish, Langford, Ambrose, Myers
Emg: McCluggage, Laverde, Bird
Immediate depth: Howlett, Brown, Hocking, Redman, Francis
Add onto that whatever gun FA/trade guys we can scoop up and I reckon that's a very nice side right there
Just my seventeen cents...
i'm really not an Ambrose fan goes missing to much doesn't provide enough offense
Best 22 I see as being:
FB: Dea, Hartley, Baguley
HB: McDonald-Tipungwuti, Hurley, Kelly
C: Goddard, Heppell, Stanton
R: Leuenberger, Zerrett, Watson
HF: Zaharakis, Daniher, Colyer
FF: Bellchambers, Hooker, Fantasia
INT: Parish, Francis, Hocking, Myers
Emerg: Laverde, Langford, Brown
Quote from: kilbluff1985 on October 10, 2016, 08:25:08 AM
i'm really not an Ambrose fan goes missing to much doesn't provide enough offense
Conversely, I like Ambrose. Was pretty good in his first year playing as a defender in 2016 - did very good jobs on JRoo, Tom Lynch (both of them), Ben Brown, and Cameron, and he adds versatility as he can play up forward at a pinch too. Has great size (193cm 92kg) and could be a very handy contributor in 2017.
Really looking forward to Tippa's second year and how he'll go playing with mature battle-hardened teammates. Can't wait. Feel a bit like a kid counting the days to Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-JLoN-LzhA
Love this vid
1. managing to pick up pick 29 for the mediocre Hibberd who wanted out
2. grabbing Stewart for a nothing pick
3. resigning Dea and Kelly and grabbing goalsneak Josh Green
4. drafting McGrath (elite)
5. drafting Ridley and Begley (good talents)
6. drafting Mutch and Clarke (late steals and add midfield depth)
7. drafting Draper (looks good and fits a need at third ruck option)
Dodoro is a genius
McGrath deffs play round one doesn't he, if fit.
Probably takes Tippa'a spot on field.
Figure we will end up between 6-10 on the ladder.
Challenges:
How quickly team can adapt to influx of players and old bombers picking up new game plans. We could be 3/8 by round 11 if we get off to slow start.
Forward line depth is poor and will impact our ability to kick a winning score.
Quote from: crowls on December 02, 2016, 10:32:27 AM
Figure we will end up between 6-10 on the ladder.
Challenges:
How quickly team can adapt to influx of players and old bombers picking up new game plans. We could be 3/8 by round 11 if we get off to slow start.
Forward line depth is poor and will impact our ability to kick a winning score.
I reckon we have to commit to playing one of Hurley and Hooker up forward every week, seeing as we now have Hartley and Dea down back. Hooker the obvious choice but Hurley would have a higher ceiling as a forward so it's tough aha
hope some Essendon supporters can help me, anyone from your list not doing preseason due to injury and won't play much this year?
Ok, revised after 2 JLT games
I reckon Hooker back. The mosquito brigade look dangerous enough if either Stewart or Brown can bring the ball to ground.
so
B: Bags Hartley Hooker
HB:Gleeson Hurley McGrath
C: Goddard Watson Stanton
HF:Zaka Daniher Colyer
F:Raz Bellchambers Green
Foll: Leu Heppell Zerrett
Bench: Parish Ambrose Walla Bird/ Brown
Leftover: Laverde, Langford, Hocking, Myers, Howlett, Dea, Brown/Bird, McKernan,
The depth is a great problem to have.... I hate leaving kids out. I think its detrimental to our future. I think McGrath could make way for Dea or Brown though.
If it were up to me, as much as it pains to say. I would play McGrath, Parish, Laverde and Langford over any returning player bar Heppell or Watson. We have enough experience to support those 4, and given Parish is blitzing the JLT with Zerrett, it seems he will only get stronger. Im a little disappointed in Langford, I thought his JLT would be stronger, but I still think he has what it takes to go next level. Laverde is a bit behind, but will get there.
Its a pity Francis keeps getting injured, given his upside. But its probably a good thing considering our list depth at the minute.
I want to see Bellchambers fit, as he has a huge ceiling and would be a fantastic 2nd tall fwd. Before injury and suspension he was kicking 4 and 5 goals when playing fwd in combination with Ryder rucking.
By seasons end, media will be lauding our small fwd brigade. Raz has something special about him. Green is the ranga flare we have been sorely missing, walla is a sensation, and Colyer will drop in from the wing/HF to kick a few.
If Joey can just get his kicking straight we can seriously push 100pts a game with this group. And thats where we need to be at if we wana push finals.
Optimistic outlook for 2017. Go Bombers!
If I was picking a round 1 team this is what'd be.
Baguley Hartley Kelly
Stanton Hurley McGrath
Zaharakis Watson Colyer
Goddard Daniher Tipungwuti
Begley Hooker Fantasia
Leuenberger Heppell Z.Merrett
Parish Langford Dea Gleeson
Francis and Bellchambers will make cases when fit, Laverde seems a bit off at the moment but can definitely come in, Myers when fit, Howlett I feel is in the 16-25 best players so will come in every now and then. Hocking I don't believe will suit the game anymore, there's no genuine stoppers anymore and i feel the game has got too quick for him. Mckernan can for sure be in the best 22 if he gets elevated.
Quote from: Cookie Monster on March 07, 2017, 09:10:06 PM
Mckernan can for sure be in the best 22 if he gets elevated.
Hes all elevated and raring to go
Quote from: Cookie Monster on March 07, 2017, 09:10:06 PM
Laverde seems a bit off at the moment but can definitely come in, Myers when fit, Howlett I feel is in the 16-25 best players so will come in every now and then. Hocking I don't believe will suit the game anymore, there's no genuine stoppers anymore and i feel the game has got too quick for him. Mckernan can for sure be in the best 22 if he gets elevated.
Before he was injured, he did some pretty tasty things. That burst through the pack and weighted kick to Walla was pretty special from just outside the 50 against Geelong in the last JLT game. Those types that just wana be a part of the club are important in my opinion. Look at Jackson Merrett, probably knows he isn't AFL standard, but is there for depth and doesnt take any chunk out of our salary cap. Jerrett is probably a clause in Zerretts contract hahaha.
Anyone see Lucas best 22 today. Thought it was interesting the names left out.
Ambrose playing as number 1 ruck :o
Quote from: Hawka on March 24, 2017, 03:09:31 AM
Ambrose playing as number 1 ruck :o
Remember what happened last time Ambrose played the hawks?
https://youtu.be/Xp553DLnn5I
Brad hill even changed teams so he wouldn't have to go through this near-death experience again
(http://i.imgur.com/CPhO3OI.jpg)
Ahaha, that's flowerin gold ;D
hahaha how good
Who would've thought that after 9 weeks we'd be five and four but having:
beaten - Geelong, Hawthorn, West Coast
lost to - Carlton, Melbourne (no Gawn or Hogan)
5-4 is a pretty good place to be at the moment I'd say given we have had 3 trips interstate (2 against top 4 contenders) and played 4 of last season's top 6. Tough next few games (Richmond, GWS away, Port, Swans away), would be happy to go through that 2-2 (the way we've been playing and the AFL has been going this season could easily be 4-0 or 0-4) and then the draw really opens up as, in the last 9 games we go interstate once (vs Gold Coast), play four teams that should be towards the bottom end of the ladder, have games on our home deck against teams we'll be competing for finals spots against (saints, Dogs, Freo), and every game is certainly winnable - GWS in NSW have almost lost their last 2 to mediocre teams, Swans were 0-6 for a reason, Crows and Freo have to travel to play us, mostly 7-day breaks, etc. hard to predict but we could definitely go 18-4 if we keep playing like we have the last two weeks, but I'd say more like 13-7 or 14-8 is realistic. Only two games I'd say we most likely won't win are the two trips to Sydney.
Being mostly injury-free apart from Ambrose is great, and we have a few guys playing fantastic football in the twos but aren't good enough for AFL gigs - Bellchambers, Langford, Howlett, Mutch, Clarke, Bird, and Francis for example, the first four very hard done by to not be in the best 22 but that's how good the boys are playing. Can definitely see Mutch and Clarke getting blooded later in the season.
Can we fit Dusty in on $1.5m a year? Should we go for him for that amount of money?
Quote from: AaronKirk on May 30, 2017, 12:09:32 AM
Can we fit Dusty in on $1.5m a year? Should we go for him for that amount of money?
Idk if we can but we certainly should! Providing we can lock in Daniher first!
Quote from: AaronKirk on May 30, 2017, 12:09:32 AM
Can we fit Dusty in on $1.5m a year? Should we go for him for that amount of money?
I'd much rather us have a go at Kelly, and honestly think he fits the inside midfield mould we need,
i'd rather not get in a bidding war for either
should have a sneaky crack at fyfe
losing value by the week but could be a case of is he really happy there?
note: even if we don't crack for fyfe or do i am suggesting on the basis he will not cost as much as the other 2 we have some good young kids coming through that we need to pay as they come along 1.5m for Dusty or a little less for kelly after Joey's contract add what hurley and hooker plus others....would imagine if we did land one at that kind of price it would not leave a lot in the kitty
Stants, Hocking, and Kelly (maybe Watson or Goddard?) being delisted/retiring at the end of the season will help the cap out, and hopefully we can get some players taking less money than they deserve for the good of the team in the hopes of winning a flag. I would without a doubt pursue all three of Dusty, Kelly, and Fyfe, and sign whichever we can - I reckon we're one gun midfielder away from contending for the premiership, have elite back and forward lines and a solid stock of midfielders but could really use a matchwinner in there to help out Merrett, Heppell and co.
In order I'd target them:
1. Dusty - the most heavily linked with player, would be taking him off a rival and competitor too
2. Fyfe - Woosha's WA links could help get him? Also played at Claremont with Colyer iirc.
3. Kelly
Quote from: Jukes on June 12, 2017, 01:44:37 AM
Stants, Hocking, and Kelly (maybe Watson or Goddard?) being delisted/retiring at the end of the season will help the cap out
Goddard better not retire :O hes got a role for a while yet imo, still playing great footy and wants to play on!! Can also swing him to the halfback role, which we know he plays well in his later years. Plus i think he has a clause in his contract this year, which he would of certainly reached? (i think) :P
Quote from: Jukes on June 12, 2017, 01:44:37 AM
Stants, Hocking, and Kelly (maybe Watson or Goddard?) being delisted/retiring at the end of the season will help the cap out, and hopefully we can get some players taking less money than they deserve for the good of the team in the hopes of winning a flag. I would without a doubt pursue all three of Dusty, Kelly, and Fyfe, and sign whichever we can - I reckon we're one gun midfielder away from contending for the premiership, have elite back and forward lines and a solid stock of midfielders but could really use a matchwinner in there to help out Merrett, Heppell and co.
In order I'd target them:
1. Dusty - the most heavily linked with player, would be taking him off a rival and competitor too
2. Fyfe - Woosha's WA links could help get him? Also played at Claremont with Colyer iirc.
3. Kelly
true but again 1.5 is a bloody lot and cannot help but think it is committing a little too much more then we should (not saying his not a gun saying with our situation and where we are at)
i mean it is all well and good to ask players to take a cut for the good of the team but after what most have been put through to then give such a massive amount to an outsider may not sit quite well is all i mean
another name is rockliff would you gof ro him (thoguh reports saying he will stay in brisbane now just throwing names out)
Joe Daniher signs till 2020
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-06-26/joes-2020-vision-key-bombers-new-deal
(https://j.gifs.com/6634XV.gif)